Why a Burger, Fries, and Soda Make the Perfect Combo

If you’re craving the perfect combo, look no further than a burger, fries, and soda, an American classic that has been around for decades.

There’s nothing quite like a hamburger paired with fresh, hot fries and a cold, crisp fountain drink. Many people dub this meal to be the perfect combination. But did you know there’s a reason it’s so mouthwateringly good? There’s actually some science behind the reasoning and, today, we’re taking a mini deep dive into why.

Continue reading to find out why burgers, fries, and soda complement each other so well.

The Dream Combo: Burger, Fries, and Soda

The science behind why hamburgers, french fries, and a carbonated drink go perfectly together is an interesting bit of science. Using its taste receptors, the human tongue can taste five different types of flavors: salty, sweet, bitter, savory, and sour. Generally speaking, salty flavors come from rock salt, sweet flavors from sugar, bitterness from alkalinity, savory flavors from proteins, and sourness from acidity. These, along with temperature and texture, contribute to the different sensations of taste.

The human taste buds have come to love the tastes of fats/savory flavors, sugars, and salts combined with one another, which is why the savory and salty taste of a burger and fries pair so well with a sweet soda. This is also why people love flavors like pickles or ketchup on their burgers — to add sweetness and zing to each bite.

Let’s take a deeper look into why burgers, fries, and soda make the perfect combo:

THE BURGER — Hamburger meat is packed full of proteins and fat, giving it its delicious savory flavor. On top of that burger, you’ve likely got toppings such as mayonnaise (a tangy, sour flavor), ketchup (as previously mentioned, a sweet flavor), tomatoes (acidic tasting), and more. These flavors, plus the fact that the burger is hot, make it the perfect bite in and of itself. But when you pair it with a side of fries and soda, the experience is only elevated.

THE FRENCH FRIES — French fries almost always bring a salty element to the equation. The frying process caramelizes the sugars in the potato, resulting in a light sweet taste; however, this sweetness only enhances the saltiness, opposed to canceling it out. On top of that, salt is often added to fries post-fry, making them the best salty side to your savory burger.

THE SODA — The fountain drink is where the sweet flavor dominates! While soda is fairly acid, it is, undoubtedly, sweet. Besides tasting completely different in terms of sweet, salty, and savory, your drink is probably ice-cold, making it the perfect complementary contrast.

Stop By Iceberg Drive Inn

Are you looking for your perfect combo meal? Stop by Iceberg Drive Inn for the ultimate burger, fries, and soda experience. Each of our mouthwatering burgers pairs perfectly with fries or our hand-breaded onion rings and soda. Stop by any of our 17 locations in Arizona, California, and Utah, including Salt Lake City, Syracuse, Riverton, Sandy, Pleasant Grove, Fillmore, and St. George. Check out our menu and order today. One taste, and it’s a tradition.