Bachelor on the Cheap

Ready to eat in less about five minutes

By Mike Thayer

This is easier and faster than making a box of Kraft Mac 'n' Cheese!

Ingredients

• 2 packages of chicken flavored Ramen.  I like the chicken for this one, it goes better with the cheese.  Pork is my #2. 
• 1 cup water
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 tab of butter
• 1 packet of the chicken flavoring.  Save the other packet for something else, another day.
• 4 slices of American cheese, or whatever cheese you have on hand, shredded cheddar works great
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic (garlic powder is a good alternative)
• 5 slices of deli ham, shredded or sliced
• 1 Tablespoon Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley for garnish

Directions

In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, bring the water, milk, chicken flavoring and butter to a boil.  Reduce heat to low and add the American cheese, gently stirring until melted.  Crush the noodles in the Ramen packages and pour into the sauce.  Add the remaining ingredients, stirring to incorporate.  Remove from heat, cover and let the noodles absorb the sauce until they reach the desired consistency, about 3 minutes. 

A budget mac 'n' cheese meal, enjoy!

$pend Wisely My Friends...

Enjoy this post?

If you appreciate the article you just read and want to support more great content on BachelorontheCheap.com, you can help keep this site going with a one-time or a monthly donation.  Thank you so much for your support! ~ Mike

follow me on twitter @Bacheloronthe1

follow me on Pinterest

follow me on Instagram

The boxed stuff is OK, but this is SO much better!

By Mike Thayer

Hamburger Helper made its national debut in August 1971 and it was an instant success. With five flavors – Beef Noodle, Potato Stroganoff, Hash, Rice Oriental and Chili Tomato, America embraced the convenience that is Hamburger Helper.  Pretty much a casserole mix in a box, all you have to do is brown a pound of ground beef, add the Hamburger Helper ingredients per the box directions and you've got dinner in less than 30 minutes.

It was a family budget meal back in the day and still is, bachelors included.  Today's price for a box of Hamburger Helper (going foward we'll call it HH) averages about $2.39 a box.  Popular stuff, it didn't take long for the mainstream grocery stores to conclude they needed to grab some of that market share, contracting private label makers to create a store brand version of HH.

An easy peasy meal to make, comfort food city.  It freezes well too.

Never pay full price!  Not even for the store brand stuff.

The store brand stuff is cheaper and essentially the same casserole in a box kind of thing having a name such as "Skillet Meal" and the like.  There was a time when the grocery store would have a sale of their discount skillet meal, 10 boxes for $10, but I haven't seen one of those sales in quite awhile and I wonder if it's now a thing of the past with inflation such as it is.  I used to take advantage of those sales, stocking my pantry with the meals.

The good news is you can make your own HH with just a few ingredients and it tastes better.  Bonus - what you make won't have NEAR the sodium.  A prepared box of HH can contain up to 990 milligrams of sodium per serving, which is nearly half the daily recommended amount - in one meal!

Here's a recipe for some home made HH, a potato stroganoff version, one of my personal favorites.

Bachelor on the Cheap Potato Stroganoff

Ingredients

• One pound ground beef (I actually like to use a 50/50 mix of ground beef and ground pork for another layer of flavor)
• 3-5 medium sized Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, sliced
• 1 medium onion, rough chopped
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3 generous dollops of sour cream (1 for garnish)
• 1 Tablespoon Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley (for garnish)

Directions

In a large skillet (preferably one you can transfer to the oven if desired and if you do, preheat the oven to 350 degrees) over medium heat, brown the ground meat and onion, adding the black and cayenne pepper.  While that's cooking, rinse the potatoes, pierce with a knife or fork and microwave until not quite fork tender.  After cooking, set aside for a few minutes until cool enough to handle, peel and slice.  Add the minced garlic, mushroom soup and sliced potatoes to the meat mixture, stirring occasionally.  Add two dollops of the sour cream and stir until incorporated.  STOVETOP: Let simmer on low for about 10 minutes.  After 10 minutes it's ready to eat, sprinkle on the Parmesan cheese, parsley flake, hit it with more sour cream and serve.  OVEN BAKE:  Bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees.  Top with the Parmesan cheese and bake for another 10 minutes or until the top turns golden, brown and delicious.  Let cool for 5-10 minutes, top with the parsley and sour cream, serve.

This recipe makes for a better serving of HH, you get to control the ingredients (and the sodium) and it really doesn't take up all that much more time to make.  Play with it, add bacon bits, shredded cheddar cheese, add sliced mushroom, include some green peas...  There are a lot of tasty options to try!  This recipe is also very Bachelor on the Cheap wallet friendly, using items you probably already have in your pantry and fridge.  Never pay full price for HH!  Buy it when it's on sale, better yet, make your own!

$pend Wisely My Friends...

Enjoy this post?

If you appreciate the article you just read and want to support more great content on BachelorontheCheap.com, you can help keep this site going with a one-time or a monthly donation.  Thank you so much for your support! ~ Mike

follow me on twitter @Bacheloronthe1

follow me on Pinterest

follow me on Instagram

Get 10% off your entire purchase of $10 or more on October 9

By Mike Thayer

Regular readers know that I'm a fan of Dollar Tree, even after they hiked up their prices to $1.25 from just a buck.  It's still a place to score some bargains.

Adding to that bargain, is an event Dollar Tree and Family Dollar (Dollar Tree acquired Family Dollar back in 2015) on Sunday, October 9 - Associate Appreciation Day.

According to the promo, you'll receive 10% off your entire purchase of $10 or more!  And since their prices for the most part are $1.25 per item at Dollar Tree, you know it's a legit sale, there won't be the game of "jack up the prices a bit then claim 10% scam" that some stores play.  You'll get 10% off.

