We compared In-N-Out, Shake Shack, and Texas favorite Whataburger - and the winner is clear
First up was the fast-casual, New York-based burger restaurant, Shake Shack.
It's been called the "In-N-Out of the East Coast." Shake Shack actually began as a hot dog cart before officially launching operations in 2004.
Source: Business Insider and Shake Shack
We visited a location in Austin, Texas, on South Lamar Boulevard.
A "parking" station on the patio serves as a reminder that you're in the dog-friendly Texas capital city.
The restaurant leans more toward a gourmet style than traditional fast-food establishments do.
Everything about Shake Shack is slightly elevated from your run-of-the-mill fast-food place, even the interior dining area ...
... as well as the seating outside.
There's a wide range of menu items, from burgers and chicken to frozen custard and milkshakes.
We went with a dressed single ShackBurger with cheese, crinkle-cut fries, and a Cookies N' Cream milkshake, which costs more than a soft drink. The total was $15.01.
We were handed this little doodad that would alert us when our food was ready.
Not long after we ordered, our food was served to us.
Shake Shack only has two drink sizes: small and regular. Our milkshake came in a small, but we could have gotten a regular, pictured below.
The polished presentation was the first thing we noticed. Everything was neatly packaged and arranged.
And the restaurant's branded icons were a nice touch — they were minimalist and modern.
We dove into the Cookies N' Cream milkshake first because how can you resist this? It was creamy and delicious.
But next up was the ShackBurger, complete with lettuce, tomato, and the restaurant's special ShakeSauce.
It was on the smaller side ...
... but it packed a mean punch. The patty was juicy, the sauce was delectable, the veggies were fresh, and the bun was perfectly buttery.
It only took a few bites to consume the burger, though.
And lastly to be gobbled up were the crinkle-cut fries ...
... which looked appetizing, but weren't exactly memorable. They were so-so.
Overall, we could see why the chain has earned a cult-like following on the East Coast. The food was good, even if there wasn't much of it, and the check was a bit high for a burger joint.
We said goodbye to Shake Shack ...
... and hello to another chain with a fiercely loyal clientele: Whataburger.
The Texas chain has a good 50 years on Shake Shack. Since it was founded in 1950, it's become a staple in many Texans' lives — and stomachs.
Source: Whataburger
We visited a location, one of more than 800 nationwide, near the University of Texas campus, about a 10-minute drive from Shake Shack.
Source: Whataburger
Almost 70 years after being founded, Whataburger still sports the aesthetic of a traditional American eatery.
It boasts a varied, fast-food-friendly menu. You can find chicken, burgers, fries, and also specialty sandwiches like the Patty Melt and the Sweet & Spicy Bacon Burger.
There was no line when we ordered. We went with the basics: A $7.35 Whataburger combo with a loaded cheeseburger, fries ...
... and a medium 32 oz. soft drink.
That includes Whataburger's exquisite sweet or unsweet tea, if you choose.
Before we were even done filling our cup with root beer, an employee delivered our food to us and took our orange Whataburger order number.
And voilà! Time to feast.
The company's goal has always been to produce five-inch-wide burgers. That's where the name comes from: the idea was that customers would exclaim "What a burger!" when they laid eyes on it.
Source: Whataburger
So these things are massive, especially compared to Shake Shack's dainty (yet delicious) ShackBurger. But hey, everything's bigger in Texas.
The Whataburger comes with mustard, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, and onions, and cheese for extra. The buns were toasted, the beef was juicy, ...
... and the best part was there was so MUCH of it to eat. Their food wasn't just quality, but quality plus a large portion.
There is no such thing as going to Whataburger and leaving hungry.
Whataburger's fries are also unforgettable. They're perfectly crispy and salted. We would have been fine with just them on their own for a meal.
Our Whataburger meal was, in a word, delectable. We let our food settle for a bit before moving on to our last stop: ...
... the California-based In-N-Out. It's another chain that's been around for decades, since 1948.
Source: In-N-Out
Signs of the chain's West Coast heritage can be found in the red palm tree icons lining the building.
This location is about 500 feet from the Whataburger we visited. It's one of 334 nationwide locations.
Source: Google Maps and Mercury News
Inside, we found more of the retro aesthetic that's similar to Whataburger's ...
... as well as a pretty long line.
In-N-Out was the only place where we had to wait to order.
But at least we had more time to scout out the menu. It was more pared down than the others, with only a handful of options and combos.
We went with the basics again: A cheeseburger combo meal with fries and a drink. Our total was $6.82, a surprisingly low amount.
After a few minutes, we went to grab our order. Here's what it looked like.
We noticed the burger was small, like the ShackBurger was.
But it still looked appetizing. It came with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese, and In-N-Out's original spread, or sauce.
The burger was tasty overall. The veggies were fresh, and the buns were well-toasted.
The In-N-Out spread also gave the burger a fantastic flavor.
But like at Shake Shack, the burger was gone too quickly.
And the fries were pretty unimpressive. They were bland and mushy.
The meal wasn't terrible, though. It seems like you can't go wrong with any of the restaurants we visited.
All three are respectable fast-food — or "fast-casual" if you're Shake Shack — restaurants with mass followings of burger lovers.
Customer service at each restaurant was pleasant, and the wait time was bearable even at In-N-Out.
But one chain stood out above the rest for a number of reasons ...
... and that chain is Whataburger. Now, hear us out.
The issue isn't necessarily that In-N-Out and Shake Shack don't have good burgers, because they do. The quality of the beef was superb across the board.
It's that what these East and West Coast restaurants don't have is bigger portions. You simply get more for your money at Whataburger.
The 32 oz. medium soft drink, the five-inch-wide Whataburgers, the gracious amount of fries served — Whataburger doesn't withhold quantity from its customers.
But neither does it withhold quality. Everything about a Whataburger meal is good, from the 100% pure American beef patty to the flawlessly salted and crisped fries.
Source: Whataburger
Shake Shack is unquestionably the most upscale, gourmet-style restaurant out of the three. But your bill ends up being too high for the portions you get.
On top of that, Shake Shack doesn't have combo meals, which are more cost-efficient for customers. If you want fries and/or a drink with your entree, you have to add it on.
Though in the chain's defense, it does have good vegetarian options, like the 'Shroom Burger, and it serves beer and wine. Neither In-N-Out nor Whataburger serves alcoholic beverages.
Source: Shake Shack
The price for our meal at In-N-Out was the lowest out of the three restaurants, but the small portions and the mediocre french fries didn't make for a top-notch meal.
The fries at both In-N-Out and Shake Shack fell short of expectations. They were edible, but not fantastic.
So from a value standpoint, Whataburger reigns supreme. Not only do you get quality food, but you get more of it. And isn't that the whole point of venturing to a fast-food joint?
There aren't any Whataburger locations outside of the southern half of the United States ...
... so you'll have to travel down south to get your hands on it.
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