Is Five Guys Really the Best Fast-Food Chain?

Published on Tuesday, September 6, 2011, by James Norton / Edit Post

My favorite industry's-eye-view publication, Nation's Restaurant News, ran the results of a favorite quick-service chain poll conducted by a consumer trends research firm called Market Force Information.

The results of the poll were calculated in an interesting way: The votes earned by each chain were divided by the number of its locations to control for the availability of a given food option. While a bit crude as a statistical technique, this yielded results that were pretty plausible. What follows: the top and bottom three chains out of the top 13 from the poll, with some color commentary.

FIVE GUYS
Rating: Number 1
Plausibility: Quite.
Five Guys does a really plausible old-fashioned American "better burger" and fantastic fresh fries. Inasmuch as we wish we could go back to the 1950s and figure out what made McDonald's so popular, this is it: When you make food to order and use good ingredients, humble American burgers become crave-worthy.

IN-N-OUT
Rating: Number 2
Plausibility: Very.
If you've met an In-N-Out Burger customer, you've probably met a fanatic. From the fresh taste to the "secret menu" to the overall hip throwback vibe, this is a very simple idea executed very, very well. If there's an In-N-Out in your area, and you like burgers, it quickly becomes your favorite fast-food joint—with a bullet. The only surprise is that it didn't top Five Guys, which usually loses to In-N-Out in taste challenges.

CHICK-FIL-A
Rating: Number 3
Plausibility: Somewhat.
It's just humble old chicken, right? Not even a proper fried chicken joint, per se. And yet, there's a fanatic contingent out there. Chowhound flstnole writes in a thread about the restaurant: "Just wanted to see if anyone else loves Chick-fil-A as much as me. I could eat it for every meal." Honey Bee's story is even crazier: "my indulgent mother used to go to Chick-fil-A every Monday and buy five original sandwiches. She would drop one off at school and stash the remaining four in the fridge for the rest of the week. She did this every week of the school year from first grade through eighth grade." Apparently all the chain needs to do is wrangle its burgeoning reputation for being anti-gay; when they're writing Internet satire about you, you've got a growing image problem.

MCDONALD'S
Rating: Third to last.
Plausibility: Not very.
This seems to be a case where ubiquity is working against the restaurant—McDonald's has roughly 14 million locations in the U.S., meaning that by this survey's math, it would be nearly impossible for the chain to get ahead regardless of how many people go there for breakfast. While many of McDonald's mainstay menu items are driven by economy first, appearance second, and taste last, the chain innovates like crazy. If it's not coffee, it's yogurt, or breakfast, or ... etc. And McPizza, right? Love that stuff. (Yes, I'm fully aware that McPizza is widely disliked.)

SUBWAY
Rating: Second to last
Plausibility: Somewhat.
Like McDonald's, Subway is everywhere, which no doubt hurts it in a survey weighted like this one. But, ironically, Subway's long-term market positioning—as a place where you can eat healthy food that helps you lose weight—may hurt it with customer loyalty. It can be seen as a place you have to go to eat sensibly, not the heaven-sent answer to a raging fast-food craving.

BURGER KING
Rating: Dead last
Plausibility: Extremely high.
The brand's signature burger, the Whopper, has been irrelevant for years, if not decades; the rise of "better burger" chains has got its number. Something's gotta give.

Image source: Flickr member Cali4beach under Creative Commons

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  • I'm puzzled over the #1 rating for 5 Guys. I went once to see what all the hype was about, and won't go back. The burgers were rather tasteless, ditto for the oversized fries, and 10 bucks for the meal. Wow, I don't get it. Steak and Shake (in the Midwest) runs circles around 5 Guys for half the price. Honestly, I think even the burgers at McDonald's beat 5 Guys, for half the price, and...+READ

    I'm puzzled over the #1 rating for 5 Guys. I went once to see what all the hype was about, and won't go back. The burgers were rather tasteless, ditto for the oversized fries, and 10 bucks for the meal. Wow, I don't get it. Steak and Shake (in the Midwest) runs circles around 5 Guys for half the price. Honestly, I think even the burgers at McDonald's beat 5 Guys, for half the price, and McDonald's fries are the best. I'm waiting for In and Out to come to Houston.-COLLAPSE

