Hungry Jacks = the McDonalds of Oz?

BossArky · 24-02-2010 7:40am #1

Is Hungry Jacks basically an Australian type of McDonalds? Same type of food? Same standard?

I haven't been in to one and don't plan to as I'm assuming it will be dire. However, the TV ad last night got me wondering, as the ad seemed a bit more upmarket(?) than McDs.

The ad goes like this:

There is a couple sitting by a swimming pool
The fellow is eyeing up some other woman
His gf proceeds to knock the other one into the pool whilst munching on a burger....

Anyone got first had Hungry Jacks experience?

kazza90210 · 24-02-2010 7:49am

I thought it was burger king under a different name same logo and all. Its basically McDonalds some people think its nicer personally they are the same to me!

spurious · 24-02-2010 8:04am

Hungry Jacks is Burger King.

ballooba · 24-02-2010 8:28am

It's Burger King and I've had more first hand experiences than I care to mention.

Max Power1 · 24-02-2010 8:54am

never mind, didnt notice this was the Oz thread!
*duuh* lol

Xavi6 · 24-02-2010 9:09am

McDonald's actually bought the copyright for the name Burger King in Australia so they had to choose an alternative name. Or so the word on the street goes anyway.

Jagera · 24-02-2010 9:24am

There's some detail on good old wikipedia that goes into it.

Some little shop in Adelaide owned the name, then that copyright lapsed, then BK took HJ to court and BK started opening BK's, then HJ took BK to court & won... etc

brendansmith · 24-02-2010 9:27am

Hungry Jacks food is filth.

Jagera · 24-02-2010 11:07am

BossArky wrote: »

Anyone got first had Hungry Jacks experience?

What kazza said. It's the same as McDonalds really. Sh1tty sloppy messy tasteless burgers couples with cold crappy chips and coke from a post-mix machine. leaves your guts feeling like total crap for the rest of the day and you're hungry again after an hour.

Don't expect upmarket.

Good for hangovers.

m@cc@ · 24-02-2010 12:52pm

BossArky wrote: »

I haven't been in to one and don't plan to as I'm assuming it will be dire. However, the TV ad last night got me wondering, as the ad seemed a bit more upmarket(?) than McDs.

Sure McD's are trying to be upmarket as well with the Angus burgers. As if the blood and guts of an Aberdeen Angus cow is superior to any other cow..........

bw wrote: »

There's some detail on good old wikipedia that goes into it.

Some little shop in Adelaide owned the name, then that copyright lapsed, then BK took HJ to court and BK started opening BK's, then HJ took BK to court & won... etc

I never understood why BK went through so much hassle when they could have just bought the copyright (assuming the shopkeeper would sell). 'Hey, here's ten million dollars, change your name' 'Fair enough'.

BossArky · 25-02-2010 12:00am

Thanks for the info above folks.

Just to update - last night I went and met up with a fellow down around the Docklands that I haven't seen in almost 7 years. After two pints I was heading home by Southern Cross Station and feeling a bit peckish. With this tread fresh in my mind I went in to the Hungry Jacks there......

It was terrible

ballooba · 25-02-2010 12:25am

In fairness, that's not the cleanest food court.

brendansmith · 25-02-2010 1:22am

I have heard their new 'angry angus' burger described as "Vomit between two burger buns"

Doop · 25-02-2010 1:46am

Hungry Jacks = Burger king
Mc D = Mc D
Hungry Jacks + McD = sick feeling in stomack
Boards.ie thread = making me hungry

Mackman · 25-02-2010 2:01am

I prefer Macca's to HJ's, but every now and then i get HJ's (like once a month at most).

They do have the unlimited refills on the drinks though, not that you'd want any more after finishing a large one. nearly a litre!!

brendansmith · 25-02-2010 2:01am

Doop wrote: »

Hungry Jacks = Burger king
Mc D = Mc D
Hungry Jacks + McD = sick feeling in stomack
Boards.ie thread = making me hungry

Are you 5 years old?

m@cc@ · 25-02-2010 2:07am

brendansmith wrote: »

I have heard their new 'angry anus' burger described as "Vomit between two burger buns"

FYP

DamoDLK · 25-02-2010 2:59am

If your eating in Hungry Jacks look at the fries package on the back it says its part of the Burger King Co.

I miss the ol double bacon and cheese all the same..

CabanSail · 25-02-2010 9:40am

I really don't know how either of those chains make any money in Australia when you can ussually get a really good Hamburger at the local Milk Bar. They are often not only cheaper but a lot more healthy with lean burger & lots of fresh salad. Ohhhh and you get grated carrot & beetroot on them.

m@cc@ · 25-02-2010 10:37am

CabanSail wrote: »

I really don't know how either of those chains make any money in Australia when you can ussually get a really good Hamburger at the local Milk Bar. They are often not only cheaper but a lot more healthy with lean burger & lots of fresh salad. Ohhhh and you get grated carrot & beetroot on them.

