The Fast Food Burger Poll

[DaFace]

As a spinoff from the Culver's thread, here's a poll about fast food burger joints. I'm putting up the normal poll for all you lazy asses out there, but it really makes more sense to rate them all individually rather than just picking your favorite (since favorites will largely depend on what places you've actually tried). Because of that, here's a slightly more in-depth poll that I'll report on the results of in a few days.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gLq...N1qLM/viewform

Poll on.

[Ragged Robin]

Originally Posted by Douche Baggins

Well, **** dude. For that price, you can get a better burger at ****ing Chili's too.

ffffffffffffffffffffff tbh Five Guys isn't that great but it's pretty close to where I live

[Reaper16]

Fast Food (counter service) and Fast-Casual (sit down, wait staff takes your order) ought to be separate categories too. Different price ranges, and very different types of burgers.

I did (yes, Simply Red, I did!) vote for Culver's because that's my favorite fast-food burger. It scores the highest on the flavor/texture-to-price ratio. I have soft spot for the diner-style burger too. How can a Kansas Citian not when Winstead's is around? (For me more specifically, it was Ray's Diner in Excelsior Springs, MO).

As far as fast-casual goes, my favorite burger in that sphere is from Jim n Nick's, a 30ish location southern food chain (that sources local ingredients, amazingly). Their burgers have a great blend and getting them cooked medium-rare is not a problem.

[Reaper16]

Pertinent to this thread are a series of articles that the magazine Hobart put out last year titled "An Assessment of Fast Food Hamburgers in the Southeastern United States." These had me painfully cramping up with laughter. For example:

Originally Posted by this is about Subway's burger

It wasn’t meant to be this way. Subway was supposed to be a healthy intermission from beef, a day of renewal. Then I saw a poster for a sandwich called the “Classic Angus Melt” and I knew it was no melt. It was a 6-inch long hamburger, a Longburger, and I was morally obligated to catalog it with the rest of its kind.

The first bite was terrible. It tasted like rubber, flesh and chemicals. I started to worry whether it had been prepared correctly. It had a fluffy texture that was totally unlike meat. I tried to focus on the flavors of the vegetables but the chemical fluff taste hung in the periphery, always present, tainting everything, waxing and waning unpredictably in every bite. The six inches became a curse; the Longburger was not only twice the length of a normal hamburger but twice as foul.

The Longburger was the only hamburger that caused me to feel concern for my personal wellbeing. That chemical taste told my body: “Do not eat this. This is poison.” I had to exercise my will and manually consume it. On the upside, when I had finished it, after looking back over my life, I felt as if I was getting a second chance. I went outside and called my mother and asked her about her day.

http://www.hobartpulp.com/web_featur...ed-states-pt-1
http://www.hobartpulp.com/web_featur...ed-states-pt-2
http://www.hobartpulp.com/web_featur...ed-states-pt-3
http://www.hobartpulp.com/web_featur...ed-states-pt-4 (in which Five Guys scores lower than Wendy's!)

[sedated]

Completely unrelated to fast food burgers, but I tried a place near downtown KC called Westside Local (absolute antithesis to fast food) today for lunch and had their burger. The longer the day goes the more it dawns on me that it was very good. Ground ribeye patty and a subtle combination of sweet and tangy between the toppings. But the bun really did it - light and soft like a cloud. Although it did cost $12, so it better be good.

[DeezNutz]

In terms of fast-food burgers, it's Culver's and it's not close. It's a damn solid fast-food offering.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

In terms of fast-food burgers, it's Culver's and it's not close. It's a damn solid fast-food offering.

Jesus. This beats the shit out of Fraud Guys.

[Mojo Jojo]

My youngest wanted Freddy's yesterday. My first time...nothing even close to special. Didn't hate it, but wouldn't recommend it or go there on my own.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by listopencil

It blows away all of those shitty national chain fast food burgers. McD's, Wendy's, Burger King, Jack in the Box. I've had better burgers than In-N-Out but those places hardly qualify as "fast food" at all.

Then there are the places that pretend to be Mom-and-Pop joints. Those can be great. There is one I have been to in Chico, California that is incredible. I'd say it just barely qualifies as fast food and the food is ridiculously good. Big Al's:

You've tried the Squeeze Inn, right?

[WhawhaWhat]

I really like Back Yard Burgers. Never had In-n-Out, only had Five Guys once, State Line location, and it was just ok.

[BigMeatballDave]

Terry's Turf Club in Cincinnati is the best burger I've ever had.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Douche Baggins

Jesus. This beats the shit out of Fraud Guys.

Five Guys: Burgers that taste like mom made 'em, fries exactly like mom made 'em, a soda, and $14 less in your wallet.

[Randallflagg]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

I really like Back Yard Burgers. Never had In-n-Out, only had Five Guys once, State Line location, and it was just ok.

I'm in the same boat. Backyard Burgers are pretty damned good. I had In-N-Out while in San Diego and just didn't get it. Nothing special. 5 Guys is good but too damned messy and too expensive (for me). Steak and Shake is quality but simple. I still like Freddy's a lot, though. And, in all honesty - I'm still partial to Sonic. But hell, I'm easy. I can't recall the name of that joint in KCK where the food is delivered by overhead train/trolley car....can't remember it to save my life.

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by Douche Baggins

Jesus. This beats the shit out of Fraud Guys.

looks good.

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

Pertinent to this thread are a series of articles that the magazine Hobart put out last year titled "An Assessment of Fast Food Hamburgers in the Southeastern United States." These had me painfully cramping up with laughter. For example:


http://www.hobartpulp.com/web_featur...ed-states-pt-1
http://www.hobartpulp.com/web_featur...ed-states-pt-2
http://www.hobartpulp.com/web_featur...ed-states-pt-3
http://www.hobartpulp.com/web_featur...ed-states-pt-4 (in which Five Guys scores lower than Wendy's!)

I tried that Subway Angus thing - I may have even created a thread on it - I don't recall for sure. It was indeed, awful.

[TimBone]

Anybody try that Island Fire double cheeseburger at Sonic?