Wendy's has overtaken Burger King as America's second largest burger chain. I've always been biased toward Wendy's (in the Southeast, there is a Wendy's restaurant literally everywhere), but am surprised to see BK's fall from grace because it seemed like a more established joint.
One spot even featured The King himself breaking into McDonalds' heavily guarded headquarters, Mission Impossible style, to steal its sausage, egg and cheese recipe. The tag-line: "It's not that orginal, but it's super affordable."Wendy's, Tristano explained to me, took the opposite route. The company's had always staked its image on using fresher ingredients than its competition, serving burger patties that had never been frozen, for instance. So it chose to double down on that route. In its most high profile move, the chain redesigned its old, square burgers, which focus groups said looked processed, and created a thicker patty using a looser cut of meat, meant to mimic the upstart better-burger chains like Five Guys.
I think this is a fun topic to talk about, mostly because it's not something we would routinely discuss here on WSO. I try to keep up with what's going on in the markets, but come on, who really pays attention to the service sector, more specifically, fast food?
I have to say Burger King's commercials have been getting progressively worse, while Wendy's tendency to improve its menu (those Sea Salt fries are epic) definitely puts it lightyears ahead in my book. Mickey D's will always be number one, or so it seems, but if all three are next to one another on the road, I'm going with Dave Thomas.
What do you guys think? Wendy's? BK? "I make too much money for fast food?"
I like Wendy's much better at this point, both from a product and corporate perspective. Their stock looks relatively cheap, and they pay a nice dividend.
They serve a slightly different market than the Golden Arches, whereas Burger King is more or less a clone. BK is to McDonald's as Pepsi is to Coke. Wendy's is Dr. Pepper in this analogy; similar, but not interchangeable. Trying to compete directly with McDonald's is suicide. Its like trying to beat Walmart.
Wendy's has baked potatoes, chili, the Frosty (which is somehow different than a chocolate shake), and their new breakfast offerings. Burger King's offerings have stagnated, even relative to McDonald's (the McCafe is brilliant).
Nevertheless, I see McDonald's either losing market share to upper tier burger places (5 Guys, In-n-Out, Shake Shack), or, more likely, mirroring that business model. There is not enough of a cost differential between one of McD's pricier offerings and In-n-Out to ever make me choose the former. The only way the model of the 99c "is this beef?" burger will survive is if it is marketed to the low-income groups.
Also, Burger King deserves to fail for discontinuing the Angry Whopper. I hope whoever made that decision burns in Hell.
Wendy's spicy chicken... Can't reallly get any better than that
Wendy's currently and will always run Burger King's Show
Burger King is at the end of the line I hate to say it - shit's still tasty but fucking disgusting
-Hands down the last pick on anyone's fast food list -All the locations are super outdated and still wreak of fast food heaven -People are way to health conscious for it And Lastly -Remixing the Whopper 100 times will only take you so far
Don't get me wrong thinking wendy's is extremely healthy for you but they counter argue BK in all of the points i've stated - They have a solid discount menu - they not only touch on fast food but they have a solid market share for deserts (i.e. the shakes) and LASTLY there partnered with tim Hortons. Living in the North Pole otherwise known as Canada - Tim Horton's is a staple for coffee and there are a fair amount of conjoined Tim Hortons Wendys Franchisee's all over the map.
Long Wendy's Short BK
Yeah, Wendy's is def where it's at. We almost never eat fast food, but if we do my wife and I always get Wendy's. I get the Spicy Chicken (which is the BEST fast food sandwich out there) and she gets some combo of baked potato, frosty, fries or possibly nuggets. Each of those options either taste better than the other fast food places or are only offered their.
wendy's spicy chicken is my 2nd favorite fast food sandwich, next to arby's chicken bacon n' swiss. that and their curly fries give them a slight edge over wendy's imo.
Spicy Chicken ftw - the only fast food I eat.
I have to say that I'm not surprised by this though - Who chooses Burger King when its next to Wendys?
major fast-food burger joints by food quality:
Arby's Wendy's Carl's Jr. Jack in the Box McDonalds dog shit herpes diharrea Burger King
seriously, this does not surprise me. i would only go to burger king as a last resort...
oh, and i didn't include In N Out or 5 Guys in the above list, because i can't eat anything worth eating on their menu... not because they suck.
So if you can't find dog shit, a herpes infested girl or guy, or have diarrhoea handy, you go for Burger King.
You clearly have refined taste in food. [no sarcasm]
wendy's so unbelievably expensive!
carl's jr is my no.1 fast food place!
When I use to work at Wendy's I hated people like you.... It really isn't that expensive.
Wendy's spicy chicken is also my number two. I know it's regional, but Chik-fil-a is always numero uno for me.
^^^ if i was starving to death and found only a burger king, i would immediately start scouring the floor for dog shit, diharrea, or your mom's panties (ZING!!)
