Carl’s Jr. is offering free burgers to customers who were left “royally disappointed” by its rivals and will accept “crowns” in exchange.
The fast food chain has launched a limited-time giveaway called “Stealing the Crown,” inviting customers to take photos of a thrown away crown or show proof that they bought a burger from a competitor.
“My Rewards loyalty members can submit a picture of a crown, or their receipt from a royally disappointing burger from the competition,” they explained.
Although Carl’s Jr. does not name Burger King in its announcement, the repeated references to crowns, royalty and coming for the “King’s crown” make its intended target difficult to miss.
In exchange, eligible customers will receive an offer for a free Angus Maximus burger through the Carl’s Jr. app.
Carl’s JrHow to get a free Carl’s Jr. Angus Maximus
To enter, customers must be legal residents of the 50 US states or Washington, D.C., be at least 18 years old and have an active Carl’s Jr. My Rewards account.
They can then send the chain a direct message on Instagram containing either proof of a purchase from a Carl’s Jr. competitor or a photo showing a crown being thrown away.
There are several catches. The rival receipt must be dated between January 1 and September 7, 2026, while the promotion runs from September 18 through September 25. Only the first 100 eligible entries will receive a free burger offer, limited to one per account.
Burger KingThe reward can be redeemed through the Carl’s Jr. app or website at participating restaurants through October 27. It cannot be used as part of a combo, combined with another discount or redeemed through a third-party delivery service.
“A burger worth fighting for shouldn’t be waiting for you in a holding cabinet — it should hit the grill when you order it,” Carl’s Jr. chief marketing officer Burge Diemer said.
The $5.99 Angus Maximus contains two charbroiled Angus beef patties weighing a combined 5.7 ounces, American cheese, sliced onions, dill pickles and special sauce on a toasted brioche bun.
Carl’s Jr. is not the only chain using its competition to fuel a giveaway. In August, Domino’s offered free personal pizzas to customers who bought a Big Mac, Whopper or another famous fast food item.
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
