I've spent over $120 trying every burger at Wendy's and the best is a classic (2024)

Over several trips to Wendy's, I spent about $120 and tried all 21 burgers. I assigned each order a division and pitted the winners against each other to create a master rankings.

Division 1: Double Stacks consisted of 2 candidates

These burgers are known for having two 2-ounce patties and not too many toppings – just cheese, pickles, onions, ketchup and sometimes mustard.

The first of these supports, the original Double Stack, was understandably smaller in real life than in the menu image

First impression:In real life, this burger looked a lot smaller than in the photo, which I probably should have expected. The only toppings are ketchup, pickles and onions.

I thought this one would be pretty good. Plus, you can never go wrong with two steaks and some pickles -White Castle understands this.

It reminded me of a quarter pounder of cheese, but not as tasty

Judgement:Actually, this reminded me of thisa McDonald's quarter pounder with cheese. The pickles - the highlight - were delicious, but there were no onions in sight.

Overall, this was a solid burger, although not unique. That's what the picky eater in a family gets when they stop at a drive-thru during a long drive. Every business needs a menu item like this.

The Bacon Double Stack lacked seasoning

First impression:I spent some time figuring out the difference between the bacon Double Stack, Baconator, and Big Bacon Classic double.

They all have bacon, cheese and two steaks, which I thought would be one of the first things to change. I was mistaken.

Bacon Double Stack has ketchup, mustard, pickle and onion.

The baconator has ketchup and mayonnaise.

Big Bacon Classic double has crispy lettuce, tomato, pickle, ketchup, mayonnaise and onion.

This burgerrank would dropto the value I placed on spices. Here I thought mustard – an often forgotten topping among fast food chains – was a good move.

But what would it taste like without tomatoes and lettuce? I was completely turned around.

I enjoyed the mustard, but this option was lacking in other departments

Judgement:Again, it felt like a quarter pounder with cheese and bacon. Was it better than McDonald's? I honestly wasn't sure. It was a little saltier, which could have gone either way.

I thought that the meat - even though it was not seasoned -was at the top. The mustard was a nice touch, but the meal could have used a little more of it. That said, I missed lettuce and tomato.

This was a solid burger, but I had to rank it lower than some other orders with a full arsenal of condiments.

Division 1 Winner: Bacon Double Stack triumphs because it has bacon

While these burgers had many good qualities, a lack of toppings held Double Stacks back.

The bacon alternative is slightly better than the original, but only because bacon is not better than bacon.

Division 2: All three burgers in Dave's category looked promising

If you're wondering who Dave is, you're not alone. This collection of burgers is named after the chain's founder, Dave Thomas.

Each toasted sandwich is topped with a select number of 1/4 pound beef patties, cheese, lettuce, tomato,pickles, onions, ketchup and mayonnaise.

The smallest of the options, Dave's single still has a large patty

First impression:The single patty on this burger looked the size of Double Stacks two. The only difference was that this option really looked like a burger with onion, lettuce, tomato, pickle, mayonnaise, ketchup and a toasted bun - the whole team was there.

This is Wendy's version of a classic hamburger, the kind you could get when people still hung out in drugstores and drank malt. I was excited to see the interpretation of the chain.

I saw this exact burger selling for $12 at a nicer place

Judgement:This was an excellent burger. If Wendy's were a retro 1950s diner with a waiter who was mean to you on purpose, the chain could probably charge $12 for it.

The pickles and salad crunched even after I waited to eat at home, and the toasted sandwich went down without any problems.

I also liked the addition of mayonnaise, a classic seasoning that is shockingly uncommon elsewhere. I'm looking forward toeat this burger again.

Dave's Double looked like an absolute classic

First impression:This order was a good base for all double burgers because it is such a classic.

When I looked at it I realized whyfastfoodrestaurantsI love making hidden camera commercials with people in fancy burger joints - which I know is a contradiction in terms. I grabbed this out of the package from Wendy's and thought, "Yes, that's a nice burger!"

This was a typical American hamburger

Judgement:Once again I was confronted with a great burger that was good enough for a pretty hungry person.

I wanted some bacon, but there was magic in the ketchup and mayo team. I also liked the onion.

Dave's triple made me question my identity

First impression:Wendy's website says to "use both hands" while eating this, and that's sound advice. Is eating tri-patted hamburgers the reason Americans have a bad reputation among some other civilizations?

