With its superior products at digestible prices, Carl's Jr. is growing up fast in these parts.
Carl's Jr. Restaurants LLC and Hardee's Restaurants LLC independent burger chain from California has over 3,800 franchised and company-operated restaurants in the US and 43 other countries. Six in Thailand are all operated by R&R Restaurant Group led by Rick and Ron Haque Sikder who went to school in the States and wanted to bring the authentic burger taste home.
Thailand got to try its first handmade Carl's Jr. burger in Pattaya in 2012. Now there are branches at Central Festival Pattaya Beach; Mega Bangna; Nana Square Plaza; Holiday Inn Sukhumvit 22; Mid-town Asoke (opp. GMM), Terminal 21, Pattaya, and one upcoming at Sukhumvit 11.
Cut to the chase: when Brad Sommer of holding company CKE Restaurants says, "When it comes to delivering affordable yet premium burgers, Carl's Jr. is in a class by itself," he's being only being a tad hyperbolic.
Creating these authentic American classic burgers starts with the patties: imported 100% beef hamburgers that are chargrilled over an open flame. The burgers are served on bakery-fresh sesame or honey-wheat seeded buns toasted and topped with salad and cheese or BBQ sauce, crispy bacon, American cheese, deep fried onion rings etc.
Buns are baked locally using CJ's ingredients. Ditto the FDA-approved pickles and relishes and the regular batter for the chicken (spicy's coming).
Delivery takes a couple of minutes because everything is cooked to order -- no holding trays for anything to go cold and soggy in. Orders are delivered to table, so no queueing. You can tidy your tray away afterwards or leave it behind.
Interior design at Suk 22, for instance, is industrial style with exposed ductwork, metal grills, sturdy stools at a counter facing the street and high or low tables. With charger points and free WiFi, it feels dot.com common room.
Burgers start at 59 baht, combos (burger, fries) at 109 baht. Hand-breaded golden chicken is 37 for 1 piece, 69 for two.
There are lots of options and permutations, including premium and smaller sizes, the latter introduced for lighter eating locals, though still claimed to be bigger than competitors. There's no stinting on quality.
Choose from beef burgers, char-grilled chicken burgers, hand-breaded chicken sandwiches, chicken salad and vegetarian salad, original and chili dogs, beef chili-cheese nachos.
Plus regular featured burgers, say a guacamole bacon burger (220), and offers like Junior Double California cheese burger with fries and rings (179).
Patties and chicken can be served sandwiched in lettuce instead of a bun, Carl's Jr's special "LOW CARB" menu. Handily, Carls Jr's main website gives nutritional details.
Sides start with criss-cut fries, lattices of dry spice-coated potato, and natural cut fries, made from real potatoes with little bits of skin to prove it. Plus chili fries, bacon ranch fries, hand-breaded onion rings etc.
Choose your sauce with your order -- mustard, honey mustard, mayo, BBQ, chilli, Heinz ketchup, thousand island. Need more? Ask at the counter or there's free-flow ketchup and chilli sauce at the drinks counter.
The ice-cream milk shakes (79) are great too. Vanilla flavour is made with 100% hand-scooped fresh vanilla ice cream and a dash of milk. Plus chocolate, strawberry, cookies & cream, and rotating features.
Beverages flow on an unlimited refill model. The most popular options are fuz, Coca-Cola's burgeoning iced tea, and homemade iced tea with fresh lime.
"We're a high visibility premium brand but affordable," the brothers summarize succinctly.
Better yet, the Suk 22 branch is open 24 hours…
