I voted “In N Out,” but you’re missing quite a few decent chains on the list. Not that it would have changed my vote, but this poll is not complete without:
Five Guys
Whataburger
Culver’s
Fatburger
(and perhaps Krystal, and I’m sure somebody will point out another fast food chain or two I’m forgetting.)
Interestingly, in the Zagat survery, Five Guys beat out In N Out.
My personal top five, in order, would go: In N Out, Fatburger, Five Guys, Culver’s, and Whataburger. Of the major 3, McDonald’s and Wendy’s are tied (I admit that Wendy’s has a “better” burger, but I prefer McDonald’s for its distinct taste and nostalgia factor), and Burger King is a distant, distant third. It is my least favorite fast food hamburger.
I was about to click on Carl’s Jr. (probably better listed as “Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s”), until I noticed In-N-Out was on the list along with a couple of other well-known regional chains. I’m in LA, so Sonic and White Castle are “n/a”.
As mentioned above, if you’re including regional chains, there is a lot missing.
They only barely qualify as fast food, though. Smashburger kicks ass, but it’s also like 1.5x the price, and it’s a lot nicer than most fast food joints.
:mad::mad::mad: I hate it when people start threads like this, because the burgers that people always suggest are the best are ones that are unavailable anywhere near me, and it makes me envious.
A recent Consumer Reports article seems to objectively confirm what I’ve long suspected: that when it comes to fast food, quality is inversely proportional to ubiquity. The fast food chains that are the most widespread, have the most locations, and are the most heavily advertised really are the crappiest.
Got to go with Flamers Grill. Oh, and I’m not a fan of 5-guys since all 3 of the ones I went to were either terrible or mediocre. (Burger was over cooked and the fries were never good. One of them didn’t even bother to cook the damn fries.)
ETA: And I’ve heard wonderful things about Sonicburgers, but during my one visit they managed to screw up deep-fried Tater Tots with chili. I thought that was impossible.