Five Guys thread, a 130+ page swordfight. (3 Viewers)

[Henry Ford]

If someone who lived a thousand miles from Buffalo told you BW3 was comparable to the other wing places in town what would you say?

In general, I'd assume they're crazy.

Aaron?

how is this comparable?are burgers a specialty in California? I don't get the point you're making.

if it's that most national franchised chains are terrible compared to local places, I'd tend to agree.

In N Out makes a really good burger at an affordable price and they have a large and loyal following as a result.

Five Guys makes a pretty good burger at a normal price and they are available everywhere.

I get a regular 1 patty cheese burger and a small order of fries for lunch once in a while at work for $8. This is a ton of good and highly competitive with other lunch options in downtown DC and less expensive than a place like shake shack. I'm not sure what your complaints re: the price are all about.

$8???

Does your accountant know about this?

 

[NCCommish]

I think Fuddruckers and Red Robin are also both national chains.

They are and their burgers are pretty damn good.

Much better than In-N-Out.

I like Fuddruckers but Red Robin is kind of meh.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

Roy Rogers is terrible.

To be fair, I think their rest stop locations are subpar.

I don't recall ever seeing a Roy Rogers that wasn't at a rest stop.

Roy Rogers wiki entry. In 1990 there were 648 locations. Now there are 50. Clearly the sign of a great franchise.

 

[General Malaise]

I think Fuddruckers and Red Robin are also both national chains.

They are and their burgers are pretty damn good.

Much better than In-N-Out.

I like Fuddruckers but Red Robin is kind of meh.

 

[Chaka]

Roy Rogers is terrible.

To be fair, I think their rest stop locations are subpar.

I don't recall ever seeing a Roy Rogers that wasn't at a rest stop.

Then again perhaps I won't try to stop by one the next time I'm back east.

 

[17seconds]

I had Five Guys for the first time yesterday. I found the burger quality in the ballpark of In N Out but not quite as good. The way the meat and cheese mesh together on an In N Out burger is legendary. Five Guys doesn't have that. I liked the toppings on the 5G burger - I got it with everything. The toppings remind me a bit of what you get at Fatburger.

The fries at Five Guys were very good. Well done and had a hint of sweet potato taste.

In N Out makes a better burger though.

 

[17seconds]

I think Fuddruckers and Red Robin are also both national chains.

They are and their burgers are pretty damn good.

Much better than In-N-Out.

I like Fuddruckers but Red Robin is kind of meh.

Fuddruckers varies a lot in quality depending on location I've found.

 

[Hawks64]

Red Robin is reconstituted dog ####.

 

[Koya]

Roy Rogers is terrible.

Depends on the location, the chain has really shrunk. But if it's hot and fresh Iove their chicken and the double r burger rocks. Perhaps the best BBQ sauce out there as well

 

[Keerock]

I think Fuddruckers and Red Robin are also both national chains.

They are and their burgers are pretty damn good.

Much better than In-N-Out.

I think Fuddruckers and Red Robin are also both national chains.

They are and their burgers are pretty damn good.

Much better than In-N-Out.

I like Fuddruckers but Red Robin is kind of meh.

Red Robin burgers are crap. New fries are crap too. The old fries were awesome.

 

[Joe T]

I had Five Guys for the first time yesterday. I found the burger quality in the ballpark of In N Out but not quite as good. The way the meat and cheese mesh together on an In N Out burger is legendary. Five Guys doesn't have that. I liked the toppings on the 5G burger - I got it with everything. The toppings remind me a bit of what you get at Fatburger.

The fries at Five Guys were very good. Well done and had a hint of sweet potato taste.

In N Out makes a better burger though.

This settles it!

 

[17seconds]

2 more things In N Out has over Five Guys - better service efficiency and lower prices. They crank out more food with a friendly smile better than any fast food restaurant of any kind. A #####y or morose In N Out employee doesn't exist.

I'll go to 5G again, but as a change up when I'm in the mood for the fries.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Roy Rogers is terrible.

To be fair, I think their rest stop locations are subpar.

I don't recall ever seeing a Roy Rogers that wasn't at a rest stop.

Roy Rogers wiki entry. In 1990 there were 648 locations. Now there are 50. Clearly the sign of a great franchise.

Way better quality than McDonald's, Wendy's and BK. Not sure why they tanked so badly - they have fried chicken (really good, better than KFC), roast beef sandwiches, and burgers. It's like a Popeye's, an Arby's, and a burger place rolled into one, but slightly better than all of those. I wish there were more of them.

