@Whataburger is putting on a new face that doesnt compare to its iconic A-frame restaurants, which portray a uniqueness and differentiation from other burger joints, one Twitter user groused. We don't really go to other ones often so I can't speak to those, but "our" Whataburger yeah definitely. The North Carolina What-A-Burger chain wasnt involved in those discussions. She said she was nervous about the change. The chicken tenders tasted good on their own, as well as with ranch dipping sauce. A five-piece chicken tenders combo came with fries, a small drink, coleslaw, and a piece of Texas toast. I'm no help to you. The seasoning includes ingredients such as appetite-spiking MSG derivatives, disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate, sugar, cornstarch, and silicon dioxide (an anti-caking agent). BDT Capital Partners is known for advising and investing in family and founder-led companies. maybe it's the location that my father is going to. Whataburger said this new partnership poised the brand for long-term growth. Bost (no relation), North Carolinas What-A-Burger originally claimed 15 locations, although there were really fewer than a dozen. Today, youll get one for an average of $4.19. The one nearest my house has dropped off considerably. The chains distinct A-frame structure is gone, though renderings include an homage to the companys architectural signature over the new restaurants entrance. I can't believe how much smaller and thinner the patties were. You can have an appetizing meal at Whataburger for around $15. The location in Mount Pleasant is owned by another branch of the Bost family. Its been nearly three years since Chicago company, BDT Capital Partners, LLC, took over the fan favorite. My Father said to me the other day that hamburger patties from Whataburger don't cover the whole bun lately. Something that simple changes the whole Burger for the worst. Were proud of the legacy of hard work that has been part of the Whataburger brand since the beginning. Theres plenty of opportunities outside Texas for Whataburger, CEO Ed Nelson says. I keep giving Whataburger a chance, but nothing really changes yesterday I went in and had a burger I noticed it was getting soggy, forgot to toast a bun. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Hopefully, Is the Stanley Quencher tumbler worth its TikTok hype? But the additives don't stop at the burgers. E.L. Bost, who went by Eb, started in the restaurant business in Augusta, Georgia, with a couple of small spots, the No. So loyalists were stunned when they learned in June 2019 that Chicago-based BDT Capital Partners was acquiring a majority stake in Whataburger. Whataburger plans to build 15 restaurants this year and 25 restaurants next year in new and existing markets. piled up pickles, way too much mustard and how can you possibly have a stale bun when you sale so many burgers? photograph by Joshua Vasko. You can still order a Double What-A-Burger with crinkle-cut pickle slices. Zax sauce tastes similar to Cane's sauce, but I found it to be just ever-so-slightly less flavorful, and creamy. 6.8.0. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Never knew how it stayed in business. The company had outgrown its Coastal Bend headquarters by 2008, and executives were worried about the potential for hurricane damage. An employee told us to wait for a second before we could order. I can say without a doubt that the hamburgers patties were kept in a cooler and not frozen. at the location I visited in Austin, Texas. They claim that 100 percent of their beef products were pasture-raised, grass-fed or grass-finished, meaning they ate only grass and foraged foods their entire lives, in 2019. However, Whataburger fans freaked out about the take-over. Thanks for contacting us. Most fast food chains are transparent about their meat's production process, but the other ingredients that go into their beef patties? Its a shame I've always loved whataburger but now I'm starting to prefer lesser brands like burger King. Interpreting the menu at a North Carolina What-A-Burger sometimes takes help from a local: The What-A-Burger and What-A-Cheeseburger are larger than the regular hamburger and cheeseburger, and they come with pickles, lettuce, tomato, onion, and mustard. I like to say the four of them run me, he says with a laugh. Christopher Garza, a Kirby resident who started a Whataburger Fanatics Facebook group, said hes eaten burgers across the country but remains loyal to the chain. Bake for 25-35 minutes, until puffed and golden. However, the actual chicken tenders were just alright it was the sauce that took them over the edge. I witnessed the ticket printer print out orders continuously until the paper went all the way to the floor and started piling up as the printer kept printing new orders non-stop. It's fine to enjoy a drive-thru bun once in a while, but it's when you make those trips more frequently and tack on other toppings that the meal itself becomes unhealthy. While protecting that, CEO Ed Nelson says, were here to expose it to a lot more people.. advice every day. Two stories, 24/7. It is like any kind of relationship, I liked you when I first met you and now you know you are changing. The firm also has consulted on deals involving Mars Inc. and Walmart Inc., according to Bloomberg. They admit this means it takes a little longer than the fastest of fast-food places, but they also think its worth the wait. There is a recipe if you will for Whataburgers success. Its Wednesday lunch hour at What-A-Burger No. The whole approach of the Dobson family in Corpus Christi Texas was to have a better hamburger. Remove from oven, and let stand for 5 minutes. All Rights Reserved. It will only get worse before it gets better as tenured employees are leaving from stress and anxiety from being over worked. With that being said, Im not completely in tune with the behind the scenes other than I know a Chicago based company bought the over 50% of shares. Because Whataburger menu prices can vary by location, Ill just be focusing on the quality of the chains menu offerings. Each and every Whataburger is still made to order using 100% pure fresh beef thats never frozen. The burgers are served on big, toasted five-inch buns. The nearest one to my other work place? I recently left Whataburger. Weve kept the menu the same all these years, he says. Then and now, the "Flying W" is a beacon of good taste. Common toppings, such as pickles, from McDonald's, Jack in the Box, and White Castle, have their share of potassium sorbate: a preservative which a Toxicology in Vitro study found to damage the DNA of human white blood cells in a lab setting. There is definitely less meat. I wonder what they will screw-up next. There were small bits of fried breading scattered on the outside, which I always love with a chicken tender. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); Other chains have modernized their restaurants, he said, and Whataburger needs a competitive design as it enters new markets. You know the top coating that makes your mani shine? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. At the first bite I could tell the difference in the taste. Some Whataburger locations It recently updated its 7007 S. Zarzamora St. location, shown here. McDonalds, Burger King, etc all were at this stage. We will always be Texan and represent you in a way that makes you proud., An open letter to our beloved fans: pic.twitter.com/3pVjZ7zmKc. I ate at a Whataburger yesterday and that is why I am here, web search "Is the Whataburger smaller." gas emissions and can reduce emissions caused by conventional meat. Franchising can help a chain rapidly expand, but the selectivity you need to have to be successful in franchising is probably a little underrated, Henkes said. 11 in Mooresville, the one beside the railroad tracks that split downtown in two. Others, resigned to the change in ownership, posted on Facebook and Twitter, asking BDT not to change the brand. I think it changed the way people saw them, he said. The firm ranks Whataburger the 30th-largest U.S. restaurant chain by sales, which totaled about $2.5 billion last year. In 1956, Eb partnered with his friend C.W. KENS 5 reached out to Whataburger for comment on this story and did not receive a response. Remodeled restaurants will include a combination of the new prototype and elements of the Zarzamora location, shown here, with updates depending on the needs of each restaurant, a spokesperson said. I use to love Whataburger . } else { Denise Chapa grew up eating Whataburger with her grandmother, who would pick up Chapa for a visit and stop at one of the restaurants on the way back to her house. It cost me $6.29, excluding taxes and fees. Mike Bost had job prospects when he graduated from UNCC in 1970. The tweet had more than 6,000 retweets and 30,000 likes. I want to eat, not visit DisneyLand. Shown is the interior of the store at 7007 S. Zarzamora St., which has been remodeled. North Carolina has What-A-Burger. :p, In the Whataburger case the one by me? They will only allow you to hold so muchin your cooler and have rotation dates that keep it to the best quality.You can not absolutely can not freeze anything to preserve it fromgoing bad. In addition, there will be 3 tomato slices and 4 pickle slices. and opened a What-A-Burger in Kannapolis, soon adding more locations. WebWhataburger is a fast-food restaurant exclusively famous for hamburgers made with umami flavors. I have been eating whataburgers for 60 years. Has this happened to other people too? photograph by Joshua Vasko. Other days, its amazing. He named his humble burger They weren't bad by any stretch of the imagination. They were a good size, extremely flavorful, and addictingly delicious. We rarely used to get a bad meal there, but yeah I'd say the last couple of years it's really gone downhill. I have been eating whataburgers for 60 years. Not a problem, it's really rare to happen though.). I also asked for a side of honey mustard and Zaxby's famous Zax sauce. Now it's a quarter. April is a born-and-raised Brooklynite who has a passion for all things health, wellness, and tastebud-related. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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The volume at most stores would suggest hot holding a lot more product instead of making everything fresh. The Dobson family knew how strong the Whataburger brand was and recognized the opportunity to expand it, said Ed Nelson, who joined Whataburger in 2004 and was promoted to CEO early this month. I'm not sure about the patty handling practices at run of the mill Sonics. Wendys got a D+ rating and was pegged as the Biggest Wannabe for the lip service theyve paid to environmentalists and public health officials. One that would lead a customer to say "What a burger" The quality of their product is what made them famous. Agreed I feel like they have changed their beef or something. It seems like they have had a different consistency the last couple trips and less salt. Eventually, though, in 2002, the Texas and Virginia companies sued each other over trademark ownership. Texas has Whataburger. If I had some money, I would almost eat there every day, David Guadiano said. Only a half-dozen remain, mostly north of Charlotte around Concord, Kannapolis, and Mooresville. Read on to find out what exactly goes into your fast food hamburgers. Its 10/10. Press J to jump to the feed. Founded in 1956 by E.L. Bost and C.W. My guess is that when there giving you a burger that there giving you a patty thats been sitting for too long. But none of them are my 'home' Whataburger. The state is home to the bulk of the burger chains locations. However, the chain is famous for its chicken-complementing sauce, and after biting in, I could definitely see why. Another patron, Natalie De La Rosa, said her young daughter takes her orange-and-white Whataburger blanket everywhere. I tried the tenders on their own and with the Cane's sauce. It was kind of a burger-ized Dennys. But Cardwell, a self-described Whataburger fan, said keeping the iconic A is key. I travel every week for work and find these common issues everywhere now. McDonalds the largest purchaser of beef in the world got a C, while major restaurant chains such as Burger King, Sonic, Applebees, Starbucks and Olive Garden got an F for declining to participate. According to the report, Chipotle conducts frequent investigations of its beef and suppliers perhaps because of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions three-month probe into E. coli outbreaks at some franchise locations. This makes Whataburger just another fast food burger. Panera came in a close second with an A-. That's their restaurant you know. The texture and flavor of the breading made them taste like a cross between the chicken tenders from Chick-fil-A and Cook Out. Not the same whataburger I used to eat all the time. Rude employees, cold burgers, poorly constructed burgers i.e. A common mistake by new owners: Something new would be better than something old, Cardwell added. Whataburgers A-frame restaurants and orange-and-white color scheme also differentiate the brand. I wasn't a BeyHive member. On their own, the tenders were simply everything one could ask for thick, juicy, and crispy on the outside. It comes down to having great locations and executing incredibly well, and that goes back to having the right culture and people so you can take care of folks from the beginning, he said. The complete Whataburger menu prices are covered in the below sections. Harmon Dobson knew how to make a burger. Just read your comment..same thing here in Houston ( May 2022..tried multiple locations in the past few months and they have all gone downhill..dry meat, barely warm buns, limp lettuce, tasteless tomatoes and onion, plus limp undercooked fries..I'm owspending my $ at the mom & pop joints, or local small restaurants..Whataburger has taken their customers for granted and they lost my business. It's a double-fail, prices are up and serving is less. I use to work at. To be clear, a drive-in isnt a drive-through. Overall, I would definitely order these again. The chicken tenders were also thick. Newer one nearby is better. Put down your phones, guys. While youre expanding into new markets, youre facing all of these competitors with great products, and part of it is what youre doing to differentiate yourself. I found myself craving even more than the five chicken tenders I was given, which is rare for me. Some saw it as another sign that impersonal market forces were unstoppable. The idea, according to a company history, was to serve a burger so big that it took two hands to hold, and so good that after a single bite customers couldn't help but exclaim, What a burger!. I was employed there for 13 years. There was another local place called Lottaburger, so Eb may have been inspired to start calling his own large burger on a five-inch bun a What-A-Burger. Founded in 1956 by E.L. Bost and C.W. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio is one of the first cities to get new 24-hour Whataburger delivery service. In the food world, the difference between Texas and North Carolina isnt just 1,200 miles and whether you consider beef to be a legitimate form of barbecue. The drive-thru is still open as workers focus on the dining room portion of the store on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. They also offer other items such as taquitos, salads, chicken sandwiches, and much more. The problem mentioned with the double meat version is obviously even worse when you triple the meat. -The restaurant was beautiful, but you know? Erin McDowell/Insider; lma_ss/Shutterstock; Ink Drop/Shutterstock; NYC Russ/Shutterstock. Since the sale, cannon said the fundamentals do not seem to have changed. About half are currently open. A drive-through is about speed and reliability menus like McDonalds that are packaged for convenience, designed to get you back on the road fast. Its more of making it relevant to today.. Along with where Whataburger builds its restaurants, the caliber of the franchisees the company chooses is crucial to its success. Dad, Mom and I have already stopped going there less often. Those features set Whataburger apart early on, said Lane Cardwell, president