what is it about white castle
after abandoning vegetarianism about two years ago-- i ate my first white caste burger the other night. in fact, it was my first "commercial" burger in many years. the last time i had white castle, however, was when i was ten. it was the feature of my friend's birthday party. (i grew up in a very classy town)
to return to my burger from the other night: i admit it was good. and i admit that we were all drinking so my taste buds might not have been as discerning as they would be on another night.
nonetheless everyone at our table seemed to agree that the little castle burgers were the best commercial burger option around.
true or untrue?
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re: SungSook
michele cindy
May 2, 2008 04:10 AM
As much as I love WC's, I would trade in my WC for a Taco at Jack in the Box anyday! I miss them so much.
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I'd definitely say that White Castle burgers are my favorite fast food burger. There's no fast food place I'd really go to as a "destination" when out of town, other than the great W.C. (Duluth's outlet closed shop about five years ago). There is definitely something special about them, which I can't really put my finger down on. Maybe it's that you can eat six or even eight of them without feeling guilty. Or the really soft bun. The company's slogan is something like "What you crave" and the big cases of multiple burgers you can get are "crave cases", and I can definitely understand why they call it that.
I've never had the frozen version. Frozen burgers seem a bit odd in the first place, anyway.
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jfood
May 1, 2008 04:52 AM
Jfood thinks that WC was one of those comfort foods growing up. And for $0.08 you could watch the ladies process the burgers on the griddle right before your eyes. Some onions spread nice and evenly, then the square wholly burgers placed neatly on top, followed by both sides of the bun. Steamed all the way through, then add a pickle and some ketchup and into the 5-sided boxes.
Jfood was a purist in those days, no cheese, no fries, just a six-pack for a couple of quarters. The bag in the left hand, the burger in the right and a short walk home after school. Four bites and onto the next one.
Today jfood lives a fair distance from WC and it is a rare treat. But they still bring back tose great childhood memories when life was a lot simpler.
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I like that because of the small size, the meat to cheese to bun ratio on a japaleno slider is just about perfect. They're the perfect antidote to a night of drinking, either while "affected" or while recovering the next day. I live just a few blocks from a Castle, and I avoid driving by there because often I have a Pavlovian response and find myself driving through when I'm not even hungry.
Note of caution, however...the digestive after effects of these tasty morsels can be quite, ahem, disturbing!
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michele cindy
Apr 30, 2008 07:45 AM
I think White Castles are an aquired taste. Those who have grown up with them (like me) get the urge, while others could care less and/or hate them. I wasn't sure what I was going to do for dinner tonight, but all this talk gave me the urge for a batch of wc's...
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re: michele cindy
Miss Needle
Apr 30, 2008 02:24 PM
Michele, I think you're right about growing up with them. I know WC is not a quality burger at all. But I've been eating them since I was 3. There's some nostalgia factor to it -- kind of like watching reruns of Three's Company.
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re: Miss Needle
michele cindy
May 1, 2008 04:21 AM
Also, it's one of the few things a kid could afford to buy for themselves. At least back then when they were only about .15 each.
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re: michele cindy
beelzebozo
May 1, 2008 06:59 AM
i didn't eat one until i was nineteen, and i think they're heavenly.
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NiKoLe1625
Apr 28, 2008 09:29 AM
I'm born and raised in New Jersey where there are quite a few White Castles. I have to say, there is nothing else like it. I love those burgers. I don't eat fast food, but every once in a while I'll have one and they are always awesome. they never disappoint. I don't love their fries... they are a bit soggy, but the onion rings are awesome. It really is like a religion for those of us who grew up on them.
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Davwud
Apr 28, 2008 05:49 AM
I'm not all that sold on WC. I'm much more of a Krystals fan. I find them a lot more tasty.
As for a commercial burger, there are plenty of options out there. I'd even take a McD's burger so long as it's super fresh.
Of the major chains, I'll go with Wendy's for my favourite. Not that they're the greatest over all.DT
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re: oystersallday
Davwud
Apr 30, 2008 08:22 AM
Pretty much the same idea as WC but slightly different. No holes in the meat and they don't put the bun on top to steam it. Slightly different toppings too.
They're mostly in the south. http://www.krystal.com/
DT
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the allure of White Castle for me is that they are open 24 hours, and an easy stop home after a night of drinking, something about a greasy burger helping to fend off a hangover the next day.
I rarely if ever eat White Castle when sober.
Nowhere near the best burger, but they fill the late night niche like Taco Bell, etc.
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i've been eating them all my life - i love them, but they don't love me so i don't eat them very often. we call them bellybombers for a reason. there is just something about them - the onions, the steamed bun - who know. i can eat about 10 of them! forget about the frozen ones, they are just not the same!
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re: danhole
We don't have them where I live either and I had tried the frozen ones..oh the stank! I smelled up my whole house and I hated them....fast forward a few years and we were visiting the east coast and gave it a shot, walked in and BLAMO BO smell! I will say that aside from the smell they were damn tasty...would go back in a heartbeat. Avoid the frozen at all costs.
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beelzebozo
Apr 27, 2008 06:35 AM
i would say flavor balance and the appeal of "snackability." appealing soft bun, pungent flavorful onions, gooey cheese (supposing you're smart and go with the cheese sliders), and--though optional, completely required for me--the spice of a touch of jalapeno. someone made a post a while back about how the burger patty in most great fast food burgers is just there to support the superb condiments and bun, and i think white castle is a great example of that.
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Miss Needle
Apr 26, 2008 02:51 PM
Best commercial burger? I don't think so.
But it's like in the movie Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle -- when you've got that craving, nothing else will do.
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re: Miss Needle
I'm certainly glad I never get that craving. I have never understood the WC phenom. I've had WC exactly four times in my life. I just don't get it. And I'm no snob about junk foods. I'll be the first to admit that I love 7-11 microwave burrito things, taco hell, arby's fish sammiches (and plenty more.) but WC I will never understand. Just does nothing for me at all.
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re: gordeaux
Sra. Swanky
Apr 26, 2008 06:31 PM
I think it's mainly about the strong onion flavor in the slyders. If you LOVE onions, then it's little burger heaven. I know people who aren't crazy for WC - just a matter of taste. Also, a pal from VA says that "something about a burger that's just cooked on one side sounds wrong"- but Sr. Swanky & I can't get enough!
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re: gordeaux
Miss Needle
Apr 26, 2008 06:37 PM
Guess people have different tastes. I can't eat 7-11 burritos and Taco Bell at all. But White Castle is something I like to enjoy once every few years. In addition to the strong onion flavor, there's something nice biting into that soggy squishy bun.
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re: BellaDonna
BarmyFotheringayPhipps
Apr 26, 2008 08:45 PM
They're different in damn near every way. There's no way to tell if you'd like White Castle based on whether you like In n Out -- there just aren't enough data points in common.
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re: BellaDonna
Miss Needle
Apr 27, 2008 09:31 AM
Oh, completely different animals. The only way you would know for sure is to try it. And as it's only about 50 cents a burger, there's not too much harm done if you don't like it.
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