Review: Carl's Jr. - Bacon 3-Way Burger

Carl's Jr.'s Bacon 3-Way Burger features bacon strips, crumbled bacon, and bacon jam plus the fairly standard combination of lettuce, tomatoes, American cheese, and a beef patty.

The 1/3 pound version goes for $6.99 in my area but I received this one courtesy of Carl's Jr. (the suggested retail is $5.49 so it's a bit pricier here). The same burger can also be found at Hardee's.

For the most part, the Carl's Jr. Bacon 3-Way Burger tastes a lot like another burger they offer, the Super Bacon Cheeseburger. The big difference is the bacon jam in the Bacon 3-Way versus the mayo and onion of the Super Bacon.

The bacon jam is made with bacon pieces, balsamic vinegar, caramelized onions, and molasses. Between the tanginess of the vinegar, the sweetness of the onions and molasses, and the smoky saltiness of the bacon, it ends up tasting somewhat like a sweet barbecue sauce but with a meatier onion base rather than the more standard tomato base. It makes for a familiar enjoyable flavor that still manages enough difference to keep it interesting.

Other than the jam, there was a moist and substantial seasoned beef patty with a decent amount of char, crisp lettuce, and firm tomatoes. The cheese was largely wasted as the taste struggled to come through against the bacon and bacon jam. Two slices or none might have been better.

The bacon strips and bits were never crispy but offered up the requisite flavors with a bit of chew. It surprisingly did not end up feeling too salty despite all the bacon involved.

The bun looked like someone had forgotten the egg-wash (they bake their Fresh Baked buns in each restaurant) and it seemed a little drier and chewier as a result (it could have also just been an older bun). Other than that, it was nicely toasted.

Overall, Carl's Jr.'s Bacon 3-Way Burger is a solidly-made and tasty take on a bacon cheeseburger. If you're a fan of their Western Bacon Cheeseburger, the Bacon 3-Way presents much of the same qualities and might be worth a look.

Nutritional Info - Carl's Jr. 1/3 lb. Bacon 3-Way Thickburger (356g)
Calories - 870 (from Fat - 450)
Fat - 50g (Saturated Fat - 18g)
Sodium - 2230mg
Carbs - 65g (Sugar - 22g)
Protein - 44g