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We're lucky that we enjoy a Carl's Jr. store just a mile up Woodcreek Oaks Blvd. from our house, and it features all of Carl's delicious menu choices, at market prices, topped out with friendly service. So, let's begin the food journey...
Photo: There are several Carl's Jr. restaurants located in Roseville, but this restaurant is located less than a mile from my house, so it makes a great place to hit when I'm in the mood for a delicious burger. The Woodcreek Oaks location is situated in the modern, very upscale Crocker Ranch shopping center, at Woodcreek Oaks and Blue Oaks Blvds., in west Roseville. Today I discovered that postal employees love Carl's burgers!
Photo: Today, January 02, 2016, Carl's Jr's Facebook page offered a special that I couldn't resist. You had to print a coupon posted on their Facebook page, and when you purchased a "Single Steakhouse Burger" combo, you got a second burger for free. I'd been wanting to give their new burger a whirl, so this was a perfect opportunity to start the new year out right.
Photo: The Woodcreek Oaks Carls Jr. store is just like any fast food restaurant, as you make your selection at the counter, pay for it, and if you choose to dine inside, you receive a number, place it on your table,and when you order is ready, one of the friendly staff members will bring it to your table. Today, I chose to dine-in, but I had them bag up my second burger "to go," and the plan was to heat it up and enjoy it for dinner. Thanks to the gal in the preceding photo for taking my picture, as I prepare to enjoy my delicious early lunch.
Photo: Such a great lunch! This is the "Single Steakhouse Burger Combo Meal," which consists of a all-you-can-drink soft drink - Coke in my case - Carl's perfectly cooked fries, and the star of the meal, the "Single Steakhouse Burger."
Photo: Up-close and personal of Carl's Jr. "Single Steakhouse Burger." The burger includes mayonnaise, A1 Steak Sauce, crumbled bleu cheese, crispy onion strings, Swiss cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato, and a 1/3 pound charbroiled beef patty, on an in-house, fresh-baked bun. Quite a burger! As I bit into this juicy burger, the first thing I noticed was the tangy A1 Steak Sauce, and the lack of mustard. The sauce added a tangy-sweet taste to the burger which is hard to describe, except it was GOOD, and it complimented the burger, rather than overpowering it. The onion strings added a little crunch, which I love, and the rest of the ingredients just sort of blended together to make a delicious burger. The lettuce, onion and tomato were fresh, and note the presentation is almost, but not quite, as good as what you see on television. The 1/3 pound size is just right for me, as it fills me up, but doesn't leave me stuffed. All-in-all, I was impressed with this burger, I'm already looking forward to enjoying the second burger for dinner tonight. Considering Carl's Jr. is a fast food restaurant, this is an excellent burger!
Photo: Late Saturday afternoon, October 03, 2015, I decided to really splurge, and treat myself to a 1/2 pound "Tex Mex Bacon Thickburger." Such a treat!
Photo: For the last year or so, Carl's Jr. tends to run some pretty "racy" commercials on television, spotlighting their latest offerings, as their menu seems to frequently change, which should keep me in business, reviewing their fine wares, for the forseeable future. Today, I decided to try their latest "Thickburber," the "Tex Mex" version. Like the glutton I am, I went with the half-pound version. How's this photo for natural lighting? The burger starts with one of Carl's fresh baked buns, which I really love. The half-pound beef patty was cooked perfectly, and the thick bacon slices were cooked, but not burnt, just the way I like bacon. Note: In restaurants, I rarely order bacon, as most restaurants cook the bacon so it's nearly burnt; I like my bacon limp. I pulled it apart so I could see the roasted peppers, tomato slices, lettuce, pepper jack cheese, but I couldn't see the "Santa Fe" sauce that's advertised on television. Oh well... At nearly $8.00 by the time tax is added, this is a pricey burger for a "fast food" restaurant. But, it's a great burger! My local Carl's Jr.'s staff are friendly, and they actually take pride in what they do, and they deliver a quality product. The "Tex Mex" burger is very flavorful, and not at all hot. I really didn't taste much of the "Santa Fe" sauce, but perhaps it was because everything blended in well together and made for an excellent burger.
Photo: Breakfast at Carl's Jr. today! October 07, 2015, I enjoyed a breakfast of their "Breakfast Burger," of which includes sausage, egg, cheese and a whole lot more on a freshly made biscuit. I love it!
