# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/41 "2012-01-18T18:06:29Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Would anyone not familiar with Maid Rite call [this a hamburger](http://www.roadfood.com/Photos/1285.jpg)? That looks like a fly sandwich. mmm ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/42 "2012-01-18T18:10:24Z")
> [@cherry](#): > > The Harveys near my house has a drive through which is also a Swiss Chalet drive through. Huh, you learn something new every day! I’m still not sure I’d want to eat one without any specific toppings, though. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/43 "2012-01-18T18:12:25Z")
I’ve always LOVED McDonald’s basic hamburgers. I order them often still. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/44 "2012-01-18T18:13:10Z")
Not sure how I’d vote here- who eats the regular hamburger at any of these? At McDonald’s I’d gladly take a quarter pounder over a hamburger, at Wendy’s a single over a hamburger, and at BK a whopper over a hamburger. Of the food I’d actually order at any of these, a BK Double Whopper is my choice. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/45 "2012-01-18T18:18:53Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > 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. 😉 Aside from my preference among those listed being A&W, I fully concur. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/46 "2012-01-18T19:06:21Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > That looks like a fly sandwich. > mmm I was thinking it looked like a pile of raisins on a bun. I voted for BK as we don’t have a Sonic, Jack in the Box, Wendy’s or A&W around here and I haven’t had a Dairy Queen or Hardees burger in a long time. ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/47 "2012-01-18T19:16:26Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Five Guys, not on the list. Thats the first thing that came to my kind as well… ---
**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:** [January 18, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/48 "2012-01-18T19:20:33Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > I was thinking it looked like a pile of raisins on a bun. In fairness to Maid Rite, perhaps I shouldn’t have pulled the first picture I found. [Here’s a more flattering one](http://aht.seriouseats.com/images/20090813-taylors.jpg), but, same idea. ---
**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:** [January 18, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/49 "2012-01-18T19:29:30Z")
Maid Rite are good sandwiches, but they _aren’t_ hamburgers. They aren’t in SoCal, so I have to make my own every now and then just for the experience. ---
**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:** [January 18, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/50 "2012-01-18T21:32:00Z")
Yet another vote for Rally’s. They’re also cheaper than most other fast food, and have great fries to boot. What more can you ask for? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/51 "2012-01-18T22:10:01Z")
In Canada it’s Harvey’s. It’s not even a close call; they simply make a higher quality of hamburger patty, better even than In & Out. However, of the choices offered, I’d pick A&W first, Wendy’s second. My fast food visits are down to once a month or so, and I will not waste my treat on any other kind. The votes for Burger King baffle me, but again it might be a Canadian thing. In Canada, Burger King food is really awful, absolutely disgraceful crap. Perhaps it’s better in the USA; I’ve never eaten in a Burger King there. The Canadian version of a fast food chain is not always quite the same as the American. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/52 "2012-01-18T23:00:11Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Five Guys, not on the list. Five Guys is over-priced crap, only partially redeemed by the free peanuts. 'course I live in a state with In-n-Out, which handily kicks Five Guys in all 5 of their asses. With that said, **Shake Shack** is still the king. I can only dream they’ll go national some day… > [@Cubsfan](#): > > 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. Agreed, BK is nasty. Soggy buns that fall apart and I don’t even want to know where they get their tomatoes from… ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/53 "2012-01-18T23:06:47Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I’m quesitoning the hypothetical, too, and going for Five Guys. I saw a Five Guys booth at our town art festival, and they kind of turned me off. Then we were near one when it was time for lunch, and decided to give it a try, and it was outstanding. Now the awesome fries helped too. Miles above In’n’Out. Of the ones posted, I chose Wendy’s. We go to A&W, but for root beer floats - the burgers are tolerable, but nothing wonderful. ---
**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, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/54 "2012-01-18T23:09:53Z")
I’m surprised Rally’s got left off the poll. Wow people on the Dope sure seem to like Wendys. ---
**Author:** ![mundylion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundylion/32/3604_2.png) [@mundylion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mundylion)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/55 "2012-01-18T23:28:23Z")
I chose Wendy’s. I once like BK but they seem to always have them precooked and sitting in a warmer oven these days. Nasty. I also like the basic McD burger. It has its own taste that I love, not really a burger, perhaps, but a good combination of flavors. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/56 "2012-01-18T23:53:43Z")
Rally’s isn’t national either: > **[Rally's](https://www.menuism.com/restaurant-locations/rallys-213688)** > > Find a Rally's near you or see all Rally's locations. View the Rally's menu, read Rally's reviews, and get Rally's hours and directions. BK burgers taste to me like they’ve been sprayed with lighter fluid. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/57 "2012-01-19T00:01:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Rally’s isn’t national either: > [http://www.menuism.com/restaurant-lo.../rallys-213688](http://www.menuism.com/restaurant-lo.../rallys-213688) That website is insanely out of date-- They list one near my mom’s house that’s been closed for at least 15 years. And for some reason they all say “Subway at…”, and there’s not a Subway (in either sense of the term) there either. I don’t know if there are any open ones they missed, though. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/58 "2012-01-19T00:04:36Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Not sure it’s even arguable it’s not a burger. Would anyone not familiar with Maid Rite call [this a hamburger](http://www.roadfood.com/Photos/1285.jpg)? It’s a loose meat sandwich, which is basically a sloppy joe without the sloppy sauce. They are…interesting. Jesus, that’s horrifying. What happens if you don’t finish eating it before they start to hatch? ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/59 "2012-01-19T00:09:20Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Five Guys, not on the list. Ditto. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2012, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865/60 "2012-01-19T00:39:04Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > 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. While I agree with you about BK, I do like ultra-thin burgers with caramelized, crispy edges. I don’t know about 1/8 of an inch thick, but when I make pan-fried fast-food style burgers, I smash them about 1/4-1/2 inch thick between a folded sheet of wax paper with a cast iron pan. It’s just another style of burger. I actually prefer it to the thicker, grilled, pub-style (1/2 pound & up) style of hamburger most of the time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-fast-food-chain-has-the-best-basic-hamburger/609865.md?page=4)