I keep expanding my trials for “new” fast food, either out of curiosity or due to having free coupons. Today I tackled Burger King’s “Big King,(tm)” their answer to McDonald’s Big Mac.
Burger King started in 1953 as “Insta-Burger King” in Jacksonville, FL, a small chain of franchised operations. Running into financial trouble within a couple years, two Miami franchisees purchased the rights to the restaurant, and dropped the “Insta” from the name. The company grew to the number two position of global hamburger franchises (tho it has currently slipped to number 3) with 13,000 outlets in 79 countries, and has been through a host of owners (including Pillsbury) the past two decades.
The last, and current purchaser is TPG Capital, a private equity group out of Texas, from British liquor giant Diageo for $2.6 billion.
As to the Big King(tm). advertising describes it as two savory fire-grilled beef patties, topped with, melted American cheese, fresh cut iceberg lettuce, crisp onions, crunchy pickles, and featuring a sweet thousand island style dressing, all on a warm, toasted, sesame seed bun. Advertising photographs have the sandwich looking like the first picture below.
My actual sandwich today is represented in the second picture. Here’s what I thought. Although the “fire grilled” flavor came through, I didn’t note anything savory about the two beef patties – which appeared to be about the equivalent size and weight to the two patties on McDonald’s McDouble, which sells for considerably less than the Big King. The lettuce, onion, and pickles seemed fresh enough, the sweet thousand island had no islands at all, and appeared to be mayo. The melted cheese? Wasn’t.
No matter. The good thing about going to BK these days is they have the Coke Freestyle machine, which enables you to mix and match a hundred or so soft drink combinations. Yahoo! BK twice in a few months, after a couple decade drought. I popped my Whopper cherry a few weeks ago.
Would I go for the Big King(tm) again? Unlikely. BK’s fries have improved though.
Advertising Photo
BK Big King at the Store
Big King Review