Tag: Jack in the Box

Jack in the Box recently overhauled its mobile app, and it’s been awful for me. It’s slow and doesn’t show the four Jack in the Box locations within three miles away from me, especially the one within walking distance. It lists one 11 miles away, but that one doesn’t accept mobile orders.

And because of that, I can’t order anything from the app. Now you might be thinking, “Why does this matter?”

Because to order the new Jack in the Box Basic Witch Shake, I had to say this product’s stupid name through the drive-thru speaker instead of ordering it through the app that allows me not to mutter a word. It’s so stupid that I’m not going to refer to it by its name for the rest of this review.

The seasonal menu item combines Jack’s Oreo shake with pumpkin spice flavoring, and it’s crowned with whipped topping and a maraschino cherry. I thought the Oreo and pumpkin spice combination was something we’ve never seen before from a fast food chain. But a quick search led me to a site I’ve never heard of that has a review of Burger King’s Pumpkin Spice Oreo Shake that came out in 2015.

But back to Jack’s Oreo pumpkin spice shake. Not only is its name stupid, but so is its flavor. It’s stupid good.

Maybe because it’s October and I can now properly celebrate the fall season without my conscious wondering if it’s too early, but the Oreo and pumpkin spice combination gave me the fall feels. While it doesn’t quite taste like a pumpkin pie with an Oreo crust, it’s close. And now I’m curious about how a Pumpkin Spice Oreo would taste with chocolate wafers instead of the Golden ones. The cookie bits’ slightly bitter cocoa bite goes well with the sweet, creamy base with all the flavors you’d expect from pumpkin spice. But despite cookie specks floating throughout the shake, my taste buds sometimes wondered if they’re really there. Of course, when that happens, this tastes like a pumpkin spice shake, and I’m not going to complain about that.

I am going to grumble about the whipped topping. When the white fluffy stuff melts into the shake, it noticeably dilutes the pumpkin spice flavor. When Jack’s app starts working for me again, I really have to start ordering these shakes without the toppings.

I’m sure Jack in the Box’s mobile app will get better for me over time, but there’s no need for its Oreo pumpkin spice shake to improve. Well, except for its name.

Purchased Price: $5.92
Size: Regular
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (760 calories – other numbers unavailable).

What is it?

Jack in the Box’s app says, “We took a good sandwich and made it juicier, tastier, and better than ever. Er, well, made it ‘Good Good.’ The classic, grilled 100% all white meat chicken fillet, lettuce, and tomatoes get so much better with Good Good Sauce all on top of Jack’s famous sourdough.”

This new Grilled Chicken Sandwich is a bit more basic regarding toppings and naming than Jack’s previous non-fried chicken sandwich offering — the Sourdough Grilled Chicken Club. It had lettuce, tomato, bacon, cheese, and mayo on sourdough.

How is it?

Sometimes my willpower to resist the worst items on a fast food menu is strong, and I decide to pick something sensible, like grilled chicken sandwiches, so I have nothing against them. But I can’t say I’ve ever had a GREAT fast food grilled chicken sandwich, and that’s still the case after eating this.

As a fan of Jack’s Good Good Sauce, I thought adding the sweet, tangy, and peppery condiment might elevate this, and it does a little. Actually, “elevate” might not be the best word to describe what the sauce does. It saves the sandwich by helping hide the chicken’s main flaw: it has very little flavor. While it’s bland, the poultry piece is surprisingly easy to bite and chew. As for the lettuce and tomato, they do a great job at being the obligatory ingredients in a grilled chicken sandwich.

Overall, I wouldn’t say it’s better tasting than Jack’s previous grilled chicken sandwich. It’s just different.

Anything else you need to know?

It’s been a minute since I’ve had a grilled chicken sandwich from Jack in the Box because I’ve been enjoying its Cluck Sandwich these past few years, but if my memory serves me right, I think the past grilled chicken was noticeably thicker.

Conclusion:

This updated Jack in the Box Grilled Chicken Sandwich is a perfectly edible sandwich. It will not blow away minds, and I wouldn’t hesitate to pick it up again if I want to eat something sensible from Jack in the Box’s menu.

Purchased Price: $7.49*
Size: N/A
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 500 calories (full nutritional information not available).

