Mcdonalds Or Burger King

[wilko]

Not for long, they['re using it for fuel now.

[Chuckler]

I would hope a supplier of gourmet food items would have a better burger than McDonalds, however I have seen an awful lot of places that grind there own "high-quality" beef daily, use real cheese and make their own french fries who don't. Both Chiang Mai and Bangkok are full of them.

I haven't been to Bangkok for a while, but Tony Romas had pretty good 300 baht burger and The Big Mango had a pretty good, reasonably priced burger, but I've heard that they are out of business. Bully Pub had a pretty good one.

I will try JohnBBK's place next time I visit Bangkok, but I'm afraid that trying his burger won't be at the top of my list compared to other things that he has mentioned.

Big Mango is open again, new location and now a freelancer bar, and I'm not 100% sure if the kitchen is open yet, but they're on the comeback trail.

[Ulysses G.]

Put it this way...as a vegetarian you were slim and fit...now on your burgers you are not....

I was nice and slim on my vegetarian diet because I was young and I ran 3-7 miles a day as well as working out on weights at the YMCA. I also swam every day and rode a bike up and down the hills of San Francisco while working as a bicycle messenger.

My diet now is very similar to then except I eat a lot less food now because I can only exercise about one hour every day because of the pain of Arthritis, but now I eat about 20% meat, milk products and fish - which is not a lot - and a lot of whole grains and vegetables.

I have a burger about once every three to six months, because there are many things that I prefer, but they usually taste great when I do have one. I don't think they have anything at all to do with me being fat, because I hardly ever eat that kind of food and I don't crave it either.

Don't get me wrong, I don't always eat as healthfully as I am now, but on the other hand, I hardly ever eat fast food either.

Almost all of my friends are overweight and they eat at fast food places even less than I do. They mostly eat Thai food and at Chiang Mai's better foreign restaurants that serve home made type food that is not "ultra-processed". Some exercise regularly and some do not. I think that age, less exercise and a slower metabolism has a lot do with gaining weight at this time in life.

I don't know anyone at all who eats at fast food places more than once in a while, so I just don't buy this whole theory that they are trying to make us become addicted to their food.

[wilko]

Put it this way...as a vegetarian you were slim and fit...now on your burgers you are not....

I was nice and slim on my vegetarian diet because I was young and I ran 3-7 miles a day as well as working out on weights at the YMCA. I also swam every day and rode a bike up and down the hills of San Francisco while working as a bicycle messenger.

My diet now is very similar to then except I eat a lot less food now because I can only exercise about one hour every day because of the pain of Arthritis, but now I eat about 20% meat, milk products and fish - which is not a lot - and a lot of whole grains and vegetables.

I have a burger about once every three to six months, because there are many things that I prefer, but they usually taste great when I do have one. I don't think they have anything at all to do with me being fat, because I hardly ever eat that kind of food and I don't crave it either.

Don't get me wrong, I don't always eat as healthfully as I am now, but on the other hand, I hardly ever eat fast food either.

Almost all of my friends are overweight and they eat at fast food places even less than I do. They mostly eat Thai food and at Chiang Mai's better foreign restaurants that serve home made type food that is not "ultra-processed". Some exercise regularly and some do not. I think that age, less exercise and a slower metabolism has a lot do with gaining weight at this time in life.

I don't know anyone at all who eats at fast food places more than once in a while, so I just don't buy this whole theory that they are trying to make us become addicted to their food.

Firstly let me say that I would be highly suspicious of anyone who kept strictly to a "good food" diet....we all ghave our weaknesses....and this is what McDs and co are so good at exploiting to the point that we think it's food.

Now you've changed your goal posts...earlier you were arguing about possible nutrional value at McDs now you are advocating nothing more than an occasional "blast" what I think is so sad is that people actually LIKE the stuff....if you are going to "spoil" yourself do with something good...not cheap industrialised shit like McDs.

