by Bottom Line: The Monterey Melt from Whataburger does not pack a lot of heat, but it is still a darn good burger and worth a trip to the drive-thru.
Texans know they can rely on Whataburger for a good fast-food burger, and people outside the state are finally getting the chance to experience this chain as well. And even though some in the Lone Star State have grumbled about a drop in quality at Whataburger since it was bought by a company in Chicago, I personally have not noticed much of a change, and I appreciate that this chain regularly includes some spicy items on the menu. Case in point: the Monterey Melt, which is back at stores for another limited-time run.
Here is the rundown on that from the website:
Two juicy 100% beef patties dripping in melty Monterey Jack and American cheeses, topped with grilled onions and peppers, and finished off with our signature Jalapeño Ranch sauce. It’s spicy, it’s meaty, it’s straight-up melty perfection.
This is a fan-favorite burger, but I have to admit that I don’t recall previously trying it. With its return, I decided to stop by and get one, though I opted for the junior version (trying to cut back on calories), which has two of the smaller 4-inch patties on a 4-inch bun.
And even though this is the smaller version, it is still a decent-sized burger and quite filling. The patties are nice and beefy and well-seasoned, just as you’d expect from Whataburger. The grilled onions deliver a nice sweetness, and the green peppers bring a good roasted pepper taste. The Monterey Jack cheese adds a nice creaminess, while the slice of American cheese provides a touch of sharpness. I detect a little bit of tang from the Jalapeño Ranch, along with some extra creaminess and maybe a kick of heat. The bun is standard for fast food, but at least it does a good job of holding the abundant ingredients together.
The burger is not too spicy—about Mild on my scale—but it still delivers a bite and leaves a nice tingle in your mouth. I may have them add jalapeños next time to see if that kicks things up, but this is such a good combination of flavors that they may not be needed. The Monterey Melt may not set your mouth on fire, but it is quite a tasty burger that still brings a nice little kick.
While the junior version I got may be a smaller burger, it still tallies up to 600 calories, which is starting to get on the high side (that’s more than the 563 in a Big Mac and not too far from the 677 in a Whopper). If you decide to go for the full-sized burger, better loosen your belt (and plan on shopping for a bigger one) because that one totals up to 1,100 calories! (And since this is a family site, I can’t say the sodium level out loud.) If you go for a side, a medium order of fries will run you 420 calories, so you may want to consider the onion rings instead, which only come up to 300 calories. Still, the junior melt and the latter total up to 900, and I don’t even want to do the math on the other. This is a darn good burger, but consider it a splurge and stick to salads for the rest of the week.
The Monterey Melt Jr. combo set me back ten bucks before tax, which is getting to be about standard for fast-food meals these days. It is around for the dreaded limited-time-only, and I think I am putting up this review at the tail end of its tenure. This is certainly a tasty burger that delivers a nice kick, so I would make a visit soon to a Whataburger near you if it sounds tempting. If you miss out, their jalapeño cheeseburger is always a good substitute (more on that one here), or you can check if they have added any new spicy items to the menu.
Nutrition Info:
Monterey Melt Jr.
Calories: 600
Fat: 37g (13g Sat/1 Trans)
Protein: 28g
Carbs: 38g
Sodium: 1530mg
Monterey Melt
Calories: 1100
Fat: 69g (23g Sat/2 Trans)
Protein: 54g
Carbs: 62g
Sodium: 2510mg
