As much as we love the hand-crafted croissants from Essence or the crepes and coffee from Jobot, these one-of-a-kind breakfast joints tend to be few and far between. Sometimes we have to slum it at the mega chains.
Unfortunately, those deep-fried dens generally do better at scrambling rubbery eggs and rock hard biscuits that look more plastic than palatable. Thankfully, these joints have started serving up oatmeal,a lighter alternative to those big-ass (in more ways than one) breakfasts. McDonald's has been around for a while; Burger King's just hit town.
See who sows the not-so-wild oats better after the jump.
In One Corner: McDonald's Fruit and Maple Oatmeal, available at McD's located on just about every street corner in the Valley. Costs an even $2.50 after tax.
Pros: You get about double the amount of oatmeal for the same price as BK's, so if you're hungry this is the better bet. The fruity bits include chunks of red and green apple that make this oatmeal at least look fresher, and a cranberry-raisin blend that plumped up nicely when re-hydrated.
Cons: The oatmeal was more soupy than stick-to-your-ribs, and it was mega bland despite the fruit medley. And there wasn't a hint of maple flavor despite the claim. We're also skeptical of the ridiculous number of polysyllabic ingredients than we ever thought we'd see in oatmeal. Stearoyl lactylate? Carrageenan? These things frighten us.
In the Other Corner: Burger King's Quaker Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal, also with fruity bits and available on just about any street corner in the Valley. Costs about $2.75 after tax, because fruit costs an extra 50 cents.
Pros: The dried fruit blend included cranberries and raisins, just like McD's, but also had some tasty cherry and blueberry gems. Plus it's Quake
