That's right, guys. The iconic Burger King mascot is no more; he was unceremoniously dethroned in a PE boardroom in August. New York-based 3G Capital took over the burger chain in 2010 and ran off the old board of directors, and the new sheriff in town sent The King packing.
While I wasn't surprised to see Burger King behind McDonald's in sales, I was surprised to learn that Burger King trails Wendy's too. I'd sooner take a kick in the nuts than eat Wendy's (mad props to Dave Thomas from a business perspective and everything he did over the years for adopted kids, though).
It's an interesting marketing decision on the part of the new Burger King board. They signed an exclusive deal with Pepsi in Latin America (owned by the same parent company), and they plan to expand their Brazilian footprint from 100 stores to over 1,000.
I happen to love Burger King. The only fast food burger chain I like more is Jack In The Box (well, In 'N' Out, but they don't really count). But for some reason Burger King is hit and miss on the global market. They made it for a few years here in France, and then they went under and their properties were acquired by Quick. Spain and Germany have Burger King, but that's a hell of a drive for a flame-broiled Whopper.
The man behind the Burger King acquisition is Brazil's own Jorge Paulo Lemann, and all of you with BSD dreams should read about this guy. He started Brazil's first modern investment bank when he was only 32 years old and did it under a military dictatorship. That was after years as a top-ranked tennis pro and graduating from Harvard with an econ degree.
So I'm wondering who or what will be the face of Burger King now that the King is dead. There has to be some European monarchy hard up for cash right now; maybe they'll rope in an actual king as spokesman. In any case, here is the definitive league table in the burger wars:
- In 'N' Out Double Double (animal style)
- Jack In The Box Sourdough Jack
- Burger King Whopper (no onions)
- Quick Quick 'N' Toast (basically a French Sourdough Jack)
- Carl's Jr. regular hamburger
- McDonald's Big Mac
Did I miss anybody?
ummm 5 guys? whataburger? I'm not even in the US and I know in and out, 5 guys, whataburger >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> everything else
I feel like Five Guys isn't really directly comparable to McDonald's, In N Out, etc., although maybe I'm splitting hairs. Also, of course if you're from NYC or Kuwait (seriously, check out their website), Shake Shack definitely gets a mention and is probably gets a second place mention, although of course is inferior to In N Out.
Too bad--I'm more of a Burger King fan than a McDonald's fan myself. I don't know how the marketing machine can recover if they have to start from scratch. Any idea why they gave it the axe besides to save money?
Until I try this much ballyhooed In N Out, I'll stick with Five Guys or the Whopper. Wendy's Baconater is pretty solid too.
I happen to love Wendy's. Wendy's > Burger King
At least he settled his beef with Ronald before he kicked the bucket
Burger King, Wendy's, Arbys are all shit. I'll take Quebecois Poutine & Foie Gras any day of the week over shitty Burger King.
1) The King lives. I was rolling through some bumfuckville last week and saw his cheesy grill piece in the window with that deliciously psychotic expression mugging back at me.
2) How the fuck do you hate on Wendy's and the Baconator, not to mention the BBC (no homo) and their O.G. frosty selection?
3) It ain't a burger, but a league table without a Nathan's Famous is like a junk bond without Milken.
Midas, Nathan's is a Coney Island Original! Man, they are the league table!
Burger King went downhill when they got rid of the Rodeo Burger.
I would say that Five Guys is positioning itself as almost an East Coast In-N-Out.
Although they are fast food, I don't think of Five Guys and In-N-Out when I think fast food for whatever reason. I put them in line more with places like Chipotle, Panera, etc. Only been to INO twice, but whenever I'm at Five Guys I go in and sit down.
I'm not much of a fast food burger person. I'll eat Steak and Shake's Frisco Melt, but besides that if I get FF I'm getting chicken. The McChicken is decent but the other choices in my area kick the shit out of it (Chick-fil-a especially). Out of the big chains I prefer Wendy's. Good spicy chicken sandwich.
Unless I'm on a road trip, I will not eat McDonald's or BK (BK especially).
please don't make this comparison, it is not even close.
http://memearchive.net/memerial.net/page/302.jpg WHAT?! NO MORE WHOPPERS WITH CHEESE???!!!!! THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!!!!!!
Five guys wins then, but they're a lot like just grilling the real thing. I think I'm running out of reasons to eat fast food.
