Whoppers at The Peak!

Burger King is back! Until this month, there was only one place you could get a Whopper in Hong Kong: the Departures terminal of Hong Kong International Airport. Not anymore!

A couple of weeks ago, I heard rumours that a Burger King just opened at the Peak Tower, but was a bit too occupied to check it out. But today, I was really craving a flame-broiled all-beef patty topped with lettuce, mayo, ketchup, and sliced onions (though I usually take the onions out), tomato, and pickles, all in a sesame seed bun. I just had to google "Burger" + "King" + "Hong" + "Kong", and found this. Yep! Burger King's here!

The problem was that I was reluctant to hike up Victoria Peak (elevation 552m and a 45 minute, 3km hike from HKU) on a day like today, when it was 32 degrees Celsius in the afternoon (but felt like 35) and with the barometer up at 79%. But having eaten Burger King only three times in the past year (twice at Hong Kong International Airport, and once at Don Muang International Airport in Bangkok), I decided to satisfy my craving.

I left my dorm at 6:51pm, just as the sun was setting. Although the air temperature had cooled, the air was still a bit humid. I found that University Drive, the road leading to the trail, seemed longer and steeper than I remembered. After walking for 1km, I felt the muscles in my lower back tighten, and felt some strain in my right calf. At the half-way point, I was already drenched in sweat. Was I going to give up? And NOT have a Whopper? Hell no! Well, I ended up sitting down to rest about four or five times, but by 7:40pm, I was digging into my onion rings.

My one complaint about Burger King in Hong Kong is that the burgers and the so-called "extra value meals" cost quite a bit, a lot more than McDonalds meals. A Whopper Extra Value Meal, which includes a Whopper, fries, and a soft drink, costs $40 HKD ($5.74 CAD - I know, I know, $5.74 CAD doesn't sound too bad, but it is when I can get BBQ pork rice for $2.29 CAD and a plate of fried rice for $2.72 CAD at the cafeterias in HKU). I applaud them for not charging me when I asked for onion rings instead of fries, but I did get charged an extra $3 HKD for iced lemon tea - I don't like carbonated drinks as much as I used to. A Whopper on its own costs $27 HKD ($3.86 CAD). By contrast, Whoppers cost $1.89 CAD every Wednesday (a.k.a. "Whopper Wednesdays"), and most McValue Meals in Hong Kong cost $21-26 HKD. Well, I suppose spending $40 HKD at Burger King is better than spending $100-150 HKD for a burger at a place like Dan Ryan's. Hell, I'm even willing to pay $50-60 HKD for a Triple O burger at White Spot. By the way, do any of you know where the White Spot in Pacific Place is? I just can't find it.

Oh yes, I say that Burger King is "back" because apparently, there used to be more Burger Kings here, but they all closed down, as did Wendy's and Jack in the Box, and most Hardees. I know that I can easily clog my arteries with local food, but sometimes, I want to do it North American style.

And no, Burger King here doesn't have poutine. Damn.