The rest stop locations are garbage, you can't evaluate on those.

 

[thecatch]

If someone who lived a thousand miles from Buffalo told you BW3 was comparable to the other wing places in town what would you say?

In general, I'd assume they're crazy.

Aaron?

how is this comparable?are burgers a specialty in California? I don't get the point you're making.

if it's that most national franchised chains are terrible compared to local places, I'd tend to agree.

In N Out makes a really good burger at an affordable price and they have a large and loyal following as a result.

Five Guys makes a pretty good burger at a normal price and they are available everywhere.

I get a regular 1 patty cheese burger and a small order of fries for lunch once in a while at work for $8. This is a ton of good and highly competitive with other lunch options in downtown DC and less expensive than a place like shake shack. I'm not sure what your complaints re: the price are all about.

$8??? Does your accountant know about this?

Fortunately, there's a little known IRS loophole that allows you to pay for 5Gs using your backdoor Roth IRA.

 

[wadegarrett]

Damn I thought this thread was a cover for naked chicks or something. It really is about hamburgers.

 

[mr roboto]

Just ordered a double bacon cheesburher, little fry and fountain soda at 5G. $13.27. Gonna need to hide the receipt from my wife.

Got jalepenos, grilled onions and mushrooms and BBQ sauce.

 

[NCCommish]

If someone who lived a thousand miles from Buffalo told you BW3 was comparable to the other wing places in town what would you say?

In general, I'd assume they're crazy.

Aaron?

how is this comparable?are burgers a specialty in California? I don't get the point you're making.

if it's that most national franchised chains are terrible compared to local places, I'd tend to agree.

In N Out makes a really good burger at an affordable price and they have a large and loyal following as a result.

Five Guys makes a pretty good burger at a normal price and they are available everywhere.

I get a regular 1 patty cheese burger and a small order of fries for lunch once in a while at work for $8. This is a ton of good and highly competitive with other lunch options in downtown DC and less expensive than a place like shake shack. I'm not sure what your complaints re: the price are all about.

So for a single cheeseburger, and an order of fries you paid 8 bucks and that's a good value? Maybe in DC but see here in Charlotte that is pretty expensive. It isn't even close to competitive with local places that are cheaper and better IMO.

 

[Nipsey]

Just ordered a double bacon cheesburher, little fry and fountain soda at 5G. $13.27. Gonna need to hide the receipt from my wife.

You should have ordered 1/2 miniature hamburger, scent of fries, ice cold water and tray of peanuts. $1.39 out the door. Don't know why people think this place is expensive, just need to know what to order. I split the fry whiff with my lady, plenty of stink in there for 2.

 

[Pipes]

Damn I thought this thread was a cover for naked chicks or something. It really is about hamburgers.

And fries that you can split with someone. Please try to keep up.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Just ordered a double bacon cheesburher, little fry and fountain soda at 5G. $13.27. Gonna need to hide the receipt from my wife.

You should have ordered 1/2 miniature hamburger, scent of fries, ice cold water and tray of peanuts. $1.39 out the door. Don't know why people think this place is expensive, just need to know what to order. I split the fry whiff with my lady, plenty of stink in there for 2.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

from the interview I linked earlier,

We've had many of the same vendors since 1986. And they're not the cheapest by a long shot. We stick with what we like. One day, our purchasing guy said he wanted us to switch to a frozen burger product. But we all picked the fresh one in a blind test and stuck with that. We taste-tested 16 different types of mayonnaise to find the right one.

We make the same bun we started with. We hired the old guy who used to bake our bread for the first store, and one of his partners. They work in the Virginia bakery. We have 10 bakeries scattered around the nation. Our bread is baked daily, picked up by 3 p.m., and put on truck or plane so every store gets fresh bread every morning, even if they are 400 miles away from the nearest bakery.

I've never understood why more restaurants do not make their own ketchup and mayonnaise. Heinz and Hellmann's are far inferior to some rather simple homemade varieties that $8/hr employees should be more than capable of making. (And Heinz and Hellmann's are the very top end of what a restaurant would buy commercially.)

It seems to me that the Subway model of baking bread fresh in each store should be superior to the Five-Guys model of shipping buns 400 miles overnight, but baking buns may be a lot harder to do in small batches while getting a consistent quality.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

The vast majority of the US population lives nowhere near an in-n-out so why do people insist on using them as the standard of every comparison?

