The best and worst hamburgers
A Five Guys burger with fries
For those who missed it, the October issue of Consumer Reports included the results of a national survey on fast food hamburgers. 28,000 people voted on the best-tasting burger, and out of 18 burger joints, McDonald’s came in … dead last.
Two restaurants tied for first place in the survey: In-N-Out Burger and Five Guys. I’m not surprised, really, that Five Guys scored high on the list. I’ve had their burgers and thought they were delicious. It’s nice to see them working with fresh ground beef behind the counter.
I have never had an In-N-Out Burger, but my husband has been dying to try one. In fact, we’ve been researching Las Vegas hotels and he got all excited when he saw that one of them has an In-N-Out Burger inside. Please don’t let us choose a hotel based on the fact that it has an In-N-Out Burger inside.
Here’s the list of rankings from the Consumer Reports survey, which I found on various websites. Note that there were several ties:
18. McDonald’s, 5.6 /10
15. (tie) Krystal, Burger King and Jack in the Box, 6.3 /10
14. A&W Restaurant, 6.5 /10
12. (tie) Wendy’s, and Sonic, 6.6 /10
11. White Castle, 6.7 /10
9. (tie) Carl’s Jr, and Checkers Drive In, 6.9 /10
8. Hardee’s, 7.2 /10
7. Whataburger, 7.3 /10
6. Culver’s Frozen Custard, 7.5 /10
4. (tie) Burgerville, and Back Yard Burgers, 7.6 /10
3. Fuddruckers, 7.7 /10
1. (tie) Five Guys and In-N-Out Burger, 7.9
Personally, I have only ever eaten burgers at Five Guys, Hardee’s, Wendy’s, Sonic, Burger King and McDonald’s. And I would generally agree that they should be ranked in the order in which they appeared on the above listing. Wendy’s and Sonic can change places according to the day.
I wonder how much price played a role in folks’ opinions. You know the old saying: You get what you pay for. I also wonder how much public perception and the restaurants’ reputation in the media had to do with it.
Would you all agree with these rankings? Would you eat at ANY of these places? Where do you think the BEST burger in Roanoke, chain or independent, can be found?
September 15, 2010 - 9:53 AM
RSS feed 
I like Wendy’s better than Hardee’s, but I haven’t had a Hardee’s burger in years. Locally, I love Burger in the Square, great taste at a great price. The Kobe beef burger at Horizon is great, pricey but very good. Table 50 has a great burger too.
I’ve had an In-N-Out burger. I was not that impressed. Five Guys was better!
Where is the best burger in Roanoke (not chain)? I’m coming to visit in November and want to be prepared to find my favorite food.
I like Red Robin, myself.
For fast food, Hardee’s is definitely the best since they re-did their burgers to the Angus versions, but Wendy’s isn’t bad either…though their meat is way greasier than Hardee’s. The other fast food places are all a long way away in my mind for their quality and tase, and are far too greasy too. Five Guys is the best I’ve had, though I haven’t eaten there in a couple years now since there’s no real good way to eat one of their burgers sans the bun. I have always enjoyed Fuddrucker’s though, but since their Salem spot closed I haven’t eaten at one of their restaurants…so that’s been a long while too.
I will say that Outback makes a darn good burger though, I was very impressed with it. And they offer it (without bun or fries) on their Gluten-Free menu…and that makes me happy.
My husband and I went to San Francisco recently and saw a In-N-Out burger place. Had been dying to it and it was packed at 10:30 at night so we thought why not. We weren’t impressed at all. Reminded me of a smaller big mac. What a let down. Maybe we should try Five Guys!
First, a shout out to Fuddruckers for having the most unbelievably tasty buns. The whole Fuddruckers experience is nice enough, too.
Wendy’s & Sonic both have very good burgers for ‘major’ fast food chains.
White Castle is good, for what they are – sliders. I don’t like onions on my burgers, though, so that is always an issue with them.
Five Guys is the definite best, though. First, they keep it simple, which is a key. Fresh meat, fresh buns, cooked where you can see it, too. Their burgers are indeed more expensive, but they are worth the money, easily. As for their fries, great! If only they were more generous with their servings, LOL! Has anyone ever been insane enough to order the ‘large’ fries?
