"Burger King" news and stories

Despite its coffee-centric menu, Starbucks is now the third largest restaurant chain in terms of domestic sales, according to Technomic's listing of America's top 500 restaurant chains in total 2010 U.S. sales. Completing the trifecta is McDonald's in the number one spot, followed by Subway at number two. USA Today explains that Starbucks' rise to the top signifies a shift in the American palate. For decades, McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's dominated the top three, and all served a similar hamburger-focused menu. Now, within the new top three, only McDonald's serves burgers. Overall, the top 500 chains reported a 1.8% sales growth in 2010, with total estimated sales of $234 billion.

Here's the Top 5 list:
1. McDonald's
2. Subway
3. Starbucks
4. Burger King
5. Wendy's

TV commercials are so last century -- burger chains are now heading online in an effort to get kids (and their parents) more engaged with their brands. Burger King is the latest to join the trend with its upcoming "Thor" marketing push, reports Nation's Restaurant News.

With the purchase of a Kids' Meal at the restaurant, kids get small toys related to the Marvel comic in addition to codes that entitle them to exclusive digital-comics chapters at its kids' website, www.ClubBK.com. The four comic strips are a prequel to the movie, which opens May 6.

And the chain isn't alone in its digital push. As we reported earlier, McDonald's is getting in the web game with its McWorld.com site ("Ronaldgrams," anyone?), and later in May, Wendy's plans to host "Wendy's Family Week" on "Wheel of Fortune" to encourage customers to enter an online sweepstakes.

First, Godzilla devoured Tokyo. Now Tokyo is about to take on the Meat Monster. With everyone so health conscious these days, it's hard to believe that Burger King is introducing a new sandwich, (in Japan only) that flies in the face of sensible eating: The Meat Monster. The website Opposing Views says the "aptly named sandwich" consists of two hamburgers, a chicken breast, two slices of cheese, three pieces of bacon, and, of course, lettuce, tomatoes, and onion.

Total calories: 1,160. That's more than half the daily recommended amount for a 40-year-old woman of average height and weight. (A regular Whopper has 670 calories.) Japanese customers can also personalize their Monster, adding teriyaki sauce, an egg or even a fish patty.

No word yet if the Monster will be available in the States, but we assume, if it is, that we'll be allowed to get creative, too. Maybe we can toss on some Spaghetti-Os or Cheez-Whiz to add a real American touch.

Burger King has a history of being inspired by the menu items of their long-time adversary McDonald's. In the '90s, BK revamped their old soggy French fries with a crispier recipe that suspiciously resembled the ones at the Golden Arches. It was also during that decade that BK blatantly ripped off McDonald's Big Mac with the introduction of the short-lived Big King -- a hamburger that also contained two all-beef patties, a special sauce-like Thousand Island dressing, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed bun. Now, with the introduction of their new Chicken Tenders, it seems that BK is at it again -- this time looking to the McNugget for inspiration, and attempting to do more than just drop the "Mc." Here's how they rate:

The Claims: BK's new Chicken Tenders are "tender," "crispy," and contain "white meat." They come in servings of four (190 calories), eight (380 calories), or twenty (950 calories). If you do the math, you'll find that each piece is 47.5 calories, but that adds up when you dip it in any of the six sauces: Zesty, Honey Mustard, Ranch, Buffalo, Barbecue, or Sweet & Sour.

The Price:$1.00 for four; $1.99 for eight; $4.99 for 20. (Prices may vary at participating locations.)

The little girl with the curvy red braids beat out both Ronald McDonald and the Burger King in a recent poll, UPI reports. In a telephone poll of a thousand people, conducted by New Jersey-based Rasmussen Reports, 61 percent gave a favorable rating to Wendy's, versus 56 percent for McDonald's and 51 percent for Burger King. Those Wendy's Baconator burgers must be on the right track.

But here's the survey result that gave us pause. UPI reports that "people who regularly eat fast-food said they do so mostly because of the cost and convenience, not because they like it." That's a lot of forced fries, then. And you can make a burger a lot more cheaply at home. C'mon folks; give it up. You love your Whoppers.

For more on the poll, check out the UPI story.