Because it’s 1:45 in the A.M., and I’m hankering for a greasy fast food burger. But I WILL NOT give in to this urge. Thus, I must enjoy my burger vicariously through this thread (dammit).
So, anyway, which fast food chain do you find consistently serves the best burger?
There is a chain called The Counter. They will serve it rare they are so confident. And damn is it yummy.
Of the big chains, Carl’s Junior. (I just tried their Jalapeno Burger, and loved it!)
Of the “gourmet burger” chains, I’ve tried Five Guys and Smashburgers: they’re good, but not so good that they’re really worth the extra price.
Small independent grills are obviously highly variable, but the “best” end of the bell curve sticks out beyond the tighter quality distribution of the big chains. When you become a regular at a small grill, you can ask to have things done the way your like it. (Super thin patty, and make it crispy? Old Joe is happy to do that for you. Always something cooking at Old Joe’s place.)
Back Yard Burger is my favorite but I haven’t been to most of those other restaurants. I won’t eat burgers from McD’s, BK, or Wendy’s. They aren’t good. I’ll get chicken or nothing.
I voted Hardee’s because that’s where we normally go for burgers. They’re close. A while back, another (maybe just local or limited area) chain Backyard Burger was vastly superior to any place I had ever eaten that wasn’t a one-off (of which Nashville has quite a few – Brown’s Diner being the standout). They may still have a local area place but it would be too far to go just to outdo Hardee’s.
If you had had this poll two years ago I’d have had trouble not picking Krystal. But after we found a roach in one that we had gotten takeout, we haven’t been back. A real shame and a lesson to the bosses of such establishments. There’s no excuse for a goddamn roach in a sandwich! 
It’ll drive away loyal customers!
ETA: Happily ninja’d!
I’m pretty sure In and Out will win this thing but I really don’t get them. My SO loves it so I eat there every once in a while. Their burgers are ok but nothing special… Other than a long wait.
Well, yeah, but they’re not fast food, they’re a sit-down chain and the burgers are definitely more expensive. But oh so good.
Out of the list, I’d probably have to choose between Carl’s Jr/Hardee’s and In-N-Out, if we’re talking strictly burgers. I find myself going to Wendy’s a lot, as well, but their burgers aren’t as good as they were a few years ago.
Sonic is my favorite fast food burger. Tots and a Dr Pepper. I’m happy.
I voted for Burger Street before I read the OP. The purple onions put them over the top.
If it’s 1:45am, the real answer around here is Whataburger (grilled onions, please). I’ve worked overnights for years, as a result I’ve eaten a staggering amount of their burgers. I think as far as 24 hour places go, they’re the best. Sometimes I am lured by the whole slice of onion* offered by In-N-Out, but Whataburger is my default night time burger. Plus, they have the best burger-based t-shirt ever.
If I’m at my house, it’s not late, and my wife isn’t eating; I’ll got to Charley’s (an Old Joe’s type place) down the street. Amazingly delicious burgers, greasy enough to make two layers of wrapping paper transparent. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
*yes, I like onions, why do you ask?
ETA: I believe I’ve had The Counter while visiting Tyler. Amazing burgers on the level of Charley’s. If it’s the same place, I didn’t know they were a chain!
ETA2: No, I don’t think it’s the same place.
I don’t eat burgers that often; the McDonalds cheeseburger on their "dollar"menu usually fits the bill perfectly when I’m out and about, hungry, and just need something inexpensive to quell hunger.
I went with NONE OF THESE though. A small Michigan chain, Halo Burger, has a green olive burger that I must have about once a month.
My burger preferences break along the thin patty/thick patty divide. I like a thin patty because it has more surface area, and that’s where the flavor is. Two thin patties has much more burger flavor than one thick patty. And when I say thick I mean 3/4 of an inch or more. Some of them are like meatballs, and I don’t care for those at all.
For this reason I chose In-N-Out, specifically the Double-Double with grilled onions.
I’m not really sure I would call Red Robin or Friendly’s fast food. Of what I consider Fast Food, Wendy’s is the best Burger.
I very rarely have fast food of any kind but Fudruckers makes a pretty satisfying burger, if memory serves. Especially the bison burger. Never tried the ostrich. Of course, the one that was close and convenient is closed now. More recently had ShakeShack and found it did not live up to the hype.
Shake Shack
On that list, Five Guys.
My real answer is Roy Roger’s. They’re not a big chain anymore, and most of the remaining locations are peppered around Maryland, Northern Virginia and Pennsylvania near the Mason-Dixon Line, but I don’t live near any of those locations, so I stop in whenever I’m in the vicinity of one, even if I’m not hungry.
Steak 'n Shake tops my list. They have many different varieties but I just like the simple double Steakburger with cheese. I pick whatever toppings based on my mood at the time. Often just Ketchup and Mustard hits the spot.
Five guys is a close second, but they aren’t really fast. You have to get out of the car and wait quite a while. Their Cajun fries though usually make it well worth the wait.
From the big three you can usually find at most exits along the interstate while travelling (McDonalds, Wendy’s, and Burger King) I would normally go with Burger King. Something about the
Whopper hits a spot that I need to fulfill from time to time.
I haven’t tried that many of those. Someday I’d like to try In n Out. Also Whataburger and Fatburger.
Over a half century ago my mom and I stopped at a burger stand at 18th and Parallel in Kansas City, Kansas and she bought me a burger. It was one of those stands that was like a little cube, and you ordered at the window. The burger came in wax paper, the way God intended and had a taste that I still crave, and have been unable to find anywhere else. The closest was a Whataburger in Las Cruses, New Mexico.
Other: Killer Burger, which is a local chain at the moment, but these guys are what Five Guys wishes it was.
Although it’s a chain it probably doesn’t qualify as fast food, but the burgers at Bar Louie are really, really good.
