DQ (Dairy Queen's) Bacon Cheeseburger short review

Dairy Queen's burger box

This is the first time I ordered something from DQ (Diary Queen) that does not involve any sort of cold ice cream (FYI: I love their ice cream). People have been raving about their cheeseburgers and I decided to give it a try :)

I ordered their Bacon Cheeseburger (the official name of this burger is: Bacon Two Cheese Deluxe 1/3 lb.* Signature Stackburger)... but I was a bit disappointed... The presentation wasn't bad but the taste wasn't as good as I thought it would be. 

This Bacon Cheeseburger was a bit dry and a little bland (compared to Wendy's and McDonald's cheeseburgers...).

pros:

• very very filling, a substantial meal
• many layers adding to the burger's depth
• features two types of cheese
• lots of meat (burger patties were 1/3 pounders!)

cons:

• dry
• bland (needs way more flavours/flavouring)
• cheese was lacking the cheesiness we all crave in a burger

score: 6.5/10 (I will stick to their ice creams and ice cream cakes)

website: https://www.dairyqueen.com/en-ca/menu/bacon-two-cheese-deluxe-signature-stackburger/

McD's Bacon 'N Crispy Onion Quarter Pounder review

Yes! I have finally gotten my hands on this! (I'm not sure why is this image is so small 😟 ) This burger has been heavily advertised across all billboards and on TV in Canada and I am so glad I was finally able to get my hands on it!

McD's Bacon 'N Crispy Onion Quarter Pounder bun

Quarter pounders have always been my favourite go-to item at McDonald's and this is an enhanced version. Aside from being a quarter pounder, this is topped with crispy onions, hickory-smoked bacon strips, and a creamy grilled onion sauce. Other fillings are: two slices of processed cheddar cheese, ketchup, mustard and pickles. For this burger, they have chosen to sandwich the filling between a toasted sesame seed bun. 

McD's Bacon 'N Crispy Onion Quarter Pounder box

I love the box design too... it is different from the Quarter Pounder box (which is mainly red and yellow)

impressions:

• love the grilled onion sauce, it has a very strong grilled taste
• more substantial than a regular quarter pounder (with added bacon and grilled onion sauce)
• the combination of flavours work very well together
• I appreciated the additional slice of cheese
• crispy onions have already lost their crispyness but contributed to the overall taste of the burger

McD's Bacon 'N Crispy Onion Quarter Pounder

This is after my first bite... it was so good :P unlike most of their quarter pounders which slightly lack sauce, this one was filled with the right amount of sauce because of the extra grilled onion sauce. I really liked this grilled onion sauce because it had a very strong grilled taste to it. 

good ratio for every ingredient

the insides of the burger. You can see most of the ingredients in this shot.

grilled onion sauce had a tendency of falling out like this

I really like this burger! I hope it becomes a permanent menu item. I really REALLY liked the grilled onion sauce and hope to see it in more of their products (as a dip, a sauce... etc). I really 

I felt the crispy onion didn't do much for the burger other than adding an additional because, by the time I was able to eat it, they have already lost their crispiness.

score: 9.1/10
website: https://www.mcdonalds.com/ca/en-ca/product/bacon-crispy-onion-quarter-pounder.html

Fatburger Japan review

FatBurger Japan

I always thought that as close as we (Canadians) are to the US, we should at least know all of their chains by name... even if we haven't tried them. But turns out, there are always treasures to be unfolded, and this time it is FatBurger! 

I work with a few Californians and they were SUPER excited to learn that FatBurger had opened their first store in Japan! 

Fatburger is everywhere!

It seems FatBurger is in most of the Northern Hemisphere... but I wonder why they never came to Canada...

the menu, click to see a clearer version

I took a quick look at the menu and thought the prices were very reasonable. FatBurger is known for their "Works" 

The Works means each burger has:

• mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, relish, mustard and a patty.

waiting number

I enjoyed reading their facts on their waiting number cards. They were a nice distraction... service was a bit slow though...

wet tissues and napkins and salt and pepper

you know you are in Japan when they offer wet tissues at the table XD

receipt

This was what I ordered... I wish the staff was more attentive... when I asked for the set, she said the set only includes fries and no drink... (which was weird because I was very sure it included a drink) but when I looked at the receipt, she only put in fries... which means I did not have a drink.... (seriously... I was so frustrated.... -________-||)

this shake was thick!

