REVIEW: Burger King BBQ Brisket Whopper

Burger King’s new BBQ Brisket Whopper is very tasty. However, it’s not because of the tender, slow-cooked beef brisket that’s in it. While its addition makes the burger intriguing and heavier, that’s all it seems to do. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

The newest limited time offering features a quarter-pound flame-grilled beef patty topped with beef brisket, American cheese, crispy onions, tomato, mayo, pickles, and a sweet and golden BBQ sauce. I thought the addition of the brisket would make this Whopper substantially pricier than recent limited time Whoppers, but it was roughly the same price, give or take a dime or two.

Because there wasn’t a significant price difference, I wasn’t overly upset about the brisket being there, but at the same time, not being there. You see, I’m not sure if the extra meat enhances the burger’s flavor, nor does it stand out. I know there was some brisket on my burger because it’s hard to miss the wet cat hair-looking blob, but it doesn’t add anything. Instead, I tasted a lot of the familiar Whopper flavors — the flame grilled patty, cheese, tomato, and pickles.

The barbecue sauce seems to do most of the heavy lifting to bring BBQ brisket to mind rather than the actual meat. I mostly taste a Whopper with a different barbecue sauce than previous BBQ Whoppers, but that tangy, sweet, and smoky condiment makes this worth trying. So much so that I probably would have enjoyed this even without the brisket. But it’s not just the sauce that makes this taste great; the tomato’s acidity, the pickle’s sour kick, and the American cheese all complement the barbecue sauce.

Another ingredient that gets lost is the crispy onions. They might not have been the best choice to include because the BBQ sauce made them sauce-logged, so there was no crispiness. Also, much like the brisket, their flavor isn’t noticeable. Instead, I wished it came with BK’s onion rings, which would have helped with the texture and taste.

I should also note that Burger King is offering a Whopper Jr. version of this, marking the first time the chain has rolled out a limited time Whopper in a smaller and more affordable size.

I don’t regret trying Burger King’s BBQ Brisket Whopper, but if you’re going into this thinking brisket, you’re going to be as brisk-appointed as much as you’re disappointed with me for using the word “brisk-appointed.”

Purchased Price: $10.19*
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 1010 calories, 65 grams of fat, 17 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 140 milligrams of cholesterol, 1810 milligrams of sodium, 70 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 19 grams of sugar, and 44 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

REVIEW: McDonald’s Snack Wraps (2025)

McDonald’s Snack Wraps are back! The overwhelming happiness this has brought to the masses could squeeze the purple life out of Grimace.

However, they aren’t the same Snack Wraps we all adored and occasionally wished for on social media when they were removed from the menu years ago. These 2025 Snack Wraps aren’t the Snack Wraps from 2006-2007 for two reasons — flavor and value.

The Snack Wrap reboot is available in two varieties: Ranch and Spicy. Both come with the relatively new McCrispy Strips, shredded lettuce, and shredded cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla. The chicken is decent tasting, but it’s not my pick in the chicken strip war that’s currently going on between all the fast food chains. Here’s what I wrote about them earlier this year:

The first thing that caught my eye about the McCrispy Strips was how McLong they were. They seemed more impressive than the previous McDonald’s offerings. Also impressive was how tender and juicy the meat was. However, I wish the “crispy golden brown breading” was crispier. There’s some texture, especially on the edges, but for the most part, I find the Chicken McNuggets to have a crispier exterior. That’s disappointing for something that seems more premium than chicken nuggets. As for its flavor, it has a light pepperiness that makes these okay enough to eat sans sauce…

Most of the chicken’s texture and flavor get lost in this mashup of lettuce, cheese, sauce, and tortilla. The cheese is surprisingly noticeable in some bites, and the tortilla’s taste stands out a bit too much, but it’s mostly a sauce show. While the Ranch one was my favorite with the original Snack Wraps, I prefer the Spicy one this time around, which uses the same sauce used with the Spicy McCrispy Sandwich and the Spicy Egg McMuffins. It brings a nice level of heat and pepperiness, which makes it more flavorful than the Ranch one. Now, the Ranch one is fine and perfect if you want to come closest to reliving those previous Snack Wrap days. But neither variety has me wanting wrap my arms around Grimace to bear hug him.

Now, on to value.

