Tag: Jack in the Box

To help promote the movie Deadpool & Wolverine, Jack in the Box has a shot out of its kitchens the new Mini Chimi Bang Bangs. What’s the deal with Deadpool and chimichangas? Well, I could go off on a plagiarized tangent about the subject, but I’d like to keep this review as mini as these chimis.

An order features three crispy mini chimichangas filled with seasoned shredded chicken, corn, black beans, herbs, and Southwest flavors. It also comes with Jack’s taco sauce packets. (I got six! Jackpot! Your results may vary.) Also, because this is Jack in the Box, there’s, of course, a loaded version, which comes topped with two types of cheddar cheese, lettuce, and taco sauce. (No sauce packet ripping.)

Okay, let’s break down “crispy mini chimichangas.”

These were crispy, well, at certain places. The wrap’s flaps that stuck out were fried to a pleasant golden brown crispiness. But for the most part, the exterior was like a soft tortilla, which was disappointing because the areas where they were crispy had a flavor that reminded me of fried wontons. (Waiting for a Jack in the Box employee to tell me that my order was made wrong.)

Next, let’s focus on the “mini.” They are so small and thin that the only way to get the seasoned shredded chicken, corn, black beans, herbs, and southwest flavors into your mouth simultaneously is to stick a whole mini chimi into your mouth. But that’s possible because they are small enough to do so with some chimi ghiminastics.

Finally, let’s get into the chimichanga. For the most part, the filling mostly feels like a thick soup. Taking occasional peeks into them, I found a whole black bean and part of a corn kernel. But, while I could taste the poultry, there weren’t any textures that felt like shredded chicken. The overall interior texture reminded me of something I’ve had from the freezer aisle at the supermarket, and they tasted as good as what you could get from the supermarket. With most bites, I could notice the southwest flavors and the chicken, but that wasn’t enough to impress my taste buds, even with taco sauce. Maybe I should’ve gotten the loaded version?

Jack in the Box’s Mini Chimi Bang Bangs are a mediocre fast food side, and I’m glad an order came with only three of them.

Purchased Price: $3.50*
Size: 3 pieces
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 170 calories. No other nutritional information is available on the Jack in the Box 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.

I wish an order of Jack in the Box’s Chicken & Waffle Sticks was even-stevens. An order has three waffle sticks but two chicken strips. It was a little annoying because it caused me to do some food math so that both ran out simultaneously. But I’ll get back to that experience in a moment. I’m a little disappointed this wasn’t called Chicken Strips & Waffle Sticks because the rhyming might’ve made me turn a blind eye to the chicken-to-waffle ratio.

Like Eggo in the toaster at a high browning setting, the waffle sticks were crispy. With fast food, you’d think something that crispy might be dry inside, but fortunately, their interior had a pleasant fluffiness. I wish I could say there’s something special about their flavor, but they taste like waffles. But with the included syrup and butter spread, they make everything taste good enough that I could see myself ordering just the waffle sticks if I want a sweet breakfast treat.

The chicken strips were surprisingly better than what I remembered with the chain’s Jack Wraps. The ones I received were meaty, had a crispy exterior, and the poultry inside was surprisingly juicy when I squeezed them. But its flavor was unimpressive without a sauce. Fortunately, the pancake syrup gave them a nice sweetness that complemented their savoriness, and I could see myself asking for a container of syrup instead of the usual savory sauces if I order only the chicken strips.

(Oddly, my order also came with a ranch sauce cup. I’m not sure that’s supposed to be included, but I thought about dipping the waffles in it for a second to create chicken and wAWFULes.)

A rational person would’ve drizzled the syrup over everything, but I’m not rational, and I didn’t have any caffeine in my bloodstream at the time of consumption, so it didn’t come to mind that I should do that. Instead, I double-fisted my order with chicken in one hand and a waffle in the other, alternating the syrup dipping and chomping to get the chicken and waffle experience since the syrup container wasn’t large enough that I could dunk both at the same time. Since the waffles and chicken with syrup taste great individually, it shouldn’t be surprising that they create a tasty sweet and savory combo when combined.

However, with all that said, I’m hesitant to recommend this because paying seven dollars for three waffle sticks and two chicken strips seems a bit much. Even if I paid the $6.49 it costs in other states, I’m unsure I’d repurchase it, even if Jack in the Box changed the name to Chicken Strips & Waffle Sticks.

Purchased Price: $6.99*
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 590 calories. Other nutritional information isn’t available on Jack in the Box’s 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.

My closest Jack in the Box is right next to a Popeyes. If I’m craving burgers, I can go to Jack in the Box. If I want red beans and rice or mashed potatoes, I can go to Popeyes. If I desire a crispy chicken sandwich, I’ll flip a coin, call heads for Popeyes, and then go to Popeyes because I used a two-headed coin. But, if I yearn for chicken wings, I can now go to either. Yup, Jack in the Box is now in the chicken wing game for a limited time. Yes, bone-in chicken.

Jack in the Box’s Crispy Chicken Wings are available in six- or twelve-piece orders and three varieties: Classic, Buffalo, and Garlic Parmesan. They also come with containers of buttermilk ranch sauce, but I don’t think they’re necessary after trying all three.

Before I go into flavors, I want to mention how surprisingly crispy these are. Okay, they’re not teeth rattling crunchy, nor are they as crispy as what you’d get at Popeyes, but they have a pleasant audible crunch that food ASMR listeners would love. Maybe I shouldn’t have had low expectations because these are from a burger joint. I also anticipated that these chicken wings from a burger chain would be dry within their crispy exterior, but I’m happy to report that the meat was surprisingly moist. I’m sorry for doubting you, Jack. I’m also sorry for using the word “moist,” everyone.