While the shake was EXPENSIVE... it was really delicious... I'm not sure whether it is worth the huge (¥800) price tag though... if the staff didn't mess up my order, I would have had a drink... grrrrr....

the burger... drools

This is what the burger looked like. It was delicious.

To be honest, I thought the serving looked slightly small (as I was starving). But towards the end, I found myself struggling to finish it. (and I don't think it was because of the fries or shake...)

The burger was juicy and loaded with flavours, each "works" item was very prominent and played its role in the burger.

Sometimes, especially in Japan, I find the need to add additional sauces (ketchup) or salt/pepper. But for this burger, I didn't feel the need to.

fat fries

I was really impressed with their fat fries... they were crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. They were very filling. And it is very unique to Fatburger!

the burger again :P

Before I end this review, I want to comment on the location of the store. I do find it slightly out of the way as it is located in Men's 109. And what I felt was very unfortunate is that it is located next to Shibuya crossing... and yet, there are no street views... or windows... for that matter. 

score: 8.5/10 will definitely go back again (I prefer Fatburger to Shake Shack in Ebisu)
website: https://www.fatburger.com/japan/

McDonald's たまごダブルマック burger review

hey, my sweet cherries,

I will be reviewing McDonald's limited time burger. (I was told it is also currently available at McDonald's in Toronto, though I couldn't find it on the Canadian website.). In Japanese, it is called たまごダブルマック, which literally translates to Egg Double Mac.

wrapping paper

what it is:

bacon, egg, and two beef patties with a special black pepper sauce

the layers :)

my thoughts:

• very tasty! 
• all my favourite burger components in one (I wish there was cheese though... but I didn't miss it as much as I thought since the sauce was really flavourful).
• loved the special black pepper sauce!!!
• the black pepper sauce was not only there for the heat, I can't pinpoint what they used to make it taste so good, it was savoury and added such a nice creamy touch to the burger :) 
• the bacon's smokey taste really wrapped the burger nicely

not an appealing picture

my take on what the sauce contains:

mayonnaise, salt, black pepper, sandwich spread... some secret ingredient... (my taste buds are confused XD)

the marriage between the smokey bacon and sauce is impeccable. A perfect match, in the beginning, I thought the smokiness was coming from the sauce, then I realized it was actually the bacon!

I love it! And that means a lot since I have been on a burger craze lately. If it is available in your area, I highly recommend you to try it! (I still can't stop thinking about the sauce :D)

score: 9/10
website: http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/quality/basic_information/menu_info.php?mid=6700

also... if you are interested, please check out my personal blog and follow me around Tokyo :)

Daikanyama Henry's Burger review

Every once in a while you will find something and it turns out to be good... and that was what happened to me this week. I was walking around Daikanyama (代官山) and came across this burger shop. The smell of their burgers just filled the streets so I was intrigued. I was also aware this was Daikanyama, so it might be slightly pricey.

To my surprise, it was not! in fact... it was quite reasonable... it was comparable to most burger shops in Tokyo. I suggest getting a set. I decided on Combo A for ¥1188 (tax included). The set includes a drink, a hamburger and fries.

While waiting for my burger, I couldn't help but do a quick google search, I saw a Japan Times article feature them a few years ago. It turns out they serve 100% Japanese Wagyu (Japanese beef) burgers with no fillers, extenders or binding agents! I was excited!

seating area

It took them around 10 minutes to get my order. The seating area is extremely small. I was lucky I got to sit down as the people were leaving.

only 4 seats!!