I'll be taking advantage of the promo with the purchase of household supplies and cleaning products in addition to other items that you might not think of very often, until you need them such as batteries, light bulbs, foil pans for baking and the grill, candles, etc.

Related: Shopping at Dollar Tree

Related: Even at $1.25, Dollar Tree is STILL way cheaper than a mainstream grocery store for household products

Related: Don't pay too much for household cleaning products

$pend Wisely My Friends...

Enjoy this post?

If you appreciate the article you just read and want to support more great content on BachelorontheCheap.com, you can help keep this site going with a one-time or a monthly donation.  Thank you so much for your support! ~ Mike

follow me on twitter @Bacheloronthe1

follow me on Pinterest

follow me on Instagram

Today's weather forecast and a four day outlook.  Check this page for the latest weather reports in the Wichita Metro area.  Up-to-date weather conditions are observed at the MADIS station D6055, 3.6 miles WSW of Wichita.  For weather conditions specific to other cities outside the metro area, just type in your zip code below.

TreeHouse Foods Announces Voluntary Recall of Certain Tuscan Garden Restaurant Style Italian Dressing Due to Undeclared Wheat and Soy

OAK BROOK, IL. - TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (NYSE: THS) is voluntarily recalling one lot of Restaurant Style Italian Dressing sold under the brand name Tuscan Garden.

This recall is being conducted because the product is labeled as Restaurant Style Italian Dressing, while some of the bottles may contain Asian Sesame Dressing. The Restaurant Style Italian Dressing label indicates the allergens egg and dairy are in the product while the Asian Sesame Dressing product contains the allergens soy and wheat. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy or wheat run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

Product was distributed nationwide through Aldi between August 23, 2022 and September 23, 2022.

The product at issue can be identified by the UPC number and best if used by date which can be found below the neck of the bottle.

Description: Tuscan Garden Restaurant Style Italian Dressing

Size: 16 oz

UPC Number: 4099100074871 

Best If Used By Date: 08/10/2023

No other varieties or UPC numbers are included in this recall.

TreeHouse Foods discovered the issue after receiving two complaints from the store level. At this time, TreeHouse has not received any reports of an allergic reaction associated with this product.

Consumers who have purchased any of the above products are urged to dispose of or return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with any questions may call 800- 596-2902, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. (EST).

ABOUT TREEHOUSE FOODS

TreeHouse Foods, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of private label packaged foods and beverages in North America. We have over 40 production facilities across the United States, Canada and Italy, and our vision is to be the undisputed solutions leader for custom brands for our customers. Our product portfolio includes shelf stable, refrigerated, frozen and fresh products, including baked goods (cookies, crackers, pretzels, refrigerated dough, frozen waffles, in-store bakery products and snack bars); beverages (broth, single serve hot beverages, ready-to-drink coffee, creamers and powdered drinks); and meal solutions (dressings, hot cereal, macaroni and cheese, pasta, pickles, sauces and side dishes). We have a comprehensive offering of packaging formats and flavor profiles, and we also offer natural, organic and preservative-free ingredients across almost our entire portfolio. Our purpose is to make high quality food and beverages affordable to all.

Additional information, including TreeHouse's most recent statements on Forms 10-Q and 10-K, may be found at TreeHouse's website, http://www.treehousefoods.com.

By Mike Thayer

A lot of burger joints in the Wichita Metro claim to have the best burger around, but who really does?  For all the nuances involved in the crafting of not just a good, but a great burger, the bite that really matters is all about the beef! 

Traveling around the Wichita Metro, I've sampled the burger offerings from just about any joint that has burgers on the menu.  It didn't really matter who, I ate burgers from local joints, regional restaurants and the national chains.  To determine a true champion of burgers in the metro, a broad sampling had to be taken in order to measure the best.  I was on a mission in the name of "burger science" (cough). 

During the course of this Challenge, I evaluated Bacon Cheeseburgers.  The way I see it, if a burger joint can't put together a classic bacon cheeseburger and do it well, then there's no reason to sample any other burger options.  So there were no hot links & onion strings, no habenero & mango, no avocado or fried egg, etc., versions of burgers sampled. 

As a former Certified Competition BBQ Judge, I took that scoring system and tweaked it to judging burgers. Being evaluated on a point system scorecard were a plethora of categories that included but was not limited to the appearance, meat, bun, meat to bun ratio, the cheese, how the burger was dressed (that means the assortment of veggies, sauce and/or condiments for those of you who live in Haysville), price and of course, the TASTE.  With each category being evaluated on a scale of 1-9, the best possible score was a 63.  In the event of a tie score, the tiebreaker was the cost.  The burger with the better dollar value was ranked higher on the chart. 

I'll be posting all the numbers for each and every burger sampled in a detailed final report, but here's how the Top 10 plated up, starting with Number 10:

Number 10 - Bricktown Brewery:  Costing me $15.05 with tax for the burger and fries, the Bricktown Brewery Bacon Cheddar Burger scored a 58 out of 63 possible points, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  The burger was so nicely balanced and while that generous portion of 'Burger Sauce' made for a messy burger eat, it did kick things up a notch.  Anytime you have burger juices and sauce running down your hand, a.k.a. FLAVOR, it's a good thing.  Of note:  Best Sweet Potato Fries of the Challenge.

~~~

Number 9 - Timbuktu Bar & Grill:  Costing me $13.50 before tax for the burger and fries, the Timbuktu Bar & Grill Timbuktu Original Burger with a bacon add scored 58 out of a possible 63 points earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  The perfect execution of this flat top burger is what makes it.  Reasonably priced, it's definitely worthy of a repeat buy.  Of Note: Best Curly Fries of the Challenge.

