I Tried McDonald's Big Mac Vs. Burger King's Whopper & Settled The Great Fast Food Debate

I was lost in the sauce. 🍔

Associate Editor Jenna Kelley holding a Big Mac and a Whopper. Right: A Big Mac.

Associate Editor Jenna Kelley holding a Big Mac and a Whopper. Right: A Big Mac.

Florida Associate Editor

The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.

It's a popular American tradition to go to your nearest McDonald's or Burger King and get a beloved juicy Big Mac or Whopper, but when it comes down to it, how do you decide which establishment is going to nourish you the most?

I tend to eat McDonald's more out of its convenient distance to my house, but I always loved a good hearty Whopper, so I figured it was time to venture out and settle the greatest fast food debate there ever was: Big Mac vs. Whopper.

I went to the nearest chains and got one of each for lunch. It was quite a close competition, and while they both were just under $6 a burger, only one thing stood out that the other burger didn't have: the sauce.

Big Mac

A Big Mac.

A Big Mac.

Jenna Kelley | Narcity

The Big Mac was smaller in size, but it had two patties, lettuce, diced onion, cheese, pickles and Big Mac sauce.

Folks, if you take one thing away from this whole debate, just know this, I was lost in the sauce. The creamy secret spread was what made the Big Mac so delicious. I also like that the McDonald's sandwich has thinly chopped lettuce and onions.

The only thing about the Big Mac is that it is so messy and hard to keep in one piece without the toppings falling everywhere.

Whopper

A whopper.

A whopper.

Jenna Kelley | Narcity

The whopper is massive! There is a clear difference after unwrapping both sandwiches: you're getting way more of your money's worth with Burger King.

They gave me the option to have cheese, but I just asked for it as it comes. This sandwich had lettuce, tomato, pickles and onions. The sauce used is a mix of mayo and ketchup.

The veggies aren't thinly chopped, giving each bite a mouthful of substance.

There is only one patty, but it made the burger way less messy.

Verdict

If I had to choose, although it was a close call, I'd go with the Big Mac. It was all in the sauce for me!

The Whopper tasted like a regular burger you could make at home, even down to the way they chopped the vegetable toppings.

As far as the Big Mac, it's all in the secret sauce — sort of like Spongebob's fictional Krabby Patties — I can now understand the hype.

  • Associate Editor

    Jenna Kelley (she/her) was the Associate Editor for Florida at Narcity Media, where she oversaw all of the editorial content across the Sunshine State. She started her career in broadcast media as a television news reporter for three years. In 2020, Jenna won a Georgia Association of Broadcasters (GABBY) award for Best Online Produced Story. She's covered live concerts, reported at the Masters Tournament, and interviewed state senators during election season. Prior to working at Narcity Media, she made her way home to Florida and launched a copywriting business. Jenna received her B.A. in English with a minor in Communications at Florida State University. She has over five years of experience from print and digital media to radio and television.

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