Five Guys Burgers
One of these just opened nearby, and I haven't a clue what it's like. It's a chain, but apparently new in this area. The owner of this one owns two more somewhere on the east coast.
So...is it a burger like fast food (BK or McD) or is it a burger like a diner/restaurant?
Anything else there that's particularly good or not?
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29 Comments:
It's kinda like a cross of the two...fast food meets diner. You order at the counter, sit, and they bring the food to you if it's slow, or more often, they'll holler your ticket number and you pick up your food. Drinks are self-serve fountain.
The prices are less fast food and more diner. My little bacon cheeseburger, with regular fries and regular drink cost nine bucks and change. That being said the regular fries is waaaaaay too much for me to finish alone and the little bacon cheeseburger is actually a 5 oz patty with bacon and cheese. The regular is a double burger, so be aware of that when you order.
Any additional toppings/condiments are free (grilled onion, grilled mushrooms, jalepenos, lettuce, tom, onion, must, ketchup, etc.). I usually get mine with grilled onion and mushrooms, dab of mayo, and some pickles. My friend just had one with onions and mushrooms and A1, and it was really good...and I don't even like A1.
And my sister was on the cover of the Washingtonian years ago in the annual Cheap Eats issue and depending on the location I might find her smiling face on the walls of 5 Guys. (oh, the original 5 Guys started in the DC metro area, so much of their press comes from the Washingtonian and other area publications.)
wookie at 6:34PM on 03/25/09
Burgers are OK, better than typical fast food, but nothing to write home about. The fries are the star of the show in my opinion. Fresh cut, deep fried in peanut oil, delicious.
dmcavanagh at 6:35PM on 03/25/09
btw, I think AHT has several mentions of 5 guys.
wookie at 6:36PM on 03/25/09
Oh, I forgot, if you or anyone in your family is allergic to peanuts, do not enter the store. One of their "things" is you get to munch on peanuts while you wait.
wookie at 6:38PM on 03/25/09
Burgers are good, nothing to write home about, and it's more about ordering a bunch of condiments and the messy satisfaction of getting your hands covered in it all. The fries are pretty good, and I admit that I enjoy the free peanut munching during the whole bit. It is a bit pricey, though, and I know that the peanut thing would drive down costs, but that's kind of part of the charm. Better than McDonald's or Burger King, but not exactly a ritzy Renaissance burger joint. Have fun.
Jikuu at 6:42PM on 03/25/09
I like the little cheeseburger with A1, tomato and lettuce. They have lots of toppings which is great (the burgers aren't otherwise fancy, but they are made to order right in front of you which is very nice).
The fries are awesome! I love that they have malt vinegar available. I usually ask them to double bag my order since they give you the cup of fries and then toss another cup into the bag over your order.
It's pricey but I feel better seeing my food made fresh.
gingercookiewithlime at 6:52PM on 03/25/09
The burger's aren't anything to write home about ... but it's definitely a good burger as far as affordable burgers go. It's not cheap like fast food burgers, but it is so much better that you won't mind. The only burgers I've had out recently that were actually better were Toro Burger in El Paso and Diablo Burger here in Flagstaff (which is all local ingredients).
And everyone else is right about the fries - they steal the show but you'll be hard-pressed to finish them on your own.
joyyy at 6:55PM on 03/25/09
More than you want to know about Five Guys on A Hamburger Today.
Adam Kuban at 6:56PM on 03/25/09
I was unimpressed with the burgers. The cajun style fries were alright, but like Wookie mentioned, the regular size was too large for me to finish alone. I won't be going back. There are too many local burger joints in Austin for me to visit instead of this place.
Sweet E at 7:48PM on 03/25/09
Does anyone else have the problem where some or all of their post doesn't show up? There's a full paragraph missing off the beginning of my comment ...
joyyy at 7:51PM on 03/25/09
I'm surprised by the number of posts here that call these burgers "pricey". I am more than willing to pay a little more than I would for a crummy McDonalds burger to get one that isn't cooked until I order it and comes out the way I want it. I love the vibe in these places, too. No, there are not as good as the Shake Shack but I don't have to wait an hour and a half to get one. Oh yeah, the fries are awesome, especially with some malted vinegar and Old Bay... almost as good as Thrashers at the shore without all the seagulls swooping down on you.
steveTV at 8:55PM on 03/25/09
wow! I hate that most of these people have had bad "five guys" XP but the one here where I live is awesome!!! It's not as good as my husband's burgers (deeeeeee-licious) but I'd take ANYthing they serve over MCD's anyday. Oh and I love that the jalapenos are fresh!!
foodiegal at 10:34PM on 03/25/09
The fries are very good.
The burgers blow, no matter how many toppings you put on them.
Very good hot dogs.
