The fast-food chain is piloting a new King Size Sliders Box in Columbus and Portland
Burger King is taking a notable step to freshen up its menu, and it involves something considerably smaller than its iconic Whopper.
The chain announced it will begin testing a new King Size Sliders Box in Columbus, Ohio, and Portland, Oregon, starting April 14 through May 4. The move is part of a wider effort to offer customers more flexibility at the counter snackable options that can double as a full meal, depending on how hungry you are.
The sliders come packed in boxes of 2 or 6 and are available in 3 distinct flavors. The first is the 1) Deluxe Slider, which features a flame-grilled beef patty with fresh lettuce, tomato, pickles and a tangy burger aioli on a buttery bun. The second is the 2) Steakhouse Bacon Slider, built with Swiss cheese, crispy bacon, crispy onions and a peppercorn sauce. The third is the 3) Bacon & Cheese Slider, topped with crispy bacon, American cheese and burger aioli. All three are made with 100% flame grilled beef, staying true to the brand’s long-standing identity.
Burger King has not yet announced pricing for the new offering. Whether it rolls out nationally will depend on how well it performs both in terms of customer response and kitchen operations during the test window.
The pressure to deliver value right now
The slider test does not exist in a vacuum. It arrives at a moment when fast food chains across the board are under real pressure to prove their worth to increasingly budget conscious diners. According to McKinsey & Company, a significant value gap has opened up in the industry, where years of cumulative price increases have outpaced what many consumers feel comfortable spending.
Competitors have responded in their own ways. McDonald’s has pushed aggressively into value territory with a menu of items priced at $3 or under. Chipotle has leaned into high-fiber, nutrient-dense bowls. Subway introduced its Protein Pockets as a high protein, affordable option. The message across the board is the same: give people a reason to keep choosing fast food when their wallets are tighter than they used to be.
Burger King’s answer has been its Reclaim the Flamet urnaround strategy a $400 million investment that combines upgraded restaurant technology, building improvements and a significant advertising push. The chain has also made its $5 Duos and $7 Trios value meals a central part of its marketing.
The Whopper got an upgrade, too
Alongside the slider test, Burger King recently rolled out the first major changes to its flagship Whopper sandwich in nearly a decade. The update brought a more premium bun, a creamier mayonnaise and upgraded packaging all driven by direct customer feedback. The beef patty itself, a signature quarter pound of 100% flame grilled beef, was left untouched.
The chain also brought back the fan favorite Maple Bourbon BBQ Whopper as part of the same push to reconnect with lapsed customers. The goal, according to company leadership, has been to elevate what already works rather than abandon it entirely.
Signs of a turnaround but work remains
The broader context for all of this is a chain that has faced genuine headwinds in recent years. Burger King’s parent company, Restaurant Brands International, saw one of its major franchisees Consolidated Burger Holdings LLC, which operated 57 locations in Florida and Georgia file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April 2025. The chain also closed several U.S. locations in both 2024 and 2025.
But there are signs the strategy is working. Restaurant Brands International CEO Josh Kobza said during a recent earnings call that 2025 represented a low point, and that the company believes it has turned a corner heading into 2026.
Still, Burger King has ground to make up when it comes to how customers actually feel about the brand. According to YouGov’s 2026 rankings, Wendy’s holds a 71% popularity rating, making it the second-most-popular dining brand in the country. McDonald’s ranks 28th. Burger King comes in at 33rd. On the sales side, McDonald’s leads all U.S. restaurants with an estimated $54.53 billion in consumer spend in 2025, compared to Wendy’s at $11.88 billion and Burger King at $10.95 billion.
Early feedback is a mixed bag
Ahead of the official April 14 launch date, some customers appear to have already encountered the sliders in test markets. Early reactions online suggest a familiar tension for the brand: improved quality earning genuine praise, but questions lingering over whether the price point aligns with Burger King‘s broader value message.
It is an honest reflection of where the chain stands making real progress, but still working to convince customers that the improvements are worth it. The slider test is a smart, low-risk way to find out.