In-N-Out Burger vs. Five Guys? Popeye's vs. Chick-fil-A?
The Charbonnet transfer thread below got off on a tangent re: In-N-Out Burger.
Got me to thinking about the on-going debates re: burger and chicken spots. I haven't seen a thread addressing this vital issue, so my apologies if this is a redundant topic.
I personally find almost all of them to be overrated. Most are just slight variations on the burger or chicken theme...with nothing really special to distinguish one brand over another.
What's the allure of Chick-fil-A? The chicken is fine...but nothing special. The waffle fries are likewise just meh. We drove past their new location at 8 Mile/Haggerty and there were two lines of cars about 15/20 deep.
Give me a local slider joint like Hunter House over any of the national chains...and I've had some really tasty hand-made chicken tenders at various local restaurants.
What say you about this important topic?
In-N-Out? Five Guys? White Castle? Whataburger? Culver's? Red Robin? Shake Shack?
Chick-fil-A? Popeyes? KFC? Buffalo Wild Wings? Gus's?
January 31st, 2021 at 8:17 AM ^
Neither. Give me a good local joint burger. As far as chicken Raising Canes is pure heaven.
January 31st, 2021 at 9:21 AM ^
Cane's ftw.
They've also donated lots of money for some nice local dog parks down here.
January 31st, 2021 at 10:00 AM ^
Having Canes sauce was a life changing moment. Every trip to Baton Rouge includes at least one Caniac combo.
FYI: The closest Canes to Detroit is in Dayton or Cleveland. If you're stuck in the Detroit area, Uncle Joe's Chicken Fingers is not a bad alternative.
January 31st, 2021 at 10:16 AM ^
That sauce is boss!
I mentioned it in the hot dog post below, but if you like hot dogs give Frankie's Dawg House a try next time you're in BR. The Chuck Norris dog is the real deal!
January 31st, 2021 at 3:36 PM ^
Lee’s chicken is phenomenal in the area. Closest to ‘canes up here
January 31st, 2021 at 4:39 PM ^
Having Canes sauce was a life changing moment.
I’m pretty sure it’s just ketchup and mayo mixed together.
January 31st, 2021 at 10:30 AM ^
This is the answer regarding burgers. In fact, I tend to like the ones I make the best. I do love Cane's even though I need to drive 20 minutes to get to one, that Popeye's Sandwich is incredible (spicy specifically).
January 31st, 2021 at 10:56 AM ^
For chicken Slim Chickens is the best. When it comes to fast food burgers they are all the same. Not sure what the fuss is over In n out found them to be just another average fast food place
January 31st, 2021 at 1:45 PM ^
I agree. The blue cheese burger at The Good Dog Bar is the best in Philly and most cities.
January 31st, 2021 at 4:42 PM ^
I’m surprised by all the love for Canes. It’s fine. The sauce is fine. One of the other posters mentioned Slim Chickens. I find that superior to Canes. Canes has one sauce, which is average. Slim Chickens has several, some of which suck, some of which are average, and some of which are good.
If you’re in the Texas/Louisiana area, Pluckers is the superior choice for chicken.
To the OP, In-N-Out is a superior value to Five Guys. In-N-Out shakes, particularly the Neapolitan, are phenomenal. You can get a double double with fries and a shake for the cost of one side of fries from Five Guys.
January 31st, 2021 at 8:21 AM ^
I always prefer local restaurants to chains. But for fast food, Whataburger beats most others on quality but not on price.
January 31st, 2021 at 10:05 AM ^
Whataburger?
those places are open when it’s NOT 2am and you’re drunk?
will wonders never cease...
January 31st, 2021 at 1:41 PM ^
Fun fact. 5 guys was a legendary local burger place outside DC before it became a chain. Still tastes great.
January 31st, 2021 at 3:44 PM ^
Who are these jokers downvoting whataburger?? It’s whataburger and then whatever else! #4 jalapeño and cheese FTW!
January 31st, 2021 at 3:57 PM ^
I had Whataburger one time about a month ago near Dallas. I was excited to try it because my brother-in-law has talked about it for years. I was very disappointed and felt like it tasted like a poor version of Wendys.
February 1st, 2021 at 12:37 AM ^
You are a fool. Whataburger is hands down the best.
January 31st, 2021 at 8:23 AM ^
What happened to no politics on MGoBlog? If you don’t like Chick-fil-A you are obviously a (insert other radical party you hate here)!
January 31st, 2021 at 9:16 AM ^
Don’t be dissin” my Popeyes, I’ll impeach yo ass.
January 31st, 2021 at 8:29 AM ^
In-N-Out is now in Denver. Slowly working its way east. Could be one of the biggest franchises in history but the private owners choose to not do so.
January 31st, 2021 at 9:03 AM ^
From my understanding it's not simply that they choose not to, it's because they have extremely stringent policies as far as suppliers go. So if all the necessary criteria cannot be met then they will not expand to a given area until they can. I'd have to do some digging to find the details again.
January 31st, 2021 at 11:10 AM ^
The real reason is cause the current owner inherited the company at the age of 30, fairly sure she does not have a college degree. She is already a billionaire so I can’t imagine she is overly ambitious or skilled about rapid expansion. Married four times, first time just out of high school. That said, it’s still an accomplishment.