Anyway, Five Guys is the best, by a large margin in my book. When I want to buy a really good burger, that is my only destination.
There are so many great restaurants in Las Vegas now, it will be hard for you to choose which ones to go to. Howard must be a hard core burger fan.
In-N-Out burgers are awesome, as far as fast food burgers go! I’d put them slightly ahead of Five Guys. (Once my flight was delayed in Vegas and I realized that there was an In-N-Out nearby; I bought a t-shirt. Once I was back East, more people commented on that shirt than any other shirt I’ve owned — all fans of their food.)
My favorite local burger is the Crabby Patty at Sharkey’s in the NRV. They take a burger and add their famous crab dip — it’s outstanding.
Two places, one being Five Guys, the other would be Abbott’s. I love the fries at both places, too.
I’ve never had Five Guys or In-N-Out but we just got a new burger place called Cook-Out and it is awesome. The meat tastes just like you grilled it yourself and there’s a good variety of fixin’s to put on it. I think it is an NC based chain so if you see one in your travels check it out!
I have to eat gluten free and IMO the Hardee’s low carb Thickburger is the best of the bunless burgers. It comes completely wrapped in a large piece of lettuce that you hold like a bun. The bonus is that a bunless burger cuts way down on the fat, calories and sodium. I understand that In-N-Out also does it right. Five Guys is decent. Before having to go gluten free I absolutely despised McDonalds’ burgers, and they’re even worse gluten free.
In Roanoke, I like Red Robin, but of course that’s not fast food.
I loved Whataburger when I was in Texas. Cook-Out and Steak’n Shake were both good when I lived in NC.
My daughter and I went to Las Vegas last summer. We ate at some nice places, including a celebrity chef’s restaurant. However, the trip to ‘In-N-Out’ topped the week! Love it!
In Roanoke it’s got to be either Five Guys or Burger in the Square. Love them both.
try Long Branch in Salem (on 8th street)… looks like a hole in the wall but has great burgers, fries and beer!
Zagat Survey gave 5guys the top spot over In-n-Out, so that means 5guys wins!
Being from DC, I was so stoked to find out there was a 5guys here. 5guys runs in my blood, lol!
I wish they’d open another one in Roanoke, most people I meet here dont even know we have one.
My husband LOVES hamburgers and would eat them daily if allowed. That said, he recently had Lew’s (Williamson Road) 1/2 pound burger and declared it the burger winner. Very reasonable in price also. So far we have tried the burger and several subs there and all have been delicious. We are going to try their pizza next. It looks delicious too.
So, Red Robin is the best choice for a non-chain burger? Everyone agree?
the spike burger at spike’s= best burger in town.
No, Red Robin is a chain, Susan. So far, the votes for independent restaurant burgers are:
Spikes
Lew’s
Burger in the Square
Horizon
Table 50
Sharkey’s
Abbott’s
Long Branch
I’d consider Red Robin a chain.
Locally I like Abbott’s and Burger in the Square. I like Lew’s a lot too but haven’t yet tried a burger there.
I used to eat In-and-Out Burgers in California and rank them pretty highly among chains. Don’t build up your anticipation too much though — at day’s end, it’s still *just* a burger.
I still haven’t tried In-N-Out (drove right past it on my last trip out West). My understanding, though, is that you really need to know the “secret” menu to get the most out of it. They have all sorts of custom burger options available, some of which involve cooking the patties in mustard(?!), which apparently does a lot for the flavor.
For those willing to drive a few miles south, THE BEST BURGER is at the Franklin Restaurant on Route 220. It’s called a Macho Burger and they cook it however you like and it’s fresh. It’s full of onions and spices and is DEEEELLLICIOUS!!!! I never get it on the bun, would be far too difficult to eat!!
As for White Castle, sorry folks — BLEEECCHHHHHH!!!!
