Review: Loaded Jalapeno Whopper from Burger King

Bottom Line: The Loaded Jalapeño Whopper from Burger King delivers a decent fast food burger, but it could use more heat.

Burger King claims to be going through changes to improve its stores and its product (dumping that creepy King was certainly a good start), and it has been touting its new and improved Whopper. Along with that, it has been putting out what it calls “Whopper by You” fan creations, the latest of which is the Loaded Jalapeño Whopper. I stopped by recently to give it a try, and here is what that one comes with:

One quarter-lb. 100% flame-grilled beef patty, topped with lettuce, American cheese, crispy jalapeño mix, pickled jalapeños, and creamy Jalapeño Sauce on a toasted sesame seed bun.

I am not a huge Whopper fan myself, but it is a decent enough fast food burger, and I stop by the drive-thru from time to time to get one. For this gussied-up version, the meat had a good chargrilled taste, and it was not dry at all as I have experienced with this burger in the past. Apart from that, it seemed pretty much the same as previous Whoppers I have had, so I don’t know that I would call it improved, just a return to previous quality levels.

As for all the fixins on this loaded burger, the pickled jalapeños added a bit of a vinegary pop, though they were somewhat sparse. The crispy jalapeños didn’t add much crunch, but you do get a little bit of a roasted jalapeño taste from them. (They are basically the same as the packaged salad toppings you can find in the grocery store.) The creamy Jalapeño Sauce had some similarities to Ranch dressing, but it mostly got lost in the mix (and I might have preferred mustard, which has fewer calories and tends to complement the jalapeños). The veggies were fresh enough, and the American cheese added some creaminess and a touch of sharpness. The sesame seed bun held things together well enough, and it delivered a little boost to the flavor.

As for the heat, they may call this a “Loaded Jalapeño Whopper,” but it did not deliver much burn. It did get above Mild on my scale, but not quite to Medium. As indicated above, it could use more jalapeños and maybe a touch more sauce as well. Still, it was a decent fast food burger that did have a little bit of a bite.

As for the calories, the Whopper has always been on the high side for a drive-thru offering, and this version tops out at 820 cals (and 44 grams of fat!). If you go with my suggestion above and substitute mustard for the sauce, that saves you 90 cals, but even then, this burger is tipping the scale. Go easy on the sides because even a small order of fries comes in at 230 cals and pushes you over 1,000 total. I went with the four Jalapeño Cheese Bites, which also add 230 cals, but they only cost $1.79 in my area and they are quite good. BK does have a junior version of the burger that comes in at only 410 cals, so it is a much better choice if you are watching your waistline.

The Loaded Jalapeño Whopper is a special promotion, and it has already been around for more than a month, so it might be headed back to Limited-Time-Only-Ville soon. It runs $6.99 in my area, which is not terrible for fast food these days, though a combo will put you over ten bucks. As for Burger King’s claims that the Whopper is better these days, I don’t know that it was much improved apart from the few misfires I received in the past, but the Loaded Jalapeño version is tasty, if not too spicy.

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 810
Fat: 44g (13g Sat/0 Trans)
Protein: 37g
Carbs: 75g
Sodium: 1930mg