REVIEW: Jack in the Box Southwest Cheddar Cheeseburger

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What is the Jack in the Box Southwest Cheddar Cheeseburger?

It features a beef patty, smoked cheddar cheese, chipotle sauce, grilled onions, lettuce, and tomatoes on a buttery bakery bun. If you want something with a bit more heft, it’s also available in a double version that has two beef patties and two slices of cheese.

How is it?

I thought it gave me an idea of what a cheeseburger would taste like if Jack in the Box decided to make one using two of its tacos as the burger’s bun. (Please make this happen, Jack in the Box!)

It’s all thanks to the beef patty and chipotle sauce, which I’ve said previously tastes like a combination of Jack’s taco sauce and mayonnaise. It’s not at all spicy, but instead more smoky and peppery. I’ve enjoyed it with other Jack in the Box chicken sandwiches and breakfast burritos, and I like it on this.

The other ingredient that gets product name-billing, the smoked cheddar cheese, doesn’t seem to enhance the burger. I’m not sure it does anything else besides sweat. I mean, look at the photo above. It appears as if it’s guilty of something. What are you hiding, smoked cheddar cheese?

Maybe the cheese helps with the smokiness of the chipotle sauce. Or perhaps it sweats to make you not pay attention to how little flavor the grilled onions have in this cheeseburger.

Also, I feel as if the vegetables in the cheeseburger slightly affect the flavor punch of the chipotle sauce.

Is there anything else you need to know?

You can get it a la carte, but it’s being promoted as the headliner of a $4.99 combo that also comes with a small fries and drink.

Conclusion:

I know it reads as if Jack in the Box’s Southwest Cheddar Cheeseburger isn’t worth the price. But here’s the thing, it’s worth it because of the chipotle sauce, and because the price of the combo is low enough that I can forgive the other ingredients.

Purchased Price: $6.99*
Size: Medium combo
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: Not available at time of publication.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did. The combo has an advertised price of $4.99.

SPOTTED: Limited Edition Apple Pie Kit Kat

/ / Spotted on Shelves / 6 Comments

Limited Edition Apple Pie Kit Kat

Update: We tried it! Click here to read our review.

I’ve had a Nestle Apple Pie Kit Kat from Japan. If this is as good as that, then you should go find this Hershey’s version. Although, that Japanese Kit Kat was one that you had to bake in an oven. But even unbaked it was wonderful. (Spotted by @begs33 at Walmart.)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if the product is old, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

If you’ve seen the product, help out your fellow readers by letting them know in the comments what city and store you found it in.

FAST FOOD NEWS: Dunkin’ Refreshers

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News Dunkin Refreshers

Starbucks’ Refreshers have been around for eight years. Dunkin’s Refreshers have been around for significantly shorter than that.

The new cold drink line from Dunkin’ is made with iced green tea, flavored fruit concentrate, and B vitamins. They get their caffeine from green tea, which is unlike the Starbucks’ version that gets it from green coffee. There are two flavors to try — Strawberry Dragonfruit and Peach Passion Fruit.

A large Strawberry Dragonfruit has 170 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 20 milligrams of sodium, 39 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 37 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

A large Peach Passion Fruit has 180 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 20 milligrams of sodium, 43 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 39 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

To celebrate summer, Dunkin’ is offering medium Refreshers for $2 all day at participating locations nationwide through July 28.

If you’ve tried either one, let us know what you think of it in the comments.

(Image via Dunkin’.)

REVIEW: Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Pepper Puffs

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Cheetos Flamin Hot Pepper Puffs

I’m more impressed with the shape of the Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Pepper Puffs than how spicy they are.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, these bring some heat, but I can’t help but admire how these look. In the photo below, it appears as if I’m holding a semi-cooled, pepper-shaped nugget of lava.

Cheetos Flamin Hot Pepper Puffs Pepper

Of course, Frito-Lay has shown over the past few years that it knows how to shape a corn puff. We’ve seen eggs, bones, paws, stars, snowflakes, and shapes only eBay sellers can see, but this one deserves the chef’s kiss because I imagine it must’ve been difficult to include the stem, which really sells the pepper shape.

The stem also has been influencing how I eat them. With each one so far, I’ve grabbed it by the small extension and used it as a handle to put the puff into my mouth. I think, and I’m sure it will never happen, this should be the default shape for any Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

Cheetos Flamin Hot Pepper Puffs Closeup

The bag claims it’s the “Hottest Ever!” but I’m not sure of that because I have more painful memories with Xxtra Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. The heat takes some time to kick in, so these puffs kind of trick you into thinking they aren’t so bad. But these are noticeably spicier than original Flamin’ Hot Crunchy Cheetos, maybe 50 percent more intense.

I definitely can’t chain eat them like regular Flamin’ Hot products. Instead, I’m enjoying the puffs in small doses, like five or so. Even my nose knows these are spicier because normal Flamin’ Hot doesn’t turn my nose into a snot faucet when eating them.

In terms of flavor, these have the familiar Flamin’ Hot seasoning but amped up a bit. While they are spicy, they’re not so hot that it completely distracts your taste buds from the peppery, oniony, garlicky, and slightly cheesy seasoning.

Obviously, Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Pepper Puffs are not for everyone. If you find Flamin’ Hot, well, flamin’ hot, then I don’t need to tell you to avoid these. If you’re a card-carrying member of the Flamin’ Hot fandom, then you have to get them. But they’re around for only two weeks, so you should’ve started looking yesterday.

DISCLOSURE: Although, I bought this bag on eBay, I later received a free sample of the product from the folks at Walmart. I probably didn’t really need to tell you that since this review was finished before obtaining the sample. But I guess I disclosed it to let you know I like these enough that I’m happy I got another bag of it.

Purchased Price: Too much on eBay
Size: 7 oz. bag
Purchased at: eBay (being sold at Walmart)
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (about 24 pieces) 170 calories, 11 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 310 milligrams of sodium, 14 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

FAST FOOD NEWS: Dairy Queen Piñata Party Blizzard

/ / Fast Food News / 6 Comments

News DQ Pinata Party Blizzard

Dairy Queen is celebrating its 80 years of existence with the Piñata Party Blizzard.

It features confetti frosting, cake pieces, and cake batter confetti stars blended into DQ’s vanilla soft serve. The treat is also finished with whipped topping and edible glitter.

I’m surprised DQ didn’t top the Blizzard with one of its Buster Bars that could represent the stick or bat used to swing at a pinata. I’m also disappointed DQ didn’t include it because I like it when the chain tops a Blizzard with a frozen novelty.

The Piñata Party Blizzard is available for a very limited time at participating DQ locations.

If you’ve tried it, let us know what you think of it in the comments.

(Image via DQ’s website.)

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