# Which Fast Food Burger Joint has The Cheapest Burgers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [November 26, 2022, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575 "2022-11-26T08:08:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2022, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/81 "2022-11-29T23:17:44Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > Sometimes the cashier will gently chide me if I get a small size. I’ve had queries from the Mickie D cashiers when I order a medium instead of a large soda. “You know they’re the same price, right?” ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/82 "2022-11-29T23:24:22Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > > [@JohnGalt](#): > > > > Sometimes the cashier will gently chide me if I get a small size. ⁢ > > I’ve had queries from the Mickie D cashiers when I order a medium instead of a large soda. “You know they’re the same price, right?” ⁢ It seems to me like they should realize that, if they still sell them, there must be some people who want them. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2022, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/83 "2022-11-29T23:31:24Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > It seems to me like they should realize that, if they still sell them, there must be some people who want them… Even back when they were the same price a la carte, you would still only get a medium drink with your medium-sized value meal or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/84 "2022-11-30T00:17:56Z")
A month. At 30 times $1.49, it would be worth $44.70, for only $7.99 a month. You can also enroll online for $5.99 but I don’t do that. They have you enter a phone number when you purchase; I use our old long-abandoned land line number. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/85 "2022-11-30T00:20:10Z")
At $8 a month, they’re probably not losing money on anyone, even if they don’t buy anything else. Though of course they’d prefer if you did buy other stuff. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/86 "2022-11-30T00:20:33Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > I use their “Sip and save”, which for $7.99 let’s you get one drink each day (soda or coffe or tea). I usually stop by every day I speed-parsed this as a daily charge, and went, “Jeebus!” ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/87 "2022-11-30T00:28:04Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > What is this “cash” of which @Mundane_Super_Hero speaks? Colored pieces of paper which you can exchange for goods and services. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/88 "2022-11-30T00:43:31Z")
But that’s not important right now. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/89 "2022-11-30T01:22:40Z")
I dropped by a [Shake Shack](https://shakeshack.com/) today on the way back from a day trip. Another “smaller” chain of 250-odd locations per wikipedia and defined as “fast casual.” The fries were unimpressive, but I thought the double-cheeseburger was actually pretty decent. Another thinly-grilled patty version like In-N-Out. But it sure isn’t the cheapest. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/90 "2022-11-30T01:48:03Z")
Around these parts, a Double Double at In-N-Out will set you back $4.04. A plain hamburger is $2.46. I’d put those in the running for Best Cheapest. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/91 "2022-11-30T02:28:56Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > I dropped by a [Shake Shack](https://shakeshack.com/) today on the way back from a day trip. Another “smaller” chain of 250-odd locations per wikipedia and defined as “fast casual.” The fries were unimpressive, but I thought the double-cheeseburger was actually pretty decent. Another thinly-grilled patty version like In-N-Out. But it sure isn’t the cheapest. Shake Shack is fairly common here in South Florida. And is quite proud of their NYC heritage. Which IMO is mostly a matter of being proud of indifferent service and indifferent food trendily described while delivered at a _very_ premium price. YMMV of course, but IMO forget that noise. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2022, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/92 "2022-11-30T02:36:28Z")
Yeah — it’s not national so I didn’t mention it, but I’ve always been stunned by their prices, especially given the quality. They would easily win my quality bang-for-buck in this category. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/93 "2022-11-30T02:47:25Z")
Steak ‘n’ Shake has gone downhill lately, but as far as I know they still have their [“4 under $4”](https://order.steaknshake.com/menu/steaknshake50/categories/56387_71510) menu where you can get a double steakburger with cheese and fries for $3.99. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/94 "2022-11-30T03:07:41Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But that’s not important right now. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/AK3gB7DpaM0/maxresdefault.jpg "What is it? Not important right now!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK3gB7DpaM0) ---
**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:** [December 2, 2022, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/95 "2022-12-02T13:37:56Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > The fries were unimpressive, Really? Shake Shack fries are my favorite fries. Perfectly crispy on the outside and steamy and fluffy on the inside. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2022, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/96 "2022-12-02T18:06:16Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Perfectly crispy on the outside and steamy and fluffy on the inside. Mine mostly weren’t that 🙂. I don’t much care for crinkle-cut to begin with (I usually prefer steak fries if given a choice), but this batch had a number of smaller, thinner ends that came out dryish. But they did travel a bit, which never does fries any good. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/97 "2022-12-16T21:20:54Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > The BK burgers now taste like lighter fluid. You know, even though I’ve lived in California since 2005, I literally just tried Carl’s Jr. for the first time today. And I thought the burger I got there had that same weird lighter fluid taste. Interestingly, both chains advertise their burgers as “charbroiled” (Ok, BK calls them “flame broiled”, but same difference). I wonder if something about that cooking method in a fast food environment gives them that weird flavor. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/98 "2022-12-16T21:25:06Z")
Not exactly… They deliberately add that flavor, because it’s what customers expect from a “flame-broiled” burger. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/99 "2022-12-16T21:29:53Z")
That was my second guess, that they were adding some sort of artificial “flame broiled” flavor. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575/100 "2022-12-16T22:44:45Z")
They supposedly used to cook them on a grill. Now they’re sent out to be heated up? with fake ‘smoke’ flavoring, which is a big. fat. FAIL…anything to save a buck, i had a jr. whopper at BK once a month for decades, and now they are just garbage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-fast-food-burger-joint-has-the-cheapest-burgers/975575.md?page=6)