~~~

Number 8 - Harry's Uptown Bar & Grill: The entire basket was as I like to say, Another Dose of YUM!  Costing me just $12.87 for the burger and rings basket, Harry's Uptown Bar & Grill and their 'Bacon & Cheese' Burger scored 58 points out of a possible 63, a score earning a 5 star Bachelor on the Cheap rating.  And did you see that price?  We're talking a 1/2 pound burger!  Not only is it a fantastic burger, what Harry's cranks out in fine fashion is Bachelor on the Cheap wallet friendly too.  Of note:  Best Onion Rings of the Challenge.

~~~

Number 7 - Burger Central:  Costing me $8.59 for the burger, side and a drink, the Burger Central Bacon Cheeseburger scored 58 points out of a possible 63, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.   The burger was flavorful, juicy, stacked well and very balanced.  Burger Central crafts a top notch classic bacon cheeseburger and it's Bachelor on the Cheap wallet friendly at only $8.59 for the basket.  This is a repeat buy, a burger I would order again, and again, and again.  Burger Central mistakenly gave me fries instead of tots.  They immediately caught the error and served me up some tots, which were the Best Tater Tots of the Challenge.

~~~

Number 6 - Deano's Grill & Tapworks:  Costing me about $14 for the burger and fries, the Deano's Grill & Tapworks Classic Cheeseburger with a bacon add on scored 59 points out of a possible 63, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. It's most definitely a repeat buy and deserves to be on your burger to try list if you haven't done so already.

~~~

Number 5 - Slider Shak:  Costing me $13.27 with tax for the sliders, onion rings and a drink, the Slider Shak Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders scored 59 points out of a possible 63, earning 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. This is NOT your typical slider, both the patty and the slider overall is slightly larger than your average slider but that's not what makes it so much better. It's a top notch slider because of the outstanding execution in preparation and it's done with quality ingredients. Both the Slider Shak Bacon Cheeseburger sliders and onion rings are definitely repeat buys!

~~~

Number 4 - Angry Elephant:  Costing me a lunch special price of $9.99 for the burger and $1.50 for the fries for a total of $11.49 before tax, the Angry Elephant Angry Angus Burger scored 59 out of a possible 63 points and earned 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. The Angry Elephant cranks out an excellent upscale burger for a very reasonable price and it's most definitely worthy of a repeat buy. Talking a little trash on their online menu, they back it up. Of Note: Best Presentation AND Best Bacon of the Challenge.

~~~

Number 3 - Buster's Burger Joint:  Costing me $11 plus hitting the tip jar, the Buster's Burger Joint Double Cheeseburger with a bacon add scored a 59 out of a possible 63 points earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  Buster's is VERY Bachelor on the Cheap wallet friendly, the value is tremendous and if Buster's isn't already on your burger to try list, it should be! Of Note: Best Burger Value of the Challenge.

