Oops–no, I was vegetarian from the ages of 15-33. During that time, hamburgers were one of the meat foods that I craved. I was disappointed, after falling off the wagon, to find out that fast-food burgers were much less delicious than a gardenburger. I was thrilled to find out that a good hamburger kicked a gardenburger’s sorry butt.
Daniel
I do love those fast food burgers, especially the Wendy’s double.
Overall though, I agree with NAF1138 – the best burgers as an entire category are burger shack burgers.
I’d put Five Guys somewhere on the line between fast food and shack. They recently opened one near my office, and it’s a miracle we get any work done anymore between planning what we are going to order from Five Guys, then going to Five Guys, then being full and drowsy after Five Guys.
Anyway, back to the burger shacks … I’m going to cry now because the best one I know is seasonal, summer-only. Family-owned business, the shack itself looks like it could fall over or go up in flames at any moment (I’d say the fire department would shut it down, but then where could they get their burgers?), the line goes around the building, then you jostle to grab a seat at a splintery picnic table. Pure heaven!
My second favorite is found at more of a chicken shack that happens to serve a burger as well. The key here is the deployment of the butter bun. The burger is served on a bun that is ever-so-lightly toasted and then buttered. I don’t know if someone decided that what a burger really needs is more fat, but I’ll die happy when the coronary comes.
I’ve gotta say, I was quite impressed with Steak N Shake – the burgers were up there with some of my favorite hamburger stands.
I have yet to try In-n-Out, but since its mentioned constantly, I’ve gleaned two things – people either love it, or feel let down after all the hype (1), and (2), everyone seems to dislike the fries.
I’ve only eaten at Whataburger once. I was not impressed.
Never been to an In-and-Out so I can’t judge.
Of the major chains I have to put Wendy’s on top but for some reason I crave McDonalds more often. I prefer the Double Quarter Pounder to anything else there but it is usually too much for me unless I’m really hungry.
White Castle is the best after drinking burger.
White Castle is my favorite burger spot - steamed buns - lotsa minced onion - pickle in exactly the right place - the right amount of ketchup. Yum!
Those frozen ones sold in supermarkets just can’t compare.
I remember a Blarney Stone bar in NYC that made an excellent burger to order - there used to be a line down the block at lunchtime on 8th Avenue near 30th street. When I first tried it, I couldn’t believe how great the burger was.
Alas and alack, it appears that North Hollywood’s Sirloin Burger is no more, closed in 2007. Sorry you missed it. Or maybe you could buy it and open it back up? The grease is probably still there and more aged by now. Mmmm – just the kind Lynn likes.
A Chubby Decker from Zesto’s is my favorite. But that’s only because Pal’s is 300 miles away.
Tommy’s website is kind of interesting.
Why are their headquarters in Las Vegas?
They have catering?
And the best part, their motto: “If you don’t see the shack, take it back.”
I’m trying to imagine. I go to a hamburger joint and purchase an order. Then I suddenly remember: “Where’s the shack?” I don’t see it, so I ask for a refund.
Indeed, this is a wise method, in general, which I apply to many foods.
There’s the Burrito King carne asada burrito ratio (said burrito rarely superseded).
There’s the Sanamnalong green curry ratio (said curry seldom bested west of Western Avenue).
The Zankou Chicken falafal ratio.
Fatburger passes using this ratio test–it costs more, but earns the price differential. Tommy’s passes because it’s so cheap. However, no hamburger can be worth ten dollars. Sorry.
Of course, in economics we can apply such rules only when all other things are equal, as they often aren’t. So if you should be so unfortunate as to find yourself stuck in some God-forsaken suburb of south Orange County, well, may the Dining Gods have mercy upon you.
I may be the only person in America who’s never had a Big Mac. It’s just never appealed to me. I suppose I’ll try it sometime just to say I did.
On the other hand, I occasionally crave a Quarter Pounder with Cheese. Yes, I know it’s not the highest (or even middlest) quality beef, but the combination of flavors just hits the spot.
My favorite burgers, though, are diner burgers. There’s a place in Charlottesville called the White Spot whose specialty is the egg-and-cheese-topped Gusburger. Food of the gods, that is.
