102 replies to this topic

[Chris Hennes]

Too much East/West coast influence here methinks.

Which is sort of funny, considering where I currently live, but guilty as charged. Unfortunately, the nearest Culvers to me is 150 miles away. The nearest Steak'n'Shake is only 15, I can probably swing that.

[ScoopKW]

I tried Fatburger once, and nothing about the experience inclined me to give it even one more try. First, the service was very slow. We didn't go during peak hours (in fact as I recall, only a other customers were in the place besides us) but it took a good 15 minutes to get our food. While that's not too long in regular time, for a "fast food" place, it's forever. Second, the burger was okay, but for the price, a disappointment. We could have spent the same amount at a local non-fast food place and gotten a much better burger, or spent half as much at Burger King and gotten something almost as good.

People have said that some Fatburgers are better (and worse) than others. But the two I have tried in Las Vegas have been outstanding and consistent. Their burgers are the closest any fast food burger has come to giving me a product that is as good as I can make myself. Plus, free blues and R&B in the jukebox. Considering how much bicycling I need to do to work off a fast food meal, I only have one if it's worth it.

I am not an In 'N' Out fan. Problems include their cheese (probably the worst cheese of all fast food joints), the fries that have the shelf life of a mayfly (but that is a problem with MOST fast food joints), and their proselytizing on their wrappers. (Granted, it is the most low-key proselytizing ever. But still.)

[jsmeeker]

I gotta get to Freddy's. I think Fatburger is coming to Dallas. But not sure when. Of course, it's possible that it's here and I just didn't get the memo.

[earlgrey_44]

Too much East/West coast influence here methinks.

Which is sort of funny, considering where I currently live, but guilty as charged. Unfortunately, the nearest Culvers to me is 150 miles away. The nearest Steak'n'Shake is only 15, I can probably swing that.

Yeah, I got a chuckle out of that too, still, not too much discussion of those midwestern stalwarts.

I noticed last week that a Smashburger opened about 10 miles from me. Perhaps I'll visit soon to conduct a benchmarking exercise. Purely for scientific reasons of course.

[MomOfLittleFoodies]

Freddy's, Whataburger, Culvers, Smashburger? Wha? Are my West Coast roots showing yet?

Here are my rankings...

1) In-N-Out (because I'm from the SGV, birthplace of In-N-Out)
2) Nations (a Bay Area Chain)
3) The Habit
4) Jack In The Box
5) Fatburger
6) Carl's Jr.
7) Burger King
8) Wendy's
9) McDonalds
10) Sonic (love their chili cheese tots though)

I figured that if Five Guys is in the mix, I could throw Nations and The Habit in there too. We do have a Five Guys here, but I refuse to set foot in there because of their use of peanut oil (long story)

[earlgrey_44]

Since I last posted, I noticed that Five Guys has invaded the area as well as Smashburger. More opportunity for future "research".

Finally got the opportunity to compare Smashburger to the regional faves Steak n' Shake and Culvers. Tried the classic w/o the american cheese (me no likey American cheese) with their shoestring frites.

As the name implies, SB is of the school that smooshes a blob of beef on the griddle to frizzle it thin and well-done, as opposed to the "throw a patty on and flip it" approach. This puts them in the same camp as Culvers and SnS as far as griddle technique goes, afaik.

I think the burger edges out both Culvers and SnS, though not by a whole lot.SB seasons their beef nicely and the Smash sauce helps the flavor too. Culvers comes very close in style and in the high quality of garnishes, but they have no special condiments and undersalt their beef. If your going to get fries at Smashburger, skip the forgettable plain fries. Didn't try the rosemary fries or sweet potato fries but they've got to be better. SnS does a better job with the shoestrings, though they are maddeningly inconsistent. Neither matches Culvers nice, consistent, fat crinkle fries, IMHO, but that's my french fry prejudice.

So, Smashburger fans, if you espy a Culvers or a Steak n' Shake, know that they at least play in the same ballpark. Any Culvers or Steak n' Shake owners out there, the competition is gaining on you.

Edited by earlgrey_44, 24 June 2012 - 12:33 PM.

[bmdaniel]

But only at Culver's can you get fried cheese curds, a crucial consideration.

[ChrisOC]

When I am in Arizona I go for the Jumbo Jack @ Jack in the Box. No JitB here in Jersey. I also like Carl's Jr.

[bigtealady]

Has anyone tried Wam Burger? That's my fave but I also like Burger King's. :)

[bishop]

Still no one ranking Wendy's in the mix?

OK, I finally made it to Wendy's yesterday for lunch, and I agree with the others in this topic: of the Big 3, Wendy's clearly has the superior burger. It's not much of a contest, really. Honestly, I'm not at all sure it's not better than In'n'Out (maybe I am just overreacting to the massive and undeserved I'n'O hype, though). I think my current list goes something like this:

• Freddy's
• Smashburger
• Five Guys
• There is no number four, there is a gap here.
• Braum's
• Wendy's
• In'n'Out
• Whataburger
• McDonalds
• Burger King
• Sonic
• Carl's Jr.

Am I leaving anyone out? What are your lists?

FatBurger

Here's the best I could come up with, their locator is down, one may be nearby?:

http://locationslocal.com/ULG9/Fatburger/Thomas+OK/


More Fatburger locations can be found nearby in Custer City, Oakwood, Putnam, Weatherford, Hydro, Arapaho, Watonga, Clinton and Greenfield

[heidih]

Still no one ranking Wendy's in the mix?

OK, I finally made it to Wendy's yesterday for lunch, and I agree with the others in this topic: of the Big 3, Wendy's clearly has the superior burger. It's not much of a contest, really. Honestly, I'm not at all sure it's not better than In'n'Out (maybe I am just overreacting to the massive and undeserved I'n'O hype, though). I think my current list goes something like this:

• Freddy's
• Smashburger
• Five Guys
• There is no number four, there is a gap here.
• Braum's
• Wendy's
• In'n'Out
• Whataburger
• McDonalds
• Burger King
• Sonic
• Carl's Jr.

Am I leaving anyone out? What are your lists?

FatBurger

Here's the best I could come up with, their locator is down, one may be nearby?:

http://locationsloca...rger/Thomas OK/


More Fatburger locations can be found nearby in Custer City, Oakwood, Putnam, Weatherford, Hydro, Arapaho, Watonga, Clinton and Greenfield

I do an event behind them every weekend. No good smell coming out of there and none of us want to go there. As I recall - flat smashed patties.

[bishop]

Oh, I will add the Johnny Rockets.
They do a good job all the way around, even the shakes.

Hate the fact they make the staff dance though ... tacky!
I feel bad for them ... slammed and then the lights go down and they got to get backed up.

[pacman1978]

I am a Brit but the best chain burger I've had in the states is definitely five guys.