~~~

Number 2 - Fizz Burgers & Bottles:  Costing me $19.88 for the burger and side, the Fizz Burgers & Bottles Bacon Cheeseburger scored 60 points out of a possible 63, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  This was the most expensive burger of the Challenge, but also tied for the highest scoring, one of the tastiest.  An upscale burger weighing a 1/2 pound, utilizing the freshest ingredients and pairing it all with a one-of-a-kind sauce makes for an excellent burger experience, one very worthy of a repeat buy.  The 1/4 pound version is available for $12.  And here's another tell on how good this place is, by the time I left at around 11:45am, the place was nearly full with customers.

~~~

Number 1 - Bill's Charcoal Grill:  Costing me $15.85 for the burger, fries and a drink, the Bill's Charcoal Grill Double Cheeseburger with bacon scored 60 out of a possible 63 points earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  This is a repeat buy, again, and again, and again... The best burger beef of the Challenge.  Of Note: Runner Up for Best Regular French Fries.

Item of note, 9 establishments in the Top 10 are local.

These were all 5 star burgers.  Here are the other burgers who scored well enough to earn a 5 star rating (tallying 56 points or more), but fell outside the Top 10, a Bachelor on the Cheap 5 star Honorable Mention if you will and all worthy of repeat buys: 

Green Mill Restaurant  (58), Whiskey Dick's (57), Southeast Carryout (57), Sport Burger (57), Broadway Burgers & BBQ (57), Madrock's Sports Bar (57), Mulligan's Pub (57), The Hill Bar & Grill (57), TJ's Burger House (57), Big Larry's Burgers (56), Ty's Diner (56), Bubba's33 (56), Little Buster's (56), Fatburger (56), Jumbo's Beef & Brews (56), Five Guys (56)

The remaining burgers sampled during the course of this challenge scored lower, earning 4 stars (tallying 49-55 points) or 3 stars (42 to 48 points).  Those detailed scores will be posted in the final report.  I'm pleased to report that nobody presented a truly awful burger (although Applebee's was close) receiving a 2 or OMG a 1 star rating.  But I will say that a 3 star rating is not really worthy of a repeat buy given all the goodness out there in the Wichita Metro, 4 stars and up.  And another Kudos to the local establishments, which overall, consistently outperformed regional restaurants and national chains.  

Related:  Ranking the Fast Food and Fast Casual Burgers, they are listed here from worst to best of

Related: The Top Ten Best Bar & Grill Burgers in the Wichita Metro

Related: Takeaways from the Best in the Wichita Metro Burger Challenge 2022 and the Best Burger Deals

Shout out to Vicki S., who helped me put the Burger Challenge List of Burger Joints together.  She's a fellow foodie in hiding.

$pend Wisely My Friends...

Enjoy this post?

If you appreciate the article you just read and want to support more great content on BachelorontheCheap.com, you can help keep this site going with a one-time or a monthly donation.  Thank you so much for your support! ~ Mike

follow me on twitter @Bacheloronthe1

follow me on Pinterest

follow me on Instagram

By Mike Thayer

Traveling around the Wichita Metro, I've sampled the burger offerings from just about any joint that has burgers on the menu.  It didn't really matter who, I ate burgers from local joints, regional restaurants and the national chains.  To determine a true champion of burgers in the metro, a broad sampling had to be taken in order to measure the best.  I was on a mission in the name of "burger science" (cough). 

Ranking the Fast Food and Fast Casual burgers

Why did I bother with national chain fast food and fast casual joints?  C'mon, admit it, you're just as curious to see how they stack up against the locals and grill/pubs etc., as I was!   And in conducting such a comprehensive review, the information also serves as a baseline.  It's food information, a demonstration in how other places might be so much tastier and really not that much more expensive.  It's good to know burger info!  

The Best in the Wichita Metro Burger Challenge 2022 demonstrated how much better many of the local places truly are.  National chain fast food isn't necessarily the cheapest or quickest option.   There are some national chain burger options out there giving you decent burger bang for the buck, but if you really want a truly Burgerlicious experience, buy local.  I've grouped fast food and fast casual together because there's really not a heck of a lot of difference in the amount of time that goes by before receiving your order.  Whether you're sitting in your vehicle at a fast food drive thru or sitting inside a fast casual restaurant waiting for your burger, the time to order in most instances is about the same.

An example of scoring, click to enlarge

Scoring:  Being evaluated on a point system scorecard were a plethora of categories that included but was not limited to the appearance, meat, bun, meat to bun ratio, the cheese, how the burger was dressed (that means the assortment of veggies, sauce and/or condiments for those of you who live in Haysville), price and of course, the TASTE. With each category being evaluated on a scale of 1-9, the best possible score was a 63. In the event of a tie score, the tiebreaker was the cost. The burger with the better dollar value was ranked higher on the chart.  Burgers tallying 56 points or more are Bachelor on the Cheap 5 star burgers. Burgers tallying between 49-55 points earned 4 stars, while burgers tallying between 42-48 points earned 3 stars.  I'm pleased to report that nobody presented a truly awful burger (although Applebee's was close) receiving a 2 or OMG a 1 star rating. But I will say that a 3 star rating is not really worthy of a repeat buy given all the goodness out there in the Wichita Metro, 4 stars and up.

Here's how the fast food and fast casual burgers ranked from worst to best of listed by star rating and score.  Click the link in the respective blurbs for the full review:

  Costing me $10.95 for the combo meal, the Dog N Shake Double Cheeseburger with a bacon add scored just 44 out of 63 possible points, earning it 3 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  I was hoping for better from a local establishment, but in an honest assessment there was nothing special about this burger and sadly, it's not a repeat buy.  Of Note:  Worst visual and nearly the most bland burger of the Challenge.   Time to order:  < 5 minutes.

Costing me $11.27 for the combo meal, the Spangles Gourmet Supreme with a bacon add scored 47 out of a possible 63 points earning it 3 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  I actually prefer the Gourmet Supreme over the Big Mac, but not over the Quarter Pounder. Like McDonald's, Spangles is not worthy of a repeat buy, not even among other fast food restaurants.  Time to order:  5 minutes.

