Irene Jiang / Business Insider
- I taste-tested signature burgers from McDonald's, Burger King, Five Guys, Wendy's, and Shake Shack to see how they compared.
- Each burger brought something unique to the table, but Five Guys won out overall.
- Its juicy meat and fresh and flavorful toppings contributed to a classic burger taste that demolished its competition.
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All burgers are equal, but some burgers are more equal than others.
I compared the Wendy's Dave's Single, the McDonald's Big Mac, the Burger King Whopper, the Shake Shack Shackburger, and the Five Guys Cheeseburger in a burger showdown for the ages.
I judged the burgers based on visual appeal, meat quality, taste, and juiciness. Each burger was beautiful in its own way, but Five Guys ultimately won the pageant.
Here's why:
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
A Five Guys cheeseburger with the "All The Way" toppings option.
The Five Guys cheeseburger comes as a double unless you ask for a small cheeseburger, which means the signature sandwich is a hulking hunk of meat by default. It's large, heavy, and multicolored, even if the bun is a little flat.
READ MORE: I tried the signature burgers from 5 major fast-food chains, and the winner was obvious.
"All The Way" toppings get you all the sauces, sauteed mushrooms and onions, crunchy green pickles, a slab of tomato, and a couple of lettuce leaves. All the toppings were fresh and flavorful, but the bright green pickles really stood out with their memorable crunch and tartness.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
I could sing the praises of Five Guys' fatty, beefy, moist patties all the way to the grave. They were a little more well-done than I usually like, but I can just ask for them to be cooked medium-rare next time. A squeeze test confirmed what I already knew: the beef was chock full of delicious meaty juice.
A thick, generous slice of cheddar cheese was melted into the lightly charred grooves of the patties, gluing them together for the ultimate savory tag-team. Topped with generous veg and sandwiched between two meek and pleasant buns, Five Guys' beef and cheese could do no evil.
Altogether, Five Guys accomplished a hearty, flavorful, classic burger with a well-rounded taste and completely customizable quality ingredients. Even though the other burgers were great in their own way, I'll be going back to Five Guys for when I crave a classic burger done right.