In short, nothing special. One of the first Five Guys is here in Northern Virginia, so we've gone more than once, and the food's never been anything special. I really don't understand the people who think Five Guys has such great burgers. For a chain burger, Famous Dave's is a whole lot better.
Womandingo at 12:48AM on 03/26/09
That's so weird @Womandingo cause I HATED the fries but loved the burger ....
Maybe Sir or Madame Currie will have to give us a taste test (0=
foodiegal at 1:39AM on 03/26/09
i like five guys. the burgers are good and i like the type of roll they use. the fries are good too. i think it's way better than fast food.
_greenbean at 9:30AM on 03/26/09
The only thing going for five guys is the novelty factor....that's it. Having said that, the burgers are just that...burgers.
asg749d at 6:22PM on 03/26/09
Their burgers are little meat pucks but the vast array of crap you can put on them are worth eating.
canne at 6:24PM on 03/26/09
Like everything else, they were a big hit when they first came on the scene, but people moved on to the next big thing and suddenly they lose their shine. I have no problem paying a little more for something that may not be perfect, but is wayyyy better than the stuff under the heat lamps up the street.
I don't get the fries, though. I just never associated those big "steak fries" with what I think is a good accompanyment to a burger. Only shoestring fries do it for me, but I think some 5 Guys do in fact serve something more like regular fries. Anyone know which ones in No VA do that?
chanterelle at 7:48PM on 03/26/09
Do you remember when "make-your-own-sundae" was big? Or am I just dating myself? Anyway, Five Guys is like a "make-your-own-burger" place. The burger itself is good but every time you go in you can try a different combo of condiments and have a different taste with every visit. Woo-Hoo! The fries are pretty tasty too. Here in Jersey they overfill the cup with fries and there are always "extras" hanging out in the bottom of the bag. I think they are worth a try or four.
thegoch at 8:15PM on 03/26/09
Soooo much written on this chain. I haven't tried it yet (new to our area as well) but I'm hearing good things about it. Fresh jalapenos, not pickled! Sounds pretty hot!
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2009/01/what_is_it_about_houston_and_b.php
lambowner at 10:55AM on 03/27/09
About a month ago, Mrs. Obama took about 25 staff members to a get-acquainted lunch at the Dupont Circle 5 Guys.
bcarter3 at 12:57PM on 03/27/09
It's like the In-and-Out of the Mid-Atlantic. Every one that I've been to serves the thin fries, fried in peanut oil. They don't get the fries in frozen either. There's always a sign in the restaurant that says where they got their potatoes from that day.
And the small fries size is more than enough for two people. They put a small cup in your bag, then scoop the fries into the bag. I think a large fry order would get you fewer fries, because the cup itself takes up more room!
jumpyfroggy at 1:02PM on 03/27/09
Who wants an over done burger and that is they only way they will prepare them? Is the quality of their meat so poor that they have to nuke their beef?
pksmash at 12:14AM on 03/28/09
Burgers are way above ave. and the fries are some of the best .The fries are double fried to order and they are plentiful . My fries are better because I fry them just once . However I don't feed thousands !
jfitz at 4:08AM on 03/29/09
Five Guys is very popular where I live. Their fries are out of this world and everyone loves them. I don't eat meat so I don't personally know what the burgers are like but all my friends rave about them as well.
vanillapudding99 at 8:53PM on 03/29/09
I managed a Five Guys for some time...the burger is 3.4 oz (give or or take) and it is loosely hand rolled and then grilled and topped with your selection of toppings. I decided to work with Five Guys because EVERYTHING is fresh, they hand wash and tear their lettuce, hand slice tomatoes, onions etc... They really care about their product and it hasn't changed since they opened their first store. The only thing I didn't like is that they serve a "kosher style" hot dog. It's not really kosher and I always thought it was false advertising to call is "kosher style", but I think you're really getting a pretty good deal when you eat there. They even fresh cut their fries and let me tell you it's hard work to cut 300lb plus of potatoes a day!
domesticdiva at 11:14PM on 03/29/09
It's the fries. Period.
zina1017 at 2:48PM on 03/30/09
i have to say, even though i live in new york where there are plenty of great burgers, i am drawn back to five guys over and over again. i like the variety of toppings and the fries, which you can get with a free side of mayo.
allot at 3:09PM on 03/30/09
I maybe be a freak or a food snob but I'm not crazy about five guys for either their burger or fries. Their burgers are becuase it seems pointless to brag about using fresh high quality ingredients and then they charboile it until it's grey. Gahhh. And there are too many fries.
Fortunatly there is a local steakhouse joint in my neighborhood called Ray's the Classics and they have incredible burgers that can be cooked just to medium.
missjess at 11:13AM on 04/03/09