Debunking Beer Can Chicken: A Waste Of Good Beer, And Dangerous
Famous Death Row Last Meals
Photo: Dave77459, Flickr
It's a tragicomic lament that hovers like a cartoon thought-bubble over the heads of many fast-food burger eaters these days: Why, oh why, does the Big Mac in my hand look almost nothing like the one pictured in the McDonald's ad?
If any conclusion can be drawn from a new Consumer Reports survey, it may be that customers are getting fed up with chains that tantalize with mouth-watering pictures of plump, juicy burgers perfectly trimmed with all the fixings only to deliver a pallid simulacrum in reality -- sad, gray little patties topped with a loveless smear of ketchup and sandwiched between two tasteless buns.
Because when you look at who fared worst in the survey of more than 28,000 Consumer Reports subscribers on their fast-food burger preferences, they seem to have one thing in common (other than, apparently, terrible burgers): outsized advertising budgets.
Consumer Reports asked participants to rate the burgers at 18 different chains on a classic 1-to-10 scale. With a miserable average score of 6.3, Burger King and Jack in the Box both tied, vying for second-to-last place. (Maybe that's a sign that Jack in the Box needs to pick a "CEO"/spokesman that doesn't have an oversized ping-pong ball for a head.)
And who ended up in last place? McDonald's. Guess it's safe to say that the folks at Consumer Reports, at least, aren't "lovin' it." "More greasy than beefy," is how they described the burgers at America's top-selling fast-food chain, going on to describe the bun as "airy and bland."
If you're looking for more proof of the apparently inverse relationship between the amount of money a chain spends trying to convince people that their burgers are good and actually serving up a good burger, then look no further than the survey's top three.
Fuddruckers came in second with an average score of 7.7, while Five Guys Burgers and Fries and In-N-Out tied for the top spot with an average score of 7.9.
The paradox, of course, is that McDonald's is serving more 5.3-rated burgers than ever, as the company (no doubt smugly) points out.
As a company rep told Crain's Chicago Business, "Today, we are serving more customer than we ever have," she said. "This is evident by our very positive business results."
| Burger King | |
|---|---|
| McDonald's | |
| Five Guys Burgers | |
| In-and-Out | |
| Jack in the Box | |
| Fuddruckers | |
| Wendy's | |
| Whataburger | |
| Carl's Jr. | |
| Sonic Drive-in |
Charlie Sheen Gets Back To His Roots
The List #0147: Escape a Car Underwater
WHOOPS! Obama Makes Big Gaffe
Visit the Maldive Islands Before It's Too Late
Okla. Sheriff's Deputy Finds Dog Guarding Body Buried Under Destroyed Home
Mariah Carey Curses And Busts Out Of Dress On Live TV
H&M's Plus-Size Model Jennie Runk Says She Chose To Gain Weight
Reptiles Make Home in UK Man's Cable Box
Jury Foreman: '18 Days Of Testimony Hurt' Jodi Arias
Springtime Budget-Busters -- Savings Experiment
Is This Woman Too Pretty To Work?
Candid Portraits Of Strippers After Hours
Mariah Carey Suffers Wardrobe Malfunction on Good Morning America
Parents Face Tough Choice When Tornadoes Bear Down
What It's Like To Talk To A 2-Year-Old
The Story Behind Hairspray
AMAZING PHOTO: UFO Spotted Over San Diego
Best Friends Reportedly Die Holding Each Other In Tornado
Killed Soldier In London Attack Identified
New Trayvon Martin Evidence Features Incriminating Photos, Texts From Teen
Rapper Accused Of Faking His Own Death To Escape Payments
Danny Tanner Is Fighting With Topanga
Luke Wilson Caught Staring At Fan's Chest
LISTEN: Terror Inside Elementary School As Tornado Hits
Teenager's 'Awww'-Inspiring Drawing Wins Big At Google
WATCH: Police Force Shows Up To Support 5-Year-Old Who Lost Her Dad
Pope Francis Says All Who Do Good Are Redeemed - Atheists Included
LOOK: Photoshop Mistake Is Seriously Cringeworthy
Surgeons Remove Giant Hairball From Tiger
Brave Woman Stood Down Armed London Attackers
Jodi Arias Jury DEADLOCKED
LOOK: Bank Vault Saves 22 Lives During Tornado
9-08-2010 @10:21AM Kat said... I'm right there with you. If you make a picture of your product so you can sell it, it damn well better look like that. Frankly, McDonald's burgers look pretty much like the way you see it on TV. The worst is Carls Jr.. The burgers are flat, steamed and completely unappetizing, plus they don't taste so good. The best truth in advertising, though it isn't fast food, is Olive Garden. When I see a commercial that makes me want to go there and I order that thing, it looks EXACTLY like the one on TV and it tastes great.
