Does the world really need another burger joint? Probably not — but this one breathes some new life into the genre. The first Five Guys was opened in 1986 in suburban Washington, D.C. by Janie and Jerry Murrell (the “five guys” in question are their sons) with a very simple concept: handmade burgers served with a long list of (gratis) toppings, and fresh-cut, never-frozen French fries. A little star power helped: President Obama is a huge fan, and has been known to show up to get a sack of burgers for his staff.
Don't miss: The thin, mouthwateringly greasy Five Guys burgers are habit-forming, but the grilled cheese is far too good to be left to vegetarians (at least partly because the chain owns its own bakeries, and the buns are all homemade).
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Comments
Five Guys is overrated. Good hangover food and that's about it. The cajun fries are only good because of the seasoning...the fries themselves have a salty texture that isn't appealing, and the burgers are gross looking and hard to eat. Don't understand the hype...Wendy's is better!
I've had plenty of chances to eat here, but I've passed every time -- I refuse to eat meat cooked to the consistency of shoe leather.
Five Guys is disgusting. Last time I went to one, in NJ, I got sick. The fries at 5 Guys are never crisp, always soggy and greasy, even if they are hot out of the fryer. A double cheese at Wendy's is better and a lot cheaper and won't make you ill.
Five guys is gross. Buns are soggy and completely tasteless!
Smash Burger puts this place to shame.
Overcooked, underseasoned, far too greasy.
No burger joint that takes pride in cooking burgers to the consistency of hockey pucks should be on anyone's must-see list. It's on my must-avoid list. When I first walked into my local FG, they had a huge sign over the counter that said they PROUDLY served nothing but well-done burgers. Great: Cook out all the flavor, load it up with healthy carcinogens. Thank you; no. Where the local FG is, I can walk right next door and get a much better burger cooked exactly how I want it -- at my local Bonefish Grill. Dig it: A seafood joint makes a burger that puts FG completely to shame.
I've really wanted to like this place, but after about four visits I simply can't. Nothing I've eaten there has risen above the level of mediocre-minus (that's about a grade of C). Burgers are too greasy and rather bland. Fries are too salty and way too sloppy-greasy. For this you have to stand around a long time waiting. If I want a quick snack I'd just as soon go to Wendy's- similar quality, lower price, quicker service.
The writer of this article should start reading the "Eat This" "Not That" series of books! These restaurants have high saturated fat ingredients on their menus!
Coincidentally, "Men's Health" online magazine just rated the WORST "sides" at popular restaurants. The author of the "Eat This, Not That" series of books---a very down to earth way of looking at food, no bizarre diets involved---points out that overall "the Cheesecake Factory" has almost nothing healthy on its' menu; but the number 1 worst side item was "Five Guys" french fries which are loaded w/ fat, grease, saturated fat, salt....
I also am not sure about the fad for "sea salt" on fries....to your body salt is salt, and notorious for raising blood pressure, and therefore being dangerous to both the heart and the kidneys. (From an RN)
Used to LOVE them,the last few times I ate there I couldnt find the patty!
Forget 5 Guy's go treat yourself to an In-N-Out :) Yummy....
There are no In-N-Out locations on the East Coast dumbass
When Five Guys had a couple of locations (Old Town, Arlington) they were simply top notch - couldn't be beat. At least nowhere in this area. Even though they haven't changed the basic process their taste, quality and value has gone down as the number of locations has gone up. I'll go in in a pinch but thats about it. Darn Shame. Man I miss my trips to the West Coast for In-N-Out.
Five Guys is so overrated. The burgers are okay, but tiny for the price and always charred. The buns are flimsy and are so sodden with grease that they become paper-thin mush. But nothing, absolutely nothing, could ever be worse than Five Guys fries. They are beyond horrible. I'm a fry junkie, and I have never experienced anything less appealing than the Five Guys fry. They taste like oily ashes. I'd rather eat dirt.
cajun fries for the win...rookie
A fry-off... sounds like a good idea. If we were to do a piece on the three best and worst fast food fries who should we include?
I nominate In-N-Out's fries for worst...
What nominations would you submit for both categories?
Five Guys was popular in the DC area long before Obama was elected
Way overpriced for the quality. Sure the toppings are free, mountains of them piled onto two paper thin beef patties, making your burger 6" thick with almost no meat. A 99 cent double cheeseburger at McDonald's or Wendy's is a better value and tastes better.
Way overhyped for what you get. The decor is strictly self congratulating, made up mostly of prints of praising reviews, and it gets really old really quickly.
Nope O'Charley's has a better burger. And the 5 guys fries are terrible. Blech.
Not even if they were giving the food away for free!
Burger was ok; I wasn't wowed. More wowed by how expensive this place is. Burgers not worth the price, but I definitely stop here for my fry fix.
5 guys is just a poor copy of In and Out Burger with double the price
In n Out loses because they don't have BACON
No way! I used to live in DC, and now I've moved to Los Angeles. In N Out is great, but Five Guys edges it out.
Wait until Gino's comes back! They are far better than 5 guys and McDonald's plus they now have burgers, chicken, salads, and milkshakes!! Good stuff
These are my favorite burgers. I just wish we had 'em where I live so I could have them more than once a year when I travel.
Those of us with heart ailments dont need the salt or grease in both the burgers (which admittedly are good) and the fries (also good to tthe taste)
MUCH TOO GREASY TO BE HEALTHY !
AFTER 2 VISITS IN GA and 2 in FL over the past year, we have decided
THIS CHAIN IS GREASING THE WAY TO HEART ATTACKS!
Smash Burger is way better!!
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