We put In-N-Out and Five Guys to the test in a battle of the burger chains - and the winner surprised us

In a battle of the burgers, Five Guys is winning. The East Coast burger sensation claimed the top spot in a 2017 brand report from Harris Poll, based on input from over 100,000 consumers.

In-N-Out, a cult favorite on the West Coast, held the title for the previous two years and has long been considered Five Guys' top rival. The burger chain recently announced it's opening a distribution center in Colorado, which could allow it to expand further east. All stores must be located close to these hubs because of the company's strict policy of serving its food fresh.

Five Guys has grown its footprint along with its fandom. It has over 1,500 locations worldwide, while In-N-Out has about 300 stores across soon-to-be seven states.

With the rivalry heating up between these East Coast and West Coast chains, my colleague Rob Price and I decided to give them both a try in a back-to-back taste-test. Here's what we thought.