Costing me $10.95 the Hardee's Bacon & Cheese Angus Burger scored 48 out of a possible 63 points, earning it just 3 stars.  What Hardee's serves is a Whopper wannabe and that's not saying much. If this was a BK Whopper w/cheese & bacon vs. Hardee's Bacon & Cheese Angus Burger battle, BK wins.  But there are better burgers out there to be had, even in fast food no less.  Time to order:  < 5 minutes.

  Costing me $10.62 for the Value Meal, the McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese Deluxe and a bacon add scored 48 out of a possible 63 points earning it 3 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  I've never really been a huge fan of McDonald's, but now that I've become a Burger Snob in conducting this Challenge, Micky D's is REALLY not a repeat buy.  Time to order:  < 5 minutes.

    Costing me $9.28 with tax, the Calvin's Hamburger Haven 'Bacon' Double Cheeseburger scored 48 points out of a possible 63 earning it 3 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  The overall poor execution in putting the burger together was a missed burgerlicious opportunity.  Calvin's is very reasonably priced but the 3 star burger I was served is not a repeat buy.  Time to order:  10 minutes.

Costing me only $7, this was one of the better bangs for the burger buck of the Challenge.  The Berneal's Carryout Cheeseburgers with bacon scored 49 out of 63 possible points, earning 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  If you have a slider craving they'll satisfy it and for the money, they're worthy of a repeat buy. Time to order:  15 minutes.

  Costing me $13.42 for the combo meal, the Burger King Whopper with cheese and bacon scored 50 out of a possible 63 points earning it 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. But look at that price! That's on the high end of fast food prices, an example of why folks should consider a local fast food, fast casual or bar/grill to have a much better burger for about the same price! A Whopper is a repeat buy but ONLY if you're on time constraints and BK is your closest option, or maybe a Plan B alternative when on the road traveling and you don't want to take the time for a sit down restaurant. Let's face it, BK is an "Eh" burger experience. It's far from the best, but also not the worst option out there.  Time to order:  5 minutes.

Costing me $9.12 for the combo meal which included less-than-stellar fries and a shake, the Dairy Queen Bacon Two Cheese Deluxe 1/3 lb.* double Signature Stackburger^TM scored 50 points out of a possible 63, earning it 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. Take off just two more points and it would be a 3 star burger.  It's Bachelor on the Cheap wallet friendly, but it's not the best burger choice out there, not even if just considering fast food options. Time to order:  < 5 minutes.

Costing me $11.05 for the combo meal, the Bionic Burger Bacon Cheddar Burger scored 51 points out of a possible 63, earning 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. Bionic makes a solid burger and it's Bachelor on the Cheap wallet friendly. It's a satisfying eat and worthy of a repeat buy.  Time to order:  < 5 minutes.

Costing me $12.01 for the burger, onion rings and a drink, the West Street Burgers Double Cheeseburger w/bacon scored 52 points out of a possible 63, earning 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  I enjoyed my visit and will definitely be back again.  Too bad they don't have a location on my side of town, yes, I'm an East Sider...  Time to order:  < 10 minutes.

Costing me a bit over $8, the Braum's Bacon Cheeseburger scored 51 out of a possible 63 points, earning it 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  Overall a good burger, but there were a few fundamental misses preventing it from being a better burger such as a better sear, melted cheese and a little more care in timely assembly.  For the price, it's a repeat buy, the fries, not so much...  Time to order:  10 minutes.

Costing me $12.35 for the burger, fries and shake, the Wendy's Big Bacon Classic Double scored 53 points out of a possible 63, also earning 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. Under seasoned beef and over dressing the burger with condiment overkill made for a bit of a disappointing burger experience. Here's a case of a burger with a lot of potential, that under performed.  Time to order:  5 minutes.

Costing me $10.74 for the combo meal, the A&W Bacon Double Cheeseburger scored 53 out of a possible 63 points, earning 4 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. Bachelor on the Cheap wallet friendly it's a good but not great burger, but yes, worthy of a repeat buy. The veggies are fresh, but there's a bit of lettuce overkill and even though you get two beef patties, they're thin. The bun is huge, resulting in a meat to bun ratio that's a bit heavy on the bread.  Time to order:  10 minutes.

Costing me $12.67 for the burger, fries and shake, the Freddy's Bacon & Cheese Double scored 54 points out of a possible 63, earning it 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. The beef truly was the star of this burger show. The method used to apply the bacon and the rather ordinary bun prevented this burger from scoring higher, but it's still a fast food worthy repeat buy.  Time to order:  10 minutes.

Costing me $11.06 for the combo meal, Sonic's "SuperSONIC Bacon Double Cheeseburger" scored 54 out of a possible 63 points, earning 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. Reasonably priced, timely and tasty, this burger in my humble opinion outperforms the national chain fast food competition and is worthy of a fast food repeat buy.  Time to order:  5 minutes.

Costing me $16.87 to include tax for a 1/2 pound burger, "Little Fry" and a drink, the Five Guys Bacon Cheeseburger scored a total of 56 points out of a possible 63, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  It may be on the higher end of pricing for a premium Fast Casual burger, but it's most definitely a repeat buy.  I dined at more than a couple places during the course of this Challenge and got 'nickle and dimed' for additional toppings, driving the price of the burger up past the Five Guy price.  Time to order:  10 minutes

 Costing me $16.07 for the half pound burger, fries and a drink, overall this was a great burger experience and I'm giving Fatburger & Buffalo's Express 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. The burger alone makes Fatburger a habitual repeat buy. The price isn't exactly Bachelor on the Cheap wallet friendly, but we are talking a half pound of beef and this is no ordinary run-of-the-mill burger! It's loaded with flavor!  Time to order:  10 minutes.

Costing me $13.08 for the burger, fries and a drink, the Ty's Diner Bacon Cheeseburger scored 56 out of a possible 63 points earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  Just a few missteps on the execution of this burger prevented it from scoring even higher.  Both the seasoning  and crust on the patty were stellar.  Reasonably priced, Ty's makes a fine burger worthy of a repeat buy, but I think I'll try a different side next time I visit.

