I was wondering where is the best fast food burger in Calgary? I don’t eat that type of food very often despite the fact that I dine out at a different Calgary 2 or 3 times per week. While I really like to try new places, I also like to stick to and return to the great Calgary restaurants that I enjoy the most. When it comes to fast food burgers, I will admit that it’s primarily the big chains that I am familiar with and that I don’t eat at them more than once or twice a month. This week was one of those times that I was craving some fast food and decided that a burger was going to be the solution to my hunger.
If I was asked for my opinion, I would have to say the Wendy’s Baconator has always been my default choice for being the best fast food burger. I have never been a fan of the McDonald’s offerings, none of them ever appealed to me. The Burger King whopper was always an enjoyable sloppy mess, and back when there was $5 Whopper Wednesday I am guilty of having had a regular lunch habit of eating that far too frequently. A&W always seemed pretty good quality but never a great price, plus I hated that they don’t put ice in their drinks which was enough to be a deal breaker for me to want to go there. Dairy Queen was pretty similar, the burger was pretty meh, their fries terrible, and the smallest order of chicken strips of any restaurant I have ever been to. I won’t rant about DQ, but suffice to say it has disappointed me many times.
Having recently moved to and settled in Calgary, I felt I needed to try Carl’s Junior. I have been to one before, many many years ago in Los Angeles, and back then I recall that it was pretty good. So I pulled into the empty parking lot of my local Carl’s Junior and chose to dine in.
The inside of the restaurant was clean, much better than the filthy Tim Hortons I visited a few days ago. Overall the decor is decent, trying to recreate the old diner feel a bit with their red bankettes. The menu board was bright and there was a few different items that I considered ordering before seeking on my final choice.
I ordered the Western combo, which basically looked like a bacon burger with bbq sauce plus fries and a beverage. I paid, something like $12 for it, filled my paper cup with fountain pop, grabbed a plastic staw, and then settled into a corner table. Shortly later the staff brought the food to my table.
Overall the burger didn’t look so appealing. The fries were hot and fresh, shoestring style and better than most calgary fast food fries. The pop machine at least worked, it had working ice even. Thankfully the burger tasted better than it appeared. I scarfed it down, ate the fries, and refilled my pop cup once more before departing. It was pretty good. Obviously not all that healthy choice for a meal, but I would say better than the other restaurant competitors in the fast food niche that I have recently tried.
I won’t stop going to my favorite new spots (Salt & Pepper in Bowness, Blowers & Grafton in Mission, the Blaze in Grey Eagle Casino) but rather than eat a Tim Hortons or another boring Subway franchise, I would choose to eat at Carl’s Junior again.
What are some other places I should try? Fast food, dine in, pubs, lounges, I will try them all.
King Calgary: I am a living in Calgary, enjoying exploring and experiencing the city and sharing it with others through words, photos, and videos. I like to write about the places I visit, the venues and businesses I go to, and the things that give Calgary its own unique character. With your support and suggestions I will continue to document cool things in the YYC area. Please help a local guy out by hitting the like or share button on any content you enjoy.