Five Guys Burgers and Fries

I’ve waited a really long time to post a review of Five Guys. I first read about it in Hamburger America and decided that I should find the closest one and give it a try. On that first visit, I ordered a regular Five Guys Bacon Cheeseburger with a regular sized order of hand-cut fries. While I waited for my order, I snacked on some of the roasted-in-the-shell peanuts that were available in a few open boxes around the restaurant. It gave me something to do while reading the endless positive reviews and propaganda that decorates the walls. It’s clear that a lot of people love their Five Guys.

That first meal taught me an important lesson: you get a lot of food. The regular burger is actually two quarter pound patties. The fries fill a 12 oz styrofoam cup and about another half or 3/4 of a cup overflows into your paper sack. But, once I bit into my rather large burger, which is made from fresh ground beef and griddled thin and crispy on the grill, I was convinced I had tasted the best fast food burger this side of In-N-Out. The hand-cut fries were fried in peanut oil to a just the right consistency, a little crisp, but not too crisp and taste of fresh potatoes.

I immediately told my friend Brit all about it and he ran out to try a burger. Then got hooked on it. For the next few weeks, we were obsessed with Five Guys, bragging about our visits. Since that time, I’ve ratcheted my standard order back to the Little Cheeseburger, which is just a single quarter pound patty. The burgers come with your choice of sixteen different toppings and I’ve done a lot of experimenting. For a while, I was going with the burger with everything on it that strangely has only ten of the toppings on it. The rest can be added by request. I’m still not sure of the optimal topping selection, though I am a fan of the bacon because it adds a little smokiness and crunch, while less of a fan of the mushrooms which tend to make things a little sloppy. Anyhow, you get the point, lots of options for you to make up the kind of burger that you want. I tried the Cajun Fries on Brit’s recommendation and never looked back. The spicy seasoning adds a lot of flavor to the hand-cut fries and are probably the best item on the menu.

In retrospect, Five Guys is probably a little expensive for the quality of burger. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s a good burger and one of the best fast food burgers, but it’s only slightly better than a Wendy’s burger, though does offer a lot more in the way of toppings. It is probably better than more expensive burgers you would get in some higher end restaurants, but that’s no excuse for the prices. That said, the Cajun Fries are so tasty that they’re enough to justify a visit and the price of the burger. I do fear the day when they open one closer to my house.

Tags: french fries, hamburger america, hamburgers