Costing me $12.46 for the double burger, fries and a drink, the Big Larry's Burgers Bacon Cheddar Double Burger scored 56 out of a possible 63 points, earning it 5 stars. It's Bachelor on the Cheap wallet friendly and it would have scored even higher with the simple addition of another slice of tomato, another ring or two of onion and bacon in every bite.  Time to order:  5 minutes.

Costing me $17.74 for the burger, tots and a drink, TJ's Burger House Bacon Cheeseburger scored 57 points out of a possible 63, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  Overall, it's a tasty burger, but falls into the lower tier of the 5 star rated group in terms of both points scored and the cost.   There are better burgers out there for a lower price.  Time to order:  10 minutes.

Costing me $10.19 for a very enjoyable lunch, the Broadway Burger & BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger scored 57 points out of a possible 63, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  It was quite tasty and I wish I would have gotten a double, it's most definitely a repeat buy.  Time to order:  10 minutes.

Costing me $10.63 for the combo meal, the Sport Burger #5, a Double Bacon Cheeseburger scored 57 points out of a possible 63, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  This is one of the more reasonably priced burger joints in town, providing you a 1/2 pound of beef vs. the single patty (1/4lb.) a lot of competitors serve for about the same price.  Time to order, up to 30 minutes, yes, they're that good and the line can be long.

Costing me $10.42 for the burger, fries and a drink, the SE Carryout Double Cheeseburger with a bacon add scored a 57 out of a possible 63 points, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  Very reasonably priced, this is a tasty burger overall and is most definitely worthy of a repeat buy.  Time to order:  5 minutes.

Costing me $8.59 for the burger, side and a drink, the Burger Central Bacon Cheeseburger scored 58 points out of a possible 63, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.   The burger was flavorful, juicy, stacked well and very balanced.  Burger Central crafts a top notch classic bacon cheeseburger and it's Bachelor on the Cheap wallet friendly at only $8.59 for the basket.  This is a repeat buy, a burger I would order again, and again, and again.  Time to order:  10 minutes.

Costing me $13.27 with tax for the sliders, onion rings and a drink, the Slider Shak Bacon Cheeseburger sliders scored 59 points out of a possible 63, earning 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. This is NOT your typical slider, both the patty and the slider overall is slightly larger than your average slider but that's not what makes it so much better. It's a top notch slider because of the outstanding execution in preparation and it's done with quality ingredients. Both the Slider Shak Bacon Cheeseburger sliders and onion rings are definitely repeat buys!  Unfortunately, Slider Shak made the decision to close its doors on 09/13, which is a shame, Craig put out a great product.  Here's the snippet from the Slider Shak Facebook page:  As of today I have decided to close Slider Shak. The lack of sales is the reason. I chose it’s South Seneca location and that was my fault. Slider Shak’s concept, food and labor cost is pretty much spot on. I’m sure Slider Shak will do well in another location and I will continue to evaluate other location options as they become available. Thank you for your support. Stay Safe and Happy Eating.

Costing me $11 plus hitting the tip jar, the Buster's Burger Joint Double Cheeseburger with a bacon add scored a 59 out of a possible 63 points earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  Buster's is VERY Bachelor on the Cheap wallet friendly, the value is tremendous and if Buster's isn't already on your burger to try list, it should be! 

Costing me $15.85 for the burger, fries and a drink, the Bill's Charcoal Grill Double Cheeseburger with bacon scored 60 out of a possible 63 points earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  This is a repeat buy, again, and again, and again...  Bill's isn't only the best tasting fast food/fast casual burger of the Challenge, they won the whole thing, beating out diners, dives, bars & grills!  It's the best tasting burger in the Wichita Metro!  Time to order:  10 minutes.

Expand your burger horizon

If time is on your side, why shell out $13+ at Burger King when you can go to Buster's Burger Joint and get a WAY better burger and a superior side for $2 less?  Buy local.  If you're in a bit of a hurry, or only have a half hour for lunch, why spend $12+ at Wendy's when you can enjoy a better burger and side from Southeast Carry Out or Burger Central?  You'll spend less money and the time to order is about the same.  Buy local.

Related: The Best in Wichita Metro Burger Challenge 2022: The Top 10 Best Burgers

$pend Wisely My Friends...

Enjoy this post?

If you appreciate the article you just read and want to support more great content on BachelorontheCheap.com, you can help keep this site going with a one-time or a monthly donation.  Thank you so much for your support! ~ Mike

follow me on twitter @Bacheloronthe1

follow me on Pinterest

follow me on Instagram

Bacon Cheddar Burgers in the making

By Mike Thayer

My favorite place to enjoy a great burger is at my place, a bacon cheddar burger grilled to perfection on my Weber kettle.   Life is good with a burger in one hand, an adult beverage in the other and a game on TV.

My second favorite place to enjoy a great burger is at a bar & grill, a seat at the bar, prime view of several big screens, cold beer, friendly staff and a great burger...  It's part of the burger experience, embracing all that atmosphere.

I recently conducted a Best in the Wichita Metro Burger Challenge, traveling around and sampling the burger offerings from just about any joint that has burgers on the menu.  It didn't really matter who, I ate burgers from local joints, regional restaurants and the national chains.  To determine a true champion of burgers in the metro, a broad sampling had to be taken in order to measure the best.  I was on a mission in the name of "burger science" (cough). 

Here's my list of the Top 10 Bars & Grills in the Wichita Metro to get a great burger and a cold beer.  All the bar & grill burgers listed here are Bachelor on the Cheap 5 star rated and 8 out of the 10 are local.

Number 10 - Little Buster's Bar & Grill:  Located at 457 N Baltimore Ave, Derby, KS 67037, here's a snippet from their website:  Little Busters is a Derby tradition. With the best burgers in town, 18 TVs, and all the games on. Happy Hour 3-6 Everyday. It's the place to be with friends.  Costing me $13.98 for the burger and waffle fries, the Little Buster's Original Buster Burger with bacon scored 56 out of a possible 63 points earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. Reasonably priced, this was a very satisfying burger dinner and I would order it again in a heartbeat.