If you didn't pick In N Out, you haven't tasted it, a very well built burger and it too looks like the one on TV. Made to order the lettuce is crisp and cold, paired with the hot burger and cheese, a very good fast food burger. Never tasted 5 Guys, would love to. Tommy's is the bomb, if you love chili burgers.
9-08-2010 @8:00AM Wilma Mustaffa said... The big mac is all bun and no meat.Burger King rules.
Reply
9-08-2010 @8:10AM Beaufor Toney said... I do not eat at any of these places. I prepare and cook my own food.
Reply
9-08-2010 @12:21PM Rodney said... I agree, Beaufor! Cook your own food... I ate at almost all the places listed years ago when I was younger but no more. Lost 20 pounds over 2 years by NOT eating fast food. Don't miss it, either? But if I ever do grab a burger, Sonic or Whataburger is where I'd do it. Side note to the oh, so many Burger King fans... The local health inspector told my neighbor that although our Burger King does pass his inspection, he personally wouldn't EVER eat anything from there compared to any other places in our area. Not sure exactly what he means but... Just sayin'. The health inspector ought to know what he's talkin' about, I would think?
9-08-2010 @8:21AM dws said... As a child I was known for asking my dad if I could get the job of stomping on the hamburgers at the local macds or Burger Chef as the photos and commercials always left out the guy/gal stomping on the hamburger before it was sold to the customer.
Reply
9-08-2010 @2:29PM Creid said... I tried Sonic because Jim Cramer said this was a great company. Well, I purchased a burger and fries, took a bite, tried one fry and literally threw the rest in the garbage! I am not a fussy eater, but this was terrible!!!!!!
Reply
9-08-2010 @8:24AM Dan McGrew said... For the best burger or taco or any food, fast or prepared from scratch ---
AVOID ALL CHAINS!!!
If you must eat in a chain cholesterol station.
In the Western U.S. -- Bob's Big Boy, B.J.s.
In North Carolina's TRIANGLE region -- Cook Out
In San Francisco -- Burgermeister
Anywhere else -- Check the Internet -- Alternative Newspapers' READERS' BEST CHOICES.
Some "traditional dailies" also have annual BEST CHOICES.
There are AAA, ZAGAT's, and others.
Going somewhere new -- twenty minutes of research will at least give you a better selection than the "fallen arches," "da king," or any of the other eight above.
Traveling -- First check the freeway signage, try to find a BOB EVANS, CRACKER BARRELL, LONE STAR/TEXAS/SIZZLER OR OTHER STEAKHOUSE.
OR --Get off at what the map lists as the major offramp AND DRIVE SIX OR SEVEN BLOCKS EACH DIRECTION.
You'll find cheaper gas, a non-chain place with lots of "local" vehicles around it, a WalMart with cheaper gas, or something other than a burger joint. Maybe even some good food.
THE MAJOR CHAIN BURGER JOINTS pay for location, location, location.
If you must have the cholesterol -- Any good "sit down" restaurant -- chain or family owned -- will beat the fast food chains --- even most Mexican non-chains have better burgers.
Reply
9-08-2010 @8:28AM sweetums said... Great survey! I love my five guys! maybe someone can do one for sandwiches next, especially the ads! has anyone ever had a subway sandwich that looked like their ads? Ha!
Reply
9-08-2010 @8:38AM Pat said... The very best hamburger can be found at BACKYARD BURGERS. They have very good taste, the sandwiches actually look like their ads.
They are always fresh and hot and dressed to perfection.
I have eaten burgers at a lot of fast food and regular restuarants, but these cannot be beat at any of the others.
