# Which national fast-food chain has the best basic hamburger? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 18, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865 "2012-01-18T02:46:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/1 "2012-01-18T02:46:15Z")
No specialty sandwiches, no special orders, nothing but the basic roll up to the drive-thru and say “I’d like a hamburger, please”. Which chain comes out on top? (Note to Californian dopers: You will note that In-n-Out is not on the list. That is intentional.) ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/2 "2012-01-18T03:10:03Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > (Note to Californian dopers: You will note that In-n-Out is not on the list. That is intentional.) Of course…it’s not a national chain. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/3 "2012-01-18T03:12:56Z")
Wendy’s, only because you didn’t list Checkers/Rallys. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/4 "2012-01-18T03:28:04Z")
Hardees tends to have the best tasting ones when I try them. There are no jack in the boxes around here. I’ve been to them when I was in california, but they aren’t really national. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/5 "2012-01-18T03:31:12Z")
Among those listed, it’s a close tie between Burger King and Wendy’s, but I feel Burger King is just a bit better and so voted that. However, I remember liking another place best back in Texas. Whataburger? Lottaburger? I think the former. Are they still around? I believe they were a chain. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/6 "2012-01-18T03:40:09Z")
I chose Burger King because I think that is that last non-In-N-Out, fast food burger I have had. But it was probably a good 5 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/7 "2012-01-18T03:43:25Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Among those listed, it’s a close tie between Burger King and Wendy’s, but I feel Burger King is just a bit better and so voted that. > > However, I remember liking another place best back in Texas. Whataburger? Lottaburger? I think the former. Are they still around? I believe they were a chain. Whataburger, and they’re not only still around, but apparently thriving based on how many new restaurants they’re building. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/8 "2012-01-18T03:44:00Z")
I almost agreed with Siam Sam, but decided Wendy’s should edge out Burger King. Did anyone mention Whataburger yet? ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/9 "2012-01-18T03:44:39Z")
I chose Wendy’s because it’s the best on your list. My favorite fast food burger is Rallys/Checkers, though. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/10 "2012-01-18T03:48:04Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Whataburger, and they’re not only still around, but apparently thriving based on how many new restaurants they’re building. Thanks, that’s it. Top-notch burgers. I think there really was a Lottaburger too, but Whataburger is definitely what I was thinking of. There was a late-night one near my regular bar back in the day. Mmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/11 "2012-01-18T03:49:28Z")
Of those listed, I’d have to pick Wendy’s. But there is no “other” option, and I wish there was. Here in Canada, Harvey’s is a nation chain, and has the best burger by far. Sadly, for our American friends, it does not exist in the US (just as we do not have Carl’s Jr, Hardee’s, Jack in the Box, or Sonic). But Harvey’s is a national chain–the OP just forgot to specify the nation. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/12 "2012-01-18T03:52:03Z")
burger king, and it’s not even close IMO. The King takes the human element out of screwing up a burger by placing it on a rotating spit, with gas burning and heating up the patty, and spitting it out on the other side. That takes out the human element of flipping it too early or late. the kings burgers and mickey d’s fries, MMMMMM ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/13 "2012-01-18T04:03:22Z")
I’ve always loved Sonic. I started eating there as a kid and still visit several times a month. Chains like Sonic, McDonalds,Wendys or Burger King are good only if you get there during the lunch rush. That way you get a fresh made burger. Go any other time and you get a reheated, crappy burger. I usually don’t like crowds. But if I want a burger I make darn sure I go in the middle of the lunch rush. I like my burgers fresh and not reheated. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/14 "2012-01-18T04:35:36Z")
Five Guys, not on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/15 "2012-01-18T04:42:36Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Five Guys, not on the list. This! ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/16 "2012-01-18T05:18:18Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Here in Canada, Harvey’s is a nation chain, and has the best burger by far. Sadly, for our American friends, it does not exist in the US (just as we do not have Carl’s Jr, Hardee’s, Jack in the Box, or Sonic). But Harvey’s is a national chain–the OP just forgot to specify the nation. 😉 I agree. Their basic burger (assuming they didn’t change that, too) is excellent; to get a better burger, you’d have to make it yourself. I was a bit disappointed that they use oddly seasoned patties for the new larger “Great Canadian” burgers. I hope they didn’t switch patties on their regular burgers, too. Of the options available, I’d pick Wendy’s, with A&W a close second. McDonald’s is generally in a class by itself and shouldn’t really be compared to anything not-McDonald’s. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/17 "2012-01-18T05:26:41Z")
Burger King is incredibly foul. I don’t understand folks that would choose a burger that is around 1/8th of an inch thick. Horrible. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/18 "2012-01-18T05:30:26Z")
For my comparitive money, I like the proper beef burger mix of the New Jersey eminating !!Cheeburger Cheeburger!! Their Wall of Fame Burger with taken picture is bogus. Their :record burger: is only over a pound. But still… like the Kahuna burger with any possible topping it is a “Tasty Burger washed down with Sprite.”. I like the beef mis…could swear it comes from a “Hotel Burger Mix” grilled, with strip and filet trimmings. ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/19 "2012-01-18T05:35:11Z")
All I can say is thank god we only have two of those here in Australia. Would love to go to an In-an-Out burger though. The one on Camrose. Near where Arthur Digby-Sellers lives. The guy who wrote Branded. Well, the bulk of the series, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/20 "2012-01-18T06:11:27Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Thanks, that’s it. Top-notch burgers. I think there really was a Lottaburger too, but Whataburger is definitely what I was thinking of. There was a late-night one near my regular bar back in the day. Mmmmm. Whataburger in Texas (and other southern states, including NM), Blake’s Lotaburger in New Mexico only. Different chains. Both are good. Lotaburger is better (with green chile of course), but Whataburger is open 24 hours. I can’t really answer the poll, because I don’t eat at these places enough to make a good choice (going by memory, all are OK, none are great). Used to love A&W as a kid, but it’s been years since I’ve had one. (and Owl over Buckhorn, IMO) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865.md?page=2)