Number 9 - Bubba's 33:  Located at 412 S Towne East Mall Dr, Wichita, KS 67207, Bubba's33 is a fun place to dine with friends, enjoy some interesting cocktails and grab a burger while watching a game.  Costing me a bit under $14 for the burger and onion rings, the Bubba's33 Bacon Burger scored 56 out of a possible 63 points, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.   It's a very good burger and worthy of a repeat buy, but Bubba's is kind of skimpy on the sides.

Number 8 - The Hill Bar & Grill:  Located at 4800 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67208, the service at The Hill Bar & Grill is friendly, attentive and done with a smile.  Hello Monday Night Football and Hill Burger Mondays!  The Hill Bar & Grill Classic All American Burger with a bacon add scored 57 points out of a possible 63, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  The flavor The Hill delivers makes it more than worthy of a repeat buy.  Take advantage of $5 Burger night on Mondays!

Number 7 - Mulligan's Pub:  Located at 8343 E 32nd St N, Wichita, KS 67226, Mulligan's has a half priced drink special on Thursdays.  Costing me $12.84 after tax for the burger and side, The Mulligan's Build Your Own Burger Bacon Cheeseburger scored 57 points out of a possible 63, earning 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. Reasonably priced, this is a build your own burger that I would order again, especially on half price drink Thursdays!

Number 6 - Madrock's Sports Bar & Grill:  Located at 1821 E Madison Ave #100, Derby, KS 67037, the service at Madrocks Sports Bar & Grill was friendly and attentive, despite how busy the place got.  By 5:30pm, there was a line at the door and a wait time for a table.  Reasonably priced drinks, great food, TVs everywhere... What's not to like?  It's no wonder Madrocks is so popular.  Costing me $11.82 with tax for the burger and side, the Madrocks Sports Bar & Grill Bacon Cheeseburger scored 57 points out of a possible 63, earning 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  I am a fan of charbroiled burgers, which sadly isn't as popular of a cooking method in restaurants as it once was, so it was nice to be able to enjoy it at Madrocks.  Very reasonably priced, this is definitely a burger worthy of a repeat buy.

Number 5 - Whiskey Dick's:  Located at 801 S Seneca St, Wichita, KS 67213, Whiskey Dick's has a 1/2 price burger special on Wednesdays.  Costing me $6.98 before tax for the burger and side, the Whiskey Dick's Classic Cheeseburger with a bacon add scored 57 points out of a possible 63, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. Whiskey Dick's Classic Cheeseburger is most definitely worthy of a repeat buy, anytime, not just on 1/2 price Wednesdays.

Number 4 - Brickhouse Brewery:  Located at 2035 Rock Rd, Wichita, KS 67206, the Bricktown Brewery kitchen cranks out some very tasty food.  Costing me $15.05 with tax for the burger and fries, the Bricktown Brewery Bacon Cheddar Burger scored a 58 out of 63 possible points, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  The burger was so nicely balanced and while that generous portion of 'Burger Sauce' made for a messy burger eat, it did kick things up a notch.  Anytime you have burger juices and sauce running down your hand, a.k.a. FLAVOR, it's a good thing.

Number 3 - Timbuktu Bar & Grill:  Located at 1251 N Andover Rd, Andover, KS 67002 the beer is cold and the burgers are great at Timbuktu Bar & Grill. Costing me $13.50 before tax for the burger and fries, the Timbuktu Bar & Grill Timbuktu Original Burger with a bacon add scored 58 out of a possible 63 points earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  The perfect execution of this flat top burger is what makes it.  Reasonably priced, it's definitely worthy of a repeat buy.

Number 2 - Harry's Uptown:  Located at 3023 E Douglas in Wichita, the Harry's Uptown burgers are STELLAR, the beer is cold and the service was great.  The entire burger basket was as I like to say, Another Dose of YUM!  Costing me just $12.87 for the burger and rings basket, Harry's Uptown Bar & Grill and their 'Bacon & Cheese' Burger scored 58 points out of a possible 63, the highest score so far in this challenge and that score earns a 5 star Bachelor on the Cheap rating.  And did you see that price?  We're talking a 1/2 pound burger!  Not only is it a fantastic burger, what Harry's cranks out in fine fashion is Bachelor on the Cheap wallet friendly too.

Number 1 - Deano's Grill & Tapworks:  Located at 9747 E 21st St N Suite 101, Wichita, KS 67206, Deano's Grill & Tapworks is a thumbs up place all the way around.  The service is top notch, the drinks are smooth, the food is fantastic and the atmosphere super friendly.  What a great place to just hang out and catch a game and/or catch up with friends. Costing me about $14 for the burger and fries, the Deano's Grill & Tapworks Classic Cheeseburger with a bacon add on scored 59 points out of a possible 63, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. It's most definitely a repeat buy and deserves to be on your burger to try list if you haven't done so already.

Enjoying a burger at a bar & grill is tough to beat.

Related: The Best in Wichita Metro Burger Challenge 2022: The Top 10 Best Burgers

$pend Wisely My Friends...

Enjoy this post?

If you appreciate the article you just read and want to support more great content on BachelorontheCheap.com, you can help keep this site going with a one-time or a monthly donation.  Thank you so much for your support! ~ Mike

follow me on twitter @Bacheloronthe1

follow me on Pinterest

follow me on Instagram

By Mike Thayer

Takeaways from the Best in the Wichita Metro Burger Challenge 2022:

• If you have a choice, don't waste your time with the national fast food chains.  Overall, the majority of them finished in the bottom tier of the burger standings. Buy and eat local.  No national fast food burgers made it into the Top 25.  The best finish by a national chain fast food place was Sonic at #36.
• National chain fast food drive thru can be convenient, but during a lunch or dinner rush, not really.  You're better off going to a local burger joint and having a seat inside the place while your burger is made to order.  You'll get a better tasting burger, you'll spend about the same amount of money (or even less depending on the joint) and the amount of time spent averages just 4 minutes more.
• Time Spent:  Breaking down burger joints into categories, Bar/Grill, Fast Casual and Fast Food, Average time to order for Bar/Grill:  11 minutes 20 seconds.  Average time to order for Fast Casual:  11 minutes flat.  Average time to order for Fast Food:  6 minutes 55 seconds.