What I remember most about the 2000s version was how you could buy one with whatever coins you could scrounge under your car’s various floor mats, and if you had a parking meter feeder stash, you could get two of them. They were Snack Wraps with a snack-like price and had a value that stood out on the menu. That arguably was a major reason for their appeal. Maybe even more than their flavor, which I did enjoy.

Even though these do seem to be slightly more substantial than the original Snack Wrap and, of course, there’s inflation, these new ones at their advertised $2.99 price seem less of a value. (Note: I paid $3.99 on this rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.) Mainly because for a little bit more, I can get a $5 McChicken Meal Deal.

Perhaps if McDonald’s added a Snack Wrap as an option for its Meal Deal, I’d probably end up eating more of them. But knowing the Golden Arches, it’ll probably take away Meal Deals, and I’ll be wishing for it to come back on social media.

Purchased Price: $3.99 each
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: Ranch – 390 calories, 22 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 45 milligrams of cholesterol, 900 milligrams of sodium, 31 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 17 grams of protein. Spicy – 380 calories, 21 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 920 milligrams of sodium, 30 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 17 grams of protein.

REVIEW: McDonald’s Daily Double

McDonald’s Daily Double is not the burger I wanted the fast food chain to bring back. That pedestal belongs to the Big ‘N Tasty, which, for those of you who are too young to remember, was a short-lived Whopper competitor rolled out at the turn of the century. While not as ancient as the Big ‘N Tasty, the Daily Double made its debut in 2012, and it’s been available occasionally in specific US markets. However, it’s now available nationwide again.

The well-topping-endowed burger features two beef patties, two slices of Roma tomatoes, slivered onions, shredded lettuce, mayonnaise, and American cheese on a regular bun. I imagine it’s called Daily Double because Grimace wanted to remember the fond memories of watching the game show Jeopardy with The Professor, who grew Grimace from a petri dish and taught the purple blob love and compassion. I’m fairly certain that’s part of the McDonaldland canon.

Speaking of the McDonald’s universe (McDU), the Daily Double is one of the few burgers in Golden Arches history that, by default, comes topped with only mayonnaise and doesn’t come with pickles. But despite the lack of strong condiments like ketchup and mustard, it does have a flavor that I find to be good enough to convince me to order it again.

When I took my first bite, I had to double-check that there wasn’t a new sauce with the burger. It turned out to be the combination of mayonnaise and onion that created that pleasing flavor. The absence of pickles, mustard, and ketchup allowed the two beef patties to stand out with a strong meaty flavor and saltiness. I’m not sure I noticed the single cheese slice, so maybe a second slice should’ve been added for a stronger cheesiness, increased profit margins, and to really hit home the “double” in the Daily Double.

The lettuce and tomato bring a bit of freshness and something to cut through some of the saltiness of the beef patties. They also make the burger look as if there’s a salad on top of it. As someone who is trying to incorporate more vegetables into my diet in any way I can, I appreciate the double tomato slices. The shredded lettuce also gives this a certain quality equal to McDonald’s signature Big Mac — its messiness.

Despite not being the Big’ N Tasty, I’m glad McDonald’s Daily Double has returned. Although it’s basically a heavily customized McDouble, so I guess I could have had it all this time, which is a good thing because when it disappears again, I can continue to enjoy it.

Purchased Price: $4.19*
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 400 calories, 31 grams of fat, 11 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 80 milligrams of cholesterol, 810 milligrams of sodium, 30 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 5 grams of sugar (including 3 grams of added sugar), and 22 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

REVIEW: McDonald’s Spicy Sausage McMuffin with Egg

Do you know what’s a great way to get out of a sleepy morning state?

Caffeine? Nah.

Multiple alarms? Beep, no!

A firm face slap? You’re getting closer.

After taking my first bite from McDonald’s Spicy Sausage McMuffin with Egg, I realized I’d been getting awake the wrong way. I don’t need coffee or multiple alarms set for 6:45, 6:50, 6:54, 6:57, 6:59, 7:00, 7:01, 7:02, 7:03 am. All I need is to make the inside of my mouth experience a slightly stabby pain. I figured this out thanks to this McDonald’s breakfast sandwich that features the chain’s Spicy Pepper Sauce, which debuted with the Spicy McCrispy Chicken Sandwich.

Now, pulling out the Spicy Pepper Sauce for the breakfast crowd begs the question: Why not bring out the Big Mac Sauce, too? I’m 100 percent sure it would make a McMuffin McBetter.

