Like twins but with separate identities. This statement best sums up the Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. chains of fast-food restaurants, although there have been recent moves that further emphasized their differences more than their similarities. Hardee’s / Carl’s Jr. prices are considered to be average for the fast food industry.
Both chains, nonetheless, still have the smiling yellow star as part of its branding signage as well as their emphasis on contemporary American fast-food favorites like burgers. Each of the chains also have specific geographical territory although there are some areas with both chains present.
Below are the latest Hardee’s / Carl’s Jr. menu prices.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
BreakfastMade from scratch biscuits | |
Combo includes small hash rounds and small drinkUpgrade to medium combo $0.59 or large combo $0.99 | |
| Loaded Omelet Biscuit | $3.19 |
| Loaded Omelet Biscuit (Combo) | $5.19 |
| Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit | $3.19 |
| Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit (Combo) | $5.19 |
| Sausage & Egg Biscuit | $2.89 |
| Sausage & Egg Biscuit (Combo) | $4.89 |
| Monster Biscuit | $4.19 |
| Monster Biscuit (Combo) | $6.19 |
| Biscuit "N' Gravy | $2.79 |
| Biscuit "N' Gravy (Combo) | $4.59 |
| Country-Fries Steak Biscuit | $3.09 |
| Country-Fries Steak Biscuit (Combo) | $5.09 |
| Honey Butter Sausage Biscuit | $2.09 |
| Honey Butter Sausage Biscuit (Combo) | $4.09 |
| Honey Butter Bacon Biscuit | $2.39 |
| Honey Butter Bacon Biscuit (Combo) | $4.39 |
| Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit | $3.89 |
| Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit (Combo) | $5.89 |
More Breakfast | |
Combo includes small hash rounds and small drinkUpgrade to medium combo $0.59 or large combo $0.99 | |
| Loaded Burrito | $3.59 |
| Loaded Burrito (Combo) | $5.59 |
| Sunrise Croissant | $3.19 |
| Sunrise Croissant (Combo) | $5.19 |
| Frisco Breakfast Sandwich | $3.79 |
| Frisco Breakfast Sandwich (Combo) | $5.79 |
| Chicken Fillet Biscuit | $3.89 |
| Chicken Fillet Biscuit (Combo) | $5.89 |
| Pork Chop 'N' Gravy Biscuit | $3.19 |
| Pork Chop 'N' Gravy Biscuit (Combo) | $4.99 |
| Hardee Breakfast Platter with Bacon or Sausage | $4.19 |
Breakfast Sides & More | |
| Hash Rounds (Small) | $1.59 |
| Hash Rounds (Medium) | $1.79 |
| Hash Rounds (Large) | $1.99 |
| Cinnamon 'N' Raisin Biscuit | $1.49 |
| Cinnamon 'N' Raisin Biscuit (2 Pack) | $2.29 |
| Cinnamon 'N' Raisin Biscuit (6 Pack) | $5.19 |
| Sausage Biscuit | $2.29 |
| Sausage Biscuit (2 Pc.) | $2.49 |
| Bacon, Egg & Cheese Slider | $1.59 |
| Sausage, Egg & Cheese Slider | $1.59 |
MealsCharbroiled 100% black Angus beef thickburger | |
Combo includes small french fries and small drinkUpgrade to medium combo $0.59 or large combo $0.99 | |
| 1/3 lb. Cheeseburger | $4.59 |
| 1/3 lb. Cheeseburger (Combo) | $7.09 |
| 1/3 lb. Original Thickburger | $4.89 |
| 1/3 lb. Original Thickburger (Combo) | $7.39 |
| 1/3 lb. Mushroom & Swiss Thickburger | $5.19 |
| 1/3 lb. Mushroom & Swiss Thickburger (Combo) | $7.69 |
| 1/3 lb. Bacon Cheese Thickburger | $5.79 |
| 1/3 lb. Bacon Cheese Thickburger (Combo) | $8.29 |
| 1/3 lb. Frisco Thickburger | $5.59 |
| 1/3 lb. Frisco Thickburger (Combo) | $8.09 |
| 2/3 lb. Monster Thickburger | $7.69 |
| 2/3 lb. Monster Thickburger (Combo) | $10.19 |
