Burger King dropped a new “Star Wars”-themed lineup on May 4, and at least one item deserves a permanent spot on the menu.
Burger King has a long track record of themed collaborations, from “SpongeBob SquarePants” to “How to Train Your Dragon.” Its latest is a limited-time menu tied to “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” (in theaters May 22), featuring a reimagined Whopper, two new sides, a dipping sauce, and a milkshake.
When I was invited to Burger King’s Miami headquarters to get an early taste of its new “Star Wars”-themed menu before the official launch, I was curious whether the food could stand on its own, or if the experience was mostly about the themed packaging and hype.
I tried everything in the new Bounty Bundle, and was pleasantly surprised that the menu delivers more than just eye-catching packaging — it actually brings bold, satisfying flavors that hold their own.
Here’s every “Mandalorian”-themed menu item ranked from worst to best.
Burger King launched a new menu inspired by “The Mandalorian and Grogu” on May 4.
The limited-time menu features a new version of the Whopper, new chicken fries, cheddar ranch tots, a new garlic dipping sauce, and a new cookie-flavored milkshake.
It was released at participating restaurants across the US on May 4, which is also recognized as Star Wars Day (thanks to the pun “May the Fourth be with you,” a play on “May the Force be with you”).
The Bounty Bundle, which includes all five items and a collector’s cup, retails for $19.99 at my local Burger King in Brooklyn, New York, though prices vary by location.
Grogu’s Blue Cookie Shake was my least favorite of the new menu items.
Made from soft serve blended with blue sugar cookie syrup and topped with crumbled blue cookies, the shake was an immediate sugar bomb for the senses.
It tasted like a classic sugar cookie, and I liked the textural contrast between the creamy ice cream and the crumbled cookies layered on top of the shake.
Grogu’s Blue Cookie Shake costs $4.99, excluding tax, at my local Burger King when not included in the bundle.
I simply don’t have much of a sweet tooth, so I preferred the more savory items on this menu.
However, if you’re craving a sweet treat with a hint of nostalgia, this shake might do the trick.
Next in my ranking were the new garlic chicken fries.
While chicken fries have been a mainstay on the Burger King menu since 2015, this version features a new seasoning made with Parmesan cheese and garlic, served in a Grogu-themed carton and with a new garlic-flavored dipping sauce.
Grogu’s Garlic Chicken Fries cost $4.99, excluding tax, at my local Burger King when not included in the bundle.
The chicken fries were crispy and flavorful, but didn’t taste that different from regular chicken fries.
The chicken fries were crispy on the outside and juicy inside, with a solid, well-seasoned flavor. That said, they didn’t stand out much from Burger King’s regular chicken fries — the garlic and Parmesan seasoning added a slight boost, but not enough to make them feel entirely new.
The flavor really kicked up a notch with my next-favorite item: the new garlic dipping sauce.
It was rich, creamy, and packed with a bold garlic punch that added way more depth than I expected, elevating the chicken fries and making each bite feel more indulgent and memorable.
The dipping sauce comes with every order of Grogu’s Garlic Chicken Fries.
I liked this new dipping sauce so much that I found myself wishing it were a permanent menu item.
It added a bold, garlicky richness that worked with everything I tried, from the chicken fries to the new tots, and it felt like the kind of upgrade that could easily stand on its own beyond the limited-time theme.
That was something I noticed across the board with this menu: While the “Star Wars” theme might come off as a bit gimmicky at first, each item actually felt thoughtfully upgraded. The flavors stood on their own, making the menu enjoyable whether you’re a die-hard fan or couldn’t care less about the franchise.
Up next were the Imperial Cheddar Ranch Tots.
These perfectly fried balls of fried cheddar cheese and potatoes were tossed in ranch seasoning and served in a themed carton.
They cost $2.99 when not included in the bundle.
These tots were packed with flavor and unlike anything I’ve ever had at Burger King.
Slightly similar to the cheesy bacon tots included in the chain’s “SpongeBob SquarePants” meal collaboration in December, these tots were crispy on the outside yet soft and cheesy on the inside.
I would definitely order these again as part of the meal, or as a snack — and for less than $3, I thought they were a great value.
The most exciting — and my personal favorite — item on the menu was a new version of the classic Whopper.
The new Whopper came served in a new, “Star Wars” branded clamshell box, a pleasantly surprising addition to the menu since Burger King updated its signature burger in February.
The BBQ Bounty Whopper costs $8.59, excluding tax, at my local Burger King.
The BBQ Bounty Whopper came topped with Swiss cheese, crispy pickle chips, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and a creamy barbecue sauce.
The new barbecue burger was hefty, and I was excited to see how the flavors would come together.
The item seemed on trend, too: Barbecue sauce is having a moment in fast food, as chains lean into bold, yet nostalgic, flavors to make menu items feel new and craveable while still approachable.
Popeyes also just launched two new Honey BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, and Shake Shack recently released its Smoky BBQ menu for summer, featuring a new BBQ Boneless Baby Back Rib Sandwich and the Smoky Classic BBQ Burger.
“People are looking for nostalgia and comfort and familiarity,” Burger King’s vice president of culinary, Amy Alarcon, told Business Insider. “I think there are those retro flavors and retro trends that we’re capturing really well right now.”
The new Whopper was truly out of this world.
The flame-grilled patty brought that signature smoky flavor that always makes a Whopper stand out, while the fresh lettuce, tomato, and onions added a crisp, refreshing balance.
The crispy pickle chips added dynamic flavor and texture, while the barbecue sauce added just the right amount of creamy, yet tangy, barbecue flavor.
Altogether, it felt like a meaningful upgrade to an already solid classic — one that I’d genuinely want to see stick around on the menu long after the “Star Wars” promotion has gone.
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