Marketing. Also, carrot on a burger? Yuck!

ballooba · 25-02-2010 11:35am

CabanSail wrote: »

I really don't know how either of those chains make any money in Australia when you can ussually get a really good Hamburger at the local Milk Bar. They are often not only cheaper but a lot more healthy with lean burger & lots of fresh salad. Ohhhh and you get grated carrot & beetroot on them.

Do Milk Bars exist outside of Melbourne?

CabanSail · 25-02-2010 9:09pm

ballooba wrote: »

Do Milk Bars exist outside of Melbourne?

Milk Bars, Corner Shops etc. I still call them Milk Bars as it what we called them in Sydney when I grew up.

brendansmith · 25-02-2010 11:00pm

CabanSail wrote: »

Milk Bars, Corner Shops etc. I still call them Milk Bars as it what we called them in Sydney when I grew up.

Milk bars?? WTF

I wouldnt eat a burger out of 7/11 if you paid me.

ballooba · 25-02-2010 11:00pm

CabanSail wrote: »

Milk Bars, Corner Shops etc. I still call them Milk Bars as it what we called them in Sydney when I grew up.

The only Milk Bar I've ever been to that served food was in South Yarra. I didn't realise it was that common. Cheers.

BossArky · 25-02-2010 11:20pm

Last night the tram down Swanston street stopped outside a Hungry Jack's so I had time for the following thoughts:

Both "burger" and "hungry" have 6 letters.
Both "king" and "jack" have 4 letters.
Why didn't they call it "Hungry Jack" instead of "Hungry Jack's"? This would match exactly with the original name "Burger King".
Do you think they picked Jack as a random name (think "Hungry John's" / "Hungry Bobs" or because it is somewhat similar to "King"? i.e think of a deck of cards --> 9, 10, jack, queen, king?

Ok, I'm out of detailed analysis :pac:

CabanSail wrote: »

you can ussually get a really good Hamburger at the local Milk Bar

Cheers. I'll check that out.

Doop · 26-02-2010 12:53am

In fairness, I wouldnt eat much out of any of the milk bars ive been into... unless well packaged.

Maybe im going into the wrong ones... but my general impression... is not particularly clear, overpriced convienance, and a fair bit of attitude from the owner/worker.

Saying that plenty of cool little corner cafes that do great food, at good prices..

Mellor · 27-02-2010 8:00am

Xavi6 wrote: »

McDonald's actually bought the copyright for the name Burger King in Australia so they had to choose an alternative name. Or so the word on the street goes anyway.

Nah, not McDs

BossArky wrote: »

[*]Do you think they picked Jack as a random name (think "Hungry John's" / "Hungry Bobs" or because it is somewhat similar to "King"? i.e think of a deck of cards --> 9, 10, jack, queen, king?
.

The australian franchise is owned by a guy whose name is Jack. So he picked his name.
He also owns KFC and dominios,

ChemicalCobra · 27-02-2010 10:46am

Yah it's defo Burger King. I was there a couple of years ago and the food came with Burger King napkins like we have here! The name Burger King was already copyrighted in Australia so they chose Hungry Jacks instead. The food is the same as it is in other Burger Kings in Europe etc... basically not great

Father Damo · 15-03-2010 8:30am

CabanSail wrote: »

I really don't know how either of those chains make any money in Australia when you can ussually get a really good Hamburger at the local Milk Bar. They are often not only cheaper but a lot more healthy with lean burger & lots of fresh salad. Ohhhh and you get grated carrot & beetroot on them.

Never seen these but the big yank chains are usually the only place you can get a reasonable burger. Most burgers from independent places are beyond tasteless. Miss my old Italian chipper burgers so much here.

DamoDLK · 15-03-2010 9:16am

Father Damo wrote: »

Never seen these but the big yank chains are usually the only place you can get a reasonable burger. Most burgers from independent places are beyond tasteless. Miss my old Italian chipper burgers so much here.

Here here, I miss the Roma!!!

brendansmith · 15-03-2010 10:42am

Lads, im telling you, when I went home in 2008 I went down the chipper and got all the things i missed. Scallops, Onion rings, chips in a bag with plenty of salt and vinegar.............It did nothing for me. I wondered why I had made the fuss.

And the 'Chinese food' in Ireland turned my stomach, no veggies but instead chicken in different shades of brown and yellow sauce under a centimeter of oil.

Blugh

Hungry Jacks = the McDonalds of Oz?

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