The Lunar New Year is just around the corner (hurrah, holidays!) You've got your yee sangready to toss and are already gorging on all the delicious, auspicious foods you can.
Now, you can add festive fast food to that list! We picked up Chinese New Year specials from three of the biggest chains in town and tested them out. Here's what we had and what we thought.
The crowd favourite
McDonald's Prosperity Burger is back! A Chinese New Year special featuring beef patties soaked in the fast food joint's signature black pepper sauce topped with plenty of fresh onions, it's been a local favourite for 22 years! Unfortunately, the only thing missing this year is their crispy curly fries, thanks to a global fries crisis.
No curly fries in sight but at least there's still the tangy McFizz (additional RM1)
Nevertheless, the burger is as delicious as ever as we doubled our prosperity with twice the patty and twice the spice (RM14.95). The sauce, peppered (pun totally intended) with flecks of black pepper, was what made the burger. The usually bland and dry McDonald's beef patty was all the more juicy and savoury. Balanced out by the sharpness of fresh onions, it's what we look forward to every Chinese New Year season!
For those who don't do beef, the Prosperity Burger in chicken is now available!
Verdict: We're lovin' it!
Now, you can add festive fast food to that list! We picked up Chinese New Year specials from three of the biggest chains in town and tested them out. Here's what we had and what we thought.
The crowd favourite
McDonald's Prosperity Burger is back! A Chinese New Year special featuring beef patties soaked in the fast food joint's signature black pepper sauce topped with plenty of fresh onions, it's been a local favourite for 22 years! Unfortunately, the only thing missing this year is their crispy curly fries, thanks to a global fries crisis.
No curly fries in sight but at least there's still the tangy McFizz (additional RM1)
Nevertheless, the burger is as delicious as ever as we doubled our prosperity with twice the patty and twice the spice (RM14.95). The sauce, peppered (pun totally intended) with flecks of black pepper, was what made the burger. The usually bland and dry McDonald's beef patty was all the more juicy and savoury. Balanced out by the sharpness of fresh onions, it's what we look forward to every Chinese New Year season!
For those who don't do beef, the Prosperity Burger in chicken is now available!
Verdict: We're lovin' it!
Golden 'ong' chicken
Finger lickin’ good chicken is what KFC does best
KFC is infusing 'ong' into their Lunar New Year line-up this year with the golden egg yolk. Inspired by Chinese salted egg yolk dishes, choose from either crunchy egg yolk-coated fried chicken (RM11 for a combo with either chicken rice or fries) or their Golden Burger (RM10.95 for the combo). Combos are served with a sweet Sjora mango peach drink which is more mango than peach.
I love salted egg yolk for its grainy texture and creamy richness, none of which the burger had. Mediocre at best, there were only very slight hints of the yolky taste. Served without any sauce, it was also a tad dry.
Luckily, the fried chicken fared better. Most of the creamy taste was in the crispy chicken skin, which was the best part! We paired our juicy, well-seasoned chicken with rice because, hey, what's a Chinese meal without it?
Verdict: Skip the burger, fried chicken more 'ong'
Finger lickin’ good chicken is what KFC does best
KFC is infusing 'ong' into their Lunar New Year line-up this year with the golden egg yolk. Inspired by Chinese salted egg yolk dishes, choose from either crunchy egg yolk-coated fried chicken (RM11 for a combo with either chicken rice or fries) or their Golden Burger (RM10.95 for the combo). Combos are served with a sweet Sjora mango peach drink which is more mango than peach.
I love salted egg yolk for its grainy texture and creamy richness, none of which the burger had. Mediocre at best, there were only very slight hints of the yolky taste. Served without any sauce, it was also a tad dry.
Luckily, the fried chicken fared better. Most of the creamy taste was in the crispy chicken skin, which was the best part! We paired our juicy, well-seasoned chicken with rice because, hey, what's a Chinese meal without it?
Verdict: Skip the burger, fried chicken more 'ong'
Cheesy black pepper
If you like what you taste, they have an extra long version too
With an option between golden cheese and black pepper burger 'flavours', Burger King has the most varied seasonal offerings among the big three. Plus, for an additional RM1.95 (RM4.95 a la carte), those who lament the lack of curly fries this year can snack on onion rings instead.
Both burgers (RM9.95 each combo) are served with chicken patties slathered with the sauce of your choice. The golden cheese option, although hardly golden, worked surprisingly well. Thick and creamy, the sauce never ended up being too overwhelming and it paired well with the patty.
The black pepper was just as delicious, although not as spicy as the Prosperity Burger. What it lacked in kick, it made up for with a hint of sweetness which complemented the raw onions.
Speaking of onions, Burger King's onion rings were fried to a golden crisp. Top it off with either chilli or tomato sauce and you won't be able to stop eating them. I'm not even kidding.
Verdict: There's something for everyone (unless you like neither cheese nor black pepper). Oh, and don't forget the onion rings!
If you like what you taste, they have an extra long version too
With an option between golden cheese and black pepper burger 'flavours', Burger King has the most varied seasonal offerings among the big three. Plus, for an additional RM1.95 (RM4.95 a la carte), those who lament the lack of curly fries this year can snack on onion rings instead.
Both burgers (RM9.95 each combo) are served with chicken patties slathered with the sauce of your choice. The golden cheese option, although hardly golden, worked surprisingly well. Thick and creamy, the sauce never ended up being too overwhelming and it paired well with the patty.
The black pepper was just as delicious, although not as spicy as the Prosperity Burger. What it lacked in kick, it made up for with a hint of sweetness which complemented the raw onions.
Speaking of onions, Burger King's onion rings were fried to a golden crisp. Top it off with either chilli or tomato sauce and you won't be able to stop eating them. I'm not even kidding.
Verdict: There's something for everyone (unless you like neither cheese nor black pepper). Oh, and don't forget the onion rings!
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