Omnivore - The difference between Krystal and White Castle

Small, square, similar

Image

Illustration by Amanda Croy
 

Upon moving to Chicago, I was super excited that after decades spent living in the South, I was in a place where White Castle was the regional purveyor of small square burgers. Tiny, steamed, fast food burgers are the best drunk-stoned food ever and everyone knows it and that's why there's a movie about it. Which isn't to say they aren't delicious whilst sober, as well.

I have fond childhood memories of White Castle. I'd occasionally accompany my dad to work at the car dealership he managed in Yonkers, New York, and it was one of the closest places to grab lunch. I loved how the buns' inside parts got wet and sticky, how they clung to those little bits of reconstituted onion. Krystal burgers have the same appeal, but White Castle burgers always existed in my mind as the genuine article and, therefore, slightly better.

So, I recently reintroduced White Castle to my shitfood diet and I can now tell you precisely what the difference is between Krystal and White Castle ... there is no discernable difference between the burgers at Krystal and those at White Castle. People prefer whichever burger they were raised on. And despite White Castle being my first, Krystal was in my life longer, and I absolutely prefer it.

And there are reasons beyond the burgers ...

— White Castle's onion rings were hideous. Really bitter and gross. Krystal doesn't have onion rings, which is fine. If you're not going to do it right don't do it at all.

— Krystal Chiks are very, very good. Try one with the usual pickle and mayo, but add bacon. It's really something.

— White Castle spent the summer trying to push its "saucy" BBQ sliders, and that just sounds awful.

Which do you prefer and why? Or do both make you want to puke? There are no wrong answers in the world of small, square burgers.





Comments

  • Noavatar

    Bret Chapman (unverified)

    Krystal does offer onion rings seasonally. Using Vidalia onions as in Vidalia, GA.
    I do wish they were year round.
    I prefer the Krystal slider over WC, more meat, no holes.
    With the French fries, Krystals are shoestring cut, WC is crinkle cut.
    I prefer WC crinkle cut as it picks up more ketchup when dipped.
    But local Krystal offers 10 Krystals + 10 Krystal hot wings, $10.
    That is a deal.

  • Noavatar

    Jack Sandberg (unverified)

    I really can't say which one I prefer; I've never been anywhere that had them next door to each other, allowing a true side by side comparison. I tend to think the White Castle has an edge on burgers, with those little onions steamed on top.....yum....what was I saying?...oh, yeah. Having said that, Krystal more than makes up for it, in those wonderful little corn pups! I'll always love the Castle, but I gotta give it to the South. There really is no denying the power of a Krystal.
  • Noavatar

    DK (unverified)

    I grew up on Krystal then moved to Chicago where I had White Castle. Having Krystal again after that, I think that the Krystal bun has a slight sweetness to it. It seems fitting to Southern tastes. In Nashville TN, there are a White Castle and a Krystal within seven tenths of a mile from each other. The next time I am there, I will have to remember to do a side-by-side comparison.
  • Noavatar

    Joe (unverified)

    My impression of Krystal is that the 'burgers' are essentially identical. White Castle has decent mozzarella sticks which Krystal doesn't offer. Otherwise their sides menu is substantially similar.

    They are so similar overall in fact many people think Krystal and White Castle are like Hardees and Carl Jr's (i.e. the same franchise with different names and slightly different menu items in different parts of the country).

    But no, apparently they are two completely distinct corporate entities.

  • Noavatar

    Kelly (unverified)

    I personally like white castle better!! It just taste better to me and I am from the south.
  • Noavatar

    greg (unverified)

    I grew up with Krystal and White Castle being right across the street from each other in Nashville. I've had both my whole life. I actually have no preference. Sometimes I'm in the mood for Krystal, and sometimes I'm in the mood for White Castle. They are definitely VERY different to me, though.