I'm Only Here for the Food!

Hardee’s
Multiple locations in the world
3601 Country Club Drive (Location visited)
Jefferson City, MO

When I was around 12 or 13 years old, a Hardee’s opened in Panama. Of course, like any new restaurant, it created some hype and a lot of people flocked there in the first couple of weeks. I was able to tag along with a neighbour, since he was taking his family there, and I still remember their burgers loaded with some “strange”, crunchy ingredient in it. That ingredient is bacon. While I am used to eating pork rind (not to mention the crispy skin of a Chinese roast pork), it would be my first time eating bacon. I won’t say I really liked it (too heavy) but that left me an impression. Unfortunately, the Hardee’s did not last, as their burgers were priced higher than MickeyD’s and, after a while, their hype faded. Fast forward not long ago. While in the US, I was looking for something quick to eat when I recalled seeing a Hardee’s nearby and that gave me a chance to remember those memories…

When I walked in, there was a small queue. Not much of a problem, though, as it did take me a while to decide what to order. I did not want bacon (not that it is “bad”, just that I wanted something else). That “something” else came in the form of mushroom, or their 1/3 lb Mushroom ‘N’ Swiss Thickburger. Readers should have notice by now that I LOVE mushrooms and, despite I knew they would be using button mushroom, that was not going to be a problem. After I made my order, rather that waiting at the line, I was given a small number/tag and told to wait at the table.

It took around five or so minutes for my order to arrive. I must mentioned something “funny” happened. Since they were deliverying it to my table, the manager did not find me (I was not sure if it was my order, either). After walking probably by the third time, he located me and apologized. The bonus? An apple pie (seeing at the centre top in the picture below).

What is that bowl thing to the right? That is a salad. Wait, before somebody jump into asking why, here is the reason: I hadn’t had my share of veggies lately (or at least during that trip) and I was planning for something “different”/”going all in” that night, being my last night in Jefferson City (details on that meal tomorrow night). Notice this has nothing to do with calories or what not, it was just a matter of eating veggies. As for the salad itself, it was just OK. The lettuce was “crispy”, nothing watery in the bottom. However, it was not the green part. I guess given that it is a fast food place, I shouldn’t be too critical of it.

As for the burger, back when I was a teenager, my default burger was a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder, aka, “Hamburger Royale”. I am not sure if it is my perception but this burger is about the size of the burger I had then. No, really, it does look like the same size!

The burger was OK for a fast food place. It was dry but the mushroom managed to “overcome” that dryness. However, there was a catch 22. The mushroom sauce had an artificial feeling, as if it was prepared from a packaged/dehydrated mix. There was no other sauce (catsup or mustard) but, had I added any, I am sure that would have created a really odd mix.

And, finally, the apple pie. I just nibbled a piece, as I was not really interested in it. It wasn’t too sweet (which I must admit surprised me) but, again, it would have been something I would have ordered.

Overall, I went there only because I was curious about the place. Had I looked harder, I am sure there would be other more interesting places. Do I regret coming here? No, but now that I know, I would be really hard pressed to come back again. Now, to finish this post, there was an item in the menu that made me shake my head. Sure, we have poutine in Canada (a dish which I still have to try, so it is just a matter of time) but… But… It just looks wrong…