A cusory glimpse at their aggressive marketing will show that they are trying to get an "addicted" customer base.......I suppose you/'ve seen or read "Fast food Nartion" - not a great movie or a great expose but it covers some of the issues.

[Ulysses G.]

Put it this way...as a vegetarian you were slim and fit...now on your burgers you are not....

I was nice and slim on my vegetarian diet because I was young and I ran 3-7 miles a day as well as working out on weights at the YMCA. I also swam every day and rode a bike up and down the hills of San Francisco while working as a bicycle messenger.

My diet now is very similar to then except I eat a lot less food now because I can only exercise about one hour every day because of the pain of Arthritis, but now I eat about 20% meat, milk products and fish - which is not a lot - and a lot of whole grains and vegetables.

I have a burger about once every three to six months, because there are many things that I prefer, but they usually taste great when I do have one. I don't think they have anything at all to do with me being fat, because I hardly ever eat that kind of food and I don't crave it either.

Don't get me wrong, I don't always eat as healthfully as I am now, but on the other hand, I hardly ever eat fast food either.

Almost all of my friends are overweight and they eat at fast food places even less than I do. They mostly eat Thai food and at Chiang Mai's better foreign restaurants that serve home made type food that is not "ultra-processed". Some exercise regularly and some do not. I think that age, less exercise and a slower metabolism has a lot do with gaining weight at this time in life.

I don't know anyone at all who eats at fast food places more than once in a while, so I just don't buy this whole theory that they are trying to make us become addicted to their food.

Firstly let me say that I would be highly suspicious of anyone who kept strictly to a "good food" diet....we all ghave our weaknesses....and this is what McDs and co are so good at exploiting to the point that we think it's food.

Now you've changed your goal posts...earlier you were arguing about possible nutrional value at McDs now you are advocating nothing more than an occasional "blast" what I think is so sad is that people actually LIKE the stuff....if you are going to "spoil" yourself do with something good...not cheap industrialised shit like McDs.

A cusory glimpse at their aggressive marketing will show that they are trying to get an "addicted" customer base.......I suppose you/'ve seen or read "Fast food Nartion" - not a great movie or a great expose but it covers some of the issues.

Actually, you are wrong once again. I was not going on about "possible nutritional value at McDs". I was saying that it is not any worse than the particular Thai foods that someone held up as having much more nutritional value than McDonalds, and it isn't.

As to them wanting us to get "addicted" to their product, please tell me a restaurant that doesn't want you to love its food. That is what the food business is about.

Edited June 19, 2008 by Ulysses G.

[Boater]

I prefer Burger Kings new Wagyu Beef burger. The only problem is it is only available in Britain now. http://wcbstv.com/consumer/burger.king.200.2.751668.html

saw this story a while back, and the burger does look tempting!

but this article did make me chuckle

' Burger chef Mark Dowding said the formula is simple. '

So they call them Burger Chefs????....

[JohnBKKK]

saw this story a while back, and the burger does look tempting!

but this article did make me chuckle

' Burger chef Mark Dowding said the formula is simple. '

So they call them Burger Chefs????....

Burger Chef's .. must be in the US where everyone is a "vice president" of something and the Chap needed some sort of title .. and a certain chain calls their training camp "HAMBURGER UNIVERSITY".... waiting for a PHD in hamburgers ..

[imaneggspurt]

Easy answer, burger king better burger, mcdonalds better price ,.so theres your choice,.the truth is location, im lazy and will eat mcdonalds if im driving as mcd is always on the road, if they were next door to each other no contest ,burger king for sure,

[wilko]

"As to them wanting us to get "addicted" to their product, please tell me a restaurant that doesn't want you to love its food. That is what the food business is about"

are you seriously suggesting that "love" and "addiction" are the same thing???

[Ulysses G.]

Well, if you are seriously suggesting that one develops a physical addiction to McDonald's Hamburgers, you just might have a screw loose!