  • If you like In and Out burgers, you'll no doubt like 5 guys; but that's admitting that you like limp, greasy burgers and even greasier fries. And 5 guys serves you the fries in a brown paper sack, which is absolutely soaked by the time you get to your table. Been there, done that...don't see a need to go back. For a fast food burger, my choice is a Carl's which flame broils the beef. A Carl's Big...+READ

    If you like In and Out burgers, you'll no doubt like 5 guys; but that's admitting that you like limp, greasy burgers and even greasier fries. And 5 guys serves you the fries in a brown paper sack, which is absolutely soaked by the time you get to your table. Been there, done that...don't see a need to go back. For a fast food burger, my choice is a Carl's which flame broils the beef. A Carl's Big burger with cheese and a second patty is an exceptional burger; and a whole lot cheaper and faster than most.-COLLAPSE

  • 5 GUYS NORTHRIDGE CA, RIGHT NEXT DOOR TOO IN AND OUT, MAJOR WAIT 20 MINS AT 5 GUYS AAUGH! AND OVER 10 BUCKS FOR BURGER SINGLE PATTI FRIES AND A DRINK NO WAY, IN AND OUT DOUBLE DOUBLE MEAL 7 BUCKS FASTER AND BETTER, IF I WANTED A 10 DOLLAR BURGER I COULD CALL IN A ORDER TO GO AT TGI FRIDAYS OR SIZZLER AND GET A BIGGER BURGER AND MED RARE BURGER FOR LESS THEN 5 GUYS. #1 NO WAY COME ON?

  • Shake shack should be part of the poll since its technically a chain

  • The story is just a bait. That survey was flawed in many ways. Five Guys Burgers got the top spot in only one question (favorite fast food brand). It didn't perform as well in any other question (food quality, etc.). And that's only because the results were adjusted, by the number of stores a chain had. So for example, McD's 14,000 stores lowered their % score significantly, compared to Five Guys...+READ

    The story is just a bait. That survey was flawed in many ways. Five Guys Burgers got the top spot in only one question (favorite fast food brand). It didn't perform as well in any other question (food quality, etc.). And that's only because the results were adjusted, by the number of stores a chain had. So for example, McD's 14,000 stores lowered their % score significantly, compared to Five Guys Burgers with 736 stores. The researchers assumed that having more stores was an unfair advantage. That survey is meaningless.-COLLAPSE

  • I don't understand the appeal of 5 Guys. Why do people like their overcooked, flavorless burgers?

  • Where's Johnny Rockets , I think their Burger is better than Five Guys

  • The only reason I eat at 5 Guys is because In-N-Out is not in MD. All the rest are pretenders

  • In n Out is way better. Flavor of the meat and bun is superior. Price is better but Five Guys fries are better.


    www.BrickPizzeria.com

  • 5 Guys is definitely not the best; didn't impress me except as perhaps an In-n-Out wanna be. But ELEVATION BURGER just opened in Bressi Ranch (N. San Diego County for the non-locals). The meat is Certified Organic, 100% Grass Fed and Grass Finished, and delicious. The patty was juicy even though it was well done, the bun was better than average, the fries were NOT greasy and in addition to the...+READ

    5 Guys is definitely not the best; didn't impress me except as perhaps an In-n-Out wanna be. But ELEVATION BURGER just opened in Bressi Ranch (N. San Diego County for the non-locals). The meat is Certified Organic, 100% Grass Fed and Grass Finished, and delicious. The patty was juicy even though it was well done, the bun was better than average, the fries were NOT greasy and in addition to the usual assortment of HFCS fountain drinks they offer bottled sodas WITHOUT HFCS. I do wish they would make waffle fries. For those I have to go to Carl's Jr. and eat the not-so-healthy meat.

    When was the last time you had service at a burger joint? The person who took my order is the same person who cooked my order and delivered it to my table. Then, he continued to revisit me and ask me if everything is O.K. and did I need anything else. First time I ever left a tip at a burger joint.
    TRY IT YOU'LL LIKE IT!

