Burger King's Whopper Jr. Only Exists Thanks To This Happy Accident In The '60s

Among the many things you should know about Burger King, there's one story behind a popular menu item that is a great example of how some mistakes can actually lead to success. Back in 1963, a happy accident led to the creation of the crowd-favorite Whopper Jr. Not to be confused with the fast food chain's standard-sized Whopper, this mini-me was initially not on the menu. The former president of Burger King Puerto Rico, Luis Arenas-Pérez, came up with it on the fly while remedying an issue with burger buns. 

The story goes that Arenas-Pérez was planning to serve Whoppers at an opening event but the Whopper-sized burger buns didn't arrive in time. Not wanting to postpone opening day, Luis used regular-sized burger buns and called it the Whopper Jr. The only difference between Burger King's Whopper and Whopper Jr. is their size, after all; the rest of the ingredients used for the famous sandwich are the same. And so, the birth of the Whopper Jr. was purely accidental. The rest, as they say, is history, but the Whopper Jr. is now a staple on Burger King's menu worldwide. 

Burger King has come up with different versions of the Whopper through the years. The new, customer-inspired "Whopper by You" platform even brings steakhouse flavors to the chain with the release of the BBQ Brisket Whopper. However, the Whopper Jr. has long solidified itself as a crowd-favorite because of its size. Even though it is a scaled-down version of the more famous menu item, it's actually just the right size for many people. The standard Burger King Whopper is large even by fast food standards as it was designed to rival McDonald's Big Mac. A Whopper features a quarter-pound (4 ounces) flame-grilled beef patty, a large sesame seed bun, and plenty of toppings.

For those who find the regular Whopper a bit too much to eat, the Whopper Jr. provides just the right amount of Whopper goodness thanks to its smaller form. It's roughly half the size of the regular burger, featuring just under 2 ounces of pure beef patty, which is just the right amount of beef for people with a small to regular appetite. Of course, aside from the size, the Whopper Jr. is also a better deal for those on a budget. Depending on the location, a Whopper meal now costs $10.88 while the Whopper Jr. meal sells for $8.28. Burger King also likes to offer the Whopper Jr. as part of "Duo" and "Trio" deals, allowing customers to get the smaller sandwich with other menu items at an affordable price.