Carl’s Jr. is taking on McDonald’s with a new $5.99 double burger that claims to have twice the beef as a Big Mac.
The chain, which was born in California in the 1950s, is hoping to open a new front in the fast-food value war with its latest limited-time menu item, the $5.99 Cali XL Burger.
Carl’s Jr. claims its price is below the Big Mac – according to an April 2025 CashNetUSA study, the Big Mac can cost from about $4.70 to more than $6.50, depending on the market, giving the Big Mac better value in the burger price competition.
They also claim that Cali XL contains more beef. Two 3.5-ounce patties (total cooked weight of 7 ounces), twice the weight of a Big Mac, which the chain said was verified by independent internal experts, Carl’s Jr. said in a news release.
USA TODAY contacted McDonald’s about the weight of the Big Mac patty.
“Sad Mac Buy Back” campaign: Get a free hamburger with your McDonald’s receipt
As part of Carl’s Jr.’s “Sad Mac Buy Back” campaign, the chain is giving away a free Cali XL burger to customers who load a receipt from a McDonald’s burger purchase into their My Rewards account on the Carl’s Jr. website through Nov. 21 between Jan. 1, 2025 and Nov. 11, 2025. Eligible guests will receive the benefits in their accounts starting November 22nd.
“People want burgers that actually offer value, and our new Cali XL has more meat, more flavor and more value,” Paz Romero, vice president of brand for Carl’s Jr., said in a statement. “‘Sad Mac Buyback’ is our way of letting our guests try it out for themselves by replacing their disappointment with something better, no questions asked.”
The value meal war, which began in May 2024 as a response to nervous consumers worried about rising food prices and inflation, continues to this day. For example, McDonald’s recently added Extra Value Meals to its menu.
What’s in Carl’s Jr.’s new Cali XL burger?
For a limited time, the new $5.99 menu item is made with two 3.5-ounce patties on a seeded bun, topped with two slices of American cheese, grilled onions, classic sauce, lettuce and tomato.
For an additional $2, you can get a combo with an order of natural cut fries and a Coke.
Carl’s Jr., owned by CKE Restaurant Holdings, has more than 1,000 restaurants across the United States. The parent company also owns Hardee’s Restaurants LLC, which has more than 3,800 franchised and company-owned restaurants in 44 states, 43 foreign countries and U.S. territories.
Carl’s Jr. was named runner-up in two categories in the USA TODAY 10 Best Awards: Best Fast Food Restaurant and Best Fast Food Breakfast.
Carl’s Junior Cali XL Burger Calories and Nutritional Information
Here are the nutritional details for Carl’s Jr.’s new Cali XL burger, according to the restaurant chain:
- calorie: 950 (47.5% of daily calorie intake, based on 2,000 calories per day)
- Total fat: 60 grams (77%)
- cholesterol: 140mg (47%)
- sodium: 1490mg 65%
- carbohydrates: 58g (21%)
- protein: 47g (94%)
Mike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, and email him at: mike snyder & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com
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