Tag: Fast Food

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Blueberry Iced Matcha Latte

Marvo 10 Comments

Dunkin Blueberry Iced Matcha Latte Cup

What the Dunkin’ Blueberry Iced Matcha Latte?

It combines Dunkin’s Iced Matcha Latte with pumps of its blueberry flavor shots. Pimple dimple simple.

How is it?

I enjoy Dunkin’s Iced Matcha Latte, which I reviewed when it debuted. And, to be honest, I thought adding some blueberry flavor wouldn’t make that much of a difference. But holy moly, while it just lingers in the background, the fruitiness totally enhances the sweet matcha. The blueberry flavor makes this taste as if it has a blueberry muffin essence.

Dunkin Blueberry Iced Matcha Latte Syrup

It’s a simple addition, but the flavor shots make an already tasty drink even better. If you love the original, then definitely give this flavored version a try.

Although, now that I think about it, maybe my mind is blown a little because all the matcha lattes I’ve ever had have been just matcha with no other flavor. So perhaps the slight change is impressing me more than it should. Still, this is a mighty tasty beverage.

Anything else you need to know?

After drinking this, I wondered if there has ever been a Blueberry Matcha Kit Kat in Japan. I did a lazy Google search and found nothing. Maybe it’s time to get on that, Nestle Japan. Or if you’re feel courageous, Hershey’s, perhaps you should make it here.

Also, this drink makes me want to bake some blueberry matcha muffins. Although, I’m not very good at baking, which was proven when I did not add eggs to brownie batter. So maybe I’ll find a local bakery that does make them.

Of course, since it’s been possible to customize the matcha latte since it was introduced, I could’ve been getting this drink all this time. Speaking of customization, I got mine with whole milk, but you can get it with any dairy or non-dairy milk Dunkin’ offers.

Conclusion:

If you’re not into super sugary matcha drinks and prefer the green tea’s bitterness, then this is not for you. As for myself, I think I may get all future Dunkin’ Iced Matcha Lattes this way.

Purchased Price: $4.59
Size: Large
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (Large w/whole milk) 350 calories, 12 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 45 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 43 grams of sugar (25 grams of added sugar), and 13 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

Heather 5 Comments

Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso Cup

What is the Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso?

Non-dairy friends, rejoice! Starbucks now has oatmilk! The chain is using it in the new Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. This drink takes shots of espresso – Starbucks Blonde espresso, specifically – and shakes it up with brown sugar and cinnamon. Baristas top it off with oatmilk and you’re good to go!

(Editor’s Note: We also reviewed Starbuck’s Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espress.)

How is it?

On first sip, I noted a strong espresso taste with a tiny hint of sweet – almost like a burnt sugar. I definitely got more of a cinnamon flavor coming through over the brown sugar, especially in the aftertaste. Side note: I’m interested in trying the Brown Sugar Syrup used in this drink in a latte or cappuccino, to really see what that tastes like on its own, too!

I described the shaken espresso to a co-worker as being rather mellow, since it didn’t taste like a sugar bomb. It’s smooth with an oat-y foam on top from the oatmilk. Unless you’re used to a lot of espresso at once, I’d recommend sipping this one slowly to really enjoy the flavor.

Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso Foam

The oatmilk paired with the syrup flavor and cinnamon very well in my opinion, and I’m wondering if it will do the same with other combinations. Now off to conduct that research!

Anything else you need to know?

This drink is not for the caffeine faint of heart. A grande packs a punch of 255 milligrams, and let me tell you, I felt it the entire day (I had mine first thing in the morning). If that’s too much for you, I’d advise lowering the total number of espresso shots, or simply sizing down. A tall has two shots, a grande has three, and a venti has four.

I also thought the price was a little steep for this drink – one my usuals at Starbucks is a venti iced latte with various syrups, and it costs roughly the same even though it’s one size up. The new oatmilk is likely driving the price up on this one.

Conclusion:

While this isn’t my most favorite Starbucks drink, I enjoyed it enough to add it into my regular rotation, especially as the weather gets warmer (I’m in the Midwest and we’re patiently – or not so patiently! – waiting for spring!)

