Bachelor on the Cheap

By Mike Thayer

I recently wrote about what to look forward to in 2019 from fast food.  Trending, are smokehouse/steakhouse style burgers and sandwiches and the meat of the year is predicted to be brisket.

Consumers are clamoring for something more, creations beyond the ordinary realm of classic burger and sandwich flavors.  People want smokey, they desire more than just ketchup and mustard, folks are calling for cheeses with deeper flavors and buns with a little more tease than run-of-the-mill sesame seeds.  And it's no different when it comes to other meat on bread options, a.k.a., pizza, consumers are looking for more, something beyond the traditional flavors.

Here's my list of fast food/fast casual joints and their version of smokehouse style offerings to try.   Restaurants in bold have already been sampled, click the restaurant name for the full review.  Stay tuned, the rankings will be out soon.

A&W:  No offerings of smokehouse flavors.  The closest they get is with a classic bacon cheeseburger.  They need to get in the game!

Arbys:  Smokehouse Brisket Sandwich

Burger King:  Rodeo King

Chick-fil-A:  Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich

Dairy Queen:  KC BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger

Domino's:  Memphis BBQ Chicken

Freddy's:  A-1 Chophouse burger

Firehouse Subs: Smokehouse Beef and Cheddar Brisket.  Sounds mouthwatering, doesn't it?

Five Guys:  They have nothing specifically smokehouse on the menu, you can order BBQ sauce or A-1.

Hardees:  The Memphis BBQ Thickburger

KFC:  Smoky Mountain BBQ

Little Caesar's:  Smokehouse pizza

McAlisters:  The Memphian, but does it count as a Smokehouse style offering?

McDonald's:  Bacon Smokehouse Burger

Schlotzsky's:   Brisket flatbread

Sonic:  Steakhouse Bacon Cheeseburger

Papa Johns:  BBQ meats pizza

Pizza Hut:  BBQ Meatlovers

Wendy's: Their new Barbecue Cheeseburger

$pend Wisely My Friends.....