Whataburger: Whatabout a Better Burger?

In these modern times of deluxe burgers, salads with all the fixings, and sundae/shake/cake/goopy fusion desserts, a simple fast food menu is a rarity. Whataburger, with locations scattered across the Southeast and Southwest, does not appear to have modified its menu much since its 1950 inception. Burgers, chicken (grilled or fried), shakes, a token salad or two, and a slightly more extensive breakfast menu have kept the chain going. But if a restaurant is going to stake its name on simplified selection, it had better offer some pretty good food.

Whataburger, on the handful of occasions that I have "dined" there, has left me unimpressed. Granted, the chain's unique A-frame architecture and orange-white color scheme have kept me intrigued, but the products inside this structure don't live up to the promise. On my first trip, I tried the basic Whataburger. After placing my order, the cashier handed me a table number and I took my seat.

I suppose that having someone serve me elevated the dining experience to some extent; the downside, however, is that every person's meal arrives on a plastic red tray. Jam six trays at a table, and you risk spilling salt in your neighbor's soda.

Not that you would need to use the salt. The burger and chicken sandwiches that I have tried came doused in a special "seasoning" that my taste buds informed was, more or less, salt. My burger was a shriveled patty on a soft bun; I'd take the comparable Wendy's junior cheeseburger any day over the Whataburger version. Likewise, my chicken sandwich was dry and overcooked on the first try; a later visit yielded a better sandwich, complete with tomatoes, lettuce, and onions.

French fries are difficult to mess up, and Whataburger is no exception. I am tempted to say that the hot, crisp, salty potato spears were the highlight of my visit. I admit that this review is not entirely complete, however, as I have not tried the breakfast items.

Price differences between Whataburger's menus and those of comparable chains are negligible. You won't max out your credit card on a burger here, although the price jump for anything involving grilled chicken is noticeable. At Whataburger, or any fast food restaurant, for that matter, expect to pay nearly four bucks for a sandwich! My advice: don't splurge on the chicken here. Shove aside those nagging righteous voices urging you to be healthy, and just go for the burger.

I give Whataburger credit for resisting the current trends toward overzealous menus and gimmicky dieting trends. The chain sticks with its core products, and attempts to add that special customer service touch. If only the food left me craving a return trip!