Best Fast Food Burgers

**Rocko20** · 09-09-2010 03:55 AM

McDonald's burgers are certainly cheap and fast, but you still might wonder why billions have been consumed when you see the results of our recent survey of 28,000 online subscribers who rated burgers at 18 fast-food restaurants.

Among the standouts were In-N-Out Burger and Five Guys Burgers and Fries. The biggest loser: McDonald's. Burger King and Wendy's fared better than McDonald's but far worse than the highest-rated chains.

In-N-Out Burger, which touts its fresh ground chuck, has 247 restaurants in California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. Five Guys had 640 restaurants in 42 states. And McDonald's? 14,000 restaurants. We sent a reporter (not a trained taster, but he has eaten his share of burgers) to make an informal comparison of the fare at Five Guys and McDonald's. Here's what he found.

Five Guys
Five Guys The regular hamburger, two 3.3-ounce griddled patties, was served well done on a lightly browned sesame-seed bun. You can order any of 15 free toppings (the usual, plus options such as grilled mushrooms and jalapeno peppers). Bacon and cheese cost extra. The patties had a bit of searing along the edges, a chewy texture (the chopped meat was fairly coarse), and a beefy flavor. They reminded our reporter of minute steak. The meat was juicy but left an oily taste in his mouth. The bun was soft and spongy.

McDonald's
The basic burger was one 3.5-ounce patty with pickle slices, bits of chopped raw onion, and a dab of ketchup and mustard, served on a lightly browned bun. The meat tasted mild and more greasy than beefy. It was easier to bite through than the Five Guys patty and was uniformly round and brownish-gray. The major flavor came from the toppings. The bun was airy and bland.

Bottom Line
The Five Guys burger was bigger and beefier but costs about $5, compared with $1 for McDonald's. (Five Guys sells a one-patty Little Hamburger for about $3.50.) And the meat is made to order, not in advance, so we waited 5 to 10 minutes.

Close Up
Our reporter couldn't get his hands on an In-N-Out burger, but readers gave it high marks. "It always seems as though the burger was made moments before," one said, "as opposed to sitting under a heat lamp." The basic burger costs about $2.

We asked 28,000 readers who bought any burger on their last visit to the restaurants below: On a scale of 1 to 10, from least delicious burger you've ever had to most, how would you rate that burger's taste? Differences of fewer than 0.5 points aren't meaningful.

http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/y.../best-burgers/

**Sooner2483** · 09-09-2010 04:47 AM

I had a Backyard Burger the other day for the first time. It did not suck.

**jtk1519** · 09-09-2010 05:40 AM

Fuddruckers is "fast food"? I think of "fast food" as places with a drive-thru and not places where you sit down and build your own burger.

I really like Culver's, but it's been a while since I last had one.

**slorch** · 09-09-2010 07:59 AM

Had a backyard burger in Lake Charles- that strawberry cobbler was way the hell better than their burgers.

We like Culvers, every once in a while, but we're more likely to go for the frozen custard than their "butter burgers."

Five Guys' sucks unless your goal is just to have grease running down to your elbows while emptying your wallet, so this little chart is null and void as far as I'm concerned.

If we're out of town on a football trip or whatever, I'll go to Whataburger every time for a consistently fresh and delicious hamburger meal, with no toilet blasters later...

**Longhorn Al** · 09-09-2010 08:08 AM

Tried 5 Guys. Not impressed at all.

Culvers is good, but not that good.

I like Fuddruckers, but it is not fast food.

**Rocko20** · 09-09-2010 08:30 AM

I thought I read somewhere in the title of the article about fast food hence the name of the thread but I was mistaken.

**RR-Horn** · 09-09-2010 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by Sooner2483

I had a Backyard Burger the other day for the first time. It did not suck.

Backyard burgers are awesome.........too bad they closed down the location in North Austin years ago. My favorite burger (not fast food) came from Dale's Essenhaus in Wahlburg.

http://www.dales-essenhaus.com/

**TexonLongIsland** · 09-09-2010 09:52 AM

White Castle fries only come in one size

**TOR** · 09-09-2010 10:44 AM

The 5 Guys on Washington is finally being worked on after about 6 months of nothing. Looking forward to trying them, never have. And why does Culver's have to be way the fuck up north?

**judge roybeanbag** · 09-09-2010 11:05 AM

Speaking of burgers, a new place called Maggie's Cafe opened up in the spot where Gabbi's used to be. Supposedly it is even better (burgers aren't as dry) but I haven't tried it yet. Will try today or tomorrow. Burgers, sandwiches and chicken fried steak. They deliver.

**vicerous** · 09-09-2010 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by slorch

Five Guys' sucks unless your goal is just to have grease running down to your elbows while emptying your wallet, so this little chart is null and void as far as I'm concerned.

You forgot the cajun fries which are fucking awesome. Its definitely in that more expensive price range but it kicks the shit out of Mighty Fine and Fuddruckers.

**BearLakeHorn** · 09-09-2010 11:30 AM

Five Guys & Fuddruckers are not fast food. Both are not cheap either.

**rantanamo** · 09-09-2010 11:37 AM

I'm sorry, but In-N-Out is not THAT great. Even with me being excited to the point of dragging others along and even taking one with me to eat later. Might have actually been disappointed thanks to hype like this.

**HenryJames** · 09-09-2010 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by TOR

The 5 Guys on Washington is finally being worked on after about 6 months of nothing. Looking forward to trying them, never have. And why does Culver's have to be way the fuck up north?

There's also a Culver's way the fuck down south.

**Longhorn Al** · 09-09-2010 12:13 PM

Brodie and William Cannon.