| 1/4 lb. Cheeseburger | $3.09 |
| 1/4 lb. Cheeseburger (Combo) | $5.59 |
| 1/4 lb. Thickburger | $3.49 |
| 1/4 lb. Thickburger (Combo) | $5.99 |
Chicken SandwichesCharbroiled chicken sandwiches | |
Combo includes small french fries and small drinkUpgrade to medium combo $0.59 or large combo $0.99 | |
| Big Chicken Fillet Sandwich | $4.89 |
| Big Chicken Fillet Sandwich (Combo) | $7.39 |
| Charbroiled Chicken Club Sandwich | $5.59 |
| Charbroiled Chicken Club Sandwich (Combo) | $8.09 |
| BBQ Sandwich | $5.19 |
| BBQ Sandwich (Combo) | $7.69 |
| Club Sandwich | $5.59 |
| Club Sandwich (Combo) | $8.09 |
All Star MealsMeals includes french fries, drink and a cookie | |
| 2 Hot Ham 'N' Cheese Sandwiches | $5.00 |
| Hand Breaded Chicken Tenders 3 Pc. | $5.00 |
| Double Cheeseburger & Spicy Chicken Sandwich | $6.00 |
| 2 Double Charbroiled Sliders | $6.00 |
| Triple Cheeseburger & Spicy Chicken Sandwich | $7.00 |
Other Choices | |
Combo includes small french fries and small drinkUpgrade to medium combo $0.59 or large combo $0.99 | |
| Big Hot Ham 'N' Cheese | $4.79 |
| Big Hot Ham 'N' Cheese (Combo) | $7.29 |
| Jumbo Chili Dog (Each) | $2.79 |
| Jumbo Chili Dog (Combo) | $5.29 |
Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders | |
Combo includes small french fries and small drinkUpgrade to medium combo $0.59 or large combo $0.99 | |
| Original Chicken Tenders 3 Pc. | $4.19 |
| Original Chicken Tenders 3 Pc. (Combo) | $6.69 |
| Original Chicken Tenders 5 Pc. | $5.99 |
| Original Chicken Tenders 5 Pc. (Combo) | $8.49 |
Chicken Tender Boxes | |
| 10 Pc. | $11.99 |
| 15 Pc. | $15.99 |
| 20 Pc. | $19.99 |
Sides & More | |
| Small Hamburger | $1.69 |
| Small Cheeseburger | $2.09 |
| Double Cheeseburger | $2.79 |
| Single Slider | $1.25 |
| Double Slider | $1.75 |
| Side Salad | $2.09 |
| Fries (Small) | $1.89 |
| Fries (Medium) | $1.99 |
| Fries (Large) | $2.19 |
| Crispy Curls (Small) | $1.89 |
| Crispy Curls (Medium) | $2.09 |
| Crispy Curls (Large) | $2.29 |
| Beer-Battered Onion Rings | $2.39 |
Desserts | |
| Apple Turnover | $1.99 |
| Cookie | $1.00 |
| Hand-Scooped Ice Cream Milk Shakes (Chocolate, Vanilla or Strawberry) | $3.39 |
Beverages | |
| Coffee (Small) | $1.29 |
| Coffee (Medium) | $1.59 |
| Coffee (Large) | $1.79 |
| Soft Drinks (Small) | $1.79 |
| Soft Drinks (Medium) | $1.99 |
| Soft Drinks (Large) | $2.19 |
| Simply Orange | $2.39 |
| Milk | $1.39 |
| Dasani | $1.79 |
Red Burrito | |
| Chicken Quesadilla | $3.09 |
| Chicken Bowl | $4.19 |
| Chicken Super Nachos | $3.49 |
| Beef Super Nachos | $3.49 |
| Chicken Taco Salad | $5.99 |
| Beef Taco Salad | $5.99 |
Grilled Burritos | |
| Grilled Beef Burrito | $3.99 |
| Grilled Chicken Burrito | $3.99 |
| Bean, Rice & Cheese Burrito | $2.39 |
| Add Combo - Chips & Salsa or Small Fries and Small Drink | $2.50 |
| Side Rice | $0.99 |
| Side Beans | $0.99 |
| Side Sour Cream | $0.25 |
| Side Chips & Salsa | $1.99 |
Tacos | |
| Beef Taco | $1.29 |
| Chicken Soft Taco | $1.79 |
| Beef Taco (5 Pack) | $5.49 |
Specials | |
| Double Charbroiled Slider (Happy Hour 2-5 PM) | $1.00 |
| Any Medium Drink (Happy Hour 2-5 PM) | $1.00 |
| Mocha Coffee Milkshake (Limited Time) | $3.39 |
| Mix & Match 2 for $4 (Limited Time) | $4.00 |
Hardee's/Carl's Jr. prices provided by PriceListo.History
Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. began as separate entities on opposite sides of the United States.
Carl Karcher opened the first founded Carl’s Drive-in Barbecue as a hot dog stand in 1941 in Los Angeles, California. The single location was soon joined by four other full-sized Carl’s Drive-in Barbecue restaurants in just five years. With the success of his first venture was so successful that Karcher also opened Carl’s Jr., a separate group of quick-service burger restaurants.
William Hardee opened the first Hardee’s in 1961 in North Carolina. Soon, Hardee’s was a familiar sight in the South and Midwest; the chain opened its restaurants in areas were the likes of Burger King and McDonald’s didn’t have restaurants, a gamble that paid off well.
In 1997, Karcher and CKE Partnership acquired the Hardee’s chain as part of its expansion plans. The two separate chains were operated as co-brands with similar, if not the same, menus although their respective names and logos were retained in most areas.
But on February 2018, the chains’ management announced a campaign that shifted its focus from emphasizing the chains’ oneness to focusing on their distinctiveness as two separate brands. Carl’s Jr. launched The Call of Carl’s, the first Carl’s-only national campaign. Hardee’s soon followed.
Furthermore, the management has also stated that the two brands will develop distinctive menus over time. There will be specific menu items relevant to each of these two brands but with certain overlaps, a development that fans of the brands will likely find to their advantage.
What They’re Famous For
Both Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. are famous for their line of charbroiled burgers available in several varieties. Carl’s Jr. is especially known for its use of sexy marketing gimmicks in enticing consumers to try its hamburgers.
Why Eat Here
Each of these two brands have their distinctive identities despite the similarities in their menus and marketing programs. On one hand, Carl’s Jr. has a more aggressive and disruptive –or bigger and bolder, if we say so ourselves – West Coast look and feel about it. On the other hand, Hardee’s has a more East Coast/Southern attitude with its emphasis on comfort food, as well as an earnest approach to the American classics.
Take your pick although your choice will be largely influenced by your location. Carl’s Jr restaurants are concentrated in the West Coast while Hardee’s restaurants are in the East Coast. For now, the menus are still similar so either pick doesn’t mean a significant difference in dining experience.
The menus are as extensive as the food are flavorful, filling and satisfying, especially with the use of premium ingredients and with generous serving sizes. The hamburger selection features Famous Star with Cheese, Beyond Famous Star with Cheese, Superstar with Cheese, Western Bacon Cheeseburger, and the Big Carl, all of which are seriously a cut above the rest. The iconic burgers include the 1/3-Pound and ½-Pound Original Thickburger and the Guacamole Thickburger.
If you have a hankering for larger hamburgers with a wow factor, then go to your nearest Carl’s Jr. or Hardee’s joint and satisfy your craving.
The chicken-based items include grilled chicken, hand-breaded chicken, and the chicken fillet sandwiches. While these are delicious, keep in mind that Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. are more known for their hamburgers than their chicken dishes.
There are several salads and sides, too, although the selection is quite limited. The sides, for example, only consist of fries in a few versions, as well as onion rings and fried zucchini.
The desserts are chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookie, and strawberry swirl cheesecake. The limited selection is understandable as you may not have the space in your stomach for dessert once you finish an entire burger.
The drinks are aplenty, nonetheless, from soft drinks to coffee, orange juice, milk, and shakes. The shakes are available in chocolate, strawberry, and Oreo cookies.
In keeping with both chains’ healthy eating thrust, the menus also feature several healthier options. At Carl’s Jr. restaurants, these include Gluten Sensitive, Trim It, Low carb It, and Veg It.
Be sure to try the burritos and tacos, too, since these are more than decent food. These are also served in large portions suitable for sharing.
In both Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants, the customer service is above par and it’s something that customers are keen to express their appreciation for.
To learn more about Hardee’s / Carl’s Jr. or to find a location near you, visit their website at www.hardees.com and www.carlsjr.com.
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