A wave of existential dread washed over me as I was about to put it in my mouth. What was I doing with my body? Was it worth it?

Ifa real AmericanHowever, I was willing to push the boundaries and find out.

It was just too... much... food

Judgement:It is said that Wendy used both hands - I needed a third.

Dave, you make a great burger. Leave it. All this meat. All this cheese. It just didn't feel right. I needed a moment to enjoy the journey. Your delicious pickles, onions, lettuce and tomatoes were lost in this sea of ​​beef.

I can't see myselfeat this option againunless you dare.

Division 2 Winner: Dave's Double won this set easily

It's a great burger that won't make you sweat.

Emblematic forthe necessaryAmerican hamburger, it made me want to get a soda and go to the sock hop.

Division 3:Big Bacon burgers with 4 competitive options

The Big Bacon burgers are, unsurprisingly, all topped with applewood smoked bacon, but can also include other toppings such as lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, ketchup and mayo.

I was excited to dive into this set from Big Bacon Classic

First impression:This burger wasn't much bigger than a Dave's single, but it had bacon on it, which was cool.

It also had a generous amount of sauce and I liked that it came with two pieces of cheese, one on top and one on the bottom. Say what you want about Wendy's, but the chain doesn't skimp on ingredients.

I liked that Wendy's didn't skimp on the cheese

Judgement:Excellent. The two slices of cheese were a highlight of this burger, as a single slice would have been lost in the sauce.

I grew up in the areaa burger joint with a hole in the wall, and this sandwich reminded me of that. The bacon was super crispy and the seemingly fresh ingredients stood out.

This option was better than Dave's single, but only because bacon makes any burger better.

When you need a big meal, look no further than the Big Bacon Classic Double Room

First impression:I honestly thought the double cheeseburgers were the perfect size overall.

I noticed that Wendy's also didn't increase the portion of condiments. The meal just oozes meat - in a good way.

It was a classic burger with just the right amount of toppings

Judgement:This was the ultimate straight-up burger. I liked that Wendy's didn't increase the number of toppings and just added more cheese - that was the right decision.

This was a lot of meat, and if there was twice as much bacon in it it would have felt like overkill.

The Big Bacon Classic triple apparently had too much meat

First impression:Three steaks, three slices of cheese. I felt like I should have my picture hanging on the wallhow Wendyheadquarters - preferably in a sub-basem*nt - when I have it all finished.

But the question here was whether a burger could really have too much meat. I didn't think it was possible, but after seeing this one I was willing to listen to other arguments. It was so big that it took two foils to cover it.

It was literally too much of a handful

Judgement:The burger was delicious, but I only really tasted the meat. Even the three slices of cheese went to waste. What was more concerning, however, was that the beef tasted underseasoned in my opinion.

While promising, this burger lacked balance between the two, figuratively and literally. When I ate the enormous burger, it almost slipped out of my hand.

The things that make a good burger great, like lettuce, tomato and onion, were almost non-existent. In this case, less would have been more.

The Big Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger looked like a winner

First impression:Wendy's newest addition to the range,this burger looked pretty good.

I was interested in that cheese roll - the only brand new ingredient I could see - and liked how it stacked up. I also appreciated that Wendy's chose several classic burger toppings, including bacon and crispy onions.

Additionally, I was optimistic about the addition of cheddar and American slices, as cheese combinations on burgers are underutilized.

This burger had a good balance of flavors

Judgement:The onions were so tasty that I even ate one that fell off. It was greasy and a little chewy, but the frying didn't overpower it.

The combination of cheddar and American cheese was also great. The American cutthe sharpness of the cheddar, and it all blended wonderfully with the bacon for the perfect balance of flavors.

The cheddar bun was not very noticeable and tasted a bit like a bland Cheez-It.

That said, the bacon marmalade sauce held it all together and then some. It might honestly bump this to the top of my rankings. It added the perfect amount of sweetness to this savory dish, like cranberry sauce on your Thanksgiving plate.

Division 3 Winner: The Big Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger came out on top

Like most of its competitors, this burger was impressively good. Bacon is truly a groundbreaking ingredient.

However, the delicious sauce made this Big Bacon option a standout.

