I compared the signature burgers at McDonald's and Burger King. The Whopper easily beat the Big Mac.

The Big Mac, often considered the most iconic fast-food burger, has been a McDonald's menu staple since 1967. Created by Pittsburgh franchise owner Jim Delligatti, the original Big Mac featured a triple-decker burger and sold for just 45 cents.

It was launched nationwide in 1968 and soon became the chain's signature item.

The Big Mac consists of two 1.6-ounce beef patties, pickles, shredded lettuce, chopped onions, a slice of American cheese, and Mac sauce, all sandwiched between a sesame seed bun.

Similar to a club sandwich, a third bun is also placed in the middle of the sandwich.

It cost me $7.69, excluding tax, at my local McDonald's in Brooklyn, New York.

The Big Mac is unique in that the top beef patty doesn't have any cheese or sauce on it — all of that goodness is toward the bottom of the burger.

I thought that the lettuce overpowered the burger, and overpowered the cheese, meat, and sauce flavors. I was hoping for a tangier kick from ketchup and mustard, or just more Big Mac sauce.

The burger tasted noticeably dry, likely because the toppings were unevenly distributed, making it bottom-heavy. The cheese and Big Mac sauce were concentrated at the bottom, leaving the dry bun and patty to dominate the first bites with little flavor or moisture.

I liked the tanginess of the pickles and the sauce. I just wish their flavor was more prevalent.

While I recognize the Big Mac's iconic status on the McDonald's menu, it's far from my favorite. Next time, I'll stick with a Quarter Pounder.

Burger King's iconic Whopper has been a staple since 1957, debuting just four years after the chain's founding. Priced at 37 cents, it offered a larger, premium option compared to the chain's original 18-cent burger.

What sets the Whopper — and all Burger King burgers — apart is their flame-grilling, which gives them a unique smoky flavor.

A standard Whopper comes with a quarter-pound beef patty, pickles, onions, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and mayonnaise on a sesame seed bun.

I opted to order mine with cheese for a closer comparison to the Big Mac. At my local Burger King in Brooklyn, it cost me $8.49, excluding tax, putting it at 80 cents more than the Big Mac I tried.

From the start, it was clear this burger was going to be bursting with flavor. Thick layers of ketchup and mayonnaise oozed from the sides, while the oversize bun managed to hold everything together.

The lettuce, tomatoes, and onions were incredibly fresh, adding a satisfying crunch to the burger, and the cheese added a punch of rich flavor to each bite.

The patties had a smoky, savory flavor, giving the sandwich a just-grilled taste. I also appreciated the patty's shape — larger in diameter but flatter than other burgers — making it easier to eat.

All of the elements felt well-balanced, with not one single ingredient overpowering the others, like I felt happened with the shredded lettuce on the Big Mac.

I much preferred the flavors of the Whopper with cheese and thought it was more balanced. It tasted like a classic cookout burger, and the flavor of every ingredient came through in each bite.

I also thought the Whopper was worth the slightly higher price tag. It was more flavorful and was a large-sized fast-food burger for under $10 — something that's becoming increasingly rare these days as prices rise.