McDonald’s and Burger King are in constant competition for hungry patrons. They have similar menus, similar target audiences, similar prices, and often, even similar locations. Each has die-hard fans who swear their side of the fryer is right.

Most of my McDonald’s vs Burger King experiences were between the ages of 4-10. Food? Pshhhh. My main concern was the play area. Were there slides? A ball pit? Elaborate tube systems to get lost in? The second concern was how cool the kid’s meal toy was. McDonald’s usually reigned supreme.

Now, as an adult, it’s hardly appropriate for me to romp through the hot sticky tubes speckled with grease and the occasional French fry. So, I’m pinning McDonald’s and Burger King against each other for the food item they are known best for: burgers.

But before sinking out teeth into this Quarter Pounder vs Whopper, let’s start with a little history.

McDonald’s:

The origins of McDonald’s is the ultimate tale of rags to riches. Brothers Marucie (Mac) and Dick McDonald headed out to sunny California in the 1920s in hopes of becoming film moguls. They worked at Columbia Movie Studios before saving enough money to buy their own theatre in 1930.

 Running a theatre during the Depression wasn’t raking in the coinage. In fact, the only person who was making money was the root beer stand. They sold the theatre, and opened an open air food stand called the “Airdome.”  It was right next to an airport, making it the perfect stop for hungry travelers.

Fast forward to the 1950s. More cars, more roads, and more people flooded California. The orange grove lined streets were now speckled with dozens of food stands. To stay competitive, the brothers had to get creative. Drawing inspiration from the Ford Model-T assembly line, they cut out the servers, shortened the menu, and made a food assembly line to pump out burgers, fries, and drinks a few cents cheaper than their competitors.

After a little resistance, McDonalds began making headlines across the country for its revolutionary model. Investor, Ray Kroc, bought the right to make it and franchise. And the rest is history.

(The history is quite intricate and interesting! Click HERE and HERE to learn more!)

Burger King:

Burger King’s story starts in Florida in 1953. Keith Kramer and Matthew Burns were inspired by McDonald’s to open their own fast food joint. Their competitive advantage was a grill machine called the Insta-Broiler, and they called the restaurant “Insta-Burger King.” One year later, James McLamore and David Edgerton opened the first franchise location in Miami. They pioneered the Whopper and upgraded the insta-broiler with a flame-boiler, which Burger King still uses today. Like other McDonald’s inspired fast food chains, Burger King took off. By 1967 there were 250 locations, and they sold the business to Pillsbury.

Now, Burger King is the second largest fast food chain in the world behind McDonald’s.

McDonald’s is the OG fast food spot while Burger King is like the super successful younger brother. But which is superior?

Let’s Dive in the Quarter Pounder vs Whopper Showdown!

McDonald’s Quarter Pounder:

One bite into the McDonald’s quarter pounder was a reminder of why McDonald’s is a once a year kind of spot for me.

The Patty: Bland, flavorless, and dry. Frozen beef patties do have the ability to taste good…. alas, the quarter pounder is not one of said patties.

The Toppings: There were a few onions and a couple pickles. A dollop of ketchup and cheese desperately tried to add some moisture, but to no avail.

The Bun: Perhaps the best part? Your standard run of the mill bun.

The Cost: $4.49

(For a Thailand vs USA Quarter Pounder showdown click HERE!)

Burger King’s Whopper

The Patty: Certainly juicier than the quarter pounder. However, it didn’t have much flavor despite being flame grilled. Overall, fairly tasteless and yawn inducing.

The toppings: This is where things get exciting! A classic Whopper has “tomatoes, fresh cut lettuce, mayo, pickles, a swirl of ketchup, and sliced onions” The pickles added a delightful crunch, and all the flavors melded together nicely while adding moisture to the burger. There was also some kick in there… although I’m not sure what it was. All of these topping made the Whopper, dare I say, good?!

The Bun: Classic sesame seed bun.

Price: $4.19

And the winner of this Quarter Pounder vs Whopper showdown is….

The Whopper!

The Whopper is superior to the quarter pounder in every single way. Better patty and better toppings while being $.20 less. While the quarter pounder turned me off on bite one, it was hard to put the Whopper down.