Division 4: The Baconators, both of whom looked like strong contenders

Applewood smoked bacon takes center stage atop these meaty options (just the name says it all) and each burger is paired with just cheese, ketchup and mayonnaise.

Baconator seemed overdone

First impression:Bun, patty, cheese, bacon, patty, cheese and more bacon - the Baconator seemed to have been designed by a pissed off recently divorced man trying to curse his wife's memory with a bad diet.

I love lettuce and tomato, so it was a little unnerving to stare down this order.

There's a reason why this is considered Wendy's flagship burger

Judgement:My first impression was not good. The Baconator lived up to its hype. I wanted a pickle, just for something green, but it was so good.

There's something to be said for thatto give people what they want. The patty and bacon went well together and the cheese held everything together.

There was also something so good about the mayo on this sparse burger. It gave a mild taste to the meat. The ketchup, which is a bit sweet at Wendy's, was a nice bow on top.

The Son of Baconator looked like it would be good for someone who wanted a somewhat average portion

First impression:The only difference between this and the regular Baconator is that it is made with two smaller patties. Very sweet.

I probably don't need to eat half a pound of beef plus however much pork the bacon is, so it's nice to have this option, but I can't see myself ever choosing it.

Even with a large knife I had trouble cutting through it.

The small version should have been enough, but it wasn't

Judgement:He wasn't as good as his father just because of the size difference, but that was itstill a classic.

This option was enough food for most, but I'm American and always need more (until it's too much).

Division 4 Winner: The Baconator was simply better

Wendy kept it simple on this one and gave the people what they wanted: more meat. Those who complicate things are never congratulated.

Wendy's doesn't need to mess around with all these fancy burgers, it just needs to make more of them.

The cheese held together perfectly on the meat and the flavor of the combined ketchup and mayo brought out the very best in this burger.

Division 5: There are 4 Jr. burgers, but I didn't expect them to get far

Wendy's line from Jr. burgers are exactly what you'd expect: smaller portions with the heart of a full portion.

The toppings vary depending on your order, but the basic ingredients are pickles, onions, ketchup and mustard.

jr. the cheeseburger deluxe seemed like the taste would depend on the freshness of the ingredients

First impression:This is a cheeseburger, okay. I felt like I knew what it would taste like before I bit into it.

I was curious about these types of stripped burgers because they would put Wendy's fresh ingredients to the test — could they stand on their own without bacon and extra patties?

There was a little too much sauce on it, but this was a good burger

Judgement:This went down easily. It was different from the other burgers because there were more pickles, mayonnaise and ketchup per burger. square inches. And the salad was a little bigger than the meat, which made me feel better about eating it.

My only real complaints were that the patty was a little too small and the sauces felt a little too overpowering. Still, it was refreshing to have a burger that felt normal.

I liked thisone more than a few triples, if for no other reason than I felt better after eating them.

Jr. the bacon cheeseburger looked solid

First impression:This looked like a hearty cheeseburger similar to the Jr. cheeseburger deluxe, but with bacon.

I have nothing more to add to my original review other than I like bacon. If I get the chance to get a burger with bacon on it, I will.

The salad from this mocked me

Judgement:This burger was pretty good. The bacon added something tasty although the serving of mayonnaise was a bit heavy handed but maybe it was the human elementfast food chains.

I thought Wendy used good cheese, even if it tasted more processed than the produce. Really, the size was the only thing this and most other Jr. burgers - back.

Plus, the large piece of lettuce hanging above felt like a big middle finger. It felt like my meal was taunting me: "Look how small this burger is, loser."

jr. the cheeseburger seemed sweet

First impression:Wrapped in the weighted blanket that was a warm bun, this option looked sweet — if you could think about itfactory processed meatthat has been cooked at a highly regulated temperature, sweet.

Without lettuce and tomato, this order was reduced to the most basic flavors.

By Pickles and onions were a great combination

Judgement:This burger was very tasty. I liked the combination of pickle and onion and the ketchup stood out too. It was a step up from the kind of frozen patty you'd make at home on a stovetop, but certainly not as tasty as the one you'd get at a cookout.

The flavourswent well together, but unless you go into Wendy's mind, “Wow, Ijust nowwant a hamburger,' I say, get something else.

jr. the burger looked very ordinary

First impression:This variety looked sad compared to the giants it was next to on the menu.