    Located across the street from the Trader Joe's on Gateway, just past the intersection of El Fuerte and Gateway.-COLLAPSE

  • NO! I ate at the Five Guys in Myrtle Beach SC, my first time at the chain and the fries were disgusting and the burger was sub par...really dissappointing would have been way cheaper and a lot better off at McDonalds...I will NEVER go back to a Five Guys.

  • There is no way 5 Guys is the best. I'm not saying it's not good, but it's not the best. I don't like their meat to bun to everything else proportions for one thing.

  • dairy queen-brazier burgers, soft serve and the never more licorice milkshake

    a&w-whistle dogs, double teen burgers, chubby chicken

    popeyes chicken (my vote over kfc)

  • I don't like smashburger at all, I do like 5 guys. We have this little burger joint in DFW called Burger Street - It's by far the best fast food you can get in the area.

    Also, I agree with Garlic guy, Fuddruckers is good, it's not fast food though.

  • Am I the only one who loves Fuddruckers? Seriously, the burgers are good, and they have exotic meats like buffalo and elk as an option. And the buns...the buns are just amazing.

  • Hey all. My original "14 million" locations remark about McDonald's was intended as hyperbole (along the lines of, "gosh, there sure are a lot of McDonald's) and was quite reasonably interpreted as a factual error. Sorry about that. I can see how that was unclear.

  • I like Burger King MUCH better than MacDonalds because the burgers have a grilled, rather than fried in grease, flavor. I love the Whopper Jr. in particular. And my local BK makes crispy fries as opposed to limp, greasy MacDonalds.

  • Just tried a Smash Burger last week...thought it was much better than 5 Guys.

  • I wish they would open and inandout in the northeast :(

    I'd settle for whataburger

    I had both about 10 years ago so I could be mistaken by now :)

  • I guess the 14 million McDonalds figure was a joke, right? Of not, the real number is 3 zeros shy of that at 14 THOUSAND on the U.S.

  • I don't understand all the hoopla about Five Guys. Their burgers are just so-so, and come on a bun that quickly becomes soggy. Their fries may be fresh, but they are definitely NOT crispy! Rather, they too are soggy and greasy. And their peanuts are laced with tons of sodium, in order to make you thirsty for their soft drinks! The whole Five Guys hoopla is a scam!

  • I allow myself one beef product a month. If I haven't had by the second week of the month, I head over to BK for just a regular hamburger-97cents-and bring it home to eat. I still enjoy the flavor of their burgers, the bun, and the mixture of ketchup and mustard and the one or two dill pickle slices!

  • @Ukmatt78 you are simply wrong. While straight, myself and the majority of those I associate with have a ban on CfA. I would go there, many times over, tomorrow, if they opened up to equality. Consider how embarrassed your kids or grandkids will be at our generation when the day finally comes.

  • Two words, people: "Waffle Fries". 'Nuff said. :)

  • Hilarious to me how CHOW can't bring itself to even mention Chick-fil-A without ranting about anti-gay sob stories. Give me a break, 95% of Chick fila customers probably also agree with their politics...just like the vast majority of the country...how many times has "marriage equality" won a popular vote? Yeah, even in freaking California it takes a judge. Bottom line, they have good chicken if...+READ

    Hilarious to me how CHOW can't bring itself to even mention Chick-fil-A without ranting about anti-gay sob stories. Give me a break, 95% of Chick fila customers probably also agree with their politics...just like the vast majority of the country...how many times has "marriage equality" won a popular vote? Yeah, even in freaking California it takes a judge. Bottom line, they have good chicken if they changed their politics tomorrow I would still eat there and so would everybody else. Isn't this website about food...leave the propaganda to the "unbiased" news outlets.-COLLAPSE

  • I happen to like Burger King. They are right down the street from me, I think that has major part of it. The local place, I can go in any condition order what I want and there it is. Five guys is pricey and the closet one is bus ride. I don't get the hate. It's fine.

