REVIEW: Arby’s King’s Hawaiian Big Kahuna Sandwich

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Arby s Big Kahuna

What is the Arby’s King’s Hawaiian Big Kahuna?

Remember when Arby’s first released the Meat Mountain? Piling every one of its meats on a single sandwich, the “secret menu” item was the subject of articles written with equal parts awe and disgust. I saw it as more of a stunt offering than a real menu item, not fit to be ordered by a respectable gentleman of refined taste such as myself. I certainly did not order and consume one late one night from the nearby gas station-attached Arby’s near my house.

I mention the Meat Mountain only to highlight that the Arby’s King’s Hawaiian Big Kahuna sandwich features three types of meat: a fried chicken fillet, ham, and smoked brisket, as well as Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a pineapple habanero mustard on a sweet Hawaiian roll. It’s a hefty sandwich, and it’s on the regular menu without any particular attention. Truly, the arc of the fast food universe is long, but it bends towards gluttony.

How is it?

The King’s Sweet Hawaiian roll is something Arby’s has returned to again and again for good reason. Its sweetness complements the sandwich without overwhelming any individual element. By itself, it’s noticeably sweet, but that sweetness lessens when eaten as a part of the whole.

Arby s Big Kahuna Halved

The chicken remains crisp even after the drive home, and the ham and Swiss are natural cordon bleu-esque additions. The smoked brisket adds smokiness, but is a bit dry. It seems extraneous to me, but doesn’t subtract from the whole. The pineapple habanero mustard really tastes like sweet pineapple and adds a needed kick to the whole affair. Without it, the sandwich’s sweetness could have been overwhelming.

Is there anything else you need to know?

There’s been a trend in recent years for burgers and sandwiches to be piled so high that they’re too unstable to be actually eaten by hand. I certainly remember the Meat Mountain eroding into a hill of various meats and cheeses, forcing me to pick through them with my fingers in the harsh, judgmental dome light of my car.

The advertising photos of the towering King’s Hawaiian Big Kahuna sandwich made me think I’d be in for a repeat of my shameful late-night mountaineering expedition, but I was pleasantly surprised at the structural integrity of this sandwich. This is one time I was happy the actual product was smaller than advertised. The tomato caused a bit of slippage, but I was able to handle it and get a bit of each element in every bite.

Conclusion:

It’s a sandwich that will satisfy your inner gourmand without being too much. I mean, we’re through the looking glass now with eating contest-sized sandwiches becoming the norm, but I’m not complaining. I look forward to trying Arby’s Meat Continent in a few years.

Purchased Price: $6.99
Size: N/A
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 860 calories, 39 grams of fat, 15 grams of saturated fat, 195 milligrams of cholesterol, 2380 milligrams of sodium, 69 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 22 grams of sugar, and 60 gram of protein.

SPOTTED – 4/11/2019

/ / Spotted on Shelves / 2 Comments

Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

Chobani Limited Batch Raspberry Lemonade Greek Yogurt
Chobani Limited Batch Raspberry Lemonade Greek Yogurt

(Spotted by Tommy at Big Y.)

The Pioneer Woman BBQ Sauce Frontier Apple Brown Sugar and Peach Whiskey
The Pioneer Woman BBQ Sauce (Frontier, Apple Brown Sugar, and Peach Whiskey)

(Spotted by Rachel T at Walmart.)

Caveman Foods Blueberry Almond Granola Bars
Caveman Foods Blueberry Almond Granola Bars
Caveman Foods Cinnamon Raisin Granola Bars
Caveman Foods Cinnamon Raisin Granola Bars
Caveman Foods Coconut Cashew Granola Bars
Caveman Foods Coconut Cashew Granola Bars

(Spotted by Sarah R at Sprouts.)

G Hughes Honey Mustard Sugar Free Dipping Sauce
G Hughes Honey Mustard Sugar Free Dipping Sauce

(Spotted by Sylvia at Walmart.)

Signature Farms Medjool Dates
Signature Farms Medjool Dates
Signature Farms Banana Chips with Salt
Signature Farms Banana Chips with Salt

(Spotted by Sarah R at Safeway.)

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’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.

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.

SPOTTED: Haagen-Dazs Non-Dairy Chocolate Fudge Frozen Dessert Bars

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Haagen Dazs Non Dairy Chocolate Fudge Frozen Dessert Bars

(Spotted by Jarred at Publix.)

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.

SPOTTED: Butterfinger and Buncha Crunch Dessert Toppers

/ / Spotted on Shelves / 1 Comment

Butterfinger Bits Dessert Toppers

Buncha Crunch Bits Dessert Toppers

So are these Butterfinger Baking Bits and regular Buncha Crunch? (Spotted by John R 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.

