I'm a die-hard In-N-Out fan who went to Roy Rogers for the first time and found an even tastier fast-food burger

Insider's reporter eats at two regional fast-food chains: Roy Rogers (L) and In-N-Out (R).Joey Hadden/Insider

• In-N-Out has served my favorite fast-food burger for a decade, but I just found an even better one.
• I went to Roy Rogers, a chain on the East Coast, and thought their burger tasted like a steak.

In-N-Out Burger, a California chain with a large following in Texas, served the best fast food cheeseburger I'd ever had — until I went to Roy Rogers, an east coast chain — and found theirs to be even tastier.

The author digs in at Roy Rogers (L) and In-N-Out (R).      Joey Hadden/Insider

Sources: In-N-Out Burger, Insider, Roy Rogers

I've been eating In-N-Out's burgers since 2011, when the fast-food chain opened its first location in Texas — my home at the time.

The author dines at an In-N-Out in Austin.      Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: In-N-Out

While I find their fries to be too stiff, I've always preferred In-N-Out's burgers to other fast-food sandwiches.

A meal from In-N-Out.      Joey Hadden/Insider

The toasted bun and grilled onions give it a stand-out flavor, in my opinion.

A half-eaten In-N-Out burger.      Joey Hadden/Insider

Now that I live on the East Coast, I decided to try Roy Rogers since the chain had a large following in the late 20th-century and is starting to become more popular again, Mashed reported in 2021.

The author goes to Roy Rogers.      Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: Mashed

I went to a Roy Rogers on the University of Maryland campus. They also have locations in Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey, and New York.

A Roy Rogers at the University of Maryland.      Google Maps

Source: Roy Rogers

I ordered a cheeseburger, fries, and a soft drink for $9.21. At In-N-Out, I've paid about $8 for the same meal.

The counter and dining area at Roy Rogers.      Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: Insider

While I was waiting for my food, I noticed that the burger toppings were self-served, unlike at In-N-Out.

A bar of toppings at Roy Rogers.      Joey Hadden/Insider

Within five minutes, a server handed me my meal in a paper bag.

The author's meal from Roy Rogers.      Joey Hadden/Insider

When I unwrapped my burger, I noticed that it looked slightly larger than most fast-food burgers I've seen, including In-N-Out's.

The author's unwrapped burger.      Joey Hadden/Insider

After removing the toasted bun, I added the all same toppings I would have ordered at In-N-Out. But there were no grilled onions at the topping bar — only raw.

A Roy Rogers burger full of toppings.      Joey Hadden/Insider

When I took a bite, I thought the patty alone was juicier and even more flavorful than an In-N-Out burger with grilled onions. It tasted like a steak.

A view of the inside of the burger.      Joey Hadden/Insider

The fries were soft and doughy. While I preferred them to In-N-Out's stiff fries, I longed for crispier ones.

The fries from Roy Rogers.      Joey Hadden/Insider

After eating at Roy Rogers, I think both chains serve top-notch fast-food burgers. But at Roy Rogers, the patty is tastier.

Similar meals at In-N-Out (L) and Roy Rogers (R).      Joey Hadden/Insider