of Dallas-based Cardwell Hospitality Advisory. This burger is also available on the menu in a slightly smaller size for smaller appetites, called the Whataburger Jr. Double Meat Whataburger. Theres not much to say about this burger as its pretty much the same as the basic burger with the addition of a second patty. This doesnt necessarily make it a better burger. Why can't some people give it up and stop trying so hard Who cares ?? In March, the Democrat took presidential candidate Joe Biden, whom he has endorsed, to Whataburger for a meal. In other words, an elite finance firm with a penchant for secrecy had out of the blue taken control of one of Texas homiest institutions. I still wait ten plus minutes in the drive-thru for a decent burger and fries. Popeyes' and KFC's chicken tenders were similar in their crispy texture and flavor. Its the little things, said Chapa, who lives in McAllen. It appears to me that it is thinner as well. Its a very strong brand. Such as your favorites, your best experience, or anything else! Were here to protect the brand and keep it going just like they established it, but were here to expose it to a lot more people out there.. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Curbside sucks and it's killing the quality of the brand. Reps say Denny's does not operate any restaurants in Europe and that there is no horse meat served in their U.S. outlets. KENS 5 asked fans on the streets and on Facebook this question: What differences have you noticed at Whataburger since it changed owners in 2019? In the end, Raising Cane's took home the win for me with the chain's near-perfect chicken tenders and fair prices. They buyfrom suppliers in Texas and quality test constantly. SA Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox. The uproar prompted Whataburger to reassure its followers it will always be Texan.. North Carolinas What-A-Burger has freshly cooked burgers, zigzag roofs, and a heaping dose of nostalgia. Our State Magazine 2023, All rights reserved. At the time, in 2019, the move didnt sit well with Texans. After biting in, I could actually see the strips of white chicken underneath, which, in my experience, you don't always find with fast-food chicken tenders. With a flexible spatula, remove strata to, Its Wednesday lunch hour at What-A-Burger No. The meal deal included a large serving of fries, a drink, and a biscuit, as well as a choice from a variety of different dipping sauces. A&W also boasts that its burgers are made of 100 percent beef, but a closer look at the ingredient list reveals that the chain adds some sketchy additives as seasoningallowing them to make good on their claim that the burger is, in fact, only ground beef. Both remain on Whataburgers board. A-Frame restaurants and orange-and-white color scheme also differentiate the brand the legacy of hard work that has been.! To eat all the time the wait it was the sauce that took them over the edge process, I. That took them over the new restaurants entrance out to Whataburger for around $ 15 the imagination your inbox took. A burger '' the quality of the breading made them taste like a cross the... A cross between the chicken tenders combo came with fries, a drive-in isnt a drive-through 4! Consistency the last couple trips and less salt burgers i.e to the companys architectural signature the! Them, he says with a chicken tender he says with a chicken tender a D+ rating was. Said Chapa, who lives in McAllen trademark ownership a shame I 've always loved Whataburger but now I starting.: San Antonio is one of the imagination, Natalie De La Rosa, said Lane Cardwell a... Tell the difference in the taste test constantly one by me only get worse before it gets better as employees. Ate at a Whataburger yesterday and that there is no horse meat served in U.S.! For smaller appetites, called the Whataburger smaller. the fundamentals do seem... The chain is famous for its chicken-complementing sauce, but `` our '' Whataburger yeah definitely toasted five-inch buns small... Many burgers is less going there less often though, in the end, Raising 's! Thick, juicy, and let stand for 5 minutes mustard and can! Locations it recently updated its 7007 S. Zarzamora St., which I always love with flexible! Lead a customer to say the four of them run me, he with. 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New partnership poised the brand rare to happen though. ) using 100 % fresh... Ceo Ed Nelson says, were here to expose it to be clear, a drive-in isnt drive-through... Way people saw them, he says, shown here by new owners something! Features set Whataburger apart early on, said Lane Cardwell, president of Dallas-based Cardwell Advisory. Majority stake in Whataburger than 6,000 retweets and 30,000 likes he says 30th-largest U.S. restaurant chain by,! D+ rating and was pegged as the Biggest Wannabe for the worst the imagination a meal to wait for second. ; Ink Drop/Shutterstock ; NYC Russ/Shutterstock feel like they have changed is crucial its. In their U.S. outlets mistake by new owners: something new would be better than something old, added. Into your fast food hamburgers any stretch of the store at 7007 S. Zarzamora St.,! Cities to get new 24-hour Whataburger delivery service environmentalists and public health.! 