The fast-food industry has continually evolved since its inception, frequently breaking boundaries with exciting and innovative concepts. The competition to attract consumers is fierce, and restaurants often have to rely on their creativity to outshine others in the crowded market.
The burger, a fast-food staple, has seen countless innovations over the years. Below, we explore seven of the most creative fast food burger inventions that have taken the industry by storm.
Burger King’s Whopperito
Burger King’s Whopperito is a unique fusion of a burrito and a burger, embodying a trend towards cultural food fusion. Introduced in 2016, this imaginative combination takes the best of both worlds.
A typical Whopper burger is deconstructed and then snugly wrapped within a soft tortilla, providing the familiar flavors of a Whopper in the form of a convenient burrito. The Whopperito blends American and Mexican cuisines, proving a hit among consumers who appreciate a creative culinary spin on traditional fast food.
McDonald’s “McPizza Pepperoni Burger”
In an attempt to merge two beloved fast foods – pizza and burgers – McDonald’s introduced the McPizza Pepperoni Burger. This inventive burger features a beef patty topped with melty mozzarella cheese, a rich tomato sauce, and pepperoni slices.
All of these components are then sandwiched between two fluffy buns. The McPizza Pepperoni Burger delighted fans of both pizza and burgers by satisfying two cravings in one.
Carl’s Jr.’s “CBD Burger”
Carl’s Jr. made headlines in 2019 with its CBD-infused Rocky Mountain High Cheese Burger Delight. Released for a limited time on 4/20, it featured two beef patties, pickled jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, and a CBD-infused Santa Fe Sauce.
This was a daring move by Carl’s Jr., marking one of the first instances of a major fast-food chain incorporating CBD into its menu items. The burger was part of a trial run to see if consumers were interested in CBD-infused food products.
In-N-Out’s “Animal Style Burger”
In-N-Out Burger’s secret menu has been a cult favorite for many years, and the Animal Style Burger is arguably its most famous hidden item. The burger takes a typical In-N-Out patty and jazzes it up with a generous slather of mustard before it’s grilled, adding a tangy twist. It’s then topped with extra pickles, lettuce, tomato, and a special sauce. Onions, caramelized until they’re sweet and delectable, add the final touch.
This creative spin on a traditional burger adds layers of flavor that have led to its massive popularity.
Lotteria’s “Ramyeon Burger”
Japan’s Lotteria chain is no stranger to unconventional fast-food creations. A standout is their Ramyeon Burger, a fusion of Japanese and Korean cuisines that features a bun made entirely from ramen noodles. Instead of a beef patty, it includes a hearty portion of spicy Korean ramyeon, or ramen. This novelty item is a testament to the creative bounds that the fast-food industry continues to push.
McDonald’s “Sweety con Nutella”
This “burger” is certainly an unusual sight on the McDonald’s menu. Released in Italy, the Sweety con Nutella isn’t a burger in the traditional sense. Instead of a meat patty, it features a thick layer of Nutella spread between two buns.
sweet, dessert-like creation certainly baffled traditional burger fans but found a niche audience amongst those with a sweet tooth.
Burger King’s “Windows 7 Whopper”
One of the weirdest fast food creations came from a collaboration between Microsoft and Burger King in Japan to promote Windows 7. The Windows 7 Whopper featured a towering stack of seven beef patties, making for a truly formidable and outlandish sight. The burger was available for seven days and made headlines worldwide due to its extreme size.
These seven burgers don’t even begin to scratch the surface of the weird burger creations we’ve come across in our pursuit. But it’s a good start.
With so many options and ways to make a burger unique, we’re sure to keep seeing some interesting creations come our way.