They only have 4 seats. I suggest getting take out and eat outside on the bench. I do not suggest waiting... because there is no guarantee how long it will take.

so my food arrived!

impressions:

• fries were fresh
• ingredients were fresh
• fries were super thin
• burger was really juicy and tasty
• burger melted in my mouth
• burger was small

served on a cute diner type tray

My order came on a cute looking tray. It had a very diner type of feel to it.

close up of burger

look at how fresh the lettuce is and how juicy the burger looks.

the burger!

the burger felt slightly thin. The combination of ingredients was good.

another look at the burger

the burger is tiny...

I finished!

it wasn't hard to finish this burger. It was small... (you can tell from my closeups).

Overall

I was quite satisfied. The ingredients were fresh and the taste was good.

score: 8/10
website: http://www.henrysburger.com/

Tokyo Ebisu Shake Shack review

photo credits: Shake Shack

People have been raving over Shake Shack for... for a long time, it seems to be the pride of New York among New Yorkers especially when they talk to Californians about In and Out. There are numerous Shake Shack vs In and Out on Youtube. Even in Tokyo, there is a rave over Shake Shack, there are 3 in Tokyo. My friends told me there was a 1-2 hour wait during their first few months in Tokyo.

After hearing so much about Shake Shack and finding it in Tokyo, I couldn't help but go and give it a try. I went on a Sunday night, around 8:00pm, to my surprise, there was no line.

menu

A quick glance at the menu suggests that this place isn't cheap. While burger prices are reasonable, shakes and drinks are extremely overpriced. 

receipt and buzzer to notify you when your food is ready to pick up

restaurant atmosphere:

simple, quiet and food court style. I wasn't impressed with the service here. Unlike most places in Tokyo, their service was extremely minimal. Other than doing what they were supposed to (e.g. finding you a seat, giving you your order and taking your order at the cashier, etc) they did not make any extra effort (e.g. smile) to make your dining experience more enjoyable. 

Other than that, the place was clean, well lit, and enjoyable to hang out with friends and doing work. 

Shack Burger ¥680 (tax not included)

After contemplating I decided on the Shack Burger.

Here is the description: CheeseBurger with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce

Shack Burger ¥680 (tax not included)

(waiting time: 10 mins)

first impressions:

• very small... 
• cheese /shack sauce is really delicious
• patty was a bit dry
• it was very considerate of them to provide a cup of water for each customer

I had mixed feelings about this Shack Burger. Honestly, other than the Cheese / Shack sauce element I wasn't impressed with the burger. One, it is really small... for ¥680, it was far from being close to filling. Two, the patty was dry, for a 10 minute waiting time, I would have expected the burger to fresh... but it didn't feel fresh, just normal... it was hot but not fresh (like out of the pan fresh).

I appreciated their cup of water, it was necessary... the burger was dry. The patty was so dry that none of the tomato "water" leaked... but was soaked by the patty.

I tried my friend's sesame shake (price: ¥480 for Small size). It was extremely thick and filling. The black sesame taste was really strong.

conclusion

While Shake Shack's Shack sauce (try saying that 10 times XD) was extremely tasty (it was the highlight of the burger), I thought that the burger was overpriced. It was on the expensive side yet it did not deliver the quality. I would probably not return for more burgers... unless if they change the quantity and quality. I was not impressed with their service either.

score: 6/10
website: https://www.shakeshack.com/


please check out my personal blog and follow me around Tokyo :)

McDonald's Angus swiss and mushroom burger review

Angus Swiss and Mushroom Burger

For those who are unfamiliar with Fast Food Chain burger classifications, "Angus Burger" represents a "premium" version of burgers. Most fast food chains in North America offer Angus Burgers which are supposingly better quality and better taste than their regular burgers.

On McDonald's Official website, The Angus Swiss and Mushroom Burger was marketed with the following features:

• thick and juicy third-pound (100% Angus beef patty)
• Special seasoning
• premium bakery style bun
• Swiss cheese
• Savory Sautéed mushrooms

Unfortunately, after eating this burger, I do not think they have delivered what they promised, the bun and Swiss seemed to be the only thing they were able to deliver from that list, these were the thought I had after:

• burger is too dry, there was hardly any sauce
• too much mayo, yet it wasn't able to moist the burger
• bun was well made and very fresh
• mushrooms were very dry and wasn't seasoned (they were fresh, they just were too dry from cooking)
• Swiss cheese taste wasn't obvious, it was also on the dry side.

