Check out the updated Carl’s Jr. menu with prices, last verified in October 2026, covering charbroiled burgers, chicken, and hand-scooped shakes. Carl’s Jr. has been charbroiling burgers since the 1940s, and it’s grown from a single $311 hot dog cart in Los Angeles into a West Coast fast-food institution known for its Black Angus beef and famously bold advertising.
This guide runs through the full Carl’s Jr. menu, from signature burgers to chicken, breakfast, and shakes, along with current pricing, so you know what to expect before you order.
Carl’s Jr. Menu With Prices
Signature Burgers
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Famous Star with Cheese | $5.59 |
| Western Bacon Cheeseburger® | $6.39 |
| Guacamole Bacon Thickburger | $7.49 |
| Big Carl® | $7.99 |
| Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger | $9.09 |
| Double Famous Star with Cheese | $8.29 |
Junior & Value Burgers
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Jr. Hamburger | $2.49 |
| Jr. Cheeseburger | $2.79 |
| Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger | $3.29 |
| Jr. Western Bacon Cheeseburger | $3.49 |
| Jr. Guacamole Burger | $3.99 |
Chicken & Sandwiches
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chicken Stars (6 pc) | $4.99 |
| Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders (3 pc) | $6.49 |
| Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich | $6.99 |
| Spicy Chicken Sandwich | $6.99 |
Breakfast (Served ~6:00–10:30 AM)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Breakfast Burrito | $4.49 |
| Sausage Biscuit | $4.29 |
| Monster Biscuit | $6.49 |
| Breakfast Burger | $6.99 |
| French Toast Dips | $4.29 |
| Hash Rounds (Small) | $2.79 |
Sides
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Natural-Cut Fries (Medium) | $3.89 |
| CrissCut Fries | $4.29 |
| Onion Rings | $4.29 |
| Fried Zucchini | $4.49 |
Shakes & Desserts
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Hand-Scooped Milkshake | $3.99 |
| Oreo Cookie Milkshake | $3.99 |
| Chocolate Chip Cookie | $1.99 |
Kids’ Meals (StarPals®)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chicken Stars Kids’ Meal | $5.49 |
| Small Cheeseburger Kids’ Meal | $5.79 |
| Hamburger Kids’ Meal | $5.49 |
Disclaimer: Menu items and prices on this website are for reference only and may not reflect current offerings. Carl’s Jr. restaurants are independently owned and operated franchises, so prices vary noticeably by location and state. Please check with your local restaurant or the app for the latest updates.
Best Value Picks on the Menu
If you’re watching your budget, here’s where Carl’s Jr. gives you the most for your money:
Jr. Burgers (from $2.49). Scaled-down versions of the classic burgers, still charbroiled, at roughly a third of the full-size price.
Chicken Stars (6 pc, $4.99). One of the cheapest ways to get Carl’s Jr.’s hand-breaded chicken without ordering a full sandwich.
BYOB app deals. Carl’s Jr.’s “Buy One, Get One” offers through the app are consistently among the strongest per-dollar deals in fast food.
Chocolate Chip Cookie ($1.99). A cheap way to add dessert to an order without upgrading to a full shake.
How Carl’s Jr. Compares
Carl’s Jr. sits a step above value-focused chains like McDonald’s and Burger King on price, trading on charbroiled Black Angus beef and generally larger portions. Its Famous Star with Cheese runs close to the price of a Big Mac or a Whopper, but is built from a different cooking method and beef grade. That puts it closer in spirit to “better burger” chains like In-N-Out on quality positioning, while still operating at traditional fast-food speed and a much larger menu. Carl’s Jr. is also the sister brand of Hardee’s, with both chains run by the same parent company and sharing a nearly identical menu, split roughly along West Coast (Carl’s Jr.) and South/Midwest (Hardee’s) territories.
About Carl’s Jr.
Carl’s Jr. traces back to July 17, 1941, when Carl Karcher, a 24-year-old former farmhand, and his wife Margaret borrowed $311 against their Plymouth and added $15 in savings to buy a single hot dog cart at the corner of Florence and Central Avenues in Los Angeles. The cart sold hot dogs, chili dogs, and tamales for a dime, with soda for a nickel, and did well enough that the Karchers were running four carts within a few years. In 1945, they opened their first sit-down restaurant, Carl’s Drive-In Barbecue, in Anaheim, California, adding hamburgers to the menu alongside barbecue.
In 1956, Karcher opened two smaller, faster-service spinoffs of the Drive-In Barbecue, nicknamed “Carl’s Jr.,” the name that stuck as the concept took off. The chain grew to 24 restaurants by the 1960s, incorporated as Carl Karcher Enterprises in 1966, and introduced its now-famous Western Bacon Cheeseburger in the 1980s. The company went public in 1981 with roughly 300 restaurants, later acquired sister chain Hardee’s in 1997, and introduced its attention-grabbing Six Dollar Burger and accompanying ad campaigns in the early 2000s. Carl’s Jr. is now part of CKE Restaurants, headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee, led by president and CEO Caleb Hubbard, and operates more than 1,100 U.S. locations along with international restaurants across roughly 28 countries.
Why Carl’s Jr. Is Famous
Charbroiling. Patties are cooked over an open flame rather than a flat-top griddle, a preparation method the chain has marketed as its core differentiator since the 1940s.
The Western Bacon Cheeseburger. Introduced in the 1980s, its combination of onion rings, BBQ sauce, bacon, and cheese remains one of the chain’s most distinctive builds.
Black Angus beef. Carl’s Jr. uses 100% Black Angus beef across its burger lineup, a step up from standard beef used by many competitors.
Bold, attention-grabbing advertising. The chain has built a reputation for provocative ad campaigns, especially around its Six Dollar Burger and Thickburger lines in the 2000s.
FAQs
They’re sister chains owned by the same parent company, CKE Restaurants, sharing a nearly identical menu. Carl’s Jr. operates primarily on the West Coast and in international markets, while Hardee’s serves the South and Midwest.
The Western Bacon Cheeseburger, Famous Star with Cheese, Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders, and the hand-scooped milkshakes are consistently among the most-ordered items.
No, breakfast is typically served from around 6:00 AM to 10:30 AM at most locations, though hours can vary.
Yes, the StarPals® Kids’ Meals include options like Chicken Stars, a small cheeseburger, or a hamburger, each served with fries and a drink.
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Official Links
- Carl’s Jr. Official Website
- Carl’s Jr. Menu
- Find a Location
- Franchise Information
- Headquarters: 6700 Tower Circle, Franklin, TN 37067, United States
Follow Carl’s Jr.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter/X | TikTok
Have you visited Carl’s Jr. recently? Prices and menu items vary by location, so let us know in the comments if you spotted something different, and we’ll update this page.
My name is Lucky Sharma, a B.A. graduate with a strong passion for food, travel, and discovering new experiences. I enjoy exploring unique dishes, street food, and culinary traditions from around the world. Sharing these adventures through writing allows me to connect with fellow food enthusiasts and inspire others to try new flavors and destinations. Whether I’m tasting something new or traveling to a different corner of the globe, I’m always on the lookout for exciting stories to share. Join me on this flavorful journey and let’s explore the world one dish at a time.