Krystal - FFSR

The latest in Sam’s ongoing series reviewing American fast food. God help me it is so hard not to editorialise here.The Canadian members of the family think Krystal is bad food. The American member thinks its hearty old fashioned American fare.On this, I side with the American.I got the 4 Cheese Krystals combo with fries and a coke.Starting with the least important: the coke was full of hfcs and I didn’t even hate it. Plenty of syrup to make it tasty and addictive.The fries were on the thick side with a flash of skin. I think they could have been significantly improved by being fresh not frozen and/or a better seasoning. I felt I needed sauce to eat them and that should be optional not mandatory in my opinion. A common issue with fast food fries.Now down to the important bit. The big event. The showpiece. The Krystals. They’re served in delightful individual boxes, colour-coded to indicate their contents. It’s a lovely experience to delicately retrieve the little fellas from their hiding places. Inside is a square, steamed, white bun. Soft and pillowy. Light as a feather. They’re adorned with American mustard and a tangy pickle.Now, I had to look this up to be sure, but Krystal cook their burgers in a way unique to America. Never have I found this way of cooking a burger in the UK. They use a flat top grill and place a holey beef burger on top of onions and cover the lot with the bun. This steams the burger rather than frying it. What you get when it all comes together is a moist and dainty little burger. Maybe four to six bites big. There’s a subtle chew to a fresh one, although I did observe a snappy reduction in quality if left undisturbed. Eat slowly at your peril. Scarfing them is your best bet. Don’t save the best until last or they won’t be the best when you get there.I found their flavour to be classic and simple and honest. I liked the jeopardy of needing to eat them at their best because I think their best is a real treat.My advice: skip the fries, get a sackful of Cheese Krystals. And if you’re anything like me, grab a handful of extra mustard packets.