[wilko]

Well, if you are seriously suggesting that one develops a physical addiction to McDonald's Hamburgers, you just might have a screw loose!

I really think you aren't up to this are you?

Get genned up on addiction then come back.

I really get pissed off with myself for continuing these discussions with people who really don't know or understand diddly about the topic they are writing about or fail to understand some of the most basic English.

[Ulysses G.]

Sorry, you are much more clever than I am. That is the reason that you have lost every argument that we have had.

[JoeInSurin]

"As to them wanting us to get "addicted" to their product, please tell me a restaurant that doesn't want you to love its food. That is what the food business is about"

are you seriously suggesting that "love" and "addiction" are the same thing???

Are you trying to make us belive that 100% pure ground beef, bread, pickles and onion are addictive? You have got to be kidding me.

[Ulysses G.]

And that I'm supposed to be an idiot for suggesting otherwise!

[JohnBKKK]

"As to them wanting us to get "addicted" to their product, please tell me a restaurant that doesn't want you to love its food. That is what the food business is about"

are you seriously suggesting that "love" and "addiction" are the same thing???

Are you trying to make us belive that 100% pure ground beef, bread, pickles and onion are addictive? You have got to be kidding me.

May I utter my humble opinion on this matter and hopefully calm the waves a bit

I don't think anyone is talking about physical addiction here but rather a mental addiction - companies like the one mentioned here spend millions every year on research as to texture of their products and certain flavors that generate cravings which can not be called addictions really but will cause people to tend to go for particular food items rather more often than for others.

Texture is as important as flavor and they test different textures on thousands of people in laboratories - the flavor of such products is generally dominated by artificial flavors incorporated into the "cheese" and sauces and the combination of it all together - texture and flavor - is aimed at creating so called cravings. This does work with a large part of the population, thanks god not with all.

Ad to this billion dollar advertising budgets and the success is guaranteed. Someone affected driving along a highway feeling a bit peckish and may normally stop at the next rest-stop for a sandwich sees a large bill-board showing a "juicy" Hamburger. This will cause enzymes to be released into his system or to put it simply - brain to stomach .. we are hungry and we want that burger - causing him / her to, at times even go out of their way to get the desired product - that's called marketing success .. craving successfully generated

There is no problem with people occasionally eating one of their burgers if they wish for whatever reason to do so, but their marketing campaigns are so successful that a part of the population in the US and Europe basically live on the stuff and because they do not eat a balanced diet suffer physically

Some people are mentally more susceptible to suffer cravings than others.

Chocolate is another food item some people suffer cravings for and they call it addiction which in the case of chocolate it might actually be since certain chemicals in chocolate directly cause for endorphins to be released relaxing you or in some cases cause sexual arousal

Anyway, as far as the big Burger companies are concerned, the combination of multi-million dollar research paired with product development and multi billion dollar advertising budgets is pretty effective in creating cravings in part of the population - a marketing specialist once said "give me a big enough budget and I make shit fashionable"

Its all part of the big game of manipulation - using a clown to attract kids - a comic book drawing of a colonel for the same reason - a comic book tiger etc etc .. "to make sure we hook them early" ... fantastic looking women will be after you if you use a particular aftershave ... or casinos that release pure oxygen late at night to keep the gamblers awake so they keep on loosing their money ...

John

[Ratsima]

So, how come this thread wasn't a poll so we could actually find out which one of these firms has done the best job of manipulating us into craving their food-like products?

[JohnBKKK]

Considering the number of outlets, amount of visual stimulation through advertising etc.. the clown I think wins this one by a big margine

Manipulation by those giants is unavoidable .... who does not drink a brown, carbonated water with some artificial flavorings and and lots of sugar and pays for it about 10,000% above of what the actual product value is ?

One thing ... yes, of course a good restaurant wants its customers to get "addicted" to their food but this is done through quality of ingredients and the skill of the chef

John

[Ulysses G.]

