There are a lot of burger chains out there, but we decided to test the ubiquitous three: Burger King, Wendy's, and McDonald's.
It was hard to choose comparable cheeseburgers, but here is the lineup: the junior whopper from Burger King, the Wendy's "Hot 'N Juicy" 1/4 pound single, and the classic McDonald's quarter pounder.
Unwrap them, and the differences become pretty clear.
Starting off is Burger King's junior whopper, which immediately looks ... well, sad. It's the smallest of the three.
And it's incredibly smushed. And while this can happen to any burger, BK's did not recover well.
Inside, a single tomato slice — looking fairly fresh — sits atop a thin patty with cheese, anemic onion slices, several pickles, a tiny bit of lettuce, and a gargantuan amount of mayonnaise and ketchup.
The amount of sauces is overwhelming, so it's hard to get a hold of the taste. The beef is a tad on the bland side, but not awful; however, the patty is very thin. The pickles are great — they add a nice, briny tang — but the bun is spongy and very sweet for a regular bun.
Next up: Wendy's. The "Hot 'N Juicy" 1/4 pound cheeseburger is looking pretty good from the start.
It's fuller than BK's, and Wendy's signature square patty combined with a seedless bun help it stand out from the competition. It's not too flat, either — the bun holds up well.
Upon inspection, the first thing that comes to mind is the amount of red onions — there are a lot. I like onions, so this is a plus for me, but some other customers may not be fans. Plus, red onions have a stronger bite than the white variety. There are two slices of cheese bookending the thick patty, as well as a tomato slice, lettuce, and pickles. There's a sane amount of ketchup and mayo here, as compared to BK's.
The patty is thick and large, and the flavorful beef isn't lost even within the sharpness of the red onions and the slight sweetness of the pickles. The bun is pliable but keeps sogginess at bay — it's an easy burger to eat.
Finally, we have the honorable McDonald's quarter pounder with cheese. It comes in a simple little box, saving it from the shame of being smashed in the bag.
It's a surprisingly pretty burger. As far as fast-food goes, this is pretty eye-catching — a plump sesame-seed bun and a burly burger patty enveloped in two slices of melted American cheese.
Underneath the bun, the burger's simplicity is clear: Ketchup, mustard, slivered white onions, pickles, cheese, and the patty come together in a nearly perfect balance.
The beef tastes wonderful — far from bland, but admittedly a bit less thick and juicy than Wendy's. The entire burger is coordinated well, with just the right amounts of every ingredient to keep each flavor working in tandem. However, the bun does take away somewhat from the rest — it's a tad sweet.
So, of the three offerings, who takes the championship belt?
Burger King's burger was disappointing — perhaps the whopper would fare better, but that's for another day. Wendy's and McDonald's cheeseburgers were much more satisfying — close enough to call a tie.
Wendy's "Hot 'N Juicy" has the superior beef — it's big, juicy, and flavorful. With tomato and lettuce, it has a fresh and well-rounded taste. Plus, the red onions add a bite that compliments the sweetness of the ketchup and bun.
But McDonald's quarter pounder with cheese comes out as an inimitable classic amongst cheeseburgers. Nothing fancy — just onions, pickles, beef, and cheese in a seductive sesame seed bun. It's pure burger simplicity, with cheese.
