Fast Food Burger Shootout

[Star Ocean 2]

Sonic has always confused me. I've never seen so many commercials for a place that I've never actually seen in real life. Well, not since Stater Bros. and their relentless ads on Nickelodeon. Apparently there are Sonics in Southern California, but not near LA. I guess they're just going on the hopes that one day, on some trip somewhere, I'd finally see their restaurant and that the anticipation and mystery would leave me no choice but to eat there.

 

[909]

There's one right down the street, but I haven't eaten there. However, I did eat at one like 10 years ago, and it was just okay.

 

[Agent of Oblivion]

Sonic's pretty decent. I'd never eaten at one until I moved out this way. I like that they have a card reader outside at the drive-thru, so the filthy swine cooking the food I'm about to eat don't touch my card.

 

[still fly]

Sonic has always confused me. I've never seen so many commercials for a place that I've never actually seen in real life. Well, not since Stater Bros. and their relentless ads on Nickelodeon. Apparently there are Sonics in Southern California, but not near LA. I guess they're just going on the hopes that one day, on some trip somewhere, I'd finally see their restaurant and that the anticipation and mystery would leave me no choice but to eat there.

There is one in Palmdale. That's at least LA County.

You are the Jerry Seinfeld of this board.

 

[DrVenkman PhD]

I got a Whopper yesterday and it came in a box with "half wrapping" around the burger inside the box, similar to the new Wendy's style... but with a large box. The hell?

 

[oldskool]

What's the point of the half box anyway? They give it to you whether you drive through or go in & I don't see the point unless I really want my burger to stand on edge without the hassle of smushing it sideways into the surface I want it balanced on. Even if I did I drive a fucking Neon, the entire dashboard is sloped, there's nowhere flat for me to perch it anyway.

 

[Star Ocean 2]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/12/wendys-japan-foie-gras-truffle-burger.html

 

[909]

FOIE GRAS BANNED IN CALIFORNIA WHAT

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Just wolfed down a Five Guys burger while waiting for a ride from trivia at the bar across the street and fuck, my gut hurts. Tasted great though.

(Had ketchup, mustard, pickles, raw onions, and tomatoes on it FWIW. Wanted a semi-casual fast food chain version of a shitty fast food burger for some reason)

 

[Red Baron]

I had butter chicken poutine today. So fucking good.

 

[Vitamin X]

Just wolfed down a Five Guys burger while waiting for a ride from trivia at the bar across the street and fuck, my gut hurts. Tasted great though.

(Had ketchup, mustard, pickles, raw onions, and tomatoes on it FWIW. Wanted a semi-casual fast food chain version of a shitty fast food burger for some reason)

Is Five Guys ridiculously overpriced where you live too? It's like $12 for a burger and fries when I go there, not including my having to borrow a car to get out to the suburbs where the only location in the area is. I haven't gone there in well over a year, year and a half because of that alone. Way too many restaurants and good pubs that have similar quality burgers with sides for under $8 to bother.

 

[Incandenza]

Double cheese w/o fries or a drink runs about $6 in Jacksonville; adding those pushes it into the $10+ range. I forgo fries anyway because the burger itself is pretty filling.

 

[Brooklyn Zoo]

Yeah the fries could be shared by two people. I think it's a total of like 2000 calories if you get fries.

I had Five Guys when the Eagles smacked the Jets a few weeks ago. Almost made me forget the game even happened.

 

[alfdogg]

I must be the only one that wasn't real impressed with Five Guys when I went there, at least given the hype for them. It's good food, don't get me wrong, but for that price I'd go to Hardee's instead.

 

[Incandenza]

Agent said the same thing earlier in the thread, right down to preferring Hardee's. I still haven't been to Hardee's outside of breakfast since they supposedly got better.

 

[Vitamin X]

In N Out still kicks the shit out of them, especially because you can still get the double-double combo with fries and a drink for about $5

 

[909]

The quality of the meat at Hardees/Carl's Jr is just disgusting.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

I haven't had a chance to go to Five Guys since they opened here last year.

I actually don't mind Hardees. It isn't my favourite, but I do like the Frisco Thickburger and I'll certainly go there before McDonald's, Burger King and the like. Mostly I'll go to the local restaurants. And Chili's. I love Chili's burgers.

