# Five Guys Burgers and Fries - good eats? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592 "2010-04-09T23:24:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![happydays546](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f14d63/32.png) [@happydays546](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happydays546)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/61 "2010-04-10T21:46:49Z")
I give it five stars, it is 100% good eats. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/62 "2010-04-10T22:11:21Z")
I tried them for the first time about a month ago. I liked them okay, and they’re definitely better than the average fast food burger, but I don’t really get the rabid devotion they seem to engender. I also prefer thinner, crispier fries. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/63 "2010-04-10T22:33:58Z")
You guys need to try the burgers from Zip’s Cafe if you’re ever in Cincinnati. They are truly wonderful. Any Cincy dopers worth their salt will back me up on this! > **[We Are Open! - Zip's Cafe](https://www.zipscafe.com/)** > > Online Ordering Now Available Order Online Buy Gift Cards   Closed Monday and Tuesday Wednesday-Saturday 11am – 10pm Sunday 11am – 9pm Credit card payments over the phone 513-871-9876 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/64 "2010-04-11T00:12:07Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > This thread prompted me to find out where the nearest one is, and it turns out that one will be opening right in Salem soon! YUSS! Apparently there is one in Beaverton. WTF? What’s wrong with Portland? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/65 "2010-04-11T00:17:58Z")
Five Guys is probably the best burger patty I ever had, but I’d like it more if the burger weren’t 98% patty, 1% condiments, and 1% bun. This is the same gripe I have with every “world famous” burger joint, I shouldn’t need a knife and fork to eat a goddamned burger. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/66 "2010-04-11T00:19:47Z")
Best upscale fast food burgers on the East Coast. Of course, IMO, they don’t hold a candle to In-N-Out. To those who say there are better burgers - of course they are. But they’re at sit-down restaurants. For a good, real and fresh burger fix fast, unless you’re blessed to have In-N-Out, Five Guys is a good option. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/67 "2010-04-11T03:29:08Z")
I eat there when I’m visiting the in-laws in Virginia just because there’s one in walking distance. Food’s fine but over-priced in my opinion. Feeding my son and I cost us $20 which is more than a burger, fries and drink should run. I could swing a dead cat around here and hit four independent fast food joints that sell a burger just as tasty (if not better), a giant sack of fries and a drink for well cheaper than that. Not a bad burger, though. Just nothing I’d go out of my way for. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/68 "2010-04-11T03:48:14Z")
Denny’s? Come on. Denny’s is practically garbage. I wouldn’t order toast there. Fast food? Fast food burgers are McDonalds, Wendy’s, Burger King, White Castle, and that ilk. Five Guys is definitely not of that level. I’d say Five Guys is even better than the next level up – Rally’s, Johnny Rocket’s, etc. Five Guys isn’t the _best_ burger I’ve had, but it rates a 6-8 on a scale of 10. The main drawback, as mentioned, is that they only do well done. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/69 "2010-04-11T12:56:16Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > That picture is 100% food porn. 😃 I’ll be in my bunk… ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/70 "2010-04-11T14:29:17Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I eat there when I’m visiting the in-laws in Virginia just because there’s one in walking distance. Food’s fine but over-priced in my opinion. Feeding my son and I cost us $20 which is more than a burger, fries and drink should run. I could swing a dead cat around here and hit four independent fast food joints that sell a burger just as tasty (if not better), a giant sack of fries and a drink for well cheaper than that. I’m wondering what you’re ordering, or whether the Five Guys near your in-laws is a lot more expensive than the ones around here. I could get two grilled cheese sandwiches, two regular drinks, and a regular order of fries at my local Five Guys for only $13.94. I don’t pay that much attention to the meaty side of the menu, but I’m pretty sure the cheapest burger option is only $1-2 more than the grilled cheese sandwiches so that should only add up to $16-18. I don’t get fries if I’m by myself, so when I visit Five Guys I usually spent about $5.50 on a grilled cheese sandwich and drink. That’s about as cheap of a lunch I could get around where I work, even a 6" sandwich and drink at Subway is slightly more expensive (although I’m sure it’s healthier). ---
**Author:** ![PetW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@PetW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PetW)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/71 "2010-04-11T14:46:33Z")
> [@Cosmic Relief](#): > > Five Guys is probably the best burger patty I ever had, but I’d like it more if the burger weren’t 98% patty, 1% condiments, and 1% bun. This is the same gripe I have with every “world famous” burger joint, I shouldn’t need a knife and fork to eat a goddamned burger. Exactly, the bun just completely falls apart if you get all the toppings. That’s really my biggest gripe with the restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/72 "2010-04-11T14:54:01Z")