Had the best burger EVER in Vegas, but it wasn’t at In -N-Out. Early in our honeymoon we stayed at the Red Rock Hotel-we hotel hopped while there-and tried the In-n-Out burgers and we were pleasantly surprised. But honestly, we had been hiking and kayaking all day in Red Rock Canyon so hunger may have been a contributing factor. Later in the week after arriving at the Palazzo, we were planning on heading to the Wynn for brunch when a sign outside Mario Batalli’s restaurant Carnevino stopped us in our tracks….Burger Brunch!! We each had a burger bigger than our head topped with truffle mayo and portwine mustard (I’m not normally a serious condiment girl but who could turn that down?)served with homemade chips and the best bloody mary’s ever. I could not put that burger down and we came back the next day and did it all over again!
Abbot’s in Roanoke
Andy’s in Eastern NC Rocky, Mount/Wilson area
Cookout in Thomasville, NC( Also have great fries and shakes)
Best burger locally has to be Ernie’s.
In-N-Out is better than Five Guys.
Martin’s downtown has one of the best burgers around! I highly recommend them.
On a related subject, I was at a Burger King drive in today and noticed a sign on the window that said something about caution, conversations are being monitored. Anyone know what that’s all about?
Probably the best burger I’ve had was at Blackwater Cafe near SML. Martin’s burgers are really good too and even better on the 1/2 price Mondays (assuming they still do that).
Burger in the Square is by far the best, I go there so often I’m almost embarrassed
Where is Spikes?
For a great burger from an even better spot, go to Dude’s in Christiansburg. It’s on Roanoke Road, about a mile from Exit 118, in towards town. Dude’s is not fancy, it is a drive-in in the truest sense of the word. You sit in your car and blow your horn. They come out, take your order and bring it back in a bag. One note – they put your burger on sliced bread unless you request a bun. Just part of the charm. Their Dude Burger is just a great recollection of burgers back before the ‘Billions Served’ franchises were around.
I’m surprised that no one’s mentioned Fork in the Alley yet. I’m all about some wood-grilled goodness.
Independent must include the Brambleton Deli, Mikes Grill in B’burg.
Five Guys are a sloppy mess. Don’t like them. Hardees and BK for chains.
Correction on the bun thing at Dude’s. You get a bun as standard. I was thinking of their breakfast ‘sandwiches’. You get sliced bread instead of a biscuit unless you ask. Sorry for the confusion. I’ll just go back to my muddled mind, now…
Anyone tried the new burger @ Macado’s? They are great and I’m told they bought new grills just for cooking them! I know they have several stores but would you consider them a chain?
Another vote for Burger in the Square. By far best local independent & it’s important to support those businesses!
lol @ gdad, I have to totally agree with you about Hardee’s GF burgers being great and McDonalds being worse without the bun. Too many fast food burgers are just grease patties with a touch of meat. Hardee’s is way leaner and not much grease, plus it’s just got a better flavor anyway. I hate not being able to eat the fries though…get some dedicated fryers for the plain fries please!!!
I think that Blues BBQ has the best burger in town.
Actually Sharkey’s ( at least there is one in Radford, one in B-burg) is is a chain, but a small one.
Macados has burgers now – how are they?? Anyone?
I thought Red Robin was pretty good, but pricey too.
Five Guys is really good!
I try not to get drivethru these days, but I thopught Wendys would score higher.
I might try that Low Carb Thickburger when I am on the run sometime.
Macados has a lot of locations now, they are in VA, NC and WVA.
Y’all don’t like burgers much, do ya?
There are some good votes coming in here. Debbie, Spike’s is around the corner from the Grandin Theater on Memorial. Near Pop’s Soda Bar and Norberto’s.
Chris, Martin’s does still do half-price burgers on Mondays as far as I know.
Part of a burger’s charm is its price. I’m not big on paying $10 for a hamburger when I know I could make a delicious one at home for less.
Someone reminded me this morning about the Richee Freeze on Williamson Road. They make a darn good burger for the price.
Mikes Grill in Blacksburg has a very good burger they also grind their own meat in store and serve it to you upside down with a toothpick through it to keep the toppings together
Lindsey we tread some of the same turf it seams. You are correct about Richie Freeze. Awesome Burger.
LAF – Blues BBQ does make a great burger as well.
I love 5 Guys, but their burgers are a little pricey. I love Steak & Shake – we need one here. The closest ones are Lexington, Ky and Atlanta.
I have been to Dude’s in C-burg – it is pretty good.
Abbott’s in Garden City. Hard to beat the Fat boy Burger.