I don’t have one in my neck of the woods but Cheeburger-Cheeburger makes an excellent burger. Definately try one if you are near one.
If you’re going to eat hamburger, this is obviously the best way to get it. But I imagine your steakhouse charged upward to $15 for one, considering the labor involved.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe it’s not the fast food chain that processes ground beef, but the meatpacking houses. They throw the meat from about 12 cattle into a big grinder and out spews the stuff which drives McDonald’s.
I agree completely.
I have eaten a lot of fast food over the years and I find it useful for one thing - feeding a party of schoolchildren.
Big Macs are fast and the place is clean.
Since my mate visited and we bought some quality steak which he then cooked into burgers, I will never eat another fast food burger.
There’s absolutely no comparison in terms of taste, and it cost about the same.
Here in Missouri, I don’t think Steak and Shake is all that great. It tastes a lot like an old Bob’s Big Boy burger, I think it’s the relish. I greatly prefer Culvers but even Hardee’s, Sonic or Jack In the Box will do in a pinch for the days I need a burger. We have a Five Guys being built near us, but I may not go there as I’ve already had a friend advise me she didn’t find the food worth the price they charged.
For the list in the OP, never been to Fatburger, Wendy’s burgers never did much for me, Whoppers are ok, but they’re a little heavy on the mayo, In N Out is on my short list of things I really miss from California, and Big Macs are vile and shouldn’t even be considered food (maybe they’d be good if they tasted like they actually used beef).
You’ve never tasted a burger until you try a barbecued Paty.
Paty’s are so good that in my country (Argentina) it’s another word for burger. That’s because they are made fromm 100% percent pure argentinian beef. It’s imposible even to imagine a better burger.
I went to one here in town. It was decent. They make a big deal out of having a long list of possible toppings you can choose from, sort of like Five Guys with more variety. Pretty expensive for the quality, though. I’d rather eat at Red Robin.
I had never even heard of Five Guys until they opened up a restaurant in our town. The first time my husband and I went we made the mistake of ordering two cheeseburgers and two fries. We never did that again. We almost exploded. We now make sure we get singles and split an order of fries. BTW, the last time we went the economy must be hurting them too because we REALLY only got the amount of fries that fit in the cup. 
No accounting for taste, I guess, but fast food burgers just don’t have a good beef flavor. The beef gets overwhelmed by sauces and ketchup.
Give me a good bar burger or home-cooked burger any day.
Not everyone. I think they’re about 50 times better than the next best fries. The trick is that you have to eat them immediately. That means before your burger, not after or even at the same time. And don’t even think about driving home before consuming them. They’re made fresh from whole potatoes right before they go in the fryer, and for whatever reason they have a really small window of great taste before they turn to cold, stale mush.
I think that, for a lot of us, ground up and mashed into a patty isn’t the best way to deliver good beef flavor, so the fact that fast food burgers don’t have it isn’t really a negative.
I was starting to get worried - there was a distinct lack of White Castle love going on in here until Loach pulled this thread back from the abyss. They’re almost my favorite, but they’ve changed from what I remember - one opened up right near my house and when we tried it after the grand opening, it was kind of a letdown. My number one fast food burger is the Big Mac. No lettuce, extra cheese, sauce, and pickles. If I wanted a salad, I’d order a salad! No lettuce!! I don’t like Quarter Pounders or Whoppers - I don’t particularly like ketchup or the other combinations of flavor they have. What I DID love was Wendy’s cheddar mushroom melty thing they had a few years ago. It was a special promo, I think - I don’t think I’ve seen it in awhile. That’s the only Wendy’s burger I like anyway.
Favorite burger of all time? Brandt’s Little Cafe in my town. NW Highway and Quentin in Palatine. (If anyone works in the NW Burbs stop there for lunch one day and try one - they are AMAZING.) Next favorite? Fuddruckers. Least favorite? The ones we make at home. I’m no good at it, nor is husband, and he buys the premade frozen ones anyway. Blech.
For me the best burgers are at burger shacks or small greasy spoon joints, my personal favorite (although admittedly an entirely different type of burger is the burger at Jackson Hole in NYC.
