I'm a food reporter who went to Whataburger for the first time, and although I liked the chicken san
- On a recent trip to Texas, I ate at the regional fast-food chain Whataburger for the first time.
- I ordered a Whatachick'n sandwich, fries, and a drink for $8.27.
- In hindsight, I wish I'd tried one of the burgers, and when I later did, I was impressed.
On a recent trip to Austin, Texas, I tried the regional fast-food burger chain Whataburger for the first time.
The first Whataburger opened in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1950. The chain was built upon the idea of a large burger that took two hands to hold, according to its website. Since then, Whataburger is still largely regarded as a Texas fast-food chain, though it has expanded to 10 other states across the South, Southwest, and Midwest.
Two Texans loved the chain so much that they decided to get married there.
When I arrived at the Whataburger in Austin, I was greeted by the signature orange logo.
Though the sign said the drive-thru was open, I was on foot and planned to eat in the dining room.
I was slightly overwhelmed by Whataburger's large menu. I ended up ordering a Whatachick'n sandwich, fries, and a drink.
During my trip to Austin, I filled up on burgers from chains like In-N-Out, P. Terry's, and, eventually, Whataburger. For my first time eating at Whataburger, I decided to order a chicken sandwich, which may seem like an odd choice at a burger chain.
But I knew I would be trying a burger from there later in the week, and I wanted to try as many different items from the chain as possible.
I grabbed a seat in the dining room after I received my bag of food.
It was mostly empty, save for a few customers eating their food. I chose a seat by the window. It's always a tad awkward taking photos of my food inside a chain, rather than at home, so I appreciated that I wasn't surrounded by people.
I received a cup that I could fill with whichever soft drink I wanted.
I decided upon Diet Coke, a staple for me.
Right away, I was impressed with the amount of food I received.
My order came to $8.27, including tax. I opted for the medium Whatachick'n meal deal, which came with the sandwich, medium fries, and a medium drink.
The chicken sandwich came wrapped in paper.
The chicken-sandwich wars are hot right now, and many chains are adjusting their menus to replicate the success at chains like Popeyes and Chick-fil-A. One thing many chains are leaning into is a more Southern-inspired chicken sandwich wrapped in a foil-insulated paper bag.
Whataburger appeared to be more classic when it came to its chicken sandwich. There was no foil bag in sight.
The chicken sandwich came on a warm brioche bun.
Whataburger allows you to customize your sandwich. You can also order it on a small bun or Texas toast for no extra charge.
The sandwich comes with a chicken filet, lettuce, tomato, and WhataSauce.
Biting in, I was impressed by the chicken sandwich. But, for me, it didn't rival chicken sandwiches I've had from other chains.
The chicken filet was moist and flavorful, while the bun held everything together nicely. The lettuce and tomato tasted fresh, and I really enjoyed the slight kick from the WhataSauce. It wasn't overly spicy, but the generous serving of creamy sauce did add a lot of flavor.
I wasn't blown away. It was a good chicken sandwich but, in my opinion, certainly not a reason to freak out or get married at the chain. After hearing so many good things about Whataburger, I was slightly underwhelmed.
I really enjoyed the fries. They were among some of the best fries I'd had at a fast-food joint.
They were perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. I also thought they were a generous size considering I paid under $10 for my meal.
Overall, I was impressed by the items and would order them again. But I didn't quite understand the Whataburger hype — until I tried the chain's burger a few days later.
When I tried the chain's double cheeseburger, I saw why the chain was famous for its burgers, not its chicken sandwiches. It was large enough that I truly did need two hands to hold it. The burgers had a delightfully crispy texture to them, and the chopped onions and jalapeño peppers added a ton of flavor.
As for the chicken sandwich, don't get me wrong, it was good. But it didn't blow me away like I expected it would. I really liked the crispy fries and thought my meal was a great value overall. Next time, I'll probably stick to the burger side of the menu.
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