Burger fans continue to reap the rewards of McDonald's and Burger King's epic friendly rivalry. The two fast-food giants released a new burger within days of each other in the hope of appearing to be the hottest burger on the block.
Crispy coating with a crunch seem to be the trend this season as both McDonald's and Burger King launched new burgers that boast a crispy exterior. McDonald's launched the new McCrispy burger which takes the place of its Chicken Legend whilst Burger King launched the Memphis BBQ Crispy Chicken burger.
As reported by Manchester Evening News, Burger King’s Memphis BBQ Crispy Chicken burger launched on Tuesday October 18, with McDonald's McCrispy hitting menus the following day. Writer Bethan Shufflebotham had the lucky job of trying both burgers - here are her findings which include her thoughts on appearance and value for money.
Price
With the cost of living crisis, many people are keen to save money and cut costs. But sometimes, convenience, busy lifestyles, and the simple desire for a treat wins out.
McDonald’s brand new McCrispy comes in at £4.99 individually, or £6.49 as a meal, served with a drink and side of fries. Meanwhile, I paid £6.99 for my Burger King Memphis BBQ Crispy Chicken burger, which would have been £9.49 as a meal.
What’s on them?
Although Burger King’s new offering is £2 more than McDonald’s, that’s because you’ll find a lot more on it. BK’s southern-style burger features a chicken breast sandwiched between crispy bacon slices, melted American cheese, three golden onion rings, creamy mayo and Burger King’s signature smoky BBQ sauce, all served in a toasted brioche bun.
By comparison, the McCrispy, said to be the 'crispiest, crunchiest chicken burger' yet, is made with 100 per cent chicken breast fillet, marinated in black pepper and cayenne, sitting in a four-inch glazed bun with a sweet nutty toasted flavour, and dressed with lettuce and mayo.
Appearance
For me, McDonald’s packaging immediately feels a bit more premium. The McCrispy is served in a sunny yellow cardboard box, whereas the Memphis is wrapped in branded paper and placed in a brown paper bag.
That said, side by side, both burgers look pretty sophisticated. If you were served them in a pub, you’d be happy paying upwards of a tenner for them.
The McCrispy has a glossy, sesame topped bun, light lettuce and a crispy chicken fillet and looks pretty neat and tidy in its box. Burger King’s offering is a little more messy, but the good kind - the kind of dirty burger you need a napkin for because the contents are bound to go slipping from the sides.
Taste
Biting into the McCrispy, there was an obvious crunch - both from the lettuce and the coating on the chicken fillet. The soft bun added a contrasting texture, and sweetness to the seasoned chicken.
The chicken was moist and felt more like a Chicken Select than a chicken nugget, with the Mayo Chicken more akin to the latter. The flavour was good, with a bit of a spicy kick, from the black pepper and cayenne, cooled by the mayonnaise.
Over at Burger King though, there was so much going on it was almost difficult to keep track. From the bacon rashers to the cheese and delightful addition of onion rings, this burger was a whole meal on its own.
I wouldn’t necessarily have ever needed fries to accompany it. There’s not just one measly piece of bacon here either, it’s pretty generously filled.
The cheese was a great idea. Burgers should always have cheese.
The chicken itself was crispy, although it was softened slightly by the BBQ sauce. But the different flavours going on in the Memphis were totally dreamy.
Winner
For me, the winner has to be the Memphis BBQ Crispy Chicken burger at Burger King. The extra £2 is totally worth it for the amount of toppings you get.
It feels like much better value for money than the McCrispy, which seems pretty bland in comparison. I’d be grateful for either meal if I were hungry.
But the southern-style offering from BK definitely feels more indulgent and a bit naughty. Whoever thought of putting onion rings in a burger needs a gold star.
You can find the McCrispy and Memphis BBQ Crispy Chicken burgers at McDonald’s and Burger King restaurants respectively now.
