Halloween hasn’t even arrived yet and all the major fast food chains have already begun unveiling their festive menus. While I always anticipate certain items from various restaurants, such as the McDonald’s Cheese Bites, one Christmas menu I wasn’t anticipating news of was Burger King.
Burger King has never truly embraced Christmas in the past, but they have more than compensated for it with a lavish and comprehensive menu launch. I was invited to Burger King’s flagship restaurant in London to sample the menu, and meet the mastermind behind the entire offering, Flo, from Burger King’s Food Development Team.
Headlining the festive menu is a brand-new addition to the Gourmet Kings Collection, The Ultimate Camembert Wagyu. The burger contains a flame-grilled 100% British wagyu beef patty with a sweet and tangy tomato cranberry ketchup, luxurious truffle black pepper mayo and fresh rocket within a soft brioche bun.
The standout element, however, is the golden and crispy camembert patty positioned atop the burger. Everything about this burger, from the presentation of the box that opens like a gift, through to the delightful flavours within, exceeded all of my expectations.
The Wagyu beef was succulent and practically dissolved on the palate with each smoky mouthful, while the velvety truffle mayo and cranberry ketchup complemented everything beautifully alongside the gloriously gooey cheesy patty. It was the ideal festive addition to the Burger King menu, earning a well-deserved 9/10.
The second item sampled was the new Festive Big King, which takes everything we know and love about the Big King and adds five gold onion rings on top. In all honesty, this burger is festive in name only.
The Big King remains an absolute staple for Burger King – enormous, satisfying, fresh and utterly delicious. The decision to incorporate onion rings rather than something like crispy onions, however, is nothing short of inspired.
It introduces a contrasting texture and flavour to the burger, making it a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The Festive Big King earns a respectable 8/10.
The final Christmas addition to the burger menu is the Festive Whopper, which is also available as a plant-based alternative exclusively via delivery. For those seeking a festive twist on a beloved classic, this is undoubtedly the burger to try.
However, when placed alongside the Festive Big King and The Ultimate Camembert Wagyu, the burger felt somewhat understated. It did, nonetheless, provide an opportunity to fully appreciate the zesty cranberry ketchup, which makes a refreshing change from the typical sweet cranberry flavours synonymous with this time of year. The burger receives a 7/10.
What is the sweet treat Burger King has added to its festive menu?
One of the standout items during my tasting of the new Burger King menu was the Chocolate Orange Cheesecake. What impressed me most was that no other fast food chains in the UK have attempted anything quite like this before.
At Christmas time, there is no more festive flavour combination than Chocolate and Orange. The cheesecake base is delightfully soft and crumbly, while the mousse on top is wonderfully light and airy, complemented by a gorgeous orange coulis. I awarded this indulgent treat a 9/10.