West coast bias!!!

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Question for the In-N-Out crowd:

In-N-Out claims to not have a freezer. In-N-Out claims it makes shakes from actual ice cream. Discuss.

:headxplode!!11!!:

The perfect shake is made with an ice-cream maker and a blender. No freezer required.

 

[thecatch]

If someone who lived a thousand miles from Buffalo told you BW3 was comparable to the other wing places in town what would you say?

In general, I'd assume they're crazy.

Aaron?

how is this comparable?are burgers a specialty in California? I don't get the point you're making.

if it's that most national franchised chains are terrible compared to local places, I'd tend to agree.

In N Out makes a really good burger at an affordable price and they have a large and loyal following as a result.

Five Guys makes a pretty good burger at a normal price and they are available everywhere.

I get a regular 1 patty cheese burger and a small order of fries for lunch once in a while at work for $8. This is a ton of good and highly competitive with other lunch options in downtown DC and less expensive than a place like shake shack. I'm not sure what your complaints re: the price are all about.

So for a single cheeseburger, and an order of fries you paid 8 bucks and that's a good value? Maybe in DC but see here in Charlotte that is pretty expensive. It isn't even close to competitive with local places that are cheaper and better IMO.

Not even close? What do you pay at these local places?

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

I think Fuddruckers and Red Robin are also both national chains.

They are and their burgers are pretty damn good.

Much better than In-N-Out.

I like Fuddruckers but Red Robin is kind of meh.

But it's still better than In-N-Out. And you can get a tasty cocktail made by a certified mixologist at Red Robin.

 

[Henry Ford]

If someone who lived a thousand miles from Buffalo told you BW3 was comparable to the other wing places in town what would you say?

In general, I'd assume they're crazy.

Aaron?

how is this comparable?are burgers a specialty in California? I don't get the point you're making.

if it's that most national franchised chains are terrible compared to local places, I'd tend to agree.

In N Out makes a really good burger at an affordable price and they have a large and loyal following as a result.

Five Guys makes a pretty good burger at a normal price and they are available everywhere.

I get a regular 1 patty cheese burger and a small order of fries for lunch once in a while at work for $8. This is a ton of good and highly competitive with other lunch options in downtown DC and less expensive than a place like shake shack. I'm not sure what your complaints re: the price are all about.

So for a single cheeseburger, and an order of fries you paid 8 bucks and that's a good value? Maybe in DC but see here in Charlotte that is pretty expensive. It isn't even close to competitive with local places that are cheaper and better IMO.

Not even close? What do you pay at these local places?

One chicken.

 

[NCCommish]

If someone who lived a thousand miles from Buffalo told you BW3 was comparable to the other wing places in town what would you say?

In general, I'd assume they're crazy.

Aaron?

how is this comparable?are burgers a specialty in California? I don't get the point you're making.

if it's that most national franchised chains are terrible compared to local places, I'd tend to agree.

In N Out makes a really good burger at an affordable price and they have a large and loyal following as a result.

Five Guys makes a pretty good burger at a normal price and they are available everywhere.

I get a regular 1 patty cheese burger and a small order of fries for lunch once in a while at work for $8. This is a ton of good and highly competitive with other lunch options in downtown DC and less expensive than a place like shake shack. I'm not sure what your complaints re: the price are all about.

So for a single cheeseburger, and an order of fries you paid 8 bucks and that's a good value? Maybe in DC but see here in Charlotte that is pretty expensive. It isn't even close to competitive with local places that are cheaper and better IMO.

Not even close? What do you pay at these local places?

I can get a half pound double cheese, fries and a drink for less than you spent.

 

[Chaka]

That tears it!!!

I'm tired of all this namby pamby wussification of the FFA! I'm shooting the locks off the wallet and heading to 5 Guys right now!

 

[NCCommish]

That tears it!!!

I'm tired of all this namby pamby wussification of the FFA! I'm shooting the locks off the wallet and heading to 5 Guys right now!

ONE IN THE DOOR! HAVE A PEANUT!

 

[Zow]

Roy Rogers is terrible.

To be fair, I think their rest stop locations are subpar.

I don't recall ever seeing a Roy Rogers that wasn't at a rest stop.

When I was a kid I recall going to a Roy Rogers somewhere in eastern PA which was a stand-alone. Had to be at least twenty years ago though.

