We just recently got 5 guys in our area but I haven't been. So 5 guys just to try them, but In-N_out is a staple here in SoCal so it will be hard to beat. In fact that's what I had for lunch yesterday.
We just recently got 5 guys in our area but I haven't been. So 5 guys just to try them, but In-N_out is a staple here in SoCal so it will be hard to beat. In fact that's what I had for lunch yesterday.
Smashburger offers 'gourmet-style' fast-food: rosemary garlic fries, onion straws, fancy specialty burgers. And beer, at least in my area.
I go to Smashburger about 10x as often as Five Guys, but I go to Cheeseburger Bobby's (a local chain) even more often because it's a fave of my wife and kids. Never been to an In-N-Out because I don't get out to the left coast much.
If you like beer with your burger, another great small chain is The Counter. They offer craft brews and beer flights along with their gigantic burgers.
Either way, I wish they offered smaller portions of some items. While we go to lunch every day, burgers end up being once a year, maybe. Because the high end burger and fries are SO BIG.
5 guys are very good. We have a new one here in Dearborn- Brome Burgers and Shakes.
I eat at In & Out and Taylor's Refresher (now called Gott's.) every chance I get during my visits to the west coast. Five Guys is where it's at here for me on the East Coast. The amount of fries I get in my bag at Five Guys is berkeleying ridiculous. There are others burger places here on East coast. But haven't had the time to visit them yet.
David S. Wallens wrote: Last night's debate: If there's an In-N-Out next to a Five Guys, which one are you visiting for your burger fix?
Fuddruckers.
No in and out here either. 5 guys is OK, but I think over-rated. We have a Jake's Wayback Burger that is pretty good.
jsinnard wrote: In reply to ultraclyde: I haven't had Steak and Shake but I make it a point to go to Freddy's every time I'm in Orlando. It's that good and do NOT forget the frozen custard. It's delicious.
Steak and shake is all over fl, and its cheap. 5 bucks will do you right. Also, checker, but not the same category.
Never had an In-N-Out, when I'm in San Diego burgers are off the menu, Carne asada burritos instead.
I've had Checkers / Rally'S but not Steak and Shake.
Steak and Shake is kind of a cross between a burger/milkshake joint and a Huddle House or Denny's. Heavy on the 50's red/white/black tile, cheap on price and really crap food. Don't bother. They have a monthly all-comers cruise in and I still won't eat there.
We had a Fuddruckers. It was so bad it went out of business in about 18 months.
For whoever mentioned turkey burgers - Hardee's has a pretty good one. I know they're the Southeastern branch of Carl Jr's, but I don't know if CJs does the turkey. I actually really like Hardee's burgers as well, they taste like a straight-forward home grilled burger.
jsinnard wrote: Fuddruckers...
Agree! Had In-N-Out once and was OK. Have a couple 5 Guys locally and don't like it at all.
If I want a burger from a chain operation, I'll drive the 20 miles to Fuddruckers in Rockville.
But I can usually find a good burger at any one of the ~50 places here in town.
How to have a successful trip to California, in three steps.
Step 1: Fly to California Step 2: Collect Rental Car Step 3: Drive to In-N-Out burger.. Success!
Double double, animal style, protein style.
I went to a 5 Guys once, to see what the hype was about. I still don't know. It was surprisingly nasty and unbelievably noisy, I haven't been back. I'd rather go to Hardees. We don't have a In-N-Out.
My go to burger place, is Big Billy's Burger Joint. I'll have the Breakfast Burger, medium rare, with the egg over easy.
In-N-Out wins by a mile for me. WAY cheaper and I like a thinner burger. If you like the thick burger style, Five Guys is for you. In-N-Out is much more popular in SoCal. If you put then next to each other, I don't see Five Guys surviving for long. My favorite is probably The Hat (which specialized in pastrami). It may be that they cook pastrami on the same grill, but their buns are very good also. I also very much like the custom cherry Cokes they make there.
For Smash Burger... if you ask any chef, they tell you the last thing you want to do with a burger or any meat is smash it into the grill, it removes most of the flavor. They do that to every burger for some reason 
.
My biggest gripe on IN n Out is the spread, way to many pickles in it for me and I wasn't super impressed with the fries. I'd take five guys in a heartbeat, but P-Terrys locally in Austin makes a damn fine burger as well.
Of the two, 5 Guys. Little bacon cheeseburger with BBQ sauces, and have them toss some Cajun seasoning onto it.
Nothing wrong with in-n-out, except you can't get it in Ohio.
But yeah, Smashburger, Bobby's Burger Palace, Slater's 50/50, or Roneys are better
5 guys and Cajun fries.
You guys sure keep misspelling the name of the best fast food burger! Its spelled "Whataburger." Its from Texas so you know its the best
If I have my choice, I want a burger, and time isn't a factor then I eat at a local dive bar called O'Reily's. They have excellent burgers but they can be s-l-o-w.
Ojala wrote: You guys sure keep misspelling the name of the best fast food burger! Its spelled "Whataburger." Its from Texas so you know its the best
Yeah, Whatburger is good stuff. Only part of Texas I actually enjoyed, can keep the rest of it but the burgers on Texas Toast and the spicy ketchup were great.
I've got a Freddy's right around the corner from me. You guys make it sound decent. Might have to check it out.
We've also got In&Out, Five Guys, Smashburger and about 5 other burger joints in town.
If you want a surprisingly good burger, go to the airstream trailer parked on the side of Rt 62 in Ridgway, CO. Ate there on Sunday. It was one of the top three burgers I've ever tried, and I make it a point to hunt down good burgers. Far better than the "best burger in SF" I tried a few years back.
Hmmm.... 60% round, 25% rib, 15% chuck, cooked over a HOT charcoal fire to about medium (still pink)..... 
I'd have to try In N Out since I've never been. I like Five Guys but at the one by me the price has been creeping up and the service has slowed down. I'd rather go to the pub near buy and get a better burger and pile of steak fries.
Steak and shake. Five guys is good but way too expensive so I will pick steak and shake. I just wish we had some near us.
I pass them both and go another mile down the road to Phils Icehouse. It's a buck or 2 more for the meal but you can taste where that goes to. It's a local austin chain but it's very good and could easily be in more spots.
If forced to only those 2, I'd probably go In and out but I wish they would have franchised because I wanted to open one here in Austin but they don't franchise. 2 years later..for some reason, they liked my business model enough to build 3 here. Grrr.
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