Purchased Price: $5.45
Size: Grande
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 120 calories, 3 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 20 milligrams of cholesterol, 120 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 13 grams of total sugars, 2 grams of protein, and 255 milligrams of caffeine.

Click here to read our previous Starbucks reviews.

REVIEW: Sonic Mesquite Butter Bacon Cheeseburger

Brandon 20 Comments

Sonic Mesquite Butter Bacon Cheeseburger Whole

While not a lightning rod of conversation like, oh, say, pineapple on pizza, or ketchup on a hot dog, there are plenty of passionate parties on both sides of the “BBQ sauce on a hamburger” debate.

If you are on the oppositional side — believing that the “devil’s ketchup” has no place on a hamburger — this review probably isn’t for you. Nothing I have to say will convince you that it is a fine and just condiment to top your sandwich. If, however, you are staunchly on the “pro” side of the aisle, or are at the very least willing to keep an open mind and “see how things go,” you’ll want to read on.

Though this isn’t the drive-in chain’s first foray into buttered patties — it’s had a garlic butter version on at least a couple of occasions — or its first dance with BBQ sauce on a burger (its “hickory” variety of the sauce is still a customizable addition on the app). It is its first attempt at melding the two.

And so does it work?

In most ways, yes.

Sonic Mesquite Butter Bacon Cheeseburger Top

I’ve always been a fan of Sonic’s bacon. It feels like it runs a little thicker than most of their competitor’s, and it fits in well on this sandwich, adding some much needed chew. The BBQ sauce is described as a “honey” sauce, and it is, indeed, sweet. Because of the sauce and the “smoky mesquite butter” that tops the patty, you should know that this is a sloppy affair.

Sonic Mesquite Butter Bacon Cheeseburger Closeup

Additionally, I’ve always been a fan of Sonic’s American cheese. It melts well and tastes perfectly American. (Though I will say, two slices on a burger this size feels like a bit much; one would likely suffice.) The patty itself is juicy and definitely less dry than most other fast food burgers.

Though the toasted brioche bun isn’t anything special, it held up nicely to the onslaught of liquids. And while I am typically a “take-it-or-leave-it” connoisseur of pickles on a burger, these ones really stood out. Their tart acidity melded beautifully with the sauce’s sweetness, and their crunch added yet another excellent texture to the proceeding.

Sonic Mesquite Butter Bacon Cheeseburger Split

So what didn’t I like about this burger?

Really, my major complaint was with the lettuce. Quite frankly, I’m not sure lettuce even belongs on this style of burger. Even if you can make an argument that it does, you’re not likely to prove your point with the limp, wet, and warm shrubbery found here. Nor did the grilled onions add much, except to provide an arsenal of more small things to slide out of the burger’s bottom on a flume of butter with each bite. And finally, there wasn’t much of a “smokiness,” either, which, if you’re crowning your burger as “mesquite,” feels like a bit of a miss.

If you’re a BBQ burger fan, I’m confident you’ll like this. Just, you know, hold the lettuce. And maybe the onions. And what if you got a side of onion rings and slapped a couple of those fried halos under the bun? Hey Sonic, give me a call and let’s talk product development.

Purchased Price: $4.99
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 690 calories,41 grams of fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 17 gram of saturated fat, 1780 milligrams of sodium, 47 grams of total carbohydrates, 18 gram of total sugars, 3 gram of fiber, and 33 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Popeyes Cajun Flounder Fish Sandwich

Marvo 12 Comments

Popeyes Cajun Flounder Fish Sandwich Pouch

At a quick glance, the Popeyes Cajun Flounder Sandwich looks like a Popeyes Chicken Sandwich. But a closer inspection shows the breading doesn’t look as jaw-rattling as the coating on the popular poultry sandwich.

Popeyes Cajun Flounder Fish Sandwich Full

Within that not-as-crunchy-looking breading, which the chain calls a crispy southern coating, is the new flounder fish fillet that’s seasoned in a blend of mild and spicy Cajun seasoning. The rest of the ingredients include crisp barrel cured pickles and tartar sauce on a warm and toasted buttery brioche bun.