 

[Sarnoff]

Umami Burger Truck was at the office last week. Might have a new favorite now that Grill 'em All Truck went brick-and-mortar.

You guys ever have a Slaters 50/50? Heaven on a bun.

 

[Keerock]

Roy Rogers is terrible.

To be fair, I think their rest stop locations are subpar.

I don't recall ever seeing a Roy Rogers that wasn't at a rest stop.

When I was a kid I recall going to a Roy Rogers somewhere in eastern PA which was a stand-alone. Had to be at least twenty years ago though.

I hate that you were a kid 20 years ago. I HAD a kid 20 years ago

 

[Fennis]

For you In&Out guys, In&Out has a policy (at least they did like 20 years ago) of giving you your food for free if you forget your wallet.

 

[Nipsey]

Umami Burger Truck

whoa. say what? the mini ones or regular?

 

[Fennis]

Another good thing from 20 years ago is to get an In&Out bumper sticker and to cut out the B and the R from the word Burger to form an even better bumper sticker.

 

[Keerock]

For you In&Out guys, In&Out has a policy (at least they did like 20 years ago) of giving you your food for free if you forget your wallet.

Interesting. 5G only lets you order if you have Chet's wallet.

 

[pollardsvision]

Can we get a new poll? Which burger fanboys are the most vocal? I'm going with 5G.

I'd think INO takes that, with relative ease.

Here we are, in a 5G thread 50 pages deep that's largely been driven by comparisons to a chain that only goes to TX. I think the INO folk are more passionate and vocal.

Nothing wrong with that. I prefer INO too.

 

[General Malaise]

Just ordered a double bacon cheesburher, little fry and fountain soda at 5G. $13.27. Gonna need to hide the receipt from my wife.

You should have ordered 1/2 miniature hamburger, scent of fries, ice cold water and tray of peanuts. $1.39 out the door. Don't know why people think this place is expensive, just need to know what to order. I split the fry whiff with my lady, plenty of stink in there for 2.

just spit up my coffee....

 

[avoiding injuries]

For you In&Out guys, In&Out has a policy (at least they did like 20 years ago) of giving you your food for free if you forget your wallet.

Holy s###. Can you imagine what Kenny Powers will do with this info if he lives in one of the few states with an INO?

 

[thecatch]

If someone who lived a thousand miles from Buffalo told you BW3 was comparable to the other wing places in town what would you say?

In general, I'd assume they're crazy.

Aaron?

how is this comparable?are burgers a specialty in California? I don't get the point you're making.

if it's that most national franchised chains are terrible compared to local places, I'd tend to agree.

In N Out makes a really good burger at an affordable price and they have a large and loyal following as a result.

Five Guys makes a pretty good burger at a normal price and they are available everywhere.

I get a regular 1 patty cheese burger and a small order of fries for lunch once in a while at work for $8. This is a ton of good and highly competitive with other lunch options in downtown DC and less expensive than a place like shake shack. I'm not sure what your complaints re: the price are all about.

So for a single cheeseburger, and an order of fries you paid 8 bucks and that's a good value? Maybe in DC but see here in Charlotte that is pretty expensive. It isn't even close to competitive with local places that are cheaper and better IMO.

Not even close? What do you pay at these local places?

I can get a half pound double cheese, fries and a drink for less than you spent.

I hope that $2 went straight into your retirement fund.

 

[NCCommish]

If someone who lived a thousand miles from Buffalo told you BW3 was comparable to the other wing places in town what would you say?

In general, I'd assume they're crazy.

Aaron?

how is this comparable?are burgers a specialty in California? I don't get the point you're making.

if it's that most national franchised chains are terrible compared to local places, I'd tend to agree.

In N Out makes a really good burger at an affordable price and they have a large and loyal following as a result.

Five Guys makes a pretty good burger at a normal price and they are available everywhere.

I get a regular 1 patty cheese burger and a small order of fries for lunch once in a while at work for $8. This is a ton of good and highly competitive with other lunch options in downtown DC and less expensive than a place like shake shack. I'm not sure what your complaints re: the price are all about.

So for a single cheeseburger, and an order of fries you paid 8 bucks and that's a good value? Maybe in DC but see here in Charlotte that is pretty expensive. It isn't even close to competitive with local places that are cheaper and better IMO.

Not even close? What do you pay at these local places?

I can get a half pound double cheese, fries and a drink for less than you spent.

I hope that $2 went straight into your retirement fund.

