Burger King California Whopper, Reviewed

Burger King has jumped on the same health-conscious bandwagon as Wendy's, with a new ad campaign that attempts to put the burger chain in a fresher and healthier light amidst the current trend of vilifying fast food. Gone are its commercials with the creepy, yet amusingly kitschy "King" mascot; BK's new ad agency now puts the brand in a cleaner direction, with fresh vegetables prepared in slow motion against a dark background in its latest TV spot. Leading the new brand direction on the menu is the California Whopper, which doesn't use the old stand-by adjective "
"flame-broiled" on its box; it's "grilled and guac'd." Here's how it rates:

The Claims: The new limited-time California Whopper is a quarter-pound burger "topped with ripe tomatoes, crisp lettuce, guacamole, crispy bacon, melted Swiss cheese, creamy mayo and onions all on a toasted sesame seed bun" (820 calories). Its smaller counterpart, the California Whopper Jr., has the same toppings on a smaller beef patty. (430 calories)

The Verdict: C-. Burger King doesn't exactly say that its goal is to provide healthier meals -- that's what McDonald's PR people are working on -- but better food is sort of implied in its new campaign's direction. However, the truth is that this new California Whopper, with all its fresh-looking ingredients from the Golden State, packs in more calories than the regular Whopper (670 calories), or the bigger Steakhouse XT Burger (770 calories). This would be fine if there was added taste to the burger, but there isn't. The guacamole is really mild and bland, and only does well with adding a creamy texture to the burger. Its mild taste overpowers the flavors in the cheese and the bacon -- and even minimizes that signature "flame-broiled" BK taste -- with a smear of mediocrity. Perhaps if the guacamole had a bit more spices, it would be a better offering.

If you're not into spicy foods, that's fine too; just know that if you're opting for this burger for something lighter, its mild taste does the trick -- but its calorie count doesn't. If only the King were still around to see this...

Comments

[Bing Black]

03:06 PM on 09/20/2011

Why dont they call it what it is junk food or fast food. Dont try to make it something that its not, no matter what you do to its still bad for you. Just make it taste good and people will buy it, if they want something healthy they need to stay out of all the fast food places because it is all bad. Stop treating people like idiots and give them what they pay for. bingerblk

[mwmwmw]

06:48 PM on 08/26/2011

One hell of an ampersand.

[syl118]

09:05 AM on 08/26/2011

Why not come up with a whole wheat roll and JUICY veggie burger and/or turkey burger with the trimmings, minus the bacon, leave the cheese and the rest, you can always "have it your way". OK make bacon an option as well, still a bit healthier, plus I love bacon :)

[c-tom]

06:54 PM on 08/27/2011

Because soy curd doesn't taste as good as ground beef.

[LarrBerr]

03:46 AM on 08/30/2011

I worked a lot of fast food years ago. On a regular basis healthy options are rolled out, usually after complaints about how unhealthy fast food is. The healthy options always disapear after awhile, because nobody orders them. The whole wheat bun turkey burgers will sell a few right at first, then later they all end up going to waste so it doesn't pay to keep them. Then they'll roll out the quadruple patty, full pound cheeseburger with a fried egg on top and the sales go through the roof. Wait another year, people complain about how unhealthy the food is. Lather, rinse, repeat.

[johnfor3]

08:26 AM on 08/26/2011

Hey Burger King if I want to eat healthy I will not be coming to you! If I want a crappy frozen hunk of soybean stuffed horse meat burger I will be coming to you! It is a shame all these places have gotten to big for their own good.
I am willing to bet most of you never ate at a McDonald's back in the 60's. IT WAS GOOD FOOD a great place to get a hamburger. Today they are all card board hunks in a stale bun! I sure miss the days when places were small and they cared about the food they put out and enjoyed people having a good meal. Now its run them through so we can get the next sucker in the seat!

[Jeremiah Donier]

01:53 AM on 09/05/2011

My mom swears that her horse was stolen and sold to a meat packing company that was selling its product to Mc'D in the 1960s. She still won't eat there to this day.

[passthedorch]

03:29 PM on 09/18/2011

Or Wendy's when they only had 3 sandwiches (watch out for the calories & fat on that triple!).

[danno1400i]

08:09 AM on 08/26/2011

just another gimmick, give me the good old whopper

[Robert10]

08:39 AM on 08/26/2011

bite me you vegan terd

[Donna Bridges]

05:07 PM on 08/27/2011

Do you have written support for making these statements? "It's geared especially for minorities who'd rather eat some relatively expensive giant X-burger", "Certain minority females have more fatty junk in their trunk than a pickup truck".

[lrpro17]

04:03 AM on 08/26/2011

I think they should keep this one in CALI. ! guacamole GROSS !

[castillopsca]

01:50 AM on 08/26/2011

I swear the fast food dives can take a burger that would normally be 700 calories and by the time they do what they do.... the same burger is 1090 calories. I think all the fast food chains get kick back money from the health industry. Not a far reach.

[breezyxoxomarie]

01:08 AM on 08/26/2011

BK is nasty.

[fourstrongwinds4]

11:38 PM on 08/25/2011

I "accidently" got a Jalapeno pepper Whopper one time, and didn't realize it till after I swallowed a mouthful. I am allergic to pepper. Tongue swelled, lip swelled. Called BK the next day, got the old run around. Said they would send me some coupons/and refund the burger which I tossed. Got zip. Bunch of freakin liars.

[joynerz]

11:28 PM on 08/25/2011

I think McD's salad in a cup still tops 'em all for goofy.

[joynerz]

11:27 PM on 08/25/2011

Are they still throwing jalapeno slices on a burger and calling it something special?

[Krista Shackelford]

11:10 PM on 08/25/2011

Gross. We have to order this yucky looking thing to get 'ripe veggies'? Sounds as if they do not put them on any other burger...oh wait, they don't. I have seen tomatoes that look so unripe that I won't eat them, lettuce so wilted, it looked rotted. I have not been back to BK in ages, and really have no desire to. I think I will save the money that it would cost for one meal for my family (about $20) and get some fresh ground meat, get a box of Hamburger Helper, a bag of frozen fries, or heck a microvave bag of potatoes and have a home cooked meal, there's a concept for the ages.

[undrgrndgirl]

01:20 AM on 08/26/2011

that's not home cooked...it's home re-hydrated/re-heated...

[motor48]

10:33 PM on 08/25/2011

Eat and Enjoy Then do some work to shed the caleries Not Food For CEOs

[Adam Dray]

10:01 PM on 08/25/2011

Um...did u guys have to shake the burger around first before taking a photo? I mean I understand sometimes its preperation leaves much to be desired but whats with the congraluded mess? I mean is it so hard to I dunno, at least take it out of it's wrapper and put on a flat surface? I see the slash food editors have carried their idiocracy over to here with the AOL merger.....

[Michael Minihane]

12:17 PM on 08/28/2011

Um...did you look at a thesaurus before posting your witty comment? What is congraluded? That's not even a word. The only thing messier then the California Whopper is your comment.