I won’t go so far as to say it’s the best burger 'round these parts (that would be either Terry’s Turf Club - [Facebook](http://tinyurl.com/yezh54s); or Zips Cafe - [http://www.zipscafe.com/](http://www.zipscafe.com/)), but it is a _damned_ good burger, nonetheless. My personal preference is to order a bacon cheeseburger with grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, mayo, mustard, pickles, tomatoes, and barbecue sauce, sided with a regular order of Cajun fries. _Most_ delectable! ETA: Don’t know if anyone’s mentioned this, as I haven’t read through the thread yet, but there are no freezers at any Five Guys, so the meat is fresh. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/73 "2010-04-11T15:07:39Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > \*I haven’t been to an In and Out, but looking at the menu, they seem pretty uninspired. Lettuce and tomato and maybe onions? No mushrooms? No relish? No mayo? No pickles? And they cook their fries in vegetable oil – not peanut oil, like Five Guys. At In and Out (which, sadly, I’ve never eaten at), it’s all about the secret menu: [http://www.in-n-out.com/secretmenu.asp](http://www.in-n-out.com/secretmenu.asp) ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/74 "2010-04-11T15:21:20Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Average at best. > [LIST] > [li]The burger is on par with a national chain diner like Denny’s[/li] This is a joke, right? Or just an example of obsequious hyperbole? Because, while the burgers at Five Guys certainly aren’t The Best Ever, Anywhere™, they’re a damn sight better than any you’ll get at Denny’s, Perkin’s, or the like. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/75 "2010-04-11T15:22:23Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Sorry - didn’t mean to offend, but the 2 are about the same Only if your taste in burgers is questionable. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/76 "2010-04-11T15:31:35Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > At In and Out (which, sadly, I’ve never eaten at), it’s all about the secret menu: [http://www.in-n-out.com/secretmenu.asp](http://www.in-n-out.com/secretmenu.asp) I have to say, the fact that In-N-Out’s burger is so simple and straightforward is what makes it so perfect for me. It’s not “uninspired.” It’s simple and classic. Selection of toppings has never been a criterium for me for what constitutes a good burger place. I just want somebody to get the damn beef and bun part of the equation right, and both In-N-Out and Five Guys do a great job for those thin, fast-food style burgers I enjoy. I find that a lot of joints have gimmicky toppings or bury the flavor of a substandard burger patty underneath loads of junk. Whenever I visit a burger place I’ve never visited before, my standard initial order is a plain cheeseburger, just to get a sense of what we’re working with. Even at Five Guys, I’ve never ventured beyond pickle, onion, mustard, ketchup, on a cheeseburger. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/77 "2010-04-11T15:34:11Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Well, I disagree. Let’s just leave it at that. And I agree with you. Some people may love bland fries, but I’m certainly not one of them. Skins are a plus in my book. ---
**Author:** ![what\_do\_I\_type\_here](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a5b964/32.png) [@what\_do\_I\_type\_here](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/what_do_I_type_here)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/78 "2010-04-11T15:41:17Z")
The burgers are delicious but the fries are terrible. They’re limp, under-salted, unpeeled. You can get “Cajun” style fries which are more seasoned but I shouldn’t _have_ to, damnit! ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/79 "2010-04-11T15:43:41Z")
As far as chain burger places go, Five Guys is pretty good. I wouldn’t put it on par with Shake Shack or P.J Clarks or any of the 57 other “best burger in NYC” places, but it’s still good. The only thing is that they are a little greasy and I can really only eat a “small” single paddy burger. Whenever I eat the regular 2 paddy burger I feel disgusted with myself. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592/80 "2010-04-11T15:46:09Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Someone mentioned Red Robin. We have one here but it’s off my beaten path and I’ve never bothered to go there. What’s it like? Decent, if pre-formed and frozen, burger, with quite a few variations (Royal Red Robin [topped with a fried egg], teriyaki burger, etc.), and other sandwiches that they also call “burgers” (salmon burger, chicken burger, etc.). Overall (food + service + ambience), I give Red Robin a B-. ETA: Forgot to mention that if you love large groups of loud, obnoxious kids running rampant through the restaurant as their parents blithely ignore them whilst sipping on overpriced, watered-down cocktails, then this is the place for you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-good-eats/535592.md?page=5)