by Bottom Line: The Jalapeño Cheeseburger from Chunky’s is a gourmet burger that is quite hefty and brings a nice kick of heat.
Chunky’s Burgers in San Antonio is famous for their Four Horsemen Burger, which features jalapeños, serranos, habanero sauce, and four ghost peppers… and a fire extinguisher on the side! This one has been the focus of multiple challenges, including Man vs. Food, where Adam Richman nearly succumbed to the heat (you can watch that here). I personally have not tried this one because I’m not into heat for the sake of pain. I prefer to enjoy my food, and this burger was not built for that.
There’s another reason I avoid the Four Horsemen Burger: Chunky’s makes some of the best darn burgers out there, and I prefer to savor their excellent product. I tried the Ghost Pepper Burger last year (a step down in heat from the Four Horsemen), and even that pushed my tolerance to the limit (more on that here). But the two people who were with me on that visit both got the Jalapeño Cheeseburger, and I was rather envious of their choice. So, I paid a visit recently and got one of those myself.
Here’s what comes with that: a half-pound burger, grilled jalapeños, pickled jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, mustard, and mayo (I had them hold the latter because mayo has no business being on a burger!)—all on a handmade bun.
This is truly one big burger, with that half-pound patty at the center as the star of the show. It’s made with fresh, never-frozen beef, and while I’m not sure what cuts of the cow are included, it’s quite a tasty mix. Nice and beefy and seasoned just right, I could eat a burger from Chunky’s with nothing but this and that heavenly handmade bun, which has a slightly crusty exterior and pillowy interior that kicks things up to the next level.
But the other toppings certainly enhance the experience, with fresh veggies and a heaping helping of jalapeños. The menu just mentions grilled peppers, but mine had pickled peppers on there as well, which offered a nice pucker and kicked up the heat. And keep that mayo off the burger—it just adds fat and calories and does little to enhance the taste. The mustard is the perfect accompaniment here because it adds a good tang that complements the heat from the jalapeños.
And as for that heat, it’s not too high on my scale, approaching but not quite reaching the Medium level. That’s okay, though, because your mouth isn’t scorched, and you can still enjoy this very tasty burger. I might have liked it just a little hotter, and next time I’ll ask for that habanero sauce they put on the Four Horsemen Burger on the side to kick things up more.
Chunky’s is certainly not a place to go when you’re on a diet, and the burger itself sets you up for some penance in the gym. And since you’ll be spending that extra time on the treadmill anyway, go ahead and get the bottle caps—a shareable order of battered and fried jalapeño slices—because those things are darn good. At around eleven bucks for the burger, that’s a pretty good deal these days for gourmet quality that beats just about anything you’ll get from a chain restaurant. Chunky’s only has the one location, but if you’re in the San Antonio area, it’s certainly worth the visit. Just get somebody else to order that Four Horsemen Burger so you can laugh at them while you gobble down your delicious Jalapeño Cheeseburger!
Chunky’s Burgers & More
4602 Callaghan Rd
San Antonio, TX 78228
Phone: (210) 433-9960
Website: www.mychunkysburgers.com
Hours:
Mon Closed
Tue to Thu 11 AM to 9 PM
Fri 11 AM to 10 PM
Sat 11:30 AM to 10 PM
Sun 12 PM to 6 PM