I don't think anyone is talking about physical addiction here but rather a mental addiction - companies like the one mentioned here spend millions every year on research as to texture of their products and certain flavors that generate cravings which can not be called addictions really but will cause people to tend to go for particular food items rather more often than for others.

Texture is as important as flavor and they test different textures on thousands of people in laboratories - the flavor of such products is generally dominated by artificial flavors incorporated into the "cheese" and sauces and the combination of it all together - texture and flavor - is aimed at creating so called cravings. This does work with a large part of the population, thanks god not with all.

One thing ... yes, of course a good restaurant wants its customers to get "addicted" to their food but this is done through quality of ingredients and the skill of the chef

There are lots of restaurants and food companies that use real and artificial ingredients and textures to make their food more desirable - to make customers "crave" it. In fact, almost everyone does it on some level including fast food places and chi-chi restaurants with famous chefs.

Almost every ice cream maker uses vanillin instead of vanilla because of the less expensive price - including the very up market ones.

Many food sauces like Branson, A1 sauce or Maggi sauce, that most people use, contain artificial flavors and colors and unhealthy ingredients like msg, sugar and common table sauce because they make things taste better. Even vegetarian restaurants change the textures of foods to replicate meats to make customers "crave" them.

Yes, McDonalds and Burger King have a giant budget for advertising, and much of their food is unhealthy if you gorge yourself on it, but if their food tasted as terrible as all the food trendies claim, no one would want to eat it despite all the hoopla. People are just not that stupid.

I like a Whopper every once in a while - as it seems most people do - but I prefer a good steak or lobster - which are not all that healthy either - but I do "crave" them sometimes and I don't blame anyone but myself.

Edited June 23, 2008 by Ulysses G.

[JohnBKKK]

Yes, McDonalds and Burger King have a giant budget for advertising, and much of their food is unhealthy if you gorge yourself on it, but if their food tasted as terrible as all the food trendies claim, no one would want to eat it despite all the hoopla. People are just not that stupid.

I like a Whopper every once in a while - as it seems most people do - but I prefer a good steak or lobster - which are not all that healthy either - but I do "crave" them sometimes and I don't blame anyone but myself.

As I said above, its fine as long as one does not live of the stuff like a lot of people seem to do.

If you listen to the health nuts and only eat what they recommend you might as well buy yourself a bunch of flowers, pic your plot on a cemetary and wait for your turn .... instead enjoy your steak and lobster ans oysters and whatever else tickles your fancy because food is besides sex on the top of the list of lifes pleasures and the more you do of the second, the more you can enjoy of the first because its good excercise

[GaiYaang]

IMO I think Burger King taste better than McDonalds. Usually I see more people at McDonalds.

Elderly hang out in the morning, and the playhouse attract a lot of kids.

I usually end up at McDonalds to get coffee or rent a DVD for $ 1, not so much interested in their food.

[wilko]

Sorry, you are much more clever than I am. That is the reason that you have lost every argument that we have had.

QED! - I rest my case

[bonobo]

There is an awful lot of food elitism in this forum, and I certainly can be considered a food elitist in many ways. I am a BBQ snob (no, Tony Romas does not serve BBQ), and I am a hamburger snob (I ahve not had one good hamburger anywhere in Thailand.)

But I don't understand the McDonalds bashing. From waht I read in the posts, McDonalds should go out of business because no one admits to going there. McDonalds gets blown up in France, but it is French people going to eat there who keep it in business.

No, I don't consider a Big Mac a real hamburger, but I have eaten them and enjoyed what they are. I even stopped at McDonalds Sunday night at 10:30 to get a Filet of Fish as I hadn't eaten yet, was hungry, and they were there at the side of the hghway open and available. And yes, I enjoyed it.

Is McDonalds super healthy? No, but a Big Mac meal is healthier than some other foods such as Kung Pa Chicken or Past Alfredo.

