It’s quite impressive to convince people a burger is so good that they want to keep having it for 67 years straight.
Yet that’s exactly what Burger King (QSR) has done with its Whopper, which debuted in 1957 and originally sold for 37 cents.
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Alongside White Castle and McDonald’s, Burger King is one of few fast-food chains to ever pull off such a feat.
Burger King, just like the aforementioned classic burger chains, was founded in a time when fast food was very different. Its original menu was very small and offered a few simple items: a hot dog, french fries, sodas, and milkshakes.
Related: Burger King menu’s new Whopper blends Mexican, American tastes
It was a great time to establish an iconic menu item for one simple reason: the competition was a fraction of what it is today, and there was less on the menu to distract folks’ attention. If you had a good burger, you likely remembered it — and there wasn’t a new variation of it every month for you to try.
In today’s fast-food climate where the limited-time offering (LTO) rules all, however, Burger King has had to adapt just like all the other players on the field. And so it’s no surprise that the chain now offers yet another new take on its classic Whopper.
Burger King’s popular Whopper has gotten a new twist.
Image source: Shutterstock
Burger King unveils its latest Whopper
Burger King Japan on April 21 announced via its X account the newest Whopper, which is now on sale at restaurants across the country.
Called the Smoky BBQ Whopper, this version of the classic burger comes with Bulls Eye BBQ sauce. It sells for 670 yen ($4.67 US) for the sandwich alone or in a combo with fries and a drink for 970 yen ($6.76 US).
Related: Burger King makes menu changes, adding value, new item
The Smoky BBQ Whopper is just one of the promos that Burger King is running in its Japanese locations right now. If you’re open to something wilder, the chain also has the Creamy Mexican Avocado Whopper on sale for a limited time.
This made its debut on April 11 and comes topped with a creamy Mexican sauce that uses 12 spices, as well as a generous helping of diced avocado. This is is just a little pricier at 970 yen ($6.76 US) for the sandwich or 1270 yen ($8.85 US) for the combo, but it’s a huge sandwich, so you can count on being full when you’re done.
Burger King menu is braver overseas
While there’s nothing wrong with Burger King’s U.S. menu (which currently has a nice-looking Steakhouse Bacon Whopper on the limited offers menu), it’s simply a fact that the chain is more adventurous with what it offers in other countries.
In Thailand, Burger King once served a Whopper with 20 slices of cheese on it, while its Japanese Kuro burger (served on a jet-black bun, as Kuro means “black” in Japanese) went viral for its unusual appearance.
While Burger King had favorite revenue results last year, growing 5.4%, the brand has been the first to admit that it needs some reinvention. Its “Reclaim the Flame” campaign, announced in 2022, included a plan to invest 400 million in the next two years. The investment earmarked $150 million for advertising and digital spending and $250 million for a “Royal Reset,” which encompassed updates of kitchen equipment and technology as well as remodeling.
Although the chain is clearly seeing progress after executing this plan, one can’t help but wonder what would happen if it unleashed some of these very viral-looking menu items in the U.S., a country obsessed with making content about strange and wonderful new things.
