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Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

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Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

Go Bacon or Go Home

Wendy’s has a whole lot of burgers on their menu, but if you’ve looked at it for more than one second, you’ll see that they all only differ by a few ingredients each. So you might ask yourself: Which of these burgers are worth ordering?


I decided to tackle the spread as best I could by ordering six of Wendy’s most popular burgers and ranked them based on taste. Curious how they all stacked up? Here are six of the best Wendy’s burgers, ranked.


Prices and availability are subject to change.


Related: $3 Breakfast Biggie Bundles and More Delicious Wendy's Deals This Month

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

Best: Bacon Double Stack

Price:$3.49


It had been a very long time since I’d eaten a burger at Wendy’s, so I really didn’t know what to expect. I know about the square patties, obviously, but other than that, I was flying blind.


I’m not sure if I just happened to have a very competent person working the flat top at my local Wendy’s, but this came out incredibly well. Upon close inspection, the Bacon Double Stack is a perfect smash burger; crispy edges, solid caramelization, and decent seasoning.


Wendy’s bacon is arguably the best thing they’ve got. It’s always crispy and has an undeniably smoky flavor. Top to bottom, this burger slams. I don’t ever remember caring about Wendy’s, but I can see myself pulling over to grab myself a fresh, hot Double Stack in the future. Way to convert me.

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

2. Jr. Cheeseburger

Price: $1.79


This reminds me a lot of the classic McDonald's cheeseburger, which is incredibly near and dear to my heart. It's a little bit bigger and the bun isn't as good, but it's close. 


Less is almost always more at a fast-food joint, and with only ketchup, mustard, pickle, and onion, this is the type of simplicity Wendy’s would do well to embrace. There’s a reason this got second place and the Loaded Nacho Cheeseburger landed where it did.


Related: Free Burgers, Free Pizza, and More Bonkers Fast-Food Deals Near You

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

3. Dave's Single

Price: $5.39


This patty is a little bit thicker than I typically want from a fast-food burger, but this is all pretty respectable and loaded with the traditional toppings: lettuce, tomato, pickle, ketchup, mayo, and onion.


It's not something I'd head over to Wendy's to grab, but if I was in a car full of people that all wanted stop at Wendy's, this might be something I go for. What can I say? The square patty kinda charms me.


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Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

4. Pretzel Baconator

Price: $8.59


Generally, the burgers I like are almost the exact opposite of this one in every way. I don’t care much for pretzel buns, would never want a double with patties this size, prefer mustard to mayo, and almost always require some sort of acid.


The Pretzel Baconator, a meaty mess of bacon, cheese, mayo, and ketchup checks none of my boxes, and yet… I like it? I actually do. This reminds of a burger you might get at a restaurant like Chili’s. The greasy, carnivorous chaos just works. I found myself going back for at least two or three more bites than I expected to take. I don’t know how they pulled it off. 


That said, I could never finish an entire sandwich. Sounds exhausting.


Related: We Tasted All 9 Wendy's Breakfast Sandwiches and This Is the Best


Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

5. Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe

Price: $2.29


Though I preferred the smaller burgers in general, you won’t catch me ordering this one again. I usually love lettuce and tomato and the rest of those fixins on my burger, but when we’re dealing with the low-grade produce that Wendy’s has stocked, it’s best to just leave that stuff where it is. Real tomatoes are great. These aren’t.


Related: The 8 Items on Wendy's Value Menu, Ranked

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

6. Loaded Nacho Cheeseburger

Price: $6.29


Wendy, are you OK? Is this a cry for help? This is the most unhinged thing I’ve seen on a fast-food menu in quite some time, and that includes those loons over at Taco Bell. The Loaded Nacho Cheeseburger is a monster of a thing, topped with corn tortilla strips, spicy chipotle sauce, poblano queso sauce, lettuce, and tomato on a jalapeño-cheddar bun. 


This is like something Bobby Flay would make if he was drunk. It’s so saucy and aggressive. I’m not sure queso is something I’m ever going to want on a burger, but my honest question is: Does anybody? Who in the world wants this? I don’t even think I’d be into this if I was a teenager. Just go next door and get a burrito, y’all.


Related: 10 of the Most Over-the-Top Fast-Food Burgers From Around the World