The Burger Wars of the 80s left behind a lot of casualties. Everybody wanted to get ahead, and in those days it seemed like very few ideas were rejected. In an effort to differentiate themselves from the McDonald's juggernaut, Burger King decided to lean into the sandwich genre...and they swung for the fences! Let's take a look at what you could find on the menu back in those go-go days of yore.
Roast Beef Sandwich
This one is a no-brainer. If you're in the fast food game and want to get into sandwiching, the first stop along the trail has got to be roast beef. By standing on the shoulders of Arby's, BK was able to offer something different and yet familiar. Patrons were able to stay in their comfort zones but still feel like they were traveling outside the burger zone.
Ham & Cheese Sandwich
And here we have what would have been my order. There's nothing better, when you're not in the mood for something heavy like a burger, than having the old ham & cheese option. Of course, the best ham & cheese is hot ham & cheese but I'm not sure they went that direction with this one. It looks like your standard cold sandwich but sometimes that's just what's needed.
Chicken Sandwich and/or Fish Sandwich
These are definite fast food staples but Burger King can't seem to lock them in. Filet-O-Fish occupies a well worn place on the McDonald's menu but if BK currently has a fish sandwich I couldn't tell you what it's called. And various chicken sandwiches seem to come in and out of fashion at a rate that I just can't seem to keep up with. At least we have a record of these for posterity.
Chopped Beefsteak Sandwich
This one makes me suspicious. How exactly is a Chopped Beefsteak Sandwich different from a hamburger? Other than the shape? I assume the meat is "steak" instead of ground beef but I'm not exactly confident about that. I mean do you really expect to get steak at a fast food place? Maybe it's a semantics thing. All I know is that when a fast food chain offers something with "steak" in the title it almost always involves onions. With onion rings as the main topping, this one is no different.
Veal Parmigiana Sandwich
And here we have probably their most ambitious foray into the sandwich game. Veal may not be P.C. by today's standards, but what interests me is a burger chain's attempt at Italian food. Like McSpaghetti before it, Burger King's Veal Parmigiana Sandwich tried to bring a little of the old country to the drive thru lane.
I can't be sure, but what I believe to be the downfall of all of these sandwiches is that most people go to burger places for burgers. It's the sad reality that discontinues all our favorite weirdo menu items from Burger King, McDonalds and all the other soldiers in Burger Wars past and present.