The Classic version isn’t tossed with any sauce, but unlike Jack’s nuggets, which NEED some kind of sauce to make them decent, these are actually good sans sauce. There are some mild flavored seasonings that I can’t really distinguish what they are, but they do make the wings tasty.

If you’re hoping the Buffalo ones have a spicy kick that’ll make you reach for the buttermilk ranch sauce to temper the heat in your mouth, I’m about to douse those expectations with a dipping sauce container of reality. While they are somewhat spicy, it’s more like a spark than a flame, but the sauce did have all the pepperiness and slight butteriness that I’d associate with Buffalo sauce. Despite the lack of heat, these were extremely tasty, and I found myself trying to nibble every bit of non-bone I could get my teeth on.

Finally, we have the Garlic Parmesan Crispy Chicken Wings, which, according to Jack’s app, is tossed in a garlic and herb butter sauce and topped with grated Parmesan cheese. As you can see in the photo below, the seasonings were applied liberally to most pieces, but I didn’t get a blast of that gar-parm love (trying to make gar-parm a thing). They were slightly garlicky, but the cheese was most noticeable thanks to the thick parmesan layer. I wish the garlic stood out more since I love garlic and how it keeps the introvert in me happy by keeping others away.

While I found the chicken wings’ flavors good, I wish the sauced ones were tossed better. I’m not sure how they’re made, but even with the Buffalo ones, I noticed that the sauces weren’t coated evenly over all the pieces.

Since I got a molehill of buttermilk ranch sauce containers with my order, I tried them with all three wing varieties. After dipping them into the white creamy sauce, I must say it doesn’t necessarily make them better. It’s a tasty addition to whatever seasonings and sauces that are already on the chicken, but as I mentioned at the beginning of my review, the ranch isn’t necessary to make these tasty.

Should I be surprised by how good Jack in the Box’s Crispy Chicken Wings are? After all, McDonald’s did a great job with its Mighty Wings over a decade ago. So, I guess burger chains can do wings well. If I had to flip a coin between Jack in the Box and Popeyes for chicken wings, I’d be fine with either result.

Purchased Price: $8.99 each
Size: 6-pieces
Rating: 8 out of 10 (all)
Nutrition Facts: (6 pieces) Classic – 440 calories. Buffalo – 470 calories. Garlic Parmesan – 670 calories. No other nutritional information is available on Jack in the Box’s website.

Jack in the Box’s Cinnamon Sugar Churro French Toast Sticks are a tasty way to start your morning, or because the menu item is available to order any time of day, they’re also a tasty way to begin or end an afternoon or evening.

The limited time offering features three or six French toast sticks dipped in sweet vanilla batter that are deep fried and then rolled in cinnamon sugar. It also comes with a container of syrup.

The description makes it sound delightful, but including “churro” in its name is kind of a stretch. I mean, deep fried and rolled in cinnamon sugar is almost the textbook definition of a churro, but part of the experience is its star shape. These look like Jack’s Classic French Toast Sticks, but maybe slightly darker. I’m not sure if adding “churro” was necessary because calling it Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Sticks would’ve excited me enough to try it over Jack’s Classic version. But I guess churro is the flavour du jour at the moment. (Also, pickle for some reason.)

These French toast sticks are as crispy as they look, but the interior is a bit dry. However, that dryness is less noticeable when they’re dipped into the provided syrup. While I enjoyed all three pieces, I wish they were rolled in cinnamon sugar longer, creating a thicker and sweeter sugary crust. The cinnamon sugar flavor is there, but I want it to stand out more to make these taste outstanding without some syrup, like an actual churro. Of course, that might be my sweet tooth doing all the talking.

But overall, they’re good enough that I’m kicking myself for not getting a six-piece order instead, and they’re definitely an upgrade over Jack’s Classic French toast sticks, which are the same price.

So, whatever time it is, it might be worth your time to get Jack in the Box’s Cinnamon Sugar Churro French Toast Sticks.

Purchased Price: $2.50*
Size: 3-piece order
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 250 calories (no other nutritional information is available on Jack in the Box’s 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.

While Jack is known for his huge head, Jack in the Box has a history of mini-ing things. If I had a dollar for every time the fast food chain called something “mini,” I’d be able to buy a Sourdough Jack. There have been options like Mini Corn Dogs, Mini Churros, Mini Cookies, mini chicken sandwiches, and mini cheeseburgers. Oh, and let’s not forget about other finger foods, like Jack’s Brownie Bites and Pizza Bites. The latest are these Mini Cinnis, a name I’m surprised no one has trademarked.

Available in five or ten-piece orders, the treat features bite-sized classic cinnamon rolls served warm and topped with icing. Jack in the Box says they are the “perfect end to a meal, or start, no judgment.” Perfect? They are not perfect.

Don’t get me wrong, I like them. So much so that I’ve ordered these Mini Cinnis twice. But some of the dough in a few of the pieces in both of my orders were dry, which might not be an issue with a huge honking Cinnabon or Costco-sized cinnamon roll, but with one that’s the width of a half-dollar, it’s a slight issue.

I say “slight” because there’s more than enough cinnamon and sugary icing to make me almost forget about the dry dough. Also, that dryness isn’t preventing me from wanting to dip these into one of Jack’s shakes. They are significantly better than a pre-packaged convenience store cinnamon roll that has been microwaved for seven seconds but pale in comparison to anything a particular cinnamon-scented mall food court staple offers.

Jack in the Box’s Mini Cinnis aren’t going to make you wonder if you accidentally stepped into a Cinnabon or make your stomach feel as if you’ve eaten a whole Classic Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll. But they are a sweet end to a meal or start, no judgment.

Purchased Price: $2.50*
Size: 5 pieces
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 290 calories (No other nutritional information is available on Jack in the Box’s 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.