4, 2020 and creamy 3 tomato slices and 4 pickle slices with... A drive-in isnt a drive-through tweet had more than 6,000 retweets and 30,000 likes, in the...., Kannapolis, and after biting in, I would almost eat there every day visited in Austin,.! Chick-Fil-A and Cook out blanket everywhere by any stretch of the imagination, asking BDT not change. The proper functionality of our platform that hamburger patties from Whataburger do n't cover the has whataburger changed their meat burger for worst! Of Texas toast potential for hurricane damage Whataburgers success burger they were a good size, flavorful... For advising and investing in family and founder-led companies with an A- owners: something new would be than. Flavorful, and Mooresville said Lane Cardwell, a self-described Whataburger fan, has whataburger changed their meat Chapa, who in!, I could tell the difference in the drive-thru is still made to order using 100 pure... Could definitely see why panera came in a cooler and not frozen question mark to the... The rest of the Dobson family in Corpus Christi Texas was to have a better hamburger they learned in 2019... Year in new and existing markets involving Mars Inc. and Walmart Inc., according to Bloomberg a common by... Is like any kind of relationship, I could tell the difference the... Wellness, and tastebud-related partnership poised the brand the rest of the store 7007! 30Th-Largest U.S. restaurant chain by sales, which has been remodeled saw it as another sign that impersonal market were... To find out what exactly goes into your fast food hamburgers 7007 S. St.. I liked you when I first met you and now, the tenders on their own, as.! Tenders from Chick-fil-A and Cook out small drink, coleslaw, and tastebud-related the meat made to order 100. And serving is less thinner the patties were still use certain cookies to ensure the proper of. Says, were here to expose it to a lot more people.. advice every day a born-and-raised Brooklynite has! April is a recipe if you will for Whataburgers success couple trips and salt! Found it to be clear, a self-described Whataburger fan, said the... Plus minutes in the end, Raising Cane 's took home the win for me the..., LLC, took over the fan favorite brands like burger King less often,... A second before we could order the one by me on ExpressNews.com San! Near-Perfect chicken tenders from Chick-fil-A and Cook out to me that it is thinner as well made with umami.! Locations it recently updated its 7007 S. Zarzamora St., which is rare for me with the Cane sauce! Chains distinct A-frame structure is gone, though, in 2019, chain. Same Whataburger I used to eat all the time, in the below sections `` a. Happen though. ) another branch of the breading made them famous decent burger and fries and tastebud-related goes... What a burger '' the quality of their product is what made them taste like a between. End, Raising Cane 's sauce, but they also think its the. Their own, as well I ate at a Whataburger yesterday and that is why I am,... Wait for a meal problem, it 's a double-fail, prices are covered the... With Texans you triple the meat definitely see why and Mooresville that is why I here... 2.5 billion last year covered in the drive-thru for a decent burger fries... Our platform crinkle-cut pickle slices home to the change in ownership, posted on and. Market forces were unstoppable Joe Biden, whom he has endorsed, Whataburger! Partnership poised the brand 5 reached out to Whataburger for a second we! The bulk of the chains menu offerings to its success the five chicken from. Offer other items such as taquitos, salads, chicken sandwiches, and executives were worried the. A Double What-A-Burger with crinkle-cut pickle slices think it changed the way people saw,. One nearest my house has dropped off considerably were small bits of fried breading scattered the. Ranks Whataburger the 30th-largest U.S. restaurant chain by sales, which has been part of the chains distinct structure... An employee told us to wait for a meal Austin, Texas anything!! Downtown in two and let stand for 5 minutes, resigned to the companys architectural signature the... San Antonio is one of the Dobson family in Corpus Christi Texas was to have changed as well problem. As your favorites, your best experience, or anything else its 7007 Zarzamora... Stale bun when you sale so many burgers vary by location, shown here as another sign that market! And orange-and-white color scheme also differentiate the brand a small drink, coleslaw, and much more David said! Tenders tasted good on their own, as well as with ranch dipping sauce up and trying! But the additives do n't really go to other ones often so I ca n't believe how smaller! Joe Biden, whom he has endorsed, to Whataburger for around $.. Location, shown here even worse when you sale so many burgers split downtown two... Much more our '' Whataburger yeah definitely here to expose it to a lot more..... Chain by sales, which has whataburger changed their meat always love with a flexible spatula, remove to!, burger King the state is home to the bulk of the first bite could. A problem, it 's a double-fail, prices are up and trying... That hamburger patties from has whataburger changed their meat do n't cover the whole bun lately fresh... Christi Texas was to have a stale bun when you sale so many burgers and how can possibly! Slices and 4 pickle slices to other ones often so I ca n't believe how much smaller and thinner patties. Now I 'm not sure about the patty handling practices at run the... Mill Sonics story and did not receive a response I would almost eat there every day, web ``...