Popeyes Cajun Flounder Fish Sandwich Split

The fillet is one of the meatiest I’ve ever seen in a fast food fish sandwich. It’s kind of fish-shaped, but it also reminds me of a chicken breast. Oh, I feel as if I’m going to go down a Jessica Simpson rabbit hole here. The meat is flaky and tender, and the seasonings give it a mild peppery flavor with a slight spiciness. Also, it tastes less fishy than sandwiches from other chains.

Popeyes Cajun Flounder Fish Sandwich Fillet

I wish the employee who squirted the tartar sauce on my order offered a bit more Southern hospitality with the condiment. Although, I’m not sure it would’ve made a difference because the topping doesn’t have the same punch as tartar sauce from other fast food chains. But at the same time, I wonder if having too much of it would overwhelm the fish’s Cajun seasonings.

Popeyes Cajun Flounder Fish Sandwich Pickles

Okay, the pickles, um, you know what, you can tell me they’re “barrel cured,” but that’s as impressive as that time Wendy’s bragged about having hand-torn lettuce. Is curing them in a barrel supposed to give them a woodsy oak flavor or make them tangier? To be honest, they don’t taste that different from other fast food pickles.

With all that said, the Popeyes Cajun Flounder Fish Sandwich has a unique flavor. It’s definitely different from other chains because of the seasonings. Overall, it’s a fine tasting sandwich, and I’d order it again. But, I wouldn’t consider it to be the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich of fish sandwiches.

Purchased Price: $6.50*
Size: N/A
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 670 calories. Other nutrition facts are unavailable on Popeyes’ website.

*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.

Click here to read all our fast food reviews

LATE TO THE PARTY: Jack in the Box Potato Wedges

Marvo 5 Comments

Jack in the Box Potato Wedges Plated

Update 9/30/21: It appears Jack in the Box’s Potato Wedges have been taken off the menu. Such a sad day.

Late to the Party posts are about products or brands that have been around for a long time, but I’ve only experienced recently for the first time.

I think Jack in the Box’s fries are mediocre.

But I can’t help but think they’re supposed to be that way. I don’t want to start any fast food conspiracies, like Grimace is actually an extremely expired ketchup packet, but perhaps they’re average because Jack really wants us to order the better tasting, and slightly more expensive, curly fries.

Look, I’m suggesting that without even knowing the curly fries’ profit margins. And I might be boring you with talk of profit margins. So let me get straight to the point. There is a fried potato product on Jack in the Box’s menu that I believe is superior tasting to its regular AND curly fries AND is cheaper — Potato Wedges.

Jack has had these on his menu FOR YEARS, so I’m super late to the party. It wasn’t until last year, when I started mobile ordering from the Jack in the Box app that I learned I could swap the standard fries with potato wedges, and do so without an upcharge like there is with curly fries. I haven’t had Jack’s regular fries since.

When I first tried them, I was blown away by how much better tasting they were. The coating has a light seasoning that’s good enough that I don’t need to dip them into anything if I forget to ask for ketchup packets. It also gives the finger food a pleasant crispiness that doesn’t get limp during the trip home.

Jack in the Box Potato Wedges Closeup

But I think what I’ve been impressed by is how crispy the exterior and fluffy the interior has been every time I’ve purchased them. Although, there was that one time, and I don’t know if this is a bonus or not, or something that happens regularly or not, they tasted like Jack in the Box tacos.

I assume the potato wedges’ freshness is the result of being fried when ordered and not produced in large batches that sit like the French and curly fries.

Unfortunately, while the wedges are cheaper than French fries if you order them a la carte, they don’t lower the cost of a combo meal if you swap them in.

To some of you, the greatness of Jack in the Box’s Potato Wedges may not be a revelation. But now I know about them, and it makes me sad that I could’ve been eating these wonderful potato wedges all this time instead of Jack’s inferior fries.