I’ve
done a fair amount of traveling over the years in my various jobs. And during
that time, I’ve eaten a fair number of hamburgers. I haven’t done this for my
own pleasure, mind you, but simply for scientific purposes. I did it for you.
Because of my work, you won’t ever have to waste precious calories on a subpar burger.
You’re
welcome.
So
now, without further ado, I am releasing the results of my extensive studies.
Following are the top five burgers from coast to coast, starting straight from
the top.
1). In and Out Burger. This is the easiest
choice by far. This west coast institution is unparalleled. It offers the
freshest, best-tasting, lowest-cost burger available. When I first went to In
and Out, I was jarred by its simplicity. This is not a place for chicken or
fish sandwiches. They only do burgers. But when you do burgers this well, you
don’t have to do anything else. When traveling to Los Angeles, I’ve been known
to make In and Out my first stop when leaving the airport or my last stop when
returning. I take pictures to savor the experience. If I were a poet, I would
write an ode to In and Out.
2). Culver’s Restaurant. It gets a little crowded
after number one, in my opinion, but I’m giving Culver’s and its butterburger
(so called because the bun is dipped in butter and lightly grilled) the nod
here. Freshness is again the differentiator with each burger made to
order. Plus, as a bow to Culvers’
Wisconsin roots, you can order cheese curds as a side instead of French fries.
What’s not to like about fried cheese?
3). Steak ’n Shake. Although it might not seem
like it if you order a milkshake, I’m assuming Steak ’n Shake qualifies as fast
food. After all, it has a drive-thru window. Steak ’n Shake’s original steakburger
is smashed thin, which makes the edges nice and crispy. Add cheese, onions,
mustard and some shoestring fries and you’re in business. Steak ’n Shake’s
burgers also score very high on the value scale.
4). Five Guys. I include Five Guys mostly
from a sense of obligation. Everyone seems to love Five Guys. Sure, the burgers
are good. That’s a given. For me though, I find the double burger and sack
overflowing with fries all to be just a bit much. After I eat at Five Guys, I
don’t want another hamburger for a month. Five Guys is the artery clogger among
artery cloggers. It’s also the most expensive or this group.
5). Sonic. Perhaps it’s human nature to
yearn most for that which we cannot have, which explains my odd affinity for
Sonic. Most Sonic restaurants near me have closed over time. As a result,
whenever I see one on the road, I’m drawn to pull over. Sonic does a good, honest burger at a fair
price. I particularly like the freshness of the bun. Plus, you can order tater
tots as a side, which is a nice change of pace and a pleasant reminder of
childhood.
That’s
my list of the nation’s best fast food burgers with a couple of caveats. First,
even though I have been to New York repeatedly, I somehow never sampled Shake
Shack so I can’t speak to its quality, although I know it has many devotees.
Second, if I were forced to pick from only the large national chains, Wendy’s
wins hands down. Finally, if we include dives as well as chains, then Reno’s
Little Nugget Diner tops the list. It is home of the “awful awful” burger, so-called
because it is both awful big and awful good.
How about you? Do you agree with my list? Would
you choose a different order? Do you prefer others?