While eating this burger, I was very frustrated, the dryness of the burger made the burger very "fragile", it was literally falling apart, crumbs of dry meat kept falling and bouncing everywhere after every bite (for your info, I am not a messy eater). The amount of mayo made it difficult to eat as well, almost after every bite I felt some mayo on my lips or cheeks, I think you can imagine the scenario I was in: after one bite, I would have to "clean" my face of mayo then clean the table of meat crumbs.

provided a paper sleeve to hold the buger

I really appreciated how they provided a paper sleeve for you to hold the burger in, I thought it was very considerate and hygienic.

I seriously hope McDonald's can improve on their burger, I have a few suggestions for them:

1. Have a "main" sauce: gravy, black pepper sauce, etc. so this can moist the burger, this will also add flavouring and moisture to the mushrooms.
2. Ease up on the mayo, the mayo didn't make the burger taste better, it just made the burger messier to eat

McDonald's has always tried to improve themselves. They have the money, resources and people to improve this burger. I have high hopes they will take the initiative to improve this burger, so I look forward to their improved "Angus Third-Pounder" burger. But in the meantime, I think I will stick to their classic burgers.

Official website: http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/product_nutrition.sandwiches.113.angus-mushroom-swiss.html

Avenue Diner on Davenport Diner review

Avenue Diner Menu

The reviews for Avenue Diner are at 2 extremes: either you really like this place, or you hate it to bits, I was confused as to why there was such extremities. 

John from Urban Spoon says: "Biggest dump ever!!! Most overpriced breakfast I've ever seen.. And the food isn't even good!... Tiny tiny portions, miserable workers.. All they care about is money, stay far away from this dive."

while Jojo2772 from Urban Spoon says  "I love this place!! Great atmosphere, location (steps from Yorkville) and the best breakfast in town. The staff are super friendly and service is very quick. On any given day, you don't know which major celebrity could be dining at this fine establishment."

I had to give this place a try and see why there were such different reviews for this diner. My first visit was after lunch time (1:30PM), the place is quite small and was almost half full... a lot of people were coming in to order burger and fries. 

The Diner opened in 1944, you can tell by their interior. On one of the walls, it will filled with photographs, those were photographs of celebrities, rock stars, hockey players, etc  (taken with the owner) at the diner. The servers were not friendly nor rude, they were just there to take your orders and serve food.

Avenue Banquet burger

I scanned the menu, there isn't a lot of you can choose from, they range from All Day Breakfast, to fries to burgers. I usually like getting foods that are "special" and "unique" so the Avenue Banquet burger caught my eye, I asked the owner what it was and he explained that it was a Bacon Cheddar Burger. That sounded like something I wanted, so I ordered it.

I was surprised at how large the piece of  "burger" was. Overall speaking, I think this is a "fair" burger, I liked how it is quite filling, and the taste is ok. The pickles were not sour (I like that it is not sour like some pickles that causes you to "winch" when you eat them); I was a little disappointed with the overall taste... since it was a "Bacon and Cheddar" burger, I expected the bacon and cheddar to be more tasteful and be more present. Unfortunately, I found it quite difficult to "taste" them. The bacon was too thin and the cheese was too "tiny", so they were not able to make their presence known. Also, be warned, eating this burger can be quite messy.

I think I would give this burger a 2.8/5 since I could hardly taste the ingredients (in the name). I really liked how filling it was, I really appreciated that. I think the price was sort of reasonable ($7.86/tax included) for a burger in Yorkville.

Keep in mind, if you want to visit this place, they are only opened till 4:00PM every day and during the months of July and August they do not open on Mondays & Tuesdays.

I am surprised they don't have a website, so no website this time.