After a second failed attempt, you should probably stop trying to spell diarrhoea.
Mind you, I was complimenting your passionate dislike for BK. You chose to mention the unmentionable at my expense.
Go back to watching "two girls, your mom." Zing, was it?
sorry nothing personal, i couldn't help myself with that one.... don't be mad brah.
and i still have no idea how to spell diharrea.
Jack in the box/ chick-fil-a/ whataburger
end thread
Does BK even offer a comparable dollar/value menu? I get the feeling both McD's and BK are vying for the same customers while Wendy's is a little more prestigious. Wendy's definitely has a sick value menu though still.
It's funny how fast food restaurants can represent socioeconomic status. The number of times I've heard Chik-fil-a or 5 Guys being referred to as the "rich people" fast food joint is pretty large.
Only on WSO haha.
Have to second the chick-fil-a comments. Not a fan of In-N-Out though. Thoughts on Sonic?
Last time i went to BK, it was garbage. Wendy's spicy chicken is pretty good.
wow glad i'm not the only one obsessed with wendy's spicy chicken.
Where's chick-fil-a on your lists bitches?!?!?!!?!
Chick-fil-a + In N Out =game over
Almost got shot last time at BK.
BK traditionally targeted male fast food eaters. That market has become heavily more saturated and the consumer preferences have also shifted while BK's menu did not. As a result they have suffered in sales. Starbucks is bigger than burger king as a food retailer. I imagine BK will try to go through a brand perception overhaul, which is likely to be highly expensive and a long-run strategy, I don't see them re-emerging to #2 for sometime.
Wendy's is fucking great, and I'm honestly a bit surprised that their Old Timey schitck sells so well. I guess I can buy that McDonald's and Burger King targets lower class customers, but I think the food on the Wendy's cheap menu provides way better value than comparable offerings from the other fast food places.
fuck i never know chick fil a until today....
Honestly, I don't see how anyone can like Arby's. Sorry, Sayandarula
If chipotle can be considered fast food (it is in my mind but certainly a different vein than Wendy's) than it wins outright.
My girlfriend's name is Wendy, but I don't eat there often b/c I think Burger King's meat is a little juicier.
It was all downhill once BK killed The King...
WEN is trying to move out of quickserve and into the "fast casual" space with CMG, PNRA. The move makes sense, as almost every quickserve restaurant has been bleeding market share to MCD over the past 5 years. - New CEO Emil Brolick (former Taco Bell CEO) - launching breakfast line (breakfast accounts for nearly 30% of all quickserve revs)
Everyone knows the answer to this, "Harvey's" is the best
The Whopper wins, everything else sucks.
It's interesting how different chains are more prevalent in different parts of the country. In CT, you mosly see the regular chains, but as I've traveled, I've noticed some chains are not as popular, and some areas are dominated by one chain. Before I went to Hawaii I had never heard of Jack-In-the-Box, but they were almost on every corner there; in CT, there seems to be a Dunkin Donuts every 100 yards... not a single Dunkin Donuts in Hawaii. Just find this stuff interesting, and wonder what this boils down to...
That being said, the only fast food I can tolerate is Wendy's (or JITB if it's around). I think the McCafe was a good idea, brought out by the leader (McD) and the other chains are struggling to find their real selling points now. Wendy's can push their "quality" ingredients, etc, but Burger King? I am not sure what their strong points are, if any.
I am yet to try the new Sea Salt fries.... they have caught my attention.
Also, lol at Wendy's being "more prestigious"...
Please rank the following fast food chains in order of prestige:
McDonald's Burger King Wendy's Chik-fil-a Jack in the Box Hardee's / Carl Jr.'s
Wendy's definitely has the best exit opps, but in terms of absolute prestige, I'm still not sure...
It's pretty interesting reading this thread. There are a couple of Wendy's outlets where I live, but in all honesty pretty much nobody goes to Wendy's. Except as a novelty.
The Wendy's here sucks hairy balls.
Chic-Fil-A is the shit. Only problem is that they are closed on Sundays. Sunday brunch from there would be awesome.
How can one justify the existence of a God when Chick fil a is closed on Sundays?
Wendy's is so much better than BK it's unreal. But no burger joint is as good as chic-fil-a
White Castle original Gangsta over hurr
The only place worse than BK is Taco Bell; I can only hold anything I eat there in for about 30 minutes before it screams to be expelled. You know there is something wrong when you can get a beef taco for 79 cents.
And their restaraunts are even more outdated and disgusting than BK.
I wouldn't even consider White Castle a fast food brand as there are so few of them and I never see anyone in there.
yeeeeeeah Wendy's spicy chiken all day. but theres nothing else i ever order there.
I like both, but I think I'm gonna have to go with the King here.
Two words: Chicken fries.
BK doesn't sell those anymore.
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