Second I’ll have to say Burger in the square.
Williamson Rd Dinner has a good burger at a great price if they are still in operation. Haven’t eaten there in about 6 months though.
Burger in The Square–hands down, the freshest, best-tasting burger in the Roanoke Valley–if you get to New Castle, then it’s the Pine Top
McDonalds are the worst for a chain, by far. Texas Tavern are pretty bad, too.
I’ll add ‘Blue 5′ to the list of great local burgers. Low on grease, big on flavor.
I agree Lindsay on the best burgers being home made, but sometimes you just don’t feel like cooking and want to have someone else do it for you!
Montano’s has a really good burger.
TEXAS TAVERN has to have the best local burger in Roanoke. 80 years of serving nothing but fresh (never frozen) beef with the classic 1930s toppings of mustard, pickle, & onion should be proof enough that the TT burger has stood the test of time. My personal favorite? Ask for a large cheeseburger on a small bun, with. YUMMY!♦
Another little tidbit of info: In the book “Hamburger America” by George Motz, 3 “notable burger chains” are mentioned, among the 100 other independently owned burger joints in the country that Motz features. For those that are curious, Motz says that In-N-Out Burger, Steak ‘n Shake, and Five Guys are his 3 personal favorite chain restaurants. And, Texas Tavern was the only restaurant in Virginia that Motz featured in his book. I’ve also eaten at In-N-Out and Five Guys, and I like them both, just to be fair.
Best burger, hands down, is the blue-cheese special I cook on my grill.
But if I can’t have that, the Cheesy Western at the Texas Tavern is awful close to the best.
Texas Tavern’s double meat cheesy western, hands down..
In Salem, the best burger is the Rock Burger at the Riverrock…sorry 5 Guys!
The best Burger in the world is the Cheesy Western from Texas Tavern. the worst burger is any burger that is not the Cheesy Western from Texas Tavern.
Cheesy Western at the TT of course!
Texas Tavern rocks!
Burger in the Square….without a doubt.
First off, Dan Casey, ease up on Texas Tavern! Take it for what it is.
Secondly, as a former Star-Citian (?) transplanted to Cali, In-n-Out is something to behold. For some reason, I always feel better after having a double-double animal style. So Lindsey, take it from Marya and me, there is no shame picking a Vegas hotel bc of its proximity to an In-n-Out. You’ll need a double-double after a night in Sin City! (make sure to study up on the secret menu before you go).
Wow, Lindsey…
I see a lot of perspective here on my favorite sandwich, which is one of the reasons I bought Burger in the Square eleven years ago. My inspirations are (chain)Steak N Shake and (inde.)Mike’s Grill in Blacksburg.
Great ingredients and daily ground beef are essential parts to any dish, but most important if one is to survive in this business with one a one sandwich format. While I’m here I’ll tip my hat to Brambleton Deli, The Texas Tavern and Dude’s for my favorite other local burgers and I sincerely hope to impress more of you burger lovers @ Burger In the Square, soon.
Anyone that is not impressed with In-N-Out must be crazy. Or they didn’t get the Double Double…basically the double cheeseburger. I got addicted to these while I was living in CA. They are the best, and I wish there was an East coast location. I agree that Five Guys is also very good though, but #2 on my list.
Dan Casey writes only two sentences, and still manages to prove his stupidity. I wish his articles were only two sentences!!
CHEESEY WESTERN!!
You’ve got to give credit to any place that puts a fried egg on top of a burger. If that doesn’t scream hangover destination, I don’t know what does. I couldn’t imagine going to TT at 1:00 in the afternoon, but I couldn’t imagine going any where else at 1:00 in the morning, if you know what I mean…
I’m not a McDonalds fan, but I read the CR article and thought it was ridiculous that they compared a $1.19 McD burger
against a $5-$6 burger from 5 Guys.
The burgers at Blues BBQ are stellar. Also I’ve had a really good burger for lunch at Rockfish.
After you try a Burger in the Square burger you will never go anywhere else. They grind their beef everyday. How many burger places do you know thatuse 100% Beef with nothing else added???? My favorite is the Bacon BBQ Burger, but they are all good. Since their location in the Market Building closed down, Their location on Brambleton at Cave Springs is hopping!!
