Carl’s Jr Ignites Fast-Food Frenzy with $5.99 Cali XL Burger and Bold Free “Sad Mac” Buy-Back Offer

Carl’s Jr. is turning up the heat in the burger wars this month with a pair of aggressive value plays aimed at price-sensitive diners and frustrated competitors alike. First up is the new Cali XL Burger, a limited-time build that stacks two 3.5-oz char-broiled patties, double American cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato and Classic Sauce on a seeded bun. At just $5.99, the burger offers roughly twice the beef of McDonald’s Big Mac for a similar or lower price, according to the chain’s parent company CKE Restaurants. To spotlight the launch, Carl’s Jr. rolled out the “Sad Mac Buy Back.” From Nov. 12–21, guests who upload any 2025 McDonald’s burger receipt to their My Rewards account receive a free Cali XL loaded into the app, redeemable starting Nov. 22. The cheeky promo mirrors Chili’s recent Big Smasher blitz and keeps social media chatter centered on rising menu prices at McDonald’s. Industry analysts say the tactic taps consumer frustration with “shrinkflation” while mining earned media at minimal cost. The brand is also leaning into community support. Nearly 300 Southern California units operated by franchisee Akash Management are offering $1 kids’ meals—including a hamburger, small fry and drink—to federal workers, military families and SNAP or EBT cardholders during the ongoing government shutdown. Franchise CEO Amir Siddiqi says the move “offers a moment of comfort during uncertain times,” a gesture likely to build goodwill and repeat visits when full-price traffic returns. Why the double-down on value? Fast-casual prices rose 6 percent year-over-year in October, outpacing wage growth and pushing more consumers toward deals. Data from Circana show loyalty-app redemptions hit an all-time high this fall, underscoring the importance of tying offers to first-party digital platforms—exactly what Carl’s Jr. is doing with My Rewards. The strategy appears to be resonating. Early app-store rankings show Carl’s Jr. cracking the top 25 in food-and-drink downloads nationwide, its highest position since last year’s El Diablo relaunch. Social listening firm Brandwatch reports a 310 percent week-over-week spike in positive sentiment for the chain, driven largely by “Sad Mac” memes. Looking ahead, CKE hints the Cali XL formula could evolve into a permanent “XL line” if sales metrics hold. Meanwhile, competing quick-service operators—already locked in $5 combo skirmishes—will be watching redemption counts closely. For bargain-hungry burger fans, November is looking extra large.