Burger King's bizarre new menu item shocks fans: 'Not a joke'
A twist on a classic burger is sending diners wild, but not everyone thinks it's a good idea.
Burger King is turning heads with a new menu item: a cheeseburger containing nothing but, well, cheese. Billed as the "Real Cheese Burger", the shocking twist on the fast-food classic contains up to 20 slices of American cheese.
Released in Thailand on Sunday at the special promotional price of $4.65 (109 baht), the strange snack sent locals into an unexpected frenzy, with many flocking to social media to share snaps of the burger.
As fast-food fans around the world questioned the origins of the meat-free treat, Thai travel guide writer Richard Barrow offered a clue. "A trend in Thailand is to put cheese on literally everything," he tweeted earlier this week. "Now Burger King has joined in with the Real Cheese Burger."
'Could only finish half'
Speaking with CNN Thailand on Tuesday, locals who tried the burger said it was yummy, but a bit over the top. "I could only finish half of it," one said. "This is an insane amount of cheese added into one burger. Food is good when things are at the right combination."
Reactions from burger aficionados around the world were just as mixed: "I am both appalled and intrigued at the same time," admitted one foodie on social media. "I am not disgusted by it. Gonna give it a try," echoed another, while others voiced concerns about the burger's potential to disrupt bowel regularity.
No joke
Meanwhile, some international observers have found it hard to believe the burger actually exists. "I figured this had to be a joke," confessed one, "It is not a joke."
"Thought it was a joke too. Until some of my Instagram friends posted photos of them with it," responded another mystified onlooker.
Such was the confusion that Burger King Thailand felt the need to clear the air, explicitly stating that the burger was the real deal via its official social media channels. "This is no joke. This is for real," the chain posted on launch day.
Hungry Jack's Australia, the master Australian franchise of the Burger King Corporation, has been approached for comment about the likelihood of the Real Cheese Burger making is way Down Under.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