Honestly, if Jr. the burger is the worst on this list, i think it will reflect how great all the other burgers are, rather than how bad this one is.

But it's a hamburger. You do notgo to Wendy'sfor just a hamburger.

It looked so sad and I felt like I was eating Charlie Brown's Christmas tree

Judgement:I felt a kind of honor biting into this. The pickles were crispy, the onions had spice, the ketchup was good, but the meat was quite underseasoned.

It was so small, with just a single piece of onion and a few small pickles. I felt like I was eating the little "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree. Yet that tree was picked last for a reason.

Division 5 Winner: Jr. the bacon cheeseburger was the best in this large pool

Honestly, an argument could be made for the luxury, but I think the bacon helped push this option over the edge - it also flavored the meat a bit.

That said, I couldn't see this one winningmoves very farin the ultimate play-off.

Division 6:Bacon-jalapenNo Citizens had 3 formidable looking contenders

Wendy's has added a bit of spice to its menu with its bacon jalapeño burgers. Each order is topped with pickled jalapeños, bacon, cheese, fried onions, cheese sauce and jalapeño sauce.

I loved seeing the crispy onions on the bacon jalapeño cheeseburger

First impression:I was very happy with the addition of crispy onions, which should absolutely not be missing from a burger. Jalapeño was never going to be my first step, but I was also curious to see what Wendy's did with that choice.

Again, this one didn't have any other veggies, but that wasn't a deal breaker so far. Although for a place that lastsproud of his vegetables, it's a bit weird that Wendy skimps on it so much.

The hot jalapeños made this burger

Judgement:Excellent. The cheese sauce was good, but not up to Taco Bell levels, which put it down a notch.

The jalapeños were delicious and gave the burger a real kick. The crispy onions really brought it up a notch too. Even in the middle of the rest of the burger I could taste the onion grease.

I had a hard time figuring out where to rank these becauseit was so different from everything elseI've tried. I liked that Wendy's took a stab at the cheese sauce, even if it didn't quite hit the mark.

Overall the onions and jalapeños made this better, but the cheese sauce brought it down.

The bacon-jalapeño double cheeseburger looked particularly promising

First impression:I feel like I said all I could the first time, but I'm trying to approach it like a golfer. No matter how many times I make a putt, it's different.

The double burger was the best size and this seemed to be where the bacon jalapeño double cheeseburger stood out from the rest.

But would the lack of vegetables be okay, spread over two steaks? Would there be enough sauce? I was skeptical.

This burger was one of my favorites

Judgement:This was one of my favorite burgers. The jalapeño had a lot of bite and the cheese balanced everything out. It looked like nachos between a bun.

My only complaint was that there were no products. I would likea fresh, freshonion or tomato here.

The triple cheeseburger with bacon jalapeño looked like the best triple

First impression:This was the only tripel that I thought could have been as good as the originals, but only because I thought the jalapeño had a strong enough flavor to carry over three steaks.

Still, I just didn't know why I needed so much meat.

I couldn't have opened my mouth any further

Judgement:If you want to know approximately how wide the human mouth can open, this should be your benchmark.

My first impression was perfect. The jalapeños added enough variety to keep this from tasting like a meat sandwich.

Still, the double was more manageable, and that's whybetter to eat.

Division 6 Winner: The Bacon Jalapeño Double Cheeseburger was the best in this category

I may have been skeptical about the cheese sauce and lack of veggies, and while those points still hold true, this burger was still so tasty on its own.

And honestly, it can compete for the overall title.

Division 7:I expected stiff competition between these 3 Pretzel Bacon Pub cheeseburgers

This line of Wendy's burgers has been taken care of down to the last detail in terms of toppings and upgrades.

These options include the pretzel bun, beer cheese sauce, bacon, honey mustard, fried onions, pickles and Muenster cheese.anything but normal.

The Pretzel Bacon Pub cheeseburger looked like a delicious mess

First impression:This definitely looked like the best burger on the list, with apologies to the Baconator. Forget the beer cheese sauce, the fact that Wendy's added honey mustard is incredible.

Fried onions are classic, but what stood out to me was the Muenster cheese. It was a bold move for a fast food restaurant and I wouldn't have trusted any other place to do it right.

The onion pieces smelled incredible and I was excited to dig into them.

I shouldn't have let this get cold

Judgement:This was a delicious burger, but don't let it get cold.

