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Sep 2, 2009

Review: Carl's Jr. - Big Carl

My Favorite "Big Mac"
Priced at $1.99 in the L.A. area (but $2.49 in other markets if the ads are any indication compared to a nationwide average of over $3 for the Big Mac), Carl's Jr.'s Big Carl is set to go head-to-head with McDonald's beloved Big Mac complete with an ad campaign directly challenging the Big Mac. The ads mock the Big Mac's jingle, the Big Mac's miniscule patty size, and the Big Mac's third bun. If the voices in the ads are any indication, the Big Mac is the insecure little nerd that got beat up in highschool and the Big Carl is the confident jock that everyone liked.

Notable differences between the burgers besides size and quantity of ingredients are the Big Carl's lack of the club sandwich-style third bun, pickles, diced onions, and the lettuce on the Big Carl is hand-leafed and not shredded. (Also, the Big Mac comes in a cardboard clamshell and the Big Carl just comes with generic promo burger wrapping paper with only mere aspirations of better packaging...)

So how does the Big Carl stack up? It is noticably bigger than the Big Mac. The patties are a lot heftier than in a Big Mac and had a nice char. The thousand island dressing was not doused on in typical Carl's Jr's fashion and was uncharacteristically subtle. The American cheese slices were noticeably present although I could have used maybe another leaf of lettuce for balancing the flavors a little more. But all in all, a very tasty fast food burger with good bang for your buck as well.

Update: the Big Carl has been permanently added to the Carl's Jr menu. I guess it must have sold pretty well!

Carl's Jr. Restaurant Locator

Nutritional Info - Carl's Jr. Big Carl (317g)
Calories - 910 (from Fat - 520)
Fat - 58g (Saturated Fat - 23g)
Sodium - 1350mg
Carbs - 52g (Sugar - 11g)
Protein - 47g

4 comments:

  1. it costs less because it doesn't come in a box and is wrapped in paper! it doesn't look that big from the pictures but it looks pretty good. gotta try this out some day...

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  2. You can see the size difference in the Youtube commercials. It's actually 900 calories O_o

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  3. Great Burger! The thousand island with the double char patty makes it delicious!I substitute the american for the healthier swish cheese.
    $3.88 at the local carls.

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