  • but , there is a better place in long beach, AMAZING!!!! IT IS CALLED, THE LOCAL SPOT, I HAD THE ONE WITH APPLE WOOD BACON. THEY BARBAQUE YOUR HAMBURGER OUTSIDE.IT IS CALLED, THE LOCAL SPOT. I HAD AN UMAMI BURGER, NO BIG DEAL, AND I WOULD NOT GO BACK.

  • I LIKE 5 GUYS BECAUSE OF THE TOPPINGS, MUSHROOMS, PICKLES, FRESH JALAPENOS, AND ONIONS. I LOVE THE FRIES, ESP. THE CAJON! THEY GIVE YOU SO Many that 3 people could easily be satisfied.

  • I had a very positive experience at a 5 Guys. I ordered no french fries with my burger (trying to be healthy) but the pick up guy said some accidentally 'jumped' into my bag of food. Less than a full order but enough to get my french fry mojo on. Win win!

  • Love 5 Guys and Chick-fil-a. McDonalds in a pinch for a clean bathroom on the road. Subway and Burger King are both disgusting.

  • Five Guys is what bass ack ultraconserv square state types answer In N Out with. Since it is theirs and not some "hogwash slicker N'yorker or californer", it obviously must be "better" just like NASCAR is.

    The burgers, of course, are inferior.

  • We just got a SmashBurger here in Manhattan, KS (that's 2 hours west of Kansas City, and home to Kansas State University, for those not familiar with the area) and i was really underwhelmed. Granted I'm spoiled by the burgers at the Burger Stand in Lawrence, KS; but I'll take the local Cozy Inn Burger (delicious little sliders with handmade potato chips instead of fries) over anything else in...+READ

    We just got a SmashBurger here in Manhattan, KS (that's 2 hours west of Kansas City, and home to Kansas State University, for those not familiar with the area) and i was really underwhelmed. Granted I'm spoiled by the burgers at the Burger Stand in Lawrence, KS; but I'll take the local Cozy Inn Burger (delicious little sliders with handmade potato chips instead of fries) over anything else in town.

    Burger Stand: http://thecasbahburgerstand.com/THE_BURGER_STAND.html

    I did have an In-N-Out Burger while i was in Santa Rosa, CA this summer, and it was pretty tasty, but the fries weren't that great IMO.-COLLAPSE

  • I agree that Five Guys isn't really that good, but I live in PA: no Shake Shack, no Smashburger, no In-n-Out. I love fast-food-style cheeseburgers, so 5G is still the best option for me. Chick-Fil-A, on the other hand, is amaaaazing. Salty fried chicken, tangy pickles, buttery bun. Really, what more could you want? (I guess I wish they were more tolerant. But the chicken! So good!)

  • We finally got a Smashburger here in Fargo, ND, and, I'll agree that their burgers, to me, are much better than Five Guys. Now, 5G isn't bad, but, if we're in the mood for burgers, we'll go to Smashburger any day.

  • I agree, I don't understand the hype about 5 guys. The burgers are mediocre and even though I know how much grease is on the fries, I still don't want to SEE it on the paper bag....The best burgers for me come from SmashBurger which are a chain but am not sure if they spread beyond north Jersey. And they have the best herb sweet potato fries you will ever taste!

  • I have to travel from time to time for work and end up getting stuck eating fast food more often than I'd like (airport food). Five Guys completely smokes McDonalds or BK in taste, but Five Guys burgers really aren't that great. Greasy and overcooked, though the monster amount of hand cut fries are a nice touch. I guess I can see Five Guys being on top, mainly because the competition is comprised...+READ

    I have to travel from time to time for work and end up getting stuck eating fast food more often than I'd like (airport food). Five Guys completely smokes McDonalds or BK in taste, but Five Guys burgers really aren't that great. Greasy and overcooked, though the monster amount of hand cut fries are a nice touch. I guess I can see Five Guys being on top, mainly because the competition is comprised of truly awful food outlets (McDonalds and BK = bottom of the barrel).-COLLAPSE

  • I still don't get the fascination with Five Guys. I've eaten at various locations and they're always the same: tasteless meat that hits your stomach like a rock, over-salted, soggy fries, and a sloppy interior to the place. Actually, I've been to locations where the floors were actually slimy.