At least it didn't go to someone else's.

 

[tom22406]

We're comparing I&O and FG because it's an interesting comparison. Who cares that they don't overlap perfectly all over the globe?

it's a fine comparison at some level, obviously. They are two of the best burger chains.

but falling short of I&O on some aspects doesn't make it horrible. doesn't seem reasonable to argue that because I&O sells things for one price that any other good burger chain has to charge a similar price or else not be worth visiting. it comes down to what options people have imo. most of us don't have I&O as an option.

I think the expansion of 5G is a good thing for most consumers as it offers a quality product at a reasonable price. If I&O opened more locations, I'd be psyched too but they aren't going to do that.

Again, I really don't see that argument being made.

While I prefer the double-double I still think the 5G burger is very tasty.

I also can totally agree that, at their best, 5G fries are better than In-N-Out's. My only real problem with them (ignoring my unbelievably misunderstood value stance) is that the 5G fries are so wildly inconsistent within a single batch, you gotta sift through a ton mushy/mealy ones to get to the excellent ones.

Do I need to order them for you as well?

Simply not true from my perspective.

 

[Fennis]

For you In&Out guys, In&Out has a policy (at least they did like 20 years ago) of giving you your food for free if you forget your wallet.

Holy s###. Can you imagine what Kenny Powers will do with this info if he lives in one of the few states with an INO?

Or Miley Cyrus

 

[stbugs]

Roy Rogers is terrible.

To be fair, I think their rest stop locations are subpar.

I don't recall ever seeing a Roy Rogers that wasn't at a rest stop.

Roy Rogers wiki entry. In 1990 there were 648 locations. Now there are 50. Clearly the sign of a great franchise.

Way better quality than McDonald's, Wendy's and BK. Not sure why they tanked so badly - they have fried chicken (really good, better than KFC), roast beef sandwiches, and burgers. It's like a Popeye's, an Arby's, and a burger place rolled into one, but slightly better than all of those. I wish there were more of them.

The rest stop locations are garbage, you can't evaluate on those.

Well, since good ole Roy died in 1998, that probably had a lot to do with it. Almost like Big Dave with Wendy's except that they were bigger and just went whole hearted on the red-headed Wendy. Since Wendy's is named Wendy's and not Dave's, probably easier to get around the death than with the Roy Rogers name.

It has been a long time since I lived in CT, but I remember there was one close to a place I worked for 1.5 years. I really liked their sourdough bacon cheeseburger. It was heads and shoulders above the rest of the chains at that time. I can't remember the last time I have even seen one.

 

[stbugs]

I hope that $2 went straight into your retirement fund.

At least it didn't go to someone else's.

I think you are talking about Showmars and I like 5G way more than Showmars. I've had a few cheeseburgers there, usually in the pita, which I like, but the burgers were just OK. I'd spend the extra $2 and get FG. Then again, I have never spent $14+ bucks as mentioned in here. I think $11 is the most I have ever spent if I sat down alone. I don't go often because it isn't that close, but most times I go, I usually just get the cheeseburger with nothing else. I like the fries, but that is more for with the kids after a game/event.

 

[The Commish]

I think Fuddruckers and Red Robin are also both national chains.

They are and their burgers are pretty damn good.

Much better than In-N-Out.

I'm pretty sure this post just guaranteed the thread will be well over 200 pages

 

[The Commish]

I hope that $2 went straight into your retirement fund.

At least it didn't go to someone else's.

I think you are talking about Showmars and I like 5G way more than Showmars. I've had a few cheeseburgers there, usually in the pita, which I like, but the burgers were just OK. I'd spend the extra $2 and get FG. Then again, I have never spent $14+ bucks as mentioned in here. I think $11 is the most I have ever spent if I sat down alone. I don't go often because it isn't that close, but most times I go, I usually just get the cheeseburger with nothing else. I like the fries, but that is more for with the kids after a game/event.

BITE YOUR TONGUE!!!!!!

 

[Sarnoff]

Umami Burger Truck

whoa. say what? the mini ones or regular?

Full size burgers, of course.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

For you In&Out guys, In&Out has a policy (at least they did like 20 years ago) of giving you your food for free if you forget your wallet.

That sonic boom you just heard was Kenny Powers on his way to In & Out.

 

[Nipsey]

Umami Burger Truck

whoa. say what? the mini ones or regular?

Full size burgers, of course.

which one you have?