We compared McDonald's new Cheesy Bacon Fries to Wendy's Baconator Fries - and the winner is painfully clear

Advertisement
We compared McDonald's new Cheesy Bacon Fries to Wendy's Baconator Fries - and the winner is painfully clear

wendy's mcdonald's bacon cheesey fries 17

Dana Varinsky/Business Insider

When it comes to bacon-topped cheese fries, Wendy's reigns victorious.

Advertisement
  • Amid a long-running feud between McDonald's and Wendy's, the former just released its own take on bacon cheese fries.
  • Dubbed Cheesy Bacon Fries, the limited-time snack offer includes McDonald's signature French fries topped with cheese and smoked bacon bits.
  • The Wendy's equivalent, the Baconator Fries, has been around since 2015. Similarly, the dish includes fries topped with cheddar cheese and Applewood smoked bacon.
  • We compared the two, and while the Wendy's dish was tasty, McDonald's new Cheesy Bacon Fries snack was a gross, mucky mess of gobbed cheese.

Exclusive FREE Slide Deck: Future of Retail:AI by Business Insider Intelligence

{{}}

We visited a Wendy's in Daly City, California, first.

We visited a Wendy's in Daly City, California, first.

We asked for a regular-sized order of bacon cheese fries or, as the snack is officially known, the Baconator Fries. It cost $3.25.

We asked for a regular-sized order of bacon cheese fries or, as the snack is officially known, the Baconator Fries. It cost $3.25.
Advertisement

Our Baconator Fries were ready in no time at all.

Our Baconator Fries were ready in no time at all.

They came in a plastic to-go container. Even through the lid they looked appetizing.

They came in a plastic to-go container. Even through the lid they looked appetizing.
Advertisement

We surveyed the cheesy warm goodness before making the trek back toward the office for a more thorough taste test.

We surveyed the cheesy warm goodness before making the trek back toward the office for a more thorough taste test.

But first, McDonald's!

But first, McDonald's!
Advertisement

McDonald's rolled out its Cheesy Bacon Fries to locations in Hawaii and Northern California in November 2018.

McDonald's rolled out its Cheesy Bacon Fries to locations in Hawaii and Northern California in November 2018.

Source: Business Insider

But now the snack is going national, with locations across the US offering the loaded fries since late January.

But now the snack is going national, with locations across the US offering the loaded fries since late January.

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement

The chain is also giving its menu a bacon makeover, adding the ingredient onto classic McDonald's burgers.

The chain is also giving its menu a bacon makeover, adding the ingredient onto classic McDonald's burgers.

Source: Business Insider

We ordered a regular-sized Cheesy Bacon Fries for $4.66.

We ordered a regular-sized Cheesy Bacon Fries for $4.66.
Advertisement

We had high hopes when we saw the pristine packaging. This was going to be good ...

We had high hopes when we saw the pristine packaging. This was going to be good ...

... or not.

... or not.
Advertisement

The container consisted of a good portion of McDonald's fries, but with a gross, Velveeta-looking dollop of cheese slathered on top and sprinkled with microscopic bacon bits.

The container consisted of a good portion of McDonald's fries, but with a gross, Velveeta-looking dollop of cheese slathered on top and sprinkled with microscopic bacon bits.

To say we were not impressed would be an understatement.

To say we were not impressed would be an understatement.
Advertisement

We took a bite before taking our orders back to the office — and as expected, it did not taste great.

We took a bite before taking our orders back to the office — and as expected, it did not taste great.

Eventually, we sat down with both chains' takes on the bacon cheese fries.

Eventually, we sat down with both chains' takes on the bacon cheese fries.
Advertisement

The idea of the new McDonald's menu item is to attract customers to purchase it as a snack rather than as a side for a meal.

The idea of the new McDonald's menu item is to attract customers to purchase it as a snack rather than as a side for a meal.

Source: Business Insider

But the McDonald's Cheesy Bacon Fries as either a side or a snack doesn't seem to appealing.

But the McDonald's Cheesy Bacon Fries as either a side or a snack doesn't seem to appealing.
Advertisement

We gave them as much of a chance as we could, but the lackluster cheese and the less-than-desirable amount of bacon made the order difficult to endure.

We gave them as much of a chance as we could, but the lackluster cheese and the less-than-desirable amount of bacon made the order difficult to endure.

We ended up fishing out the uncontaminated fries from underneath the cheesy muck. Those were yummy at least.

We ended up fishing out the uncontaminated fries from underneath the cheesy muck. Those were yummy at least.
Advertisement

And perhaps it was a fluke, but the gobs of cheese that decorated the inside of the container also didn't help.

And perhaps it was a fluke, but the gobs of cheese that decorated the inside of the container also didn't help.

But Wendy's Baconator Fries were a different story.

But Wendy's Baconator Fries were a different story.
Advertisement

The cheese was perfectly melted, and actually resembled real cheese, ...

The cheese was perfectly melted, and actually resembled real cheese, ...

... and the bacon pieces were thick and nicely bite-sized.

... and the bacon pieces were thick and nicely bite-sized.
Advertisement

The toppings were also spread evenly across a nice layer of thick French fries.

The toppings were also spread evenly across a nice layer of thick French fries.

The amounts of cheese, bacon, and fries were perfectly proportional.

The amounts of cheese, bacon, and fries were perfectly proportional.
Advertisement

It didn't feel like eating something from a fast-food joint.

It didn't feel like eating something from a fast-food joint.

We alternated between picking the fries apart with our fingers and eating them with a fork — both methods worked.

We alternated between picking the fries apart with our fingers and eating them with a fork — both methods worked.
Advertisement

And needless to say, the Wendy's Baconator Fries didn't last long.

And needless to say, the Wendy's Baconator Fries didn't last long.

We couldn't get enough of them, while McDonald's cheese fries could really use some work.

We couldn't get enough of them, while McDonald's cheese fries could really use some work.
Advertisement

And so besides the packaging (McDonald's red-and-yellow Cheesy Bacon Fries-branded carton was a nice touch), Wendy's take on bacon-topped cheese fries wins hands-down.

And so besides the packaging (McDonald's red-and-yellow Cheesy Bacon Fries-branded carton was a nice touch), Wendy's take on bacon-topped cheese fries wins hands-down.

This is one battle that Wendy's wins in a long-running war between the two chains.

This is one battle that Wendy's wins in a long-running war between the two chains.

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement
Next StoryWhy Amazon canceled HQ2 in New York City and what it means for everyone involved