It’s National Cheeseburger Day, and I’ve been around the burger block.
Of all the fast-food burgers I’ve tried, Burger King’s cheesy, flame-grilled burgers consistently rank among my favorites.
Burger King has sold cheeseburgers since its inception in the 1950s, according to an original menu reported by Delish, but exactly how the chain makes them has changed considerably.
The chain started with simple broiled cheeseburgers, but now the Burger King menu includes cheeseburger melts, several variations on its classic Whopper, chicken sandwiches, nuggets, fries, and more.
To determine which Burger King burger reigns supreme, I compared five different cheeseburgers from the chain. I tried the classic — yet recently updated — Whopper with cheese, the Triple Whopper with cheese, a plain cheeseburger, a double cheeseburger, and the Bacon King.
Here’s how the burgers ranked, from my least favorite to my favorite.
My least favorite cheeseburger was the classic plain cheeseburger.
The cheeseburger from Burger King cost me $3.49, excluding tax.
It came with American cheese, pickles, ketchup, and mustard on a sesame-seed bun.
The burger was extremely simple, but I was impressed by the generous toppings. There was a hearty amount of condiments on the burger, and the cheese was thick and perfectly melted.
The sesame-seed bun also added a lot of flavor, but this burger was just a little simple compared to the other burgers I tried.
The burger had a grilled, smoky flavor that worked well with the ketchup and mustard.
Not only was this burger flavorful, but it was also the best value at $2.79. It was the cheapest option among the cheeseburgers I tried.
I enjoyed this burger, but it could have been improved with an extra patty or more creative ingredients.
But at the end of the day, it was a basic fast-food cheeseburger.
Next up was the chain’s double cheeseburger, a step up from the basic cheeseburger.
It cost $4.89, excluding tax and fees.
The double cheeseburger came with two of the chain’s beef patties, American cheese, pickles, mustard, and ketchup on a sesame-seed bun.
Like the regular cheeseburger, there was a hearty serving of ketchup and mustard.
The pickle slices were thick and crunchy, and I enjoyed the bun’s flavor.
This burger was certainly a step up from the regular cheeseburger. It packed the same grilled flavor and low price, but the extra patty made it even more flavorful and filling.
The Triple Whopper with cheese landed squarely in the middle of my ranking.
The burger cost me $11.98, excluding tax, making it the most expensive burger I tried.
It comes with a trio of quarter-pound beef patties, one slice of cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, mayonnaise, and ketchup.
The burger patties had a deliciously smoky and savory flavor that gave the sandwich a freshly grilled taste. The lettuce and tomato slices tasted extremely fresh, and I liked the addition of mayonnaise.
However, I thought this burger could have been improved with another slice of cheese between the layers of beef. The cheese’s flavor was lost amid all the meat and other toppings.
I thoroughly enjoyed this burger and would order it again … if I have the appetite for it.
This burger was extremely filling, and I would struggle to eat it all, in addition to fries. However, if you have a big appetite or simply love Burger King’s beef, this might be the burger for you.
The burger was also significantly more expensive than the smaller cheeseburgers. However, I don’t think the higher-priced additions were worth it — the two extra patties were a hindrance, rather than an asset, to the burger.
My second favorite burger was the Bacon King.
It cost $11.19, excluding tax and fees, making it the second-most expensive burger I tried.
The Bacon King comes with two quarter-pound beef patties, bacon, two slices of cheese, ketchup, and mayonnaise on a sesame-seed bun.
The burger was swimming in mayonnaise and ketchup, but, as a mayo fan, I didn’t mind.
It was the most decadent, filling burger I tried.
The slices of cheese were evenly layered over the burger patties, which had a distinct smoky taste.
The crispy bacon added even more smoky flavor, and the cheese and condiments added moisture, which I felt the Triple Whopper lacked.
My favorite Burger King burger — and one of my favorite fast-food burgers, period — is the Whopper with cheese.
Burger King’s signature burger has been around since 1957, just four years after the chain opened. Back then, the Whopper cost 37 cents.
In February, Burger King upgraded the signature burger with a new bun and packaging to prevent it from getting squashed in transit. If you add cheese, it now costs $9.18, excluding tax and fees.
Burger King’s prices can vary by location and franchise, but CNN reported that Burger King recommended that franchisees not raise prices for the new elevated Whopper.
A Whopper comes with a quarter-pound beef patty, pickles, onions, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and mayonnaise. I always add cheese for an extra dollar.
Thick layers of ketchup and mayo spilled over the sides of the burger, but the sizable sesame-seed bun held everything together.
I’m not surprised the chain’s signature burger is so famous — it was my favorite, by far.
The cheese coated the flame-grilled burger patty, and the lettuce, tomatoes, and onions all tasted fresh and added a delicious crunch.
Unlike the original Whopper, which could easily turn soggy from its thinner mayonnaise and heavy condiments, this version was less saucy and stayed intact better. The new, creamier mayonnaise also had more flavor.
This burger is my top pick among the most famous fast-food signature burgers.
Even though this burger is a classic and perhaps not the most creative burger I’ve tried, I thought it was the most satisfying and a great value for the price.
Editor’s note: This story was originally published in June 2024 and was most recently updated in September 2026.
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