Anyhoo, the orangey condiment brings a spiciness that I’d put at a 4-5 on my heat scale. It’s not enough to make me sweat or wish I’d ordered orange juice with it, but I did find myself suddenly more alert with a burn circulating inside my mouth, and that peppery burn lingered on my lips and tongue well after finishing the sandwich.

Beyond the heat, I enjoyed the added flavor. Standard McMuffins aren’t completely bland, but after eating Grimace’s weight of McMuffins over my lifetime, it’s wonderful to be able to taste something different. The sauce’s pepperiness negates the egg and cheese’s flavor, but the savory sausage still comes through. However, I do think the egg and cheese slightly dampens the topping’s heat.

I’m not sure if it’s just because it’s the new hotness, but I think I’m going to order all my McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches with this sauce for as long as I can. Yeah, even the McGriddles for a swicy twist.

McDonald’s Spicy Sausage McMuffin with Egg was a great tasting way to start my morning. The sauce’s pepperiness awakened my taste buds, and the sauce’s heat awakened the rest of my head. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to place a bag of Flamin’ Hot chips next to my bed.

Purchased Price: $5.79*
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: Unavailable at time of publication.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Ice Cream-Inspired Frozen Coffee

Today was the perfect day for me to review Dunkin’s new limited edition (it’s only around this summer) Ice Cream-Inspired Frozen Coffee: I had to wake up at 5 am, I had free time in the afternoon right as my energy was starting to fade, and it was hot as heck outside. Motivated by these conditions that basically begged for a mixture of caffeine and frozen dessert, I perused the three flavor options—Cookie Dough, Mint Chocolate Chip, and Butter Pecan—and opted for Butter Pecan.

I sometimes get nervous when purchasing new items that employees might not be familiar with yet, but the ordering process went smoothly… at least until I was handed a bald Frozen Coffee, missing the luxurious whipped cream, syrup swirl, and crunchy crushed waffle cone topping that solidify this drink as “Ice-Cream Inspired.” Being someone who dreads even mild confrontations, I immediately broke out in a sweat so cold I no longer required a frosty beverage to cool down, but I knew I would have to speak up.

The things I do for you, dear Impulsive Buy readers! Fortunately, after I sheepishly showed a picture on my phone (and apologized for the inconvenience about a dozen times), I was rewarded a few minutes later with a new Frozen Coffee looking as glamorous as the one in the marketing materials.

It tasted pretty glamorous, too! It approached the border of “overly sweet” without quite crossing it, which is just how I prefer my coffee. There was a toasty, generally nutty flavor that I might have identified as almond or hazelnut, but a buttery undertone sealed the deal as living up to its Butter Pecan name. The waffle cone topping lived up to its name as well—as with most ice cream cones I can recall, it was more textural than tasty, a bit bland when sampled on its own, but it provided a welcome crunch as part of a larger experience. (Note that it was best in small doses: when I chomped down on a large, slightly soggy cluster that had sunken to the bottom of the cup after finishing my drink, it was a tad overwhelming.) Luckily though, the butter pecan-flavored swirl perked up the neutral-tasting crunchies right up, providing a perfect pop of sweetness without being laid on too thick. And the whipped cream was light and airy, practically melting in my mouth, which added to the summery feeling.

Another thing I appreciated was how well-blended the drink was. While it clearly was frozen, the sips weren’t gritty, going down as smoothly as regular iced coffee. Though there was a substantial chunk of ice left at the end, I didn’t mind; mixed with the melty remnants of the whipped cream, syrup, and waffle cone pieces, the treat took on a snow cone texture in the final mouthfuls, which may not have been intentional but was still pretty fun.

Truthfully, the Butter Pecan Ice Cream-Inspired Frozen Coffee wasn’t that different than any of the other frozen and/or sugar-bomb drinks Dunkin’ already has on offer. But between its playful seasonal vibe, thematically appropriate toppings, and perfect balance of being both sweet-but-not-cloying and frozen-but-still-drinkable, I’d suggest it for anyone looking to power through a heatwave, an unpleasantly early wakeup time, or just a good old-fashioned sugar craving.

Purchased Price: $5.11
Size: Small
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 590 calories, 22 grams of fat, 13 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 70 milligrams of cholesterol, 250 milligrams of sodium, 92 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 84 grams of sugar, and 6 grams of protein.

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