I don’t get into Burger King very often – maybe once every five years or if there’s something new I think I should try. (I owe that to you guys, of course, I try things so you don’t have to). I don’t know when they lost favor/flavor with me, I used to be a semi-regular.
Eschewing my favorite local burger place tonight, I zipped through BK for the 2 / $5, and opted for the “Yumbo” ham and cheese, and the “Big Fish.”
Burger King started in Jacksonville, FL, in 1953, after the founder checked out the original McDonalds in San Bernardino, CA. The distinction became the “Insta-Broiler” which gave the burgers a charcoal like appearance and taste. The company grew, added franchises, and stumbled a bit in 1959, and the Miami franchisee bought the rights to the company and continued to grow it. Since then it has been through a dozen or so owners, and is currently held by a private equity group based in Brazil. It’s had Mexican, British, and other owners, including Pillsbury for awhile. The most recent move of the Brazilians (in partnership with Warren Buffet) was to acquire Tim Horton’s, the mega chain in Canada. The goal of private equity owners is always to boost ‘value’ and the easiest way to do that is to buy increased revenue/cash flow by acquiring another company (regardless of the reasons stated publicly). Then they flip to another private equity group or dump the company on the public markets, take their gains, and move on.
I digress.
Confession: I like fast food “ham” and “fish.” Much preferred to the mass market fast food burgers, in any case, even tho the “ham” is never “real” (except in the case of Bojangles). Among “fake” hams, I like Arbys Jr, for a buck.
I like the fish because they are cooked after you order, so it’s hot and “fresh.”
Burger King Yumbo
BK’s “Yumbo” marks the return of a sandwich first offered decades ago; the company describes it as “slices of savory black forest ham, topped with American cheese, crisp lettuce, and creamy mayo, all served heated on a toasted hoagie bun.” Mostly accurate with the exception (in my sandwich) is the lettuce wasn’t crisp, and the final stage of preparation is microwaving, which kind of takes the body out of any sandwich.
Burger King Big Fish
Their “Big Fish” carries the following description: “Our premium Big Fish Sandwich is 100% White Alaskan Pollock, breaded with crispy panko breading and topped with sweet tartar sauce, tangy pickles, all on top of a toasted Artisan Style bun.” Again, mostly accurate. It’s difficult to tell the breading is panko, as panko crumbs are usually larger in size; Wendy’s had a good panko fish LTO a few years ago. In any case, I judge it to be slightly better than McDonalds, for more personal tastes, McDonalds fish has always seemed to me like a tartar sauce sandwich on a bun with a fish taste. Seriously overdoing the tartar.
In the case of both (and any sandwiches ever, anywhere), I think shredded lettuce is a distraction. Bring on the whole leaves, if it must be a component.
I added fries, and my 2 /$5 deal ended up in the $8 range. BK says their fries are “More delicious than ever, our signature piping hot, thick cut Salted French Fries are golden on the outside and fluffy on the inside.”
I never got to try BK’s “Satisfries” which they dumped after only a year. The current product is an extruded fry (not cut from real potatoes, but a mashed potato slurry put through a mold, frozen, then fried), which I have never really cared for. I like fries with a little “bite.”
But I realize BK is not in business just for me and this type of fry is very popular with the masses, and most people don’t know the difference.
BK’s 2 / $5 deal currently includes a mix and match choice of the fish, ham and cheese, original chicken, and the 530 calorie Big King. Not sure if the offering is permanent or limited time.
Their “dollar menu” has fine print that says “starting at one dollar.” Most items are more.
Recommendations? BK’s fish and the ham and cheese are a nice respite from burgers at the big chains. I like that BK toasts buns. I’d do them again, but with the shredded lettuce, avoid eating while driving! BK App/Locator.
Hungry for some really great ham? Check this out.
Big Fish
BK Yumbo Ham & Cheese
Burger King Yumbo Review
Burger King Yumbo Review