Culver's butter burger is the shit (you Midwesterners know what i"m talking about).
The king took a 15 year hiatus between the late 80s and the early part of the last decade. He will be back.
I've seen a rebranding coming down the pipline for a while...
my dad owns a window cleaning/power washing company here in the Greater Toronto Area and our biggest and most reliable clients have always been quick-service restaurants. 2006 there were about 50 Burger Kings that we serviced from Niagara Falls to Kitchener to Newmarket to Oshawa, which is a pretty big area for all you non GTAers, each location dropping about $600 a month on cleaning services. That shit started to spiral down the drain and has now dried up HUUUUGE. Go in to most Burger King locations and the grounds and windows look horrible.
Every week it feels like they are bring out some new stupid burger combination and just recycling the same garbage ingredients... Its time they try a rebranding strategy and turn that ship around. Perhaps the death of the King is a good thing
certain parts are a bit nsfw but this is awesome:
THIS:
I liked In and Out when I was in the States (though, it was a rare treat as I've only seen it on the West Coast) but besides pricier places like Shake Shack and other 'premium, fast-food like' burger places in NYC, I haven't been able to find other chains I would eat a burger from.
If any of you American WSOers come north of the border - head over to Harvey's for good burgers within fast-food prices. There's also Lick's in Toronto but they're a bit pricier.
100-->1000 in Brazil? Stay out of my country, I like Brazilian beaches the way they are, I don't want to see a bunch of American style big girls
LOL.
Don't hate...it's all pink in the middle!!!
Regards
precisely...
Definitely forgetting 5 guys on that list.
Five Guys is definitely a contender. Whataburger is also incredible.
Kanon is right... Harvey's Burgers are like legal crack-cocaine jesus so soft yet firm and succulent
homer simpson drool UGGGGHMmmmmmm
Whataburger is always a delicious! Although they have much better "monthly" items than burgers.
A1 thick and hearty
Cant't forget the Honey BBQ chicken strip sandwich
why the hate for Wendys Eddie? I think the burgers might actually have real meat and taste great with all the mayo.
Just never dug the flavor. Always tasted cheap to me (I know, it's all cheap, ignore the irony). Like I said, I give Dave Thomas a lot of credit. Wendy's was the first burger joint with a salad bar and non-traditional menu items (chili, frosties, etc...). He was definitely an innovator - just look at the square burgers. I just always found the food nasty.
TACO BELL FTW
i don't see how any McD's or BK survives in a neighborhood that has in and out.
and five guys = very weak imitation of in and out.
the only person allowed to work the grill at an in an out is the manager, who requires several years of tenure. for that tenure he takes home 175K annually.
in and out also doesn't use chemical leaveners to accelerate the yeast rise in their buns. they only use the middle 2/3 of the tomatoes. they do not use lettuce core slices. also, only beef shoulder hamburger is used with closely supervised slaughterhouse supplies.
it is a well-run and deservedly beloved old-school business that puts any other establishment to shame. when i saw the guys working the five guys grill, i was not surprised that my burger was a sloppy, greasy, soggy piece of shit. there is no care in that process. they can do the red and white decor all they want but it is not in and out and i just pity the poor blighters who think they are doing anything than overpaying for a crappy burger.
if you have not tried it you cannot possibly understand.
Chick Fil-A isn't technically a burger, but I'd put it at #3 behind In-and-out and Shake Shack (HOW IS THAT OFF THE LIST?)
The King is dead...
...long live TheKing
Also, Chick-fil-A > anything.
Lets see if this new batch of PE gangbangers do anything else to BK, ever since it went back to being private I've seen BK as just another "Hoe" for PE Pimps
Chick-fil-A is WAY overrated.
Wendy's is where its at, especially the Spicy Chicken sandwich.
Five Guys and In-N-Out are in a class by themselves though.
five guys and In-N-Out are not comparable to burger king, mcdonalds, wendys, etc. I have to drop like 8 or 9 bucks there to get a burger and fries while at wendys I can spend $4 and be full
1 Double stack - $1 1 Chicken Sandwich- $1 1 Loaded Baked Potato - $1.5 Small Drink- $1
BOOM
are you going to a special in and out on balboa island that charges extra? last time i was there it was 1.7 for a burger, 1 for fries and >2 for a drink
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