Burger King delivered a spicy kick to competitor Wendy's as the brands' fast-food rivalry heats up. The beloved burger chain has unveiled a new take on its flagship product called the loaded jalapeno Whopper, to be offered alongside the classic version. The spicy new Whopper is topped with crispy and pickled jalapenos, and a creamy jalapeno sauce, plus lettuce, tomatoes and American cheese. Fans didn't waste any time drawing comparisons to the Wendy’s jalapeno ranch cheeseburger - it returned to menus in April and is also topped with pickled jalapenos, cheese, lettuce and tomato, but swaps the jalapeno sauce for a creamy ranch dressing. 'I tried one today, it was pretty good,' one Reddit user said. 'Better than the jalapeno ranch burger Wendy’s has at the moment.' It's all part of Burger King's plans to double down on new offerings, extending its summer menu beyond just sandwiches. With the chain's new menu, fans can order a frozen orange creamsicle-style drink with orange cream cold foam and sprinkles. To celebrate America's birthday, Burger King is also offering a Firecracker Cookie Pie covered in red, white and blue star-shaped sprinkles.

The loaded jalapeno Whopper and other summer treats joined Burger King's menu on June 2 and are expected to be available through this summer. 'Whether they’re looking for a full meal or a sweet or savory snack, these new limited time menu items deliver the type of innovation guests have been asking for, and we’re continuing to listen and give them what they want,' Burger King said in a statement.

Fast food fans were eager to sample the new offerings: A Reddit user said that they 'tried and liked' the new burger, adding that the 'sauce is good.' 'Originally stopped in for the Mandalorian Whopper which unfortunately they've stopped selling at my location,' another Reddit user wrote. 'So, I decided to try this one and as someone who is not big on jalapenos, I was blown away! They've really been hitting their stride as of late.'

The new offering is the latest 'Whopper by you' creation, a promotion that invites customers to build a custom sandwich for the chance to have it available nationwide. In January, that was a steakhouse Whopper with onion rings, bacon, sautéed mushrooms, Swiss cheese and a creamy peppercorn aioli. The burger was available alongside the regular Whopper and has since disappeared from menus. Burger King already rolled out what they described as an 'elevated' version of its iconic Whopper for the first time in almost ten years, prompted by 'direct guest feedback.'

'The Whopper is an icon, so we didn't set out to reinvent it,' the company said at the time. The upgraded burger features a more premium bun and is now served in a box instead of the chain’s traditional paper wrapping. It still includes freshly cut onions and tomatoes, lettuce and pickles - along with what the company describes as a 'better tasting' mayonnaise. Burger King's president himself posted a video taking a giant bite of the new and improved Whopper - and delivering a one-line punchline. 'Only one thing missing,' Tom Curtis said. 'A napkin.' The menu changes come as Burger King is rolling out technologies that aim to improve customer experiences in its restaurants, like AI–powered headsets that track if staff are saying 'please' and 'thank you' to guests.