Given the fact I use my car as an office, sitting down to enjoy a leisurely lunch isn’t always possible. Depending on where I am, my options are limited to fast food fare or anything pre-packaged from a gas station.
I’m not here to advocate for fast food. We all know it’s terrible for us and should not be a staple of our daily or even weekly diet. There are times; however, when I’m in a pinch and need to grab something quick and easy so I can move on to my next appointment or task.
I’m not a big soda drinker and although I like french fries, as each one enters my mouth, I feel more guilty than satisfied. This removes the need for a meal deal as two thirds of it I wouldn’t want anyway. Although chicken is the healthiest option at most places, I have a hard time ordering it at a fast food restaurant. Too often a chicken sandwich results in either a dry, slimy or less than satisfactory experience. This leaves me with one solid option: a hamburger.
Notice I didn’t say cheeseburger, I said hamburger. Yes indeed, the humble burger. The sandwich that most fast food places were built on. Before lettuce, tomatoes and bacon entered the picture, there was a regular ol’ burger. No frills to the extreme, you’re more than likely getting ketchup, mustard and nothing else. The simplicity makes it the perfect sandwich for eating lunch while driving.
Although there are others, I’ve ranked 4 burgers from fast food chains I’ve visited over the past few months. My rankings are based on a 1-10 scale (1 being the lowest, 10 being the highest), using the following: Taste, Size and Cost.
4.Wendys
The burger itself was a little thin but it had a good flavor. The real issue had to do with the bun. The bun was both stale and flavorless. If I had removed the burger from the bun, it would’ve looked like a sad, square patty. At $2.19, a Junior burger is the same price as McDonalds, but not nearly as tasty.
Overall: 15
3.McDonalds
As the only burger to add onions to the mix, the McDonalds burger has a nostalgic quality to it. As you’re eating it, you’re instantly transported to childhood. Before you understood what trans fats were or the definition of healthy eating, a McDonalds burger was nestled beside a small fry in your happy meal. The burger is small and there’s not much to it, but the onions score brownie points for flavor. Sitting in the original black and white wrapper with a cost of around $2.19, my 7 year old self still smiles at that first bite.
Overall: 17
2.Hardees
With the Hardees hamburger, we get our first taste of something grilled. Different from the thin Wendy’s and McDonalds burgers, the Hardees version is thicker and looks like an actual patty. The thicker patty takes up most of the bun and is reminiscent of a backyard BBQ. Where Hardees falls short is their tasteless bun and $3.24 starting price for 1 burger. Although it’s a good option, there’s one clear choice that not only tastes better but is the least expensive of them all.
Overall: 20
1.Burger King
At a starting price of $1.00 for a BK hamburger, it would’ve been tough to beat. Add in the fact it has a delicious chargrilled taste with a perfectly sized sesame seed bun and it’s not even close. BK blows the competition away. Different from Wendy’s and McDonalds, this burger not only fits the bun you can actually see it when you open the packaging. It’s substantial and an incredible value for what you get. Burger King is the clear winner when it comes to taste, size and cost.
Overall: 25
Next time you’re on the road, ditch the value meal and order yourself a humble hamburger instead. Keep an eye out for the Burger King sign as well.
It’s the only burger on this list that’s worthy of a crown.
