Fast-food face-off: Drive-thru breakfast at McDonald’s vs. Jack in the Box
“Breakfast burrito, one hash brown and large coffee, two cream and two Splenda.” These words have been uttered more often than I would like to admit in the last month because 1) I have been in a rush to get to work and 2) I have been too lazy to make breakfast.
Some mornings, I will order a similar drive-thru breakfast at Jack in the Box just to mix up my routine and make life a little more exciting. Which got me thinking on one recent morning, “Who has the better breakfast drive-thru, McDonald’s or Jack in the Box?”
Let us break down drive-thru breakfast courtesy of McDonald’s and Jack in the Box locations in north Spokane, keeping in mind that outlets are always a little different.
The burritos
McDonald’s: The sausage breakfast burrito is on the small side and about half the price of Jack in the Box’s multiple offerings, but one positive is you will not be reaching for the heartburn medication after consumption. It also is perfect for driving, not that I condone eating and driving.
Jack in the Box: The Meat Lovers Breakfast Burrito has a lot – scrambled eggs, cheese, bacon, sausage and ham. And it is oh-so-good and gluttonous to the point that you will skip lunch.
The victor: Jack in the Box
The hash browns
McDonald’s: In the shape of a hash brown patty, McDonald’s version is golden and crispy.
Jack in the Box: In the shape of a hash brown patty, Jack in the Box’s version is not as golden and crispy.
The victor: McDonald’s. My niece Anya, 12, approves of McDonald’s hash brown, and that is good enough for me.
The coffee
McDonald’s: “Large, two cream and two Splenda.” I really like that McDonald’s adds the cream and Splenda for customers.
Jack in the Box: I have been told by a north Spokane location three times that the outlet does not offer sugar substitutes such as Spenda or Equal. Weird, no? And I was given a plastic fork as a stirrer. Weird, no?
The victor: McDonald’s
In related breakfast news, I have been a fan of Jack in the Box’s breakfast platters for many years, and I noticed the other morning that McDonald’s has started offering breakfast platters, or maybe I had never noticed before until now. Add that to the to-eat list … but not while driving to work or anywhere else because that would be silly and messy.
When all is said and done, I prefer McDonald’s for breakfast and like McDonald’s and Jack in the Box equally for lunch and dinner, giving Jack in the Box the slight nod for lunch and dinner due to the menu variety.
And I look forward to weekends when mornings are more casual and there is time to make breakfast at home … or enjoy brunch and mimosas with friends … for the most important meal of the day.