REVIEW: Betty Crocker Chilled Treats

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Betty Crocker Chilled Treats

I have not been a huge fan of the recent mug mix obsession. I love the concept and the experimentation that has come about from them (a pancake breakfast version? – sure!, a color changing one? – neat!) and I have seen some glimpses of hope for the future but for the most part to me they have been sugary abominations to the point of inedibility.

Betty Crocker’s newest line takes the mug mixes and turns them in a new chilled dessert direction. They retain the same easy directions to prepare and also the addition of drizzle toppings: Thoroughly mix the powdered contents with some milk, chill in the refrigerator for at least five minutes and VOILA chilled dessert bliss for one.

There are four flavors at launch: Lemon Mousse with Lemon Drizzle Topping, Chocolate Mousse with Chocolate Ganache Topping, Key Lime Mousse with Lime Drizzle Topping, and French Vanilla Topping with Salted Caramel Topping.

Lemon Mousse

Betty Crocker Chilled Treats Lemon Mousse

I picked a good one to start with as the lemon one is pretty tasty. It has a pleasant citrusy flavor throughout both the mousse and the topping. With the mousse, it’s a little more subdued and definitely a sweeter take on lemon.

I love the way the topping complements it because it’s more intense, but also crazily tart and tangy. This one is fun to eat as the experience shifts based on the amounts of each per bite.

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: 4-pack box
?Purchased at: ShopRite
?Rating: 9 out of 10
?Nutrition Facts: (1 Mix & Topping) 240 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 380 milligrams of sodium, 48 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 38 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

Chocolate Mousse

Betty Crocker Chilled Treats Chocolate Mousse

If at first glance you weren’t sold on these and thought why I would pay for more just elevated pudding that I have to make myself, then definitely don’t purchase the chocolate one. If you are a chocolate lover then you are likely to be pleased, but it comes in a form that tastes nearly identical to those shelf stable lunch box puddings.

That’s all I thought of when eating, even if the format is a bit thicker and fancily aerated. The topping isn’t that great either. It’s chocolatey but in a slightly gritty form as if it was Hershey’s iconic syrup, but there was something a little off about it.

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: 4-pack box
?Purchased at: ShopRite
Rating: 5 out of 10
?Nutrition Facts: (1 Mix and Topping) 290 calories, 11 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 360 milligrams of sodium, 46 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 35 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

Key Lime Mousse

Betty Crocker Chilled Treats Key Lime Mousse

I thought this variety would be exactly like the lemon one except with a pleasant key lime flavor. As a whole, it does evoke a key lime pie, but there were some shortcomings. The appearance of the topping is underwhelming as it is a very dingy yellow green not as vibrant as the packaging would leave you to believe. The lime flavor is in both components, again at a stronger concentration in the topping, but overall it leads to more of a sour taste than a crisp, tart, and tangy lime.

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: 4-pack box
?Purchased at: ShopRite
?Rating: 7 out of 10
?Nutrition Facts: (1 Mix and Topping) 230 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 380 milligrams of sodium, 47 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 38 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

French Vanilla Mousse

Betty Crocker Chilled Treats French Vanilla Mousse

I took a nibble of each before they chilled and I thought this one would be my favorite as the flavor was off the charts delicious. It had a French vanilla flavor so intense that it tasted like Breyer’s French vanilla but in straight liquid form. When prepared, the flavor is still there, but it’s a bit too sweet and a hair artificial tasting. The caramel topping is also good. It’s very buttery, but again a tad sweet and with the mousse together both become a bit heavy.

Purchased Price: $3.19
Size: 4-pack box
?Purchased at: ShopFoodEx.com
?Rating: 7 out of 10
?Nutrition Facts: (1 Mix and Topping) 250 calories, 6 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 430 milligrams of sodium, 47 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 39 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

Other Things:

  • I first used a spoon to mix these but realized I needed something more substantial and even though I whisked them, all four had a slightly gritty texture that I could feel. When you prepare, don’t skimp on the stirring.
  • The texture is hard to describe. They are definitely a step above lunch box puddings by being a little thicker and obviously closer to a true mousse, but they fall short of a restaurant’s offering with the aforementioned grittiness coming from a do-it-yourself creation. So, thick and creamy but slightly gritty.
  • The box mentions some alternate preparation instructions for your preferences or if you have a lack of time – you can get a firmer mousse by chilling in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, or you can chill faster by placing in the freezer for 2 minutes.
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