This is what she said about expansion a while back, but I guess someone has convinced her to change her mind since then:
“I don’t see us stretched across the whole U.S. I don’t see us in every state. Take Texas—draw a line up and just stick to the left. That’s in my lifetime,” Snyder says. “I like that we’re sought after when someone’s coming into town. I like that we’re unique. That we’re not on every corner. You put us in every state and it takes away some of its luster.”
January 31st, 2021 at 12:56 PM ^
Sounds like she also inherited the family smarts on marketing of their product. Coors used to be something cool and desirable, too, when it was only available in certain parts of the country. Not every brand or product should try to be the GAP or McDonald's.
January 31st, 2021 at 9:03 AM ^
Actually, all locations have to be within 300 miles of the distribution center so the ingredients stay fresh.
January 31st, 2021 at 9:11 AM ^
I work for a company that supplies non-food product to a lot of national fast food chains and frequently that 300 mile cap is because of costs. Shipping and freight are horribly expensive and once you get beyond 300 miles it’s pretty much unpalatable.
January 31st, 2021 at 8:33 AM ^
In N Out has the worst fries in all of fast food
January 31st, 2021 at 8:37 AM ^
BK fries from the '80s would like a word with you.
January 31st, 2021 at 9:08 AM ^
I always liked their fries. And if you don’t like them, just get them animal style.
January 31st, 2021 at 9:19 AM ^
Putting stuff on soggy fries is not an improvement.
January 31st, 2021 at 12:55 PM ^
Ask for them extra crispy. The In N Out secret menu is your friend
January 31st, 2021 at 9:28 AM ^
Agree to disagree, but maybe I just like fries from fresh potatoes because that’s what Grandma and Grandpa would make for us as kids to go with the perch we caught that day.
January 31st, 2021 at 11:30 AM ^
Only to rookies that don’t know how to order from In & Out...always order fries well and if feeling crazy get Animal Style Fries.
Five Guys is garbage...it is like a slightly better Fat Burger. The real comparison is In & Out or Shake Shack. And burger to burger In & Out is still better...but everything else at Shake Shack is better and the burger isn’t to far behind.
Chik-Fil-A and Popeyes are both gross...Howlin’ Rays in LA (not widespread fast food is so good you can’t eat garbage fried chicken sandwiches again).
January 31st, 2021 at 11:38 AM ^
I spent my entire childhood enduring In N Out because my family loved it. You and the rest of my family are wrong. It's ok to admit that they suck. Your California merit badge does not depend on the defensibility of In N Out burger.
January 31st, 2021 at 12:14 PM ^
Just taste buds...sounds like you have a smart family.
January 31st, 2021 at 12:56 PM ^
We get it, you're from California
January 31st, 2021 at 2:15 PM ^
Doesn’t matter where you are from...taste buds are taste buds. And Five Guys sucks. In & Out or Shake Shack all day.
January 31st, 2021 at 2:11 PM ^
Californians will die on the hill that a $3 average burger is the greatest thing anyones ever tasted. 5 guys all day...I grew up going to the original.
January 31st, 2021 at 3:40 PM ^
Matt Stafford likes In&Out
January 31st, 2021 at 2:16 PM ^
In-and- Out
1. love the old school limited menu
2. comparatively fast
3. Service is solid
4. burgers look good
5. burgers taste bland
6. fries are horrible--just less bad if well
January 31st, 2021 at 11:46 AM ^
They are unbelievably bad, it takes a special talent to screw up a fry that way.
January 31st, 2021 at 12:54 PM ^
That's why you get them extra crispy and animal style and they go to being some of the best fast food fries
January 31st, 2021 at 2:57 PM ^
Rookie move not getting fries well done.
January 31st, 2021 at 1:38 PM ^
The reason that their fries suck is that they need to set their timers for another minute or two as they're not fully cooked. It's probably a production protocol for the franchise to get the orders out quick.
January 31st, 2021 at 1:57 PM ^
Extra crispy makes them okay but not great. The problem is that they are cut fresh and single fried. You need to blanch and/or double fry to get an ideal crispy outside / fluffy inside.
The Serious Eats guy did an experiment and it turns out the McDonalds approach (an initial low temp fry, frozen, then hot fried right before serving) sounds less “fresh” but is actually superior. The freezing plays an important role in making the inside soft and fluffy. Would be even better if they still fried in beef tallow.
January 31st, 2021 at 8:34 AM ^
5 Guys has the worst fries in all of fast food
January 31st, 2021 at 9:12 AM ^
This comment makes me sad, but to each their own.
January 31st, 2021 at 9:47 AM ^
If by worst you mean best, then you would be correct.
January 31st, 2021 at 12:57 PM ^
This is objectively false. They have the second best behind McDonald's imo
January 31st, 2021 at 2:23 PM ^
I love how you said objectively false, and then gave your opinion. You win comment of the day in my book... I just hope you know what you did...
January 31st, 2021 at 8:39 AM ^
Popeyes and Five Guys
January 31st, 2021 at 8:39 AM ^
In and out and shake shack ftw. Way better than 5 guys but five guys is a large leap above the remaining turds on this list. The fried chicken sandwich at shake shack I’ve found to be a couple tiers above chick fil a.