Photo: Officially on May 20, 2015, Carl's Jr. debuded the Most American Thickburger, and, in keeping with my nature, I just HAD to check it out. Normally, I'm not prone to television advertising and hype, but when it comes to food, and a new way to enjoy a burger, I just can't resist! What more could you want, as it's a burger topped with a hot dog, sliced tomato avocado, cheese, ketchup, and a lot more.
Photo: You get a choice of a third pound of burger, or a half pound; other than the weight of the burger, the burgers are the same. On this late Saturday morning, May 23, 2015, I elected to "go for it," throw caution to the wind, and go with the half pound version. That's a lot of burger! Check out the photo, as it looks like the burgers featured on Carl's television commercials. I have nothing but good things to say about this burger, as it was grilled perfectly, and the letttuce, tomato were fresh, and, true to the television hype, the chips were crispy and fresh. The cheese and hot dog on top really made this burger shine. It was delicious! May I repeat... delicious? However, when tax was included, the tab came to $8.19, for just the burger! Yikes!!! That price is HUGELY steep! Note: Remember the "Six Dollar Burger" from just a few years ago? Despite the fact that the Most American Burger is a delicous burger, but priced at over eight bucks, I have serious doubts that I'll come back for more, as I feel the price is a bit on the high side.
That said, this was one heck-of-a great burger! Let's digress and return to the review of our local Carl's Jr. store, located at Woodcreek Oaks and Blue Oaks Blvds., in Roseville... For the last couple of weeks, Carl's Jr has been running ads on television about a new "Thickburger," and the ads feature a sexy girl munching on a burger, which is supposedly so hot that it melts ice, in the ice hotel where the commercial is set. I'm usually immune to ads on television, but this ad got me thinking to the tune of, "a spicy burger from a fast food chain?" Added to the intrigue was the fact the ad states the burger is available for a limited time, what ever that means. So on Saturday, April 18, 2015, I decided to see if Carl's "Thickburger El Diablo" lives up to the hype, and the heat, as advertised on television.
Photo: Saturday, April 18, 2015, at around 1500 in the afternoon, I walked into a mostly empty dining room, but that's what I was looking forward to, as when a restaurant is empty, it's easier to take photos, and chit-chat with the staff. The dining room is new, squeaky clean, and very comfortable. I sat at one of the high tables, visible in the center of the photo.
Photo: Meet Melissa, my friendly counter gal, who brings my "El Diablo" and fries to my table with a smile. As I placed my order, I asked her if it was OK to take photos - she said it was fine - and pre-warned her that I'd take her photo. I love a friendly gal with a big smile! Yes, I left a tip, thanks to her hospitality.
Photo: Here's how the meal arrives, with Carl's delicious fries spilling out, and the burger box unopened. Anticipation is building...
Photo: Thanks, Melissa, for taking my photo, as I prepare to "eat like I mean it." I have a new identity: 24, sort of like being in prison or something. I ordered the complete meal, which included the half-pound burger, fries, and an all-out-can-drink medium drink.
Photo: I open the box, and BEHOLD: My half-pound, "Thickburger El Diablo." Such a sight as I opened the box. Check out the photo, as the burger looks almost as good as it does in the television commercials.
Photo: Look at this beast, as I cut it in two with a plastic knife to get a look inside. Yes it packs heat: Jalapeņo pepper slices, jalapeņo poppers, havanero sauce, and pepper jack cheese. The half-pound Angus patty was simply delicious, and the bacon added a lot of smoky flavor, which I really like. First bite: Mmmm good, but where's the heat? Ten seconds later: Second bite, do I feel a bit of heat? Third bite: The heat is ON! With every bite, I could feel more heat, but the heat level never seemed to kick into high gear, as it just gave me a warm and "fuzzy" feeling, and left me feeling satisfied. The bacon was great, but I think it got a bit lost in the burger, as the habanero sauce seemed to deliver the smoky taste, with a tad of heat. The jalapeņo poppers were a bit "mushy" and the cheese tasted like Velveeta, but I have no complaints, as I love it all. The pickled jalapeņo slices, complete with seeds and stems, added most of the heat, but they also seemed to add a sweetness. The soft bun was toasted, buttery, and cooked just the way I like it. The burger was juicy, and delicious. El Diablo is definitely the spiciest burger that I've enjoyed from Carl's Jr, and definitely a spicy notch or two up on the heat index from Jack's Spicy Sriracha Burger, but the burger is definitely "do-able" for me, and it should delight anybody who loves spicy food. Although it's a tad on the pricy side - my meal came to $11.05, including tax - it's a great burger and well worth checking out if you're interested in taking a walk on the spicy side with a great burger. Carl's Jr Copyright(c) 2016 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. This site has been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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