It is one thing to like good food (or wine). But most elitists simply put down what others like seemingly as a means to show how "superior" they are.

To the original question of McDonalds versus Burger King, I have eaten at Burger King in Thailand only once (at Khoh San). I don't think it is that much worse the McDonalds, but I think their prices are way too high. I can pay 90 baht for a McDonalds' Filet of Fish meal, but I balk at Burger King's prices (285 baht for a Whopper meal at the airport.)

[wintermute]

Burger King definitely has better burgers than McD's but McD's has very good fried chicken. I don't know why Thais like KFC, their chicken tastes like someone decided to pour a whole bag of salt into the factory batter before dipping just one drumstick. KFC is disgusting but the spicy chicken burger there is good. Also, the few times i've actually gotten the $hits real badly in Thailand it was from KFC.

[samtam]

I think they're both equally horrible, but it doesn't stop me occasionally going into BK after a night on the p--s to assuage the munchies. I only wish the manager of their Silom Road branch would fix the lavatorial facilities. They are usually overflowing with unmentionables, and would cause the closing down of premises for health and safety reasons in many countries; it makes you wonder what their kitchens are like. Strangely the owning company, Minor Group doesn't appear aware of this, or if they do, they don't much care. Anyway, in sober moments I try and forget that I ever went there.

[NanaFoods]

In Thailand, especially Chiangmai, you gotta try a Mike's burger.... I like their mushroom-cheese burger.

Good quality beef, and they make their own chilli for their chilli burger.

[wintermute]

In Thailand, especially Chiangmai, you gotta try a Mike's burger.... I like their mushroom-cheese burger.

Good quality beef, and they make their own chilli for their chilli burger.

Yes, Mike's is great. It used to be better back in 2005 or so when it was just starting to become really well known. I remember they had a one eyed employee working there and she was a doll. Would always chat the customers up and would do a great job with the burgers.

[ihunnieibee]

They both arent very good..but I'll have to admit that I still eat them sometimes..

What I dont understand is why people keep calling in "MacDonalds" or spelling it "MacDonalds" there is no "a" it's McDonalds (pronounced Mick-Donalds)

Sorry, I'm not sure why this bothers me...

[Ulysses G.]

There is an awful lot of food elitism in this forum, and I certainly can be considered a food elitist in many ways. I am a BBQ snob (no, Tony Romas does not serve BBQ), and I am a hamburger snob (I ahve not had one good hamburger anywhere in Thailand.)

But I don't understand the McDonalds bashing. From waht I read in the posts, McDonalds should go out of business because no one admits to going there. McDonalds gets blown up in France, but it is French people going to eat there who keep it in business.

No, I don't consider a Big Mac a real hamburger, but I have eaten them and enjoyed what they are. I even stopped at McDonalds Sunday night at 10:30 to get a Filet of Fish as I hadn't eaten yet, was hungry, and they were there at the side of the hghway open and available. And yes, I enjoyed it.

Is McDonalds super healthy? No, but a Big Mac meal is healthier than some other foods such as Kung Pa Chicken or Past Alfredo.

It is one thing to like good food (or wine). But most elitists simply put down what others like seemingly as a means to show how "superior" they are.

To the original question of McDonalds versus Burger King, I have eaten at Burger King in Thailand only once (at Khoh San). I don't think it is that much worse the McDonalds, but I think their prices are way too high. I can pay 90 baht for a McDonalds' Filet of Fish meal, but I balk at Burger King's prices (285 baht for a Whopper meal at the airport.)

Great post!

[BigSnake]

Burger King!! Where is the BEEF?? Not really which ever is near my area, bring one here please.

[ironhut]

Anyone who has ever seen the Burger King KING commercial where he intercepts a pass for a touchdown and does a Deion Sanders style endzone dance HAS to be side for Burger King over McDonalds irrespective of burgers.

Those BK KING commercials are just too classic to ignore.