Best cheeseburger kids meal: Which fast-food chain tops our list?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Time and convenience are generally the ruling factors when a parent makes the turn into a drive-thru while dashing between sports practices and piano lessons.

The first fast food kids’ meal was the creation of the now-defunct Burger Chef. According to Reader’s Digest, Burger Chef introduced the Fun Meal in 1973 -- long before McDonald’s Happy Meal appeared on the scene. The combo included a small burger, fries, a treat, a drink, and a toy, all wrapped in a box decked out with the Burger Chef mascots.

Nowadays, there are more options than ever for parents to choose from when it comes to grabbing fast food for their littles.

It’s been a while since cleveland.com’s Best of team -- Yadi Rodriguez and Brenda Cain -- ordered fast food kids’ meals for their own children, which made them curious about how the meals have evolved, or whether it is still all about the toy?

They canvassed fast-food eateries across Northeast Ohio and found seven chains offering cheeseburger meals -- tasted them, then ranked them based on how many choices the kids get, appetizing appearance, and, of course, taste.

Here are the kids’ meals, ranked worst to best, so the next time you are faced with serving up a fast-food dinner, you might find one your kids will actually eat.

The Rankings:

No. 7

Sonic – Wacky Pack Kids meal – Cheeseburger

Calories: 385 - 1600

Price: $4.19

Menu Description: A juicy Jr. patty topped with tangy ketchup, mustard, crinkle-cut pickles and served with your choice of small fries, small tots or Tree Top® Applesauce and a drink.

Side options: Tree Top Applesauce, tots or fries

Drink options: Milk or apple juice

Toys: Yes, and an all-age toy is available upon request

Our thoughts: This cheeseburger was thin, and overcooked. The cheese helped with the flavor, but it was cold and not melted, so did little to enhance the experience. The fries had a nice crispy exterior, but were super salty. Again, Sonic was the only fast food chain to offer the squeeze applesauce pack – so no spoon necessary and much neater if the kids are eating on the run – if they will eat this food at all. We did think the Matchbox truck was a fun toy.

cheated.

No. 6

Steak ‘n Shake – Kids’ menu – Steakburger with cheese

Calories: 530 (only burger and fries)

Price: $4.99

Menu Description: n/a

Side options: Fries or applesauce

Drink options: Soft drink or apple juice

Toys: No

Our thoughts: The burger here was the thinnest we encountered on our journey. More bread than burger, for sure. The bun was slightly toasted, but dry. Drinks are full-sized and the shoestring fries were fresh and hot. But nothing about this meal said “Kids’ meal.”

No. 5

Wendy’s – Kids’ Meal - Cheeseburger

Calories: 320-640

Price: $4.99

Menu Description: Fresh, never frozen beef and melted American cheese, hot off the grill and topped with ketchup, just the way your child wants it. One of the joys of childhood.

Side options: Apple bites, natural-cut fries

Drink options: White milk, Honest Kids’ Super Fruit Punch, bottled water

Toys: Yes and activities on the bag. Toy for those under 3 if you ask

Our thoughts: We loved the little cup of apple bites, and the fruit punch as a drink option, which was more unique than the typical slices and apple juice choices we got elsewhere. Sadly, the fries were cold. Since we visited early – just as the menu changed from breakfast to lunch, we wondered, “Why?” So much ketchup took over the small square burger that you couldn’t taste the meat, and the cheese was only slightly melted. Unless your child is a ketchup aficionado, you may want to skip this drive-thru.

No. 4

McDonald’s – Happy Meal - Cheeseburger

Calories: 475

Price: $5.08

Menu Description: McDonald’s Cheeseburger Happy Meal includes a juicy hamburger with kid-sized World Famous Fries and apple slices. Then pick a kid’s drink: 1% Low Fat Milk Jug, reduced sugar* chocolate milk, DASANI® Water or Honest Kids® Appley Ever After® Organic Juice Drink. There are 475 calories in a Hamburger Happy Meal® with kids fries, 1% milk, and apple slices.

Side options: fries & apple slices included

Drink options: white milk, chocolate milk, apple juice, water

Toys: Yes and activities on the box. Toy for those under 3 if you ask

Our thoughts: While McD’s has the reputation for its kids’ meals, the ones we were served were on the sad side. The same, sad burger that was covered in condiments – just one pickle though – and onions. Why would you put onions on a kids’ burger? (At least my kid wouldn’t have eaten them). Not much flavor and the cheese was cold and not melted. The redeeming part of this meal was the iconic fries – hot and crispy. Apple slices and yogurts are an option as well. And a cool toy. Bonus points for being the only fast food eatery that offers the choice of chocolate milk.

No. 3

Burger King – King Jr. Meal - cheeseburger

Calories: 348-852

Price: $4.69

Menu Description: n/a

Side options: Applesauce, fries

Drink options: Apple juice, milk

Toys: Treat (applesauce or single soft serve cone/cup) or Toy option. Crown

Our thoughts: A cheeseburger where the cheese was actually warm and melted was a real treat for us. All the food was freshly cooked and hot. And this burger was the only one served on a seeded bun. You have the option for applesauce or a dish/cone of soft serve. And don’t forget the paper crown!

No. 2

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers – Kids Combo – Steakburger with cheese

Calories: 450

Price: $5.79

Menu Description: One steakburger patty, cheese, ketchup & pickles on a toasted bun. Served with your choice of side & a drink.

Side options: Applesauce, fries, Baked Lays

Drink options: Fountain drink, milk

Toys: None

Our thoughts: Freddy’s is the newcomer to the fast-food scene in Northeast Ohio, and will soon win your kid’s heart. The burger is full-sized and freshly cooked and comes dressed with three toppings: pickle, mustard and ketchup, but there are additional toppings available without additional cost. Be aware, if your child is not a pickle fan, ask them to leave those off since they are full-length slices, not chips. The shoestring fries are plentiful and hot and crispy and just lightly salted. There is a baked potato chip option that no other place offers, which you can save for later should your child get full.

No. 1

Culver’s Kids’ meal – Single ButterBurger with cheese

Calories: 610 without ice cream

Price: $6.69

Menu Description: It’s a Culver’s family specialty with a little extra. We use only fresh, never-frozen beef, seared on a grill after you order. Topped with real American cheese made in Wisconsin and served on a lightly buttered, toasted bun.

Side options: Crinkle cut fries, applesauce, or steamed broccoli

Drink options: Milk or apple juice

Toys: No, but activities on the bag.

Our thoughts: A freshly-cooked full-sized burger (that tastes like real meat, not fillers) topped with gooey, melted cheese slice will get your kids to chow down. The burger is thin. But not so thin that the edges are overcooked. The fries were fresh and hot as well, though a little over-salted. If your kid is open to veggies, there is the option for steamed broccoli. No toy – instead, there is a coupon on the bag that your kids can redeem for a scoop of ice cream to top off the meal.

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