# Who has the best hambuger (fast food joints) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 22, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025 "2011-07-22T20:47:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [July 23, 2011, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/41 "2011-07-23T03:32:46Z")
Actually, Dairy Queens vary a lot, but depending on the location, some of them put out fine examples of fast-food burgers. See the last post [in this thread](http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=166&p=235983) for an example. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/42 "2011-07-23T03:55:39Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Actually, Dairy Queens vary a lot, but depending on the location, some of them put out fine examples of fast-food burgers. See the last post [in this thread](http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=166&p=235983) for an example. A 30s-style burger? Like Superdawg does a fine 50s-style dog? I’m not that old, but I know that stand. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/43 "2011-07-23T04:21:55Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Steak and Shake is good, too, but I wouldn’t classify them as a fast food joint. Any place where you’re expected to leave a tip for the person who brings your dinner isn’t fast food. Except you don’t tip them when you go through the drive through… and you don’t tip them when you place a to-go order at the counter… just like any other fast food joint. They do have the added bonus that if you want to sit at a table and have someone take your order, bring you your food, bring you refills of your drink, serve you on real plates with real silverware and clear your table when you are done… only then do you leave a tip. Almost forgot to add that it is odd that the most votes (In N Out) are going to someplace that those of us who live in the other 90% of the US don’t have access to. I’ve tried it… wasn’t impressed. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/44 "2011-07-23T04:38:03Z")
Can someone explain the IN&Out love to me? Not because I’ve never been, I have, I live in LA. But the meat (which is what makes or breaks it for me) is completely generic. I like the grilled buns and fixin’s, but the meat is a C+/B at best. Carl’s Six Dollar burgers, whatever the variety, are excellent meat-wise, as are Wendys and some of the Jack burgers. (Just some, not all!) ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/45 "2011-07-23T05:11:07Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Can someone explain the IN&Out love to me? Not because I’ve never been, I have, I live in LA. But the meat (which is what makes or breaks it for me) is completely generic. I like the grilled buns and fixin’s, but the meat is a C+/B at best. > > Carl’s Six Dollar burgers, whatever the variety, are excellent meat-wise, as are Wendys and some of the Jack burgers. (Just some, not all!) I think their meat is perfectly adequate for a hamburger, but it’s the cheese that’s really excellent. The purist in me wants to grade heavily on the meat, but the fact is that for me, decent meat, good buns and fixings, and really good cheese manage to beat everything else. Oh, and the onions. I love the thick slices of whole onions you get on them. Mmmm…I’m not even hungry and I’m craving some In-N-Out now! ETA: You know, there’s also something about the In-N-Out burger as well that transcends the individual ingredients. The proportions of everything just seem right. In some ways the single cheeseburger is even better than the Double Double that way. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2011, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/46 "2011-07-23T05:21:45Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Can someone explain the IN&Out love to me? Not because I’ve never been, I have, I live in LA. But the meat (which is what makes or breaks it for me) is completely generic. I like the grilled buns and fixin’s, but the meat is a C+/B at best. > > Carl’s Six Dollar burgers, whatever the variety, are excellent meat-wise, as are Wendys and some of the Jack burgers. (Just some, not all!) See, my problem is that Wendy’s burgers always tasted insipid and flavorless to me. At least McDonald’s has it’s own peculiar flavor. In N Out’s meat I find perfectly beefy and cooked just right for that style. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/47 "2011-07-23T05:24:25Z")
In & Out, by a mile. Speaking as someone who hasn’t lived near one for six years now. . ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/48 "2011-07-23T06:03:21Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > The closest one right now is up in Thousand Oaks, which, unless you’re in the far east Valley, isn’t TOO far. > > That said… I’ve been to Five Guys on the east coast when visiting family, and loved it. Grudgingly admitted it was better than In N Out. So I was excited to take the trip up to Thousand Oaks and try the one out here… and was very disappointed. It was just not nearly as good as the ones I remembered from the east coast. Whether my memory was off, or I was just there on an off-day, or if the quality is just not as good out here… I don’t know. I will give them another try when a closer one opens to me, but for now, I voted for In N Out. The new one in Fremont is very good, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/49 "2011-07-23T06:05:40Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > In n Out is only in 5 states and they are all way out west. And in three of those states, they’re only in a single city. For all practical purposes, In-n-Out is a California chain. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2011, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/50 "2011-07-23T06:16:40Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > And in three of those states, they’re only in a single city. For all practical purposes, In-n-Out is a California chain. Yeah, I was shocked (and delighted) to find they were in the Phoenix area when I visited my SO’s parent’s for the first time. I thought they were a California-only chain. So that gives me at least three reasons to visit Phoenix (parents, In N Out, and Pizzeria Bianco, among the best damned pizzas in all the land. It’s my favorite so far, but there’s still a whole landscape of pizza to explore. New Haven, I’m looking at you.) ---
**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:** [July 23, 2011, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/51 "2011-07-23T06:41:54Z")
Backyard Burger it’s only in a few states right now. Thankfully my city has 4 locations. 😃 Sonic is my second choice. We had a Steak & Shake but it closed over ten years ago. I never felt it was worth the extra money they charged. ---
**Author:** ![Spectralist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Spectralist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectralist)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/52 "2011-07-23T11:55:20Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Man, it’s been decades since I’ve eaten at A&W. Do they still have the Burger Family? Yup. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/53 "2011-07-23T12:24:10Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > And in three of those states, they’re only in a single city. For all practical purposes, In-n-Out is a California chain. I dont know what three states you are talking about,but they are certainly in more than one city in California,Arizona and Nevada. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2011, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/54 "2011-07-23T12:38:23Z")
Regular McDonald’s burgers suck, but I’m really partial to their Angus one. Burger King also does Angus well. Hardee’s screws it up with the lack of seasoning. Sonic’s actual meat isn’t great, but the fixins are great. Their onions + their mayo? Awesome. Pretty much everywhere else in the poll or mentioned in other threads are just the same burgers I can make myself. Good, I guess, but the point of takeout food is to get food that you can’t make at home. (Or don’t have time for, but that’s not a taste thing.) The reason I go to them is that I want to feel more full. Anyways, it’s between Burger King’s and McDonald’s Angus burger. I think I’ll go with McDonald’s. But I’d be more likely to go to Burger King because they have better fries. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/55 "2011-07-23T13:30:23Z")
In that line-up? In-and-Out takes it in a walk, and I’ve never even had one of their burgers. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/56 "2011-07-23T13:50:42Z")
I’m going to be utterly alone on this one, but I’ve always loved Roy Rogers bacon cheeseburger best. There’s something very charming and enchanting about the DIY fixins bar. I was quite livid when McD’s bought them and closed/converted them, but thankfully there are enough independent ones that I can still visit one when I need to. ---
**Author:** ![Barking\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Barking\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Dog)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/57 "2011-07-23T14:12:02Z")
I’d have picked whataburger if it was an option. So I chose other. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/58 "2011-07-23T14:17:09Z")
Wait a second. I misread the thread title. The only place I know with good hambugers is at my cousin’s farm. The nostrils on those pigs are huge! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/59 "2011-07-23T14:46:32Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > I dont know what three states you are talking about,but they are certainly in more than one city in California,Arizona and Nevada. My mistake. There are In-n-Out’s in two cities in Nevada: Reno and Las Vegas. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025/60 "2011-07-23T17:14:02Z")
Huh, I am one of two people who voted for McDonald’s. I am just in love with the reconstituted onions they put on their small burgers, and the mustard/ketchup combination. I also have an unhealthy thing for Big Macs. You can keep any of their other burgers. Thankfully, I don’t really indulge that often. I know I’m going to be burned at the stake, but I don’t care for their fries, unless maybe I get to eat the first handful hot out of the grease. No way are they still delicious by the time I get them home, though. Give me Rally’s fries any day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-the-best-hambuger-fast-food-joints/590025.md?page=4)