It’s often said that bacon makes everything better.
That’s especially true for sandwiches.
Nowadays, virtually every burger joint worth visiting offers some take on the cheesy, beefy, porky combo.
Photo: McDonald’s. Design: Eat This, Not That!
When done right, it’s a rich and crispy accompaniment to any juicy burger.
When done wrong, it can become a flaccid and greasy distraction.
This one cost me $8.19.
Photo: Chris Shott/Eat This, Not That!
The look:Skimpy!
The taste:Dry and oniony.
Though deficient in its serving size, the bacon was surprisingly crispy, if extremely brittle.
Photo: Chris Shott/Eat This, Not That!
For a more rudimentary example, I chose theJr.
It cost me just $3.39.
The look:Comically tiny.
Photo: Chris Shott/Eat This, Not That!
Today, I could level the same accusation at Wendy’s after ordering this puny excuse for a burger.
The nanoscopic, square-shaped patty was hardly noticeable under a flimsy blanket of half-melted, room-temperature cheese.
An enormous lettuce leaf dwarfed everything else on this item.
Photo: Chris Shott/Eat This, Not That!
The taste:Creamy and crunchy.
The bacon was richly flavored, but chewier than I like.
The look:Compact.
Photo: Chris Shott/Eat This, Not That!
While not quite as diminutive as Wendy’s version, the Burger King patty was still pretty small.
Its thickness could be measured in millimeters.
The taste:Rich and crunchy.
Even so, there are much finer examples elsewhere, but naturally, they’ll cost you much more.
The burgers are also prepared in the voguish smash style.
Naturally, this modish approach also raises the price tag.
The bun was shiny but pillowy.
The cheese was immaculately molten.
The beef was fully caramelized like a smash burger should be.
And the bacon was plentiful, with long strips extending out the sides like wings.
The taste:Juicy and well seasoned.
My only quibble was with the bacon.
This one fell just short, but another got it just right.
Five Guys' Little Bacon Cheeseburger cost me $10.99.
The taste:Mutually tender and crisped.
The crispy bacon, though, is what set this burger apart.
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