Review of Burger King's Asian Chicken Salad

Burger King is trying to establish a new reputation of healthier and better. When I saw the commercial for the Asian chicken salad, I knew it would be something I would enjoy ordering at some time. Since it was already two o'clock in the afternoon, it was easy to decide the remaining errands could be finished the next day and a salad would be a great lunch.

Pulling the salad from the bag, I was disappointed with the dish. The oval shape was pleasing, but only about an inch high. The lid that covered it allowed room for more lettuce. Instead, the crispy chicken layered on top hardly raised above the edge of the bowl. While arranging the salad for a picture, it became evident that the bottom of the bowl pushed upwards, requiring less lettuce or other ingredients to make it appear that it was at least an amount to fill the bowl.

The salad consisted of sliced crispy chicken, baby edamame, red cabbage, lettuce, a scattering of sliced carrots and crispy Oriental noodles mixed with sesame lime vinaigrette. It was fresh and as I mentioned, appealing. I am a light eater and for a lunch item, the salad was almost filling. However, it was more on the line of a side salad with chicken on top than a meal. At $6.95 plus tax, the price is far beyond reason for what is given. This is not a serving to split between two people to reduce the cost.

The chicken, prepared just the way I like it, was great. There is no choice, though, so crispy is what you get. The crispy noodles were more of a scanty garnish than willing addition, but they were fresh rather than stale and added a bit of crunch. The dressing is pre-added so that the sesame lime vinaigrette mixes its flavor with the minimal addition of edamame, red cabbage and lettuce. It was more of a teaser to make a person want to rush out to the kitchen and make more sesame lime vinaigrette so the flavor can be savored. Edamame is that great new soybean, harvested early and treated to use as an additive to fresh salads and other dishes. It has the consistency of a bean and a size between a large sweet pea and a lima bean.

I award this salad one star for appearance and freshness. I would suggest using less chicken, more of everything else and charging no more than $3.95 for it. When customers feel cheated by the disguised arrangement of the dish and the bare bones offering of ingredients, with the exception of the chicken, disappointment sets in quickly. It will be awhile before I return to Burger King.

Opinions are those of the author.