Wendy's Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger is their latest limited-time offer and features a soft pretzel bun sandwiching a 1/4 lb hamburger patty, Applewood-smoked bacon, a slice of cheddar cheese, warm cheddar cheese sauce, smoky honey mustard, tomato, red onion, and spring mix
The price tag at my local Wendy's is
$4.69 and is the first Wendy's burger I've seen that comes in a clam-shell.
I have to say this first: The vegetables were top notch. No wilted pieces, no yellowing, nor over-ripeness . These were probably the best veggies I've gotten at a fast food restaurant. Thumbs up for quality control. They looked great and tasted great. I can't help but think that the clam-shell box helped in keeping them in good condition.
Everything else was up there too. The bacon was mostly crispy, smoky, substantial, and flavorful. They didn't skimp either and I got some bacon-y goodness in every bite.
The beef patty was actually juicy! Not just moist, but juicy! Just lightly seasoned, it came with a pretty satisfying coarse ground. The cheese and cheese sauce added a nice cheddar note that went really well with the patty. The mustard came in and added a light, smoky sweetness that teased but never overwhelmed.
Wendy's got it right with this one. The proportions were spot on and everything fit together just right... except the pretzel bun...
The pretzel bun seemed like a gimmicky add that doesn't detract from the burger, but seems like it was just there so people would think "hey, pretzel bun! I gotta try it." It adds a soft, chewy, dense texture that actually gets chewier at the crust. It doesn't have that pretzel aftertaste and isn't quite toasted till the crust develops some crispness. It's decent, but it doesn't seem like the burger was made for the bun somehow.
Basically, if this burger came on a regular bun, I wouldn't miss the pretzel bun at all.
Still, overall, Wendy's Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger is a great fast food burger. At $4.69, which sits at the upper edge of fast food premium burger pricing, it might be a little too expensive for some, but I don't think you'll regret trying it. My current front-runner for best new fast food product of 2013 for sure.
Nutritional Info - Wendy's Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger
Calories - 680 (from Fat - 320)
Fat - 36g (Saturated Fat - 16g)
Sodium - 1110mg
Carbs - 46g (Sugar - 7g)
Protein - 37g
This was definitely one of the better burgers I've had from a fast food spot this year. Nice review!
ReplyDeleteThe review is spot on! I went for the pretzel bun but was impressed with everything else. Nothing at all like Sonic-- where the LTO pretzel bun is terrific and key to the hot dog. At Wendy's, the pretzel bun is more of an afterthought.
ReplyDeleteHmm I really dig the pretzel bun...the texture and slight pretzely taste I get. Ive had 5 of these since last Friday..I found for me minus the cheese slice and sauce as well as no bacon is just right for me...damn I really love this burger..
ReplyDeleteI have to say that is probably one of the most appetizing fast food burgers I've ever seen. :o And sounds like the taste actually lived up to its looks!
ReplyDeleteHorrible for me. So much oil
ReplyDeleteI tried this yesterday. I don't know if I got a bad bun or not, but it tasted like smoke/burned pretzels. The bun itself wasn't black or burned, it just had the harsh flavor of it. I didn't enjoy the burger at all because of that.
ReplyDeleteWendy's is pricing their food out of my price range. If I am going to spend $5+ on a burger it will be at someplace else. Wendy's "revamped" image has lost my business. I keep trying to support them since they started in Ohio, but I cannot justify spending $5 on a burger in fast food when I could get multiple burger just as satisfying elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI had one of these yesterday and really loved the pretzel bun! I loved everything within the burger as well, but I thought the dense and chewy pretzel bun added a lot of textural interest to the burger. I will get another one soon!
ReplyDeleteNo cheese, no bacon? Why bother?
ReplyDeleteAngel E - YUK :( a dried out overheated burger...my grandkids were sorry we went there today as well as the fries too overheated, bummer
ReplyDeleteI beg to differ regarding the bun. It's the perfect type of bun I look for in a burger. Lots of buns will leave your fingers in direct contact with the burger by the end of the experience b/c they disintegrate from the grease. They'll also flop around leaving you scrambling to pick up falling toppings and condiments. This does not happen with the pretzel bun. It's strong enough to withstand the many ingredients, while still being relatively fluffy and not overpowering to the burger.
ReplyDeleteLove them hope they stay on menu. Better than Ruby Tuesday.
ReplyDelete