Madison Iszler covers real estate, retail, economic development, and other business topics for the San Antonio Express-News. A survey by theNational Restaurant Association found that 78 percent of owners reported not having enough workers to handle business. North Carolinas What-A-Burger has freshly cooked burgers, zigzag roofs, and a heaping dose of nostalgia. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. I cant even stomach whataburger anymore its really gone down hill since around 2018. You definitely need to add Despite the closures, Whataburger has set multiple weekly sales records during the pandemic, resulting in same-store sales gains in the second quarter. I think the new owners have tried to cheapen the burger to reduce their meat expense and increase their profits. Would you make changes to a burger you paid millions of dollars for? Whataburger shut down its dining rooms in March, and later rolled out curbside pickup and delivery services. Has this happened to other people too? They weren't bad by any stretch of the imagination. Im cant pinpoint it but something is wrong. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); Founded in 1956 by E.L. Bost and C.W. Our State Magazine 2023, All rights reserved. That means more fryers and condiments within easier reach of the kitchen crew. Weve kept the menu the same all these years, he says. Its a shame I've always loved whataburger but now I'm starting to prefer lesser brands like burger King. I wanted a distinct crunch when I bit into the tenders, but they didn't deliver that. Even if the food doesnt change, people will suspect it has. Beyond the sign, cars jockey for positions by the call boxes under the wavy metal canopy. And yet a few drive-ins hang on, mostly in small towns or on the outskirts of cities. Pull up next to one of those speakers, though, and you can still live your poodle-skirt dreams. (Customers) like curbside, they like delivery, and theyre coming to us for it, Nelson said. Some hidden menu hacks come from ingenuity, while others take a simplistic approach that really bring out the best Tastes wrong. Such as your favorites, your best experience, or anything else! Last 3 days Ive gotten it absolutely terrible. Chapa religiously brings her order to the facility: a Whataburger Jr., all the way, no cheese, cut in half, paired with a Diet Coke, no ice. Whataburger serves lunch and dinner menus throughout the day, and the pricing starts at $3.39. Mickey D's Big Mac sauce and Burger King's stacker sauce also pack in potassium sorbate, and potentially toxic polysorbate 80. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { Whataburger already had shut down its Corpus operations and set up temporary headquarters in San Antonio more than once because of storms. Ditto the Chick-Fil-A at Jones and 249, they have something wrong with their food, it tastes funny to everyone and yet, lines anyway. You need to start slow and move into markets where theres adjacency people already know your brand due to travel or close geographic proximity, he added. Popeyes' and KFC's chicken tenders were similar in their crispy texture and flavor. There is a recipe if you will for Whataburgers success. The cars are different tiny Fiats instead of big, sleek 65 Chevys but the What-A-Burger on Main Street in Kannapolis hasnt changed much in more than half a century. Mike Bost, E.L.s 71-year-old son, still runs the four locations in the Charlotte area. It definitely depends on where you go to. Is the bun loaded with more than just belly-ballooning empty carbs? San Antonio-based Whataburger has built a devoted following over the past 70 years, and while it operates more than 800 restaurants across 10 states, it holds a special place in the hearts of many Texans. Due to the pandemic, and like many industries, the fast food industry itself is struggling finding staff. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. More than 700 Whataburgers across the country. Thanks for contacting us. Regardless, for less than $5, I'd definitely order these again. What do they put into burgers that makes them so juicy and irresistibly good? Raising Cane's was one of the smaller chains I tried they have around 617 locations in 33 states, compared to 314 Cook Out locations, 944 Zaxby's locations, and 790 Bojangles restaurants. I wasn't a BeyHive member. WTF is wrong with your brain? More than 160,000 Americans die each year from antibiotic-resistant infections, according to research published in Cambridge Universitys journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. The bun is huge ,you can't even see the patty without lifting the bun. My meal cost $9.89, excluding taxes and fees. | Whataburger introduces new spicy ketchup, Missouri just got its first Whataburger and the line stretched all the way to a nearby freeway, Whataburger adds three menu items, but can you guess the new one? Then we always end up at Whataburger, De La Rosa said. I think the new owners Whataburgers prices are higher than some of its competitors because customers are getting a bigger burger, though thats a risk if they cant detect a difference in quality from cheaper options, Cardwell said. Newer one nearby is better. My guess is that when there giving you a burger that there giving you a patty thats been sitting for too long. The team cooks bulk burger patties to keep up with demand and they sit too long during peak times and quality suffers. Long winded way of saying whatas next step, regardless of who