**Ankf00** · 09-09-2010 12:17 PM

had 5 guys for the first time at LGA couple days ago. pricey, but tasty w/ crispy thick bacon, grilled onions. don't know if it's the 2nd best fast food burger i've ever had, but it's certainly above average

**BoBigRed** · 09-09-2010 12:28 PM

Whataburger was ranked pretty high on that. I'm hoping one day it becomes more national so we get one here in Nebraska because generally I don't like most of the fast food chain hamburgers. Wendy's Burger King and McDs are all average.

The dive burger places that I've been to (like Pete's Burgers in the shithole known as Porter, Texas) are generally much better than the known fast food chains.

**LonghornJones** · 09-09-2010 12:34 PM

How can Fuddruckers NOT be #1? I get to make it, and I KNOW I make it the best.

**BoBigRed** · 09-09-2010 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by LonghornJones

How can Fuddruckers NOT be #1? I get to make it, and I KNOW I make it the best.

Like JTK said, I don't consider Fuddrucker's a fast food joint because it's mainly a sit-down place where you can build your burgers.

**LonghornJones** · 09-09-2010 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by BoBigRed

Like JTK said, I don't consider Fuddrucker's a fast food joint because it's mainly a sit-down place where you can build your burgers.

Theyre still number 3 on the list, though, regardless of fast food or not.

**tokamak** · 09-09-2010 12:59 PM

Smashburger. That is all.

**Jive Turkey** · 09-09-2010 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by TexonLongIsland

White Castle fries only come in one size

I'm fly at Fatburger when I'm way out West.

**MrPhlegm** · 09-09-2010 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Jive Turkey

I'm fly at Fatburger when I'm way out West.

gotta try that, they got one in Coral Gables

**midtown** · 09-09-2010 01:57 PM

Its not national but Becks Prime is the best "fast food" burger evar.

**TOR** · 09-09-2010 02:36 PM

Just had a jalapeno cheeseburger from Someburger.

**judge roybeanbag** · 09-09-2010 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by judge roybeanbag

Speaking of burgers, a new place called Maggie's Cafe opened up in the spot where Gabbi's used to be. Supposedly it is even better (burgers aren't as dry) but I haven't tried it yet. Will try today or tomorrow. Burgers, sandwiches and chicken fried steak. They deliver.

OK, I went to Maggie's at lunch and ordered the bleu cheese/bacon burger. THEY COOK IT TO ORDER!!! I ordered medium and that's what I got. It was good. Better than Gabbi's was because it had a normal toasted bun and the meat was really juicy.

I recommend - if any of you are in the Mopac/Duval area give it a try. It's on Gracy Farms in the same little center as Mangia's and Tacodeli.

**Lidig8r** · 09-09-2010 03:10 PM

Pappa's Burgers does not suck! And the only one near me is in Moo-utopia (Fort Worth).

**irishtexan** · 09-09-2010 03:12 PM

Love me some five guys. But then again, I have no access to either Whataburger or In-n-Out, so it's gotta do.

And while I've been known to pick up a crave case when wasted, there is absolutely no way White Castle beats Wendy's on quality or taste. Also, Whitecastle gives you the worst smelling shits ever.

**Earl's Second Coming** · 09-09-2010 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by midtown

Its not national but Becks Prime is the best "fast food" burger evar.

If you got the dough, this. I also like Byrd's market downtown. They do an inside out burger.

**M1EK** · 09-09-2010 03:31 PM

Whataburger is fast-food quality burgers at Fuddruckers' speed (or worse). I only had to make that mistake two or three times before I learned.

**Underdog** · 09-09-2010 04:45 PM

The wife and I had Dan's today. It never disappoints.

**random horn** · 09-09-2010 06:13 PM

i would kill all of you in front of your mothers for a whataburger near me. maybe even for a sonic within 30 miles of me.

**MrPhlegm** · 09-09-2010 06:23 PM

I miss fucking Abby Inn

**Meursault** · 09-09-2010 06:28 PM

For me, Five Guys > Whataburger > In N Out

I will now kindly go nom a penis.

**slorch** · 09-09-2010 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by midtown

Its not national but Becks Prime is the best "fast food" burger evar.

can't tell if serious...

always wanted a reason to go in there.

anybody else recommend Beck's?

**Tasmaniac** · 09-09-2010 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by MrPhlegm

I miss fucking Abby Inn

No shit, bro.

**Tasmaniac** · 09-09-2010 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by Jive Turkey

I'm fly at Fatburger when I'm way out West.

I love Fatburgers.

**jtk1519** · 09-09-2010 10:21 PM

I love 5 Guys, but the 5 Guys closest to me is in the Dallas Galleria so it's not exactly fast food either. Maybe other locations are more fast foodish.

And since we're including fast food burgers that aren't really fast food, I will second the mention of Smashburger. I would take a Smashburger and order of their Smashfries over anything on that list.

**Somnio** · 09-09-2010 10:52 PM

I'd take a large double cheese from Dan's over any of the ones listed every time.

**Ankf00** · 09-10-2010 01:33 AM

Originally Posted by Somnio

I'd take a large double cheese from Dan's over any of the ones listed every time.

cool story, hansel

**utexas_61** · 09-10-2010 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by TOR

Just had a jalapeno cheeseburger from Someburger.

Damn you

**wild_turkey** · 09-10-2010 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by Somnio

I'd take a large double cheese from Dan's over any of the ones listed every time.

1234

**Earl's Second Coming** · 09-10-2010 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by slorch

can't tell if serious...

always wanted a reason to go in there.

anybody else recommend Beck's?

It's a $15 dollar burger, but my god they are good.

Hubcap Grill in downtown Houston is good too.

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