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

What is it?

I’ll let what I copy and pasted from Jack in the Box’s app explain it:

The name says it all: it’s gonna be delicious, and it’s only gonna be around for a limited time. That’s right, our latest craveable shake is inspired by the newest Girl Scout Cookie – Adventurefuls. This is our classic vanilla shake with brownie pieces and caramel syrup, topped off in the best way: with a Girl Scout Adventurefuls Cookie. Hurry in, the adventure won’t last forever.

The adventure also includes excavating a mountain of whipped topping.

How is it?

Full disclosure: I found the actual Adventurefuls cookie to be underwhelming. It’s good, but the brownie-flavored part should’ve been chewy instead of crunchy, like a real brownie, and I wish the caramel part wasn’t a disc of caramel-flavored creme candy.

But I’m happy to report that this delicious shake makes up for a shortcoming of the actual cookie. However, it has a few shortcomings of its own.

The brownie pieces’ sizes vary from specks to straw-clogging. While the larger ones are chewy and have a rich fudge taste, the flavor of the tinier pieces isn’t noticeable in the caramel-flavored ice cream. Also, I’m not sure I’d say the shake is full of brownies, or brownieful, if you will. The caramel syrup is thoroughly mixed throughout the base, and its flavor complements the fudginess of the larger brownie pieces. But because it’s a flavored syrup and not actual caramel, there aren’t any gooey swirls.

In the promo photos, the cookie is placed along the cup’s rim, like it’s lounging in a hot tub. But in my shake, it was placed face down, like it drowned in a hot tub. I know Girl Scout cookies are expensive, but I wish there were also Adventurefuls chunks mixed into the shake, like, um, body sweat in a hot tub.

It didn’t dawn on me until after the fact, but I should’ve crumbled the cookie and mixed it myself instead of doing the uncreative action of taking a couple of bites and then letting the rest sink to the bottom of the shake. But those bites helped me realize that the shake’s flavor is better than the cookie’s.

Anything else you need to know?

If you’re in the drive-thru or eating at the restaurant, ask for a spoon because there’s a good chance your straw will get clogged. Also, thank goodness there isn’t a cherry on top of this shake.

Conclusion:

Jack in the Box’s Girl Scout Adventurefuls Caramel Brownie Shake is more satisfying than the cookie.

Purchased Price: $5.50
Size: Regular
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 800 calories (other nutritional info not available on Jack in the Box website.).

If you’re wondering if Jack in the Box’s new Pineapple Express Shake has anything to do with the movie that has the same name, from what I can tell, it does not. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying this pineapple-flavored shake with whipped topping and a cherry.

I guess if you want, you can enjoy one while watching the movie. Or you could stick it in the freezer and consume it next year when the film celebrates its 15th anniversary.

Also, if you’re wondering if the shake has anything to do with the meteorological phenomenon that occurs along the Pacific coast of North America with the same name, it does not.

As a lover of many things pineapple-flavored, I approve of this shake. The pineapple syrup added to mine wasn’t wholly mixed in by the person who made my shake, but that didn’t stop the fruit flavor from coming through during my first few sips. Mixing it didn’t make the taste stronger.

The fruitiness isn’t overly sweet or artificial. There’s also an ever so slight citrusy sourness. But, for the most part, it’s pretty much what you’d expect from a pineapple-flavored shake. If you’re familiar with a Dole Whip, this tastes similar. However, I sometimes noticed something that made it taste like it had cake frosting. I don’t know if that was the whipped topping or when I sucked in a pocket of the plain vanilla base, but, again, it happened a few times. Maybe I need to mix better.

Overall, Jack in the Box’s Pineapple Express Shake is a delicious way to satisfy your sweet tooth and is an appropriate flavor now that the days are getting warmer. It may not have anything to do with the movie or a weather event. But if you want something sweet and tasty to enjoy while watching Pineapple Express, experiencing a Pineapple Express, or listening to the Bangalore-based progressive fusion band Pineapple Express, this will satisfy you.

Purchased Price: $5.39*
Size: Regular
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: Not available on Jack in the Box’s website. Also, what’s up with Jack’s website. It hasn’t been updated in months.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.