 

[AA484]

I prefer Remington Grill's cheaper burgers to Five Guys. You get less fries, but not many normal human beings can eat that amount anyway.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

To answer VX's question, it was $8.69 for burgers and fries. No drink. I mean it's a tad expensive for what it is but it's the same quality stuff you'd get at most fast casual sit down restaurants (if not better) and a good $2-3 cheaper. It's not that bad of a deal.

Also while taking a leak in the bathroom waiting for my food, I thought of a theory that West Coast folk have the same bias toward their fast food as the East Coast supposedly have about their sports teams. I went to school with several people from out west who looked as if I suggested shitting in their mothers mouth when I asked them if they'd been to the new Five Guys that had recently opened nearby. Granted, Animal Style fries sound pretty sweet but In N Out can't be that much better!

 

[Vitamin X]

In N Out is much better. And half the price. Five Guys burgers are gutbusters and fall apart really easily, In N Out has these awesome fresh spongy buns that hold all the meat and veggies in perfect. Every fast food burger I've ever had has to compare in stature and quality to an In N Out burger, and nothing beats it.

Note, I don't think Five Guys is bad at all, it's pretty good in fact! Just really overpriced. I mean, seriously

Also In-N-Out has their "secret menu" on their website:

I've had the 4x4 animal style before. Insane gluttony. Easily one of the top reasons I miss California, along with being able to buy liquor at the grocery store.

 

[909]

I like them both. Five Guys girth on their burgers is a bonus though.

 

[AA484]

I don't think In 'N Out could sell at those prices over here on the East Coast. I've only been there once and I can't remember thinking too strongly one way or the other about it.

 

[Rendclaw]

Agent said the same thing earlier in the thread, right down to preferring Hardee's. I still haven't been to Hardee's outside of breakfast since they supposedly got better.

I said as much as well. Its good, but not $10 per person good. If I am going to pay that much, I would rather go to Red Robin. And their fries are MUCH better.

I went to Hardee's two weeks ago to have the Sourdough cheeseburger. The Swiss cheese was tasteless, and the bacon was like eating popsicle sticks, it was that dried out. Even the sourdough bread didn't taste like sourdough. I can see why there is only one Hardee's left in the state of Michigan, especially at the prices they charged.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

I don't usually get fries at fast food places as most of them aren't any good. Practically any chip truck has them beat. You can find good fries at the Mom and Pop fast food places though.

Also, if I'm going to have a full meal, usually I'd just prefer to go to a regular restaurant anyways.

I went to Hardee's two weeks ago to have the Sourdough cheeseburger. The Swiss cheese was tasteless, and the bacon was like eating popsicle sticks, it was that dried out. Even the sourdough bread didn't taste like sourdough. I can see why there is only one Hardee's left in the state of Michigan, especially at the prices they charged.

Odd. I had one about a month ago and I liked it. Seeing the comments on here it seems that either Hardees is an acquired taste or that the quality varies wildly depending on the individual restaurant.

 

[Jaxxxson Mayhem]

How big are In n Out's burgers anyway? Are they quarter pound patties?

 

[Vitamin X]

I think so. They're not huge (depends on how many patties you want of course), but they're filling. They're awesome in a fresh, tasty, not completely greasy but still awesome comfort food way.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Re: Fast Food Burger (and fries?) Shootout

Let's include fries in this discussion as well. Last night, I went out to Nosh Kitchen Bar (local high end bar/grill I've mentioned before that was on Man Vs Food) for a quick snack between bars and my brother ordered bacon dusted fries. I was in pork heaven. There was a film around my moth after I ate them. It was tremendous! (Not to mention my brother picked gravy as the choice of dipping sauces)

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

The only chain fast food fries that really stand out to me right now our Mary Brown's Taters. I do really like those. Oh and New York Fries. That one slipped my mind initially.

My favourite fries period are from Don Juan's food truck on Front Street W in Toronto, by the CN Tower. I love that place.

 

[Star Ocean 2]

Pulled the ultimate low-end fast food move today. I was at In N Out for the second day in a row, and was going to get the exact same combo, then I realized I still had the drink cup in my car. So I just ordered the food, and refilled the cup.

It was a nice injection of excitement into my calm life, but there were tense moments. When I got up to the counter, my blood was rushing. First, since I was just there yesterday, I worried about being recognized. Thankfully it looked like there were some different people there, but the register person asked me twice if I wanted a drink. They never ask twice. And she said it in a weird way, too. I clearly had my cup with me, so I think she was on to me. I managed to talk my way out of it, though (I said "no").