Almost a free lunch
The coupon (see illustration) came in the mail this week with a pile of advertising circulars. “This can’t be right,” I thought, “Surely it’s the drink that’s free and not the sandwich.” I stand corrected. After all, who am I to questions “Jack”? In fast food circles many consider him to be a marketing and culinary genius.
At lunch today I visited my local Jack in the Box restaurant to see what the fuss is about. The verdict: for $1.99 (the price of a large drink) the new BLT Cheeseburger is a steal. At full price ($3.29 for just the burger or $4.99 for a combo meal), unless you are hooked on bacon, there are other burgers on the JITB menu to consider before making a choice.
For just another dollar or two, you can get a lot more calories, fat, sodium, and other nutritional no-no’s for your money. More fast-food sin for the buck.
My BLT Cheeseburger was delicious with a generous helping of hickory smoked bacon and two slices of cheese. It was also freshly prepared. I was there during the lunchtime rush and waited about 10 minutes for my order. That gave me time to contemplate why anyone would routinely order a large drink. There was enough diet coke in mine to serve a family of four.
Don’t fall in love with the BLT Cheeseburger too quickly though. According to the flyer I got in the mail and the JITB web site, it will be available for a limited time. Is Jack copying the McRib approach? The JITB web site doesn’t say.
In fact, except for the bacon, it is difficult to see how the BLT Cheeseburger could ever permanently crack Jack’s formidable burger lineup. There’s already an Ultimate Cheeseburger and a Sirloin Swiss & Grilled Onion Burger. There are too many other established stars on the JITB menu to list. Consult the JITB web site for a complete list.
A closing note: I have no ties to Jack in the Box although I’m fairly certain I spoke to Jack on the phone once when I was completing a guest survey as part of entering a drawing for Jack Cash Cards. Of course, it might have been one of his helpers. I didn’t win the drawing. That’s why I clipped the coupon for today’s lunch.
Mud Bay Blog 
My favorite is the Sirloin Swiss & Grilled Onion Burger. Now if you get a combo they give you a coupon for a 1$ off.
Recently Satchi & I have been regular customers at the A Burger Cafe in Shimabara where we get the Avocado Burger Combination (Burger, Fries & a Drink) for 700 yen.
I’ve had to figure out where the J Boxes are in and around Mukilteo.
One is in the parking lot with the 7-11 out on 99, across the street from the Everett Home Depot. Sorry, but since I’ve pretty much got my own parking space at Home Depot, the Wendy’s wins hands down. It’s shares the parking lot with HD. Crossing 6 lanes for a cheese burger, tempting but Wendy’s chilli is SOP.
Wendy’s chilli. Good lunch, cheese no onion.
Just got the circular in the mail for a free one…