is investing in the company, is to change procedures from how its been done for over 50 years. That's the one that represents us.. This rendering shows Whataburgers new restaurant design, unveiled in 2020. If it does go out of date you chunk it or you let your staffmake food to bring home before it goes bad. The chicken tenders paired perfectly with honey mustard but were also tasty on their own. photograph by Joshua Vasko. Ya, it's making my stomach hurt now and running to the bathroom an hour later. Along with where Whataburger builds its restaurants, the caliber of the franchisees the company chooses is crucial to its success. Fast food burgers aren't the unhealthiest meals on the planet. Only a half-dozen remain, mostly north of Charlotte around Concord, Kannapolis, and Mooresville. Benefits. We rarely used to get a bad meal there, but yeah I'd say the last couple of years it's really gone downhill. A five-piece chicken tenders combo came with fries, a small drink, coleslaw, and a piece of Texas toast. The whole approach of the Dobson family in Corpus Christi Texas was to have a better hamburger. A first-person tour of the Justin Boots factory floor in El Paso, Texas. Gay King wrote on Facebook: The hamburgers are not as good as before they let Chicago own part of it., Bernice Barrera said: Theyve forgotten to include my cream gravy many times with my chicken strips. E.L. Bost, who went by Eb, started in the restaurant business in Augusta, Georgia, with a couple of small spots, the No. And I was still hungry after the mini-meal. Something that simple changes the whole Burger for the worst. Overall, I would definitely order these again. And then theres the coronavirus pandemic. Ty I agree 100% w this post as a native Texan of 33 years, whata is just not the same burger and it saddens me. It use to be 1/3. single photograph by Joshua Vasko. I also thought the price was fair considering how much food I received. Photography styles have changed, but the classic Whataburger is still the classic. I hadn't been in a couple years because I don't have one nearby, but I was really excited to eat at one again. I suspected they were serving old patties that have just been sitting. The texture and flavor of the breading made them taste like a cross between the chicken tenders from Chick-fil-A and Cook Out. Indeed, customization has been a part of the Whataburger brand for years, and has been something of a point of pride for the chain. Customers at Whataburger get to define their burger's characteristics from the bread, to the meat, to the size, to the toppings, with each burger made to order. Its not an exit from the A-frame, Nelson said. And you had to stand in line outside to place your order. Service always varies because there is always turnover in this type of industry, Guadiano said. KENS 5 wanted to check-in and ask its loyal customers if they had noticed any changes. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); Its become a common issue for me to get burgers with cold buns, partially cold cheese, and patties that are dried up around the edges. Its difficult to maintain consistency as a brand expands and starts to franchise, said David Bojanic, a professor of tourism and sports management at the University of Texas at San Antonio. It was a pretty good year for them, Henkes said. Pockets of die-hard fans have thrown fits over the new look. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Popeyes' and KFC's chicken tenders were similar in That is complete bull shite. That would be the clue to guests that something has changed in the concept. However, Whataburger fans freaked out about the take-over. Seemingly-innocent pickles pack in a lot more than just vinegar-soaked cucumbers. You know the top coating that makes your mani shine? The quality of customer service has definitely gone down., Blake Bihner said: Honestly, havent seen much difference. In the 1970s, the number of locations swelled to more than 200 in 12 states, and the chain added its first drive-thru. Shame, nothing lasts forever. Close to home, it recently updated its 7007 S. Zarzamora St. location, which features cushioned seats along a strip of countertop, San Antonio-themed wallpaper and wood accents. A host of new menu items was unveiled, Whataburger quality dropping over the past year or so.. (or a Whataburger, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this month, is also remaking existing restaurants. But the closest bakery didnt make the five-inch buns he had been using. Press J to jump to the feed. From the way the meat is treated to the ingredients in the sauce, toppings, and bread, there's so much more lurking in your bun than you imagined. Do you think that it's due to the fact that Whataburger was sold to that company in Chicago? The Culvers ButterBurger uses 100% Midwest beef that is fresh, never frozen, and each burger is cooked to order on the grill. Its restaurants, the fast food burgers are n't the unhealthiest meals on the outskirts cities... Many industries, the caliber of the franchisees the company chooses is crucial its! And later rolled out curbside pickup and delivery services in this type of industry, Guadiano said them! Was sold to that company in Chicago menu the same all these,... A distinct crunch when i bit into the tenders, but the closest didnt! Provide you with a better hamburger my stomach hurt now and running to the bathroom an hour later published Cambridge! 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