I love a good conversation about fast food burgers.
If you ever want to get to really know someone, ask them about their favorite fast food burger chains. You’ll know everything you need to know with their response: In-N-Out means they’re heart is on the West Coast. Shake Shack means they’re a coastal elitist who loves a good potato roll. Whataburger means they’re from Texas or Florida, or at least went to college in one of those states. Five Guys means they’ve probably spent more than one weekend in Ocean City, Maryland in their life, plus *probably* live within a 300-mile radius of Washington D.C. They also know a thing or two about a greasy bag of fresh fries.
There conversations define friendships and relationships. And if they’re a vegetarian or food elitist who prefers tofu salad over a greasy grilled fast food burger, judge the hell of out them.
My point: There’s a certain regional colloquialism in taste when it comes to fast food burgers. As an American, your favorite fast food burger chain has more to do with the geography of where you call home than ingredients that making it “the best.”
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There’s now quantifiable proof on which chain has the best burger thanks to a Harris Poll’s EquiTrend Study. They polled 100,000 all around the country on the best burger chain. The result was unanimous, surprising Left Coasters everywhere:Five Guys Burgers and Fries holds the current title of the best chain burger in America, toppling In-N-Out from the #1 spot for the last two years. Here’s the full results:
1. Five Guys Burgers and Fries
2. In-N-Out Burger
3. Shake Shack
4. Wendy’s
5. Culver’s
6. Whataburger
7. McDonald’s
8. Sonic America’s Drive-In
9. Smashburger
10. Steak ‘n Shake
These chains were still listed for consideration: Burger King, Checker’s/Rally’s, DQ Grill & Chill, Hardee’s, Jack in the Box and White Castle.
With 1,400 locations and a huge East Coast presence since 1986 in Arlington, Virginia, Five Guys is way bigger than In-N-Out, which only has 300 locations in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Texas and Oregon. Business Insider adds this little stat about how fast Five Guys is growing across America:
“The burger brand category has become less fragmented, as regional brands expand and become available in more parts of the country,” Joan Sinopoli, vice president of brand solutions at the Harris Poll, said in a statement. “This is certainly the case with Five Guys, who has shed its ‘small regional player’ designation as it expands its footprint and marketing budget along with its fandom, which is a tremendous contributor to brand equity.”
…
As the chain expands, Americans’ appreciation for Five Guys also grows. In 2013 only 48% of respondents were familiar with Five Guys, according to the Harris Poll. Today, that figure has grown to 68%, with Five Guys reaching 81% familiarity with Gen Z and millennials.
That said, there’s no doubt both chains have a killer strategy at frying up delicious, affordable cheeseburgers burgers: Freshness, using beef and ingredients that never touch a freezer.
Here’s my take: In-N-Out reigns supreme at overall value. $7 for a Double Double Animal style with fries and a drink. Compare that to $10 for the same thing at Five Guys. Love Five Guys for the sesame seed bun and big ass burger sizes. Dislike that they don’t have more cheese options beyond American cheese, but the build-your-own style of adding peppers, tomatoes, condiments, etc is pretty clutch. Sometimes the cheese isn’t melted enough on a Five Guys burger and it’s always perfect on an In-N-Out burger, but whatever. There are solutions for that.
The peanuts on the floors are also a little weird. But that’s just a personal take. Still, solid cheeseburger, every time. But still… give me an In-N-Out Cheeseburger with Five Guys fries as a perfect meal.
More takes:
Shake Shack is overrated and portions are too small, sans the fact that they use delicious Martin’s Potato Buns for their burgers. Whataburger deserves to be in third place for the the classic spicy Patty Melt alone. The rest of those positions on the list look pretty spot on, though I’ve never had Culver’s and think Smashburger is a little too bougie/overrated/not well known enough to be on a list that snubs
Also: It’s a damn shame this list missed one of the best rising burger chains in America right now: North Carolina’s Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries. Fresh and never frozen products on a perfectly steamed bun.
Now enjoy some beautiful, lustful, mouth-watering Five Guys burger porn: