For me it’s not really that it tastes like a hamburger - what I’m looking for is a sandwich of some kind. It’s nice to occasionally have a warm ‘patty’-type sandwich instead of cold or grilled vegetables and cheese.
To me a veggie burger is its own thing. Doesn’t really work to put some broccoli on a bun with lettuce and tomato, either.
Total aside: I hate grilled veggies. Raw, steamed, or cooked into food (casserole, whatever) is great… but grilled veggies are just yucky 
You know it’s funny, but I was explaining something similar to some other dopers not to long ago and said “Sometimes I just want something to eat with fries!” lol
Gonzoron, I will pardon your portabello love this one time, since I’ve never tried this great tasting brand. (I admit that now I’m pretty curious!)
Our cafeteria had a veggie burger for a while that was delicious. It was better, in fact, than the crappy burgers they made, and cheaper. I don’t go in for a lot of granola, so believe me when I say that a veggie burger can be quite scrummy independent of any resemblance to an actual burger at all. I don’t even know what goes in them. Ours looked vaguely like hash patties, though I don’t think there was any potato in them. And I’ve tried store-bought brands, though those didn’t prove as nummy.
My personal favorite is the “Pizza” flavored Morningstar Farms burger with little bits of cheese mixed into it. Their spicy black bean flavor is a close second. I don’t usually bother with hamburger flavored veggie patties at home, but I’m quite happy to eat them at restaurants where the flavored patties aren’t available.
I think the BK Veggie is all right. I am really glad that BK came out with this sandwich. Even though it really isn’t the best veggie burger (and I think they should offer more interesting toppings with it!), it is a start in the right direction. I really like having the option of being able to get a quick sandwich while on the road. I have never liked red meat all that much anyway, so it doesn’t really matter to me if a veggie burger tastes “real” or not.
Harvey’s and Swiss Chalet (same corp franchises both). These are the only veggie burgers which I have trouble telling from meat burgers.
Like them all you want, but understand the horror you put a BK employee’s nose through when you order one of those foul-smelling things. (especially if you want it cooked in the microwave.) Please, have some compassion for the people making the food and DO NOT ORDER THE VEGGIE BURGER from Burger King!*
(where’s the ‘barfy’ smilie when we need it?)
-Dirty
*the preceding announcement does not necessarily reflect the views of Burger King, Inc. But you probably already figured that out.