The temperature usually doesn't matter much, but there were too many moving parts here to pass up - I'm even talking about the time it takes to get back home.

The muenster cheese, onion, pretzel and beer cheese sauce, which I couldn't really taste, was very heavy. The light pickle flavor and fluffy pretzel bun held this meal together.

I had to hand it to Wendy's, I've had worse pub burgers.This was a solid offer.

The Pretzel Bacon Pub double was more balanced

First impression:I was excited to try this burger again. I felt like a lot happened the first time, and I was optimistic that having two steaks might balance the flavors a bit more.

However, I was a little worried that the honey mustard would get lost in the meat.

It was the only double I liked less

Judgement: I liked this optionsmaller than the first. For most of this taste test, two patties had been the perfect amount of meat for a burger, but in this case it felt like the toppings had been lost.

Ofthe pickle was the only thing that saved this meal. Everything else was completely overpowered.

The Pretzel Bacon Pub triple probably shouldn't exist

First impression:The fear gripped me more than I could hold this hamburger, which was huge.

I didn't think I could get my mouth around it. Why did I do this to myself? Why does every meal have to be a celebration?

I stared at the flesh like a reflective pool. I couldn't imagine it being any better than the double version, which had already lost so much of the wonderful flavors and textures of the original. And yet… I had to eat it.

I am convinced that this burger could have been designed by children

Judgement:As expected, this burger was a wall of meat. The heroes must have thatused this in "Game of Thrones"to keep those pesky White Walkers out.

Frankly, I was disappointed that there was no cheese between each layer of meat, which probably would have made this meal better. Münster must be quite expensive.

The burger certainly wasn't bad, but it felt like a mixingredients that a child would think an adult would like. I can even imagine a fictional world in which Wendy gets a group of 8-year-olds together to design the burger.

Wendy's manager:How many steaks do you want to see?

8 years old:*Holds up three fingers* So much.

Wendy's manager:What kind of vegetables do you want?

8 years old:Vegetables are ugly.

Wendy's manager:You're right, I'm so sorry.What kind of cheese should we make? American, Swiss or Münster?

8 years old:The monster. It sounds scary.

Wendy's manager:Yes, it's very scary. Okay, is there anything else you think adults would like?

8 years old:Bier!

Wendy's manager:Oh, excellent choice. That's why we pay you the big money. *Gives the child a chocolate coin*

The original Pretzel Bacon Pub Cheeseburger took home a win

Overall, this split was a little disappointing compared to the other burgers I'd tried so far, but I liked each version the best. It was so balanced that I could enjoy each ingredient individually.

Finally, I sat down to calculate my results

I sat back to catch my breath and tried not to think about iteverything I ateover fire to Wendy's.

“You were here yesterday, weren't you?” an employee asked at one point.

I feel sodium in my blood and cheese sauce coursing through my veins. But it was worth it, because I determined Wendy's best burger using my comprehensive ranking system.

Let's start at the bottom. The Jr. citizens should take the lowest place. Any self-respecting burger joint should have a section like this, so you can't go wrong with Wendy's. These are extras in a movie. You need them, but no one watches the movie for the extras, maybe except the extras themselves.

The pub burgers came next, which was a shame as I had high hopes for them. As a group, these burgers were just too much.

The flavor profile was just too busy and I couldn't ignore it in any sense. Even the single Pub-burger, which was the top of the group, couldn't quite make it.

Dave's line of burgers was also solid, but suffered from some of the same problems as Jr.'s. I don't go to Wendy's for a regular burger, no matter how high up it is in the fast food chain.

Despite strong competition, the Baconator won the gold

Now we will look for the right candidates.

The Bacon Jalapeño Double Cheeseburger, Big Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger and Baconator all had excellent qualities.

The double cheeseburger with bacon and jalapeño peppers offered a unique kick, but overall this option suffered from an overpowering cheese sauce and couldn't compete with the winner.

I didn't want to rank the Big Bacon cheddar cheeseburger above the Baconator after a taste test - that would feel sacrilegious. It was definitely the second best burger, but if anyone wants to buy me another one, I'll let you know if I change my mind.

In the end, the Baconator was just too excellent. It felt like I was driving the fastest car in the world, completely stripped of anything that could hold it back.

This order was blatantly all thatyou could ask for it in a hamburger.

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