I’m glad to see Culvers high on this list. This mid-west chain is one of our first stops on the way to Iowa to visit my wife’s family. Great burgers for a chain – called ButerBurgers because the buns are spread with butter and toasted. The best thing there is the frozen custard. They make a a dish called a Concrete that’s similar to a DQ Blizzard but with much better ice cream. The chain started in Wisconsin which explains the great dairy products.
I ate at a Steak n Shake in Missouri many years ago. I liked their food, the burger was very good. Not sure I could eat a lot there today, but I thought I’dd add my 2 cents regarding that chain.
On the subject of McDonald’s, has anyone tried the Angus Third Pounder burgers they offer? I’ve had them a few times, and while not as good and fresh as Five Guys or Burger in the Square, still WAY better than the regular meat they use on Big Macs and McDoubles. The meat actually has a good flavor, and the toppings are pretty fresh (even the pickles are different than the regular ones they use).
I like Checkers for the chain. And The Vienna Inn
Another NRV burger to recommend: Lefty’s Main Street Grille in Blacksburg. I ate one last Friday night and it was the best I’ve had in quite a while. Try the homemade chips too.
I still say that the best burger around is from Mac and Bob’s in Salem! The “Cajun Gorgonzola” burger is the absolute bomb! The reg. cheeseburger is awesome, too. Also love the burgers at The Longbranch, fresh hand patted burgers. I haven’t been to a lot of the places listed above like Whataburger, Cook Out, In- N-Out, Red Robin. Not a fan of Five Guys burgers, and I really dislike their fries! Also not a fan of Sonic, HATE the way you have to order, even for the drive thru, so I don’t go there ever. DQ is nasty as well, don’t go there. If I’m going out for a fast food burger I usually choose Hardee’s. Another chain restaurant w/ good burgers is the Omelette Shop! The “OS burger plate” has a cheese burger w/ two slices of cheese, your choice of fresh toppings, and fries or hash browns…all for $4.69!!! There’s my 2 cents worth, and as I always say, “to each his or her own!”
I haven’t had the burgers, but I second the accolade of Culver’s frozen custard. The variety of flavors is incredible.
I love Five Guys, but for my money, Mike’s Grill in Blacksburg is the best. Meal in itself.
Guess I’ll prove my stupidity, too! Not a TT fan, sorry. I hadn’t been there in a really long time, so I took my son there a while back for his first visit. I just didn’t think the burger or the bowl with was all that. Just me, but it’s my opinion. Now there are many late night – after the bar places to eat, and I choose the OS burger plate I mentioned above! It’s awesome and does the trick! Also, I forgot Steak and Shake when I posted before. They have a really good hamburger, too, for a chain. I had the guacamole burger from there last week while at the beach, it was really good!
Steak and Shake, there is one near the intersection of I40E and I85S in Greensboro. A lot closer then KY. For local burgers it’s Burger in the Square.
RP- if you like the Crabby Patty at Sharkey’s, check out the Chesapeake Burger at Awful Arthur’s. It is delicious!
When we were in DC this summer, we tried the hamburgers at Hard Rock Cafe. I usually consider their food to be “all bark, no bite” and more touristy than culinary but was forced to go and was pleasantly surprised! I had the California (with cucumbers, guac, Monterey Jack), my husband had the Grilled Granny Smith Apple & Provolone (with bacon, maple mustard, caramelized onions), my mother had the Patty Melt, and my father had the Local Legendary which I cannot remember the ingredients but it was great. They were so good that they actually made me rethink my position on Hard Rock Cafe!
OJ, I do hate that on the fries at Hardees.
Martin’s Wisconsin add bacon is amazing!! If driving then Five Guys!!
I stopped and got a burger from Blues BBQ for supper tonight. It is wonderful!! So good. Onion rings are great too,
The best without question is a Cheesy Western from Texas Tavern.
I think Five Guys and Burger-in-the-Square are on par. I love being able to get chili on my burger at BitS, but Five Guy’s cajun fries are amazing.
I wasn’t that impressed by In-N-Out Burger, not bad, nothing special, plus they make a big deal about fresh fries and try to imitate McDonalds’ style, however they don’t understand that freezing the fries adds something to the texture when frying them.