6 Ways Burger King Outshines McDonald's And Wendy's

If you ask me, there are three main, ubiquitous fast food burger joints on the scene. I'm not talking about the slightly more upscale, fast-casual burger restaurant you like — I'm talking about places that epitomize fast food. Those three chains are McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King. All three of these spots have their own pros and cons, but today, we're taking a closer look at what Burger King does better than the other two. Although it may not be the best of the best on every single front, there are some arenas in which Wendy's and McDonald's simply cannot compete.

Looking for an excellent fast food side dish? Burger King is your spot. Love a cheese-less burger? Ditto. It even takes the cake when it comes to dessert (pun fully intended). This list might help you decide what to eat for dinner tonight or may simply remind you why you're a Burger King fan in the first place, before you ever even get to those legendary chicken fries. Either way, you're probably going to be craving a BK Whopper or some Burger King breakfast by the time we're done.

Perhaps what Burger King is best known for is its flame-grilled burgers. You may wonder how a fast food restaurant like BK pulls this off. Well, among the BK facts you should know is that the chain has an upright broiler that allows many patties to be cooked all at the same time. Not only does this give them a greater degree of consistency, but it also guarantees a nice char, creating a richer depth of flavor than you'll find at other restaurants.

On the other hand, burgers at McDonald's and Wendy's aren't cooked the same way. At both chains, burgers are sandwiched between two heated griddles, meaning that the meat isn't actually in contact with a flame at all. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but the fact that Burger King goes above and beyond to actually involve fire in the burger-grilling process is one of the ways in which BK easily outshines its competitors.

Of course, you can get fries at basically every single burger-focused fast food chain out there. Some are better than others, but you can essentially guarantee that fries are going to appear on any fast food menu. But Burger King has a dish you won't find at any other fast food spot: chicken fries. As the name of the item suggests, these are fries ... made of chicken. Essentially, they're just really skinny chicken nuggets, and I don't know why this delights me so much, but it does. It's one of the best fast food sides out there, and the fact that BK carries this dish and others don't gives them the upper hand.

This is a menu item that's so closely associated with Burger King that I don't even think that other restaurants could try to copy it and do something similar. If they did, it would be an obvious dupe, and I'd refuse to order them on principle alone. That being said, if Burger King ever removes them from a menu, I may very well never eat there again.

When a lot of people go out to eat at a fast food restaurant, they're thinking about the savory food first and foremost. They're craving a burger, a chicken sandwich, or fries — not a fast food dessert pie. But at the end of your meal, there's a good chance you're going to want something sweet, which is why it's important to choose a joint that offers a decent number of dessert options. Compared to Wendy's and McDonald's, Burger King definitely delivers on that front. Not only can you get a wide variety of milkshakes, but you can also snag yourself various types of soft-serve ice cream in addition to a cinnamon apple pie, a Hershey's sundae pie, and chocolate chip cookies. That means there really is a dessert for everyone, no matter what kind of sweets you usually like to snack on.

At McDonald's, you can get a few different types of ice cream ... if the ice cream machine is even working, that is. It also serves up an apple pie and chocolate chip cookie, but its milkshake options are limited to three flavors compared to BK's five, and you're out of luck if you're craving an actual slice of pie. Wendy's dessert options are even more limited: Choose from two different types of cookie, Cinnabon pull-apart bread, or a classic Frosty. Not much to write home about.

Not everyone eats meat, or maybe you're just in the mood for something else. That doesn't mean you should have to sacrifice that juicy, meaty flavor, though. This is why we love that Burger King has a plant-based burger on its permanent menu — something you won't find at either Wendy's or McDonald's. The Impossible Whopper uses an Impossible meatless "beef" patty and features the same toppings you'd expect from a more traditional Whopper. It's great for those looking for a meatless option, but you should also remember that it isn't necessarily vegan, so keep that in mind if that's the reason you're looking to order it.

Of course, nobody expects McDonald's or Wendy's to transform into vegetarian restaurants. But is having one singular meat-free sandwich on the menu too much to ask? In 2026, we all know that people have wildly different personal dietary restrictions and needs, and it only makes sense for restaurants to try to cater to at least some of them. Burger King is moving in the right direction by offering more accessible options on its menus while its competitors are lagging behind.

At a lot of fast food restaurants, fries are basically the only side dish on the entire menu. At McDonald's, for instance, you can only choose from fries and apple slices. (And really, besides children, who's ordering apple slices at McDonald's?!) At Wendy's, you have a few more options to choose from. In addition to those standard fries, you can find fries that are topped with various ingredients, along with chili and different versions of baked potatoes. You can also get apple slices here. But neither restaurant can really compare to Burger King when it comes to its side dish options.

Not only can you get the standard stringy spuds along with my beloved chicken fries at BK, but you can also snag yourself a side of onion rings or even mozzarella fries. The cheesy bacon tots are great for those who like a richer and creamier side than plain fries provide, while the jalapeño cheddar bites offer that same cheesiness plus a touch of heat. These are all proper, fried fast food sides that are crunchy and decadent and most definitely aren't as bland as cold apple slices.

Most burger-focused fast food restaurants have one signature burger, a beloved classic that the chain is known for. At McDonald's, that's the Big Mac. At Wendy's, it's Dave's Single. And at Burger King? It's the Whopper. Out of all three of these burgers, BK's Whopper is the only one that doesn't come with cheese by default. For those who can't imagine ordering a burger without cheese, this may seem downright sacrilegious. But for people who prefer a fresher and juicier take (or who are simply lactose-intolerant or otherwise unable to eat dairy), a cheese-less burger like the Whopper is the way to go. It just so happens that it's also a really solid meal. It comes with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, ketchup, and mayonnaise ... and no cheese at all.

Of course, you can order McD's and Wendy's classics without cheese if that's what you're going for. But Burger King is the chain that mastered the art of the cheese-less burger so well that its a flagship sandwich. If there's one place that I'm going to order a hamburger without cheese, it's definitely going to be Burger King.