Reply
9-08-2010 @8:43AM nick said... Here in North Carolina, FIVE GUYS are closing up, they make a good burger but for some reason they can't make it, looking at all the fat people in this state they can't get away from the pork.
Reply
9-08-2010 @9:45AM Guillermina said... five guys makes the lowest quality food i ever tasted. Consumer reports is a communist union. What you are reading is THEIR opinion
9-08-2010 @9:14AM Jay Love said... I do not have an ultimate favorite, but several that I like if available. Carls Jr. is among the top for me, nothing like a Famous Star with cheese and all the sauce dripping from the flame broiled patty! I order extra cheese and extra secret sauce on mine. I also like In and Out burgers, Astro burgers in LA, (whenever I am in town) are good too! Jack in the Box used to make a jumbo Jack with cheese I liked, but sadly none of these outfits are in the area I now live, Florida. most of the burgers, and most of the food period sucks big time out here for some reason, I prefer the west coast and southwest for really great food and burgers, nothing better!!
Reply
9-08-2010 @9:15AM VIC said... WE LIKE CULVER'S BUTTER BURGERS FOR FAST FRESH FOOD QUICK.
Reply
9-08-2010 @9:29AM bellagrlxitalia@aol.com said... like i have said before mcdonalds and burgerking both are great if theyre fresh. i love a whopper with cheese plz.. lol the tomatoes are not razor thin either. in other countries its considered gourmet food.. believe it or not and it almost does look like it does in the pics. ppl here always says its junk so its treated like junk. wheres white castle on the list? lol also theyre comparing fuddruckers to mcdonalds? how much is it ... fuddruckers is not a fast food place as far as i know.
Reply
9-08-2010 @9:22AM don paeglow said... What happened to Krystal and White Castle. Both, in my opinion are better than those listed in the survey.
Reply
9-08-2010 @9:28AM Gina said... I tried one of Taco Bell's new steak Cantinas. In the advertisement it shows small slices of steak with diced onions and cilantro and a squeeze of lime. It actually LOOKS good so I tried one. It was the WORST thing I ever ate from Taco Bell. It came in a little crumpled piece of foil. I thought someone had tossed GARBAGE into the bag along with our order. (ha! It reall was garbage)!
The outside corn shell was totally soggy and falling apart, there was maybe 3 flicks of onions and some light green cilantro. There was a wedge of lime in there but that was warmer than the actual food so it grossed me out to use it. (I still used it). The steak didn't even look like meat. It was little rubbery brown pieces falling out of the soggy mess and it had no flavor. WEIRD, DISGUSTING and even worse I'm ticked that I fell for it! There's a website that shows what the advertisement looks like and what you REALLY get! I should have taken a picture of this hidious thing I paid for and ate! UGH Home made is always best!
Reply
9-08-2010 @9:36AM gobo said... Uh... okay. This is an article about burgers.
9-08-2010 @12:32PM Michael said... Our Taco Bell gave up and died. Even the building was bulldozed back to dirt.
9-30-2010 @10:07AM Melody said... I tried that steak Cantina taco and feel EXACTLY the same way. It was one of the worst things I've ever eaten. It tasted like moist cardboard.
As far as burgers, a friend of mine and I tried Five Guys and while it was ok, it wasn't great. I'm not sure why so many rave over their burgers.
I've never had Jack in the-Box or In-and-Out.
Sonic and Whataburger are tasteless. I love Sonic's limeades, desserts and Ched-R peppers, but the rest leaves a lot to be desired. Haven't found anything I like at Whataburger.
Carl's Jr (or Hardee's as it's called in my area) is really good, but nearly everything they have is a heart attack waiting to happen.
I used to love the buffets that Wendy's had (especially the Mexican-style section) but I don't really like any of their burgers. The only other thing I like there is the frosty.
McDonald's has good iced coffee and I like the Big Mac. Otherwise it all tastes the same.
Burger King is pretty good - the Whopper Jr is tasty.
Fact of the matter is, most fast food tastes the same. It's always better to make your own food, but sometime the convenience is too hard to resist.
9-08-2010 @10:30AM Tim said... Five Guys is a great burger but they are really expensive!
Reply