The KFC Zinger Double Down King is an “all meat” burger comprising cheese, bacon and a beef patty sandwiched between two KFC breast fillets. In other words, it takes the OTT concept of the KFC Double and elevates it to ludicrous proportions.
Tragically, the Double Down King isn’t available in Australia, but don’t let that stop you from sampling its colon-clogging delights – as the following taste test demonstrates, it’s possible to build your own. The results are spectacular… and probably a bit lethal.
As you can see from the above photo, the Double Down King Burger is essentially a ‘roided up KFC Double for thrill-seeking Evel Knievel types. Instead of just sandwiching bacon and cheese between two deep-fried chicken filets, the King also crams in a plump beef patty for good measure. Much like the bespoke Noah’s Ark burger, it grants the holy trinity of chicken, beef and bacon with every single bite.
As soon as I saw this monstrosity on our sister site Gizmodo, I knew I had to make a DIY version: science demanded it. Fortunately, the ingredients can be easily assembled by visiting KFC and any takeaway burger chain. I plumped for a Hungry Jack’s outlet as this happened to be the nearest option. However, you should be able to pull off similar results at McDonald’s or your local burger joint; whichever beef floats your boat.
For the purposes of this experiment, I ordered a regular Whopper and added bacon. This was the most cost-effective way to get hold of the non-chicken ingredients. (Procuring the cheese and bacon from KFC would require purchasing another burger as they don’t sell these items separately.) I also requested no salad to cut down on mess and food wastage. Unfortunately, this doesn’t bring the overall price down. Tch.
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With burger in hand, I headed to the scene of the crime and ordered the chicken patties. It soon became evident that the waiting times were much longer at KFC due to larger queues and slower service. If you decide to replicate this burger yourself, we recommend heading to KFC first.
You can buy KFC breast fillets for $3.95 apiece. This brings the total to a pretty hefty $15.40. You’re actually better off purchasing a KFC fillet box, which adds a soft drink, potato and gravy and fries for around $2 extra. While this is even more expensive, the addition of sides and a drink means you won’t feel quite as ripped off.
With all the necessary parts in tow, I sat down and began to assemble my Whopper of mass destruction. Interestingly, the Whopper patty turned out to be slightly too large for the Zinger fillets. I reckon you could probably get away with using a Whopper Junior patty, which would also bring the cost down. Once everything was slotted in place, this is what the DIY Double Down King Burger looked like:
Doubtlessly, some of you are recoiling from the above image in horror, while others are wiping away a buildup of slaver while contemplating the price. Frankly, neither reaction is wrong.
While it’s hard to work out an exact kilojuele count after taking away the Whopper’s buns, we’d wager this monstrosity lands somewhere in the region 4500kJ: and that’s without counting a soft drink or any sides. But god did it taste delicious.
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This is not the first time I’ve assembled a Frankenstein’s monster out of several takeaway products – but it is the first time that the result didn’t taste like an unholy abomination. In all seriousness, if this thing was on KFC’s menu, I would order it on a regular basis.
The addition of grilled beef added a hint of sweetness to the salty chicken. From flavour to texture, it was a perfect marriage: fat love in food form. By the end of the meal, our mouth felt like a multi-animal abattoir and I didn’t regret a thing.
If you have the means and intestinal fortitude, I highly recommend building one of your own. Just, y’know: don’t do it on a regular basis.
Verdict: 9/10
This story has been updated since its original publication.
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