• Money Spent:  Same categories, Average cost at a Bar/Grill:  $13.71.  Average cost at Fast Casual:  $12.44.  Average cost at Fast Food:  $11.33.

For just a buck or two more and a couple extra minutes, you can have a much better burger experience than fast food!

  Here are the best burger money values in the Wichita Metro:

• Big Arbor had the most inexpensive burger of this challenge, ringing in at $5 with their 1/2 price burger special on Wednesday nights.  Their burger tallied 54 points of a possible 63, earning it 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.
• Emerson Biggins Old Town has a 1/2 price burger special on Tuesdays at $5 and $6 depending on what you order.  My timing was bad on this one, I showed up on the wrong night and paid full price!  The Emerson Biggins Original Burger scored 54 points out of a possible 63, earning it 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. 
• Berneal's Carryout has the best everyday low price, two cheeseburger w/bacon sliders, fries and a drink cost me just $7.  Berneal's scored a 49, receiving 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.
• Side Pockets also has a good everyday low price.  Costing me $7.51 with tax for the burger and tots, the Side Pockets Bacon Cheeseburger scored 51 out of a possible 63 points, earning 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.
• Whiskey Dick's has a 1/2 price burger special on Wednesdays, with my burger on that occasion costing $7.50, and YUM! The Whiskey Dick's Classic Cheeseburger with a bacon add scored 57 points out of a possible 63, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.
• Burger Central has a good everyday low price.  Costing me $8.59 for the burger, side and a drink, the Burger Central Bacon Cheeseburger scored 58 points out of a possible 63, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. 
• Broadway Burgers & BBQ has a good everyday low price.  Costing me $10.19 for a very enjoyable lunch, the Broadway Burger & BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger scored 57 points out of a possible 63, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. 
• Sport Burger has a good everyday low price.  Costing me $10.63 for the combo meal, the Sport Burger #5, a Double Bacon Cheeseburger scored 57 points out of a possible 63, earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  This is one of the more reasonably priced burger joints in town, providing you a 1/2 pound of beef vs. the single patty (1/4lb.) a lot of competitors serve for about the same price. 

Just look at that meat protruding from the bun...

The best bang for the burger buck:

Costing me $11 plus hitting the tip jar, the Buster's Burger Joint Double Cheeseburger with a bacon add scored a 59 out of a possible 63 points earning it 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  Buster's is VERY Bachelor on the Cheap wallet friendly, the value is tremendous and if Buster's isn't already on your burger to try list, it should be! It's Another Dose of YUM!

$pend Wisely My Friends...

Enjoy this post?

If you appreciate the article you just read and want to support more great content on BachelorontheCheap.com, you can help keep this site going with a one-time or a monthly donation.  Thank you so much for your support! ~ Mike

follow me on twitter @Bacheloronthe1

follow me on Pinterest

follow me on Instagram

1821 E Madison Ave #100, Derby, KS 67037

By Mike Thayer

Regular readers know that I've been traveling around the Wichita Metro, sampling the burger offerings from just about any joint that has burgers on the menu.  It doesn't really matter who, I've sampled burgers from local joints, regional restaurants and the national chains.  To determine a true champion of burgers in the metro, a broad sampling has to be taken in order to measure the best.  I'm on a mission in the name of "burger science" (cough).  For the burger criteria, click here.

A lid off presentation.  The cheddar was a bit heavy to one side and the bacon applied using the dreaded "X" method.

For a Friday night burger dinner, I headed over to Madrocks Sports Bar & Grill in Derby.  Madrocks is an awesome sports bar, the bar itself is huge and there are TVs on every wall, every angle is covered, so it doesn't matter where you sit, you'll be able to view whatever sport show, game, event being shown.

Getting there about 5pm, the place was already hopping but there was no wait, I was seated immediately.  I ordered a cocktail to get things started and checked out the menu. Madrocks serves up 1/2 pound burgers, proudly made with local meats from Yoder Meats.  They also claim to make the best burgers in Derby.  A fried pickle appetizer was ordered, along with yes, you guessed it, a Bacon Cheeseburger.  For my side I went with Tater Tots.  They top their Bacon Cheeseburgers with cheddar, all their burgers come with lettuce, tomato and onion. 

I got lettuce in every bite, but not bacon which is SUCH an easy thing to provide making for a better burger experience.

Despite being busy (a steady stream of people were coming in), it didn't take long for the fried pickle appetizer to arrive and they were pretty tasty.  Nice and crispy, they were accompanied with a side of Ranch dressing to dip into which was nice, but not necessary. 

After polishing off most of the pickles, the burger arrived.  A nice presentation, it was served lid off, with the melted cheddar, bacon and some char marks in full view. I quickly assembled the burger and took that first bite...  NICE!  I immediately got the charbroiled notes and the patty was perfectly cooked with a thin line of pink running through it.  Juicy but slightly under seasoned, the 1/2 pound of beef was complimented by the robust cheddar and the hardwood smoked bacon.  Adding some freshness to balance things out was the leaf of lettuce, juicy ripe tomato and sharp red onion.  Wrapping it all up was a 'pillowy' soft, golden brown toasted bun.

Side Note:  The Tater Tots were good, delivered hot and seasoned well.  They passed the test of stand alone delicious without the need to dip in ketchup, but I did anyway.

The fried pickles were tasty

Costing me $11.82 with tax for the burger and side, the Madrocks Sports Bar & Grill Bacon Cheeseburger scored 57 points out of a possible 63, earning 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  I am a fan of charbroiled burgers, which sadly isn't as popular of a cooking method in restaurants as it once was, so it was nice to be able to enjoy it at Madrocks.  Very reasonably priced, this is definitely a burger worthy of a repeat buy.

Located at 1821 E Madison Ave #100, Derby, KS 67037, the service at Madrocks Sports Bar & Grill was friendly and attentive, despite how busy the place got.  By 5:30pm, there was a line at the door and a wait time for a table.  Reasonably priced drinks, great food, TVs everywhere... What's not to like?  It's no wonder Madrocks is so popular.