Burger King (QSR) is known for trying some outrageous menu items that were a hit with customers, wile others may have been more of a marketing scheme to get attention. The burger chain has also been known for trying to replicate successful menu items from its competitors.
Burger King recently started testing a new breakfast menu item to compete with Wendy’s and its Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit. Wendy’s (WEN) isn’t the only competitor that serves up the chicken biscuit for breakfast, as Chick fil-A also has a version for breakfast. McDonald’s (MCD) tried to add a southern style chicken biscuit to its menu, but it didn't work.
McDonald's tried its hand a creating a vegetarian burger, the McPlant, but it wasn't what American's wanted from their McDonald's, so it was pulled from the menu. However, the McPlant made it to the permanent menu overseas in the UK.
The McPlant used a burger made by Beyond Meat, and while it was supposed to give the taste and texture of beef, at least in the US, customers said ‘no thank you.’ On the other hand, Burger King introduced the Impossible Whopper, and it has been successful and added to the permanent menu. The Impossible Whopper is made with plants but made to cook like ground beef.
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Burger King Spices Up its Menu
Burger King satisfied some customers with the launch of its Impossible Whopper, and now it is testing a new kind of burger, the Burgerrito, a plant-based burger that is made with beans, corn, and Mexican spices and topped with fresh lettuce, sliced onions and tomato. The Burgerrito is then topped with habanero salsa and aioli. The Burgerrito is only testing in participating locations across New Zealand which is priced at about $5.75, according to Chew Boom. Prices may vary by location.
The burger chain has repeatedly worked to create new and unique flavors to add to its menu. Burger King has tried to replicate McDonald’s McFlurry with its new Blast, its soft serve ice cream served with bits of Oreo cookies. For a tangy taste, Burger King also started to serve the Smarties Blast, soft serve with Smarties candies mixed in. This menu item is currently in test markets in Canada, and no official word on when and if it will make it to the US.
Yum! Brands’ Taco Bell made a run at the Taco Burger, but it didn’t make it. Back in the 60s and 70s Taco Bell had the Bellburger, later known as the Bell Beefer from the mid 70s to mid 90s, but it was much more like a sloppy joe than a real burger.
Only at Burger King
Burger King continues to build its menu to serve the underserved, people who love burgers, but not the meat behind it. Burger King has options for breakfast, lunch and dinner for its customers that do not want to eat meat.
For Breakfast,Burger King serves up the Egg and Cheese Croissan’wich, French Toast Sticks, Pancake Platter, Maple Oatmeal, and Hash Browns. For lunch or dinner, vegetarians can opt for an Impossible Whopper or the Single Impossible King, Classic French Fries, Onion Rings, and Mozzarella Sticks.
Burger King didn’t hit the mark the first time around though with a plant-based burger called the Veggie Burger. The burger patty was made by MorningStar Farms, and the BK Veggie Burger was the first to be available nationwide at any fast-food chain in 2002, according to Mashed. While the Veggie Burger worked, Burger King kept searching for something more and eventually Burger King replaced the Veggie Burger with the Impossible Whopper and then the Single Impossible King. Those vegetarian burgers have proved to be successful thus far.
