Shake Shack vs In n Out vs Five Guys

[quikah]

In'n'Out is losing the value crown in SF Bay area (Mountain View to be more specific).

(equivalent sizes)
Double Double is $4.95
ShackeShack is $6.69
5Guys little cheeseburger is $7.59

I like shake shack, worth spending an extra $1.50 for IMO. Unfortunately, that is the furthest away from me, so I tend towards 5guys because I cannot eat a burger without fries, and In'n'Out fries are a crime against humanity. I hate the lack of choices at In'n'Out. I once tried to get one with mustard instead of spread and the cashier looked at me like I was insane. Only real complaint I have for 5guys (aside from price) they put the cheese on as a condiment rather than melting it on the burger as it cooks. That is just wrong. The fries are like mana from heaven, soooo good.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Shake Shack and In N Out are both great, don't see the hype for Five Guys at all though. If I wanted an expensive fast food burger the Kingburger from Fatburger is better. But even at the same price I'd take In N Out or Shake Shack over Five Guys.

 

[Starbuck1975]

In-n-Out > Shake Shack > Carl’s Jr. > Burger King > microwave burger > Five Guys

 

[sactoking]

I mean there's gotta be a reason why the In n Out here is so busy that they had to change traffic patterns in the parking lot to handle the drive through traffic while the Five Guys in the same shopping center closed after a couple of years and is now a credit union or insurance office or something.

Edited to add: Shake Shack doesn't have a location within a 5 hour drive of me so they lose by default.

 

[K1052]

I am without question going to the Shake Shack if these are my options. In n Out is choice #2 but their fires are only tolerable well done.

 

[Thump553]

I've only been to Shake Shack once. It was fine, perhaps a bit over-rated but then again I'm the product of many generations of New Englanders so it is almost impossible not to be cheap.

At a table near us was a large family group, with gramps apparently treating and at least a half dozen kids, nearly all of which barely nibbled at their food. I hope gramps enjoyed blowing a couple hundred dollars.

 

[MrSquished]

I am without question going to the Shake Shack if these are my options. In n Out is choice #2 but their fires are only tolerable well done.

Shake Shack is my #1 over all those after immediately after trying it the first, second and third time, that was back at the first location in Madison Square Park when it was the only location - and then after they started opening more it was still by far #1 - though I have to say I feel maybe something has lost a bit of quality in the last few years.

 

[QueBert]

Gas in So Cal was inching up to $6.50 a gallon last month, and both lines at the In N Out I passed were 2x as long as the gas lines at Costco. That's really saying something. I counted 47 cars waiting to get In N Out.

 

[ultimatebob]

The Five Guys is sooo expensive in my area now. A burger, fries, and a milkshake can easily cost more than $20.

Once you hit that price range, there are any number of local restaurants in my area that can make a custom-ordered burger to your liking. I can probably even get a beer or two with my burger for the same price.

 

[QueBert]

The Five Guys is sooo expensive in my area now. A burger, fries, and a milkshake can easily cost more than $20.

Once you hit that price range, there are any number of local restaurants in my area that can make a custom-ordered burger to your liking. I can probably even get a beer or two with my burger for the same price.

I only went to Five Guys once, and it was ages ago. But I remember 2 things, it cost even more than some sit-down places. And even with how much it cost, when we asked for water we were told we had to BUY IT. It was bottled water, which is nice I suppose, but is this is standard at all locations? I guess even with charging 3x what most fast food places charge they still can't afford to give out water like every other fast food place I've ever been to. Meanwhile, you can go to JiTB and buy $1.49 tacos and get a free water if you ask.

 

[ponyo]

I only went to Five Guys once, and it was ages ago. But I remember 2 things, it cost even more than some sit-down places. And even with how much it cost, when we asked for water we were told we had to BUY IT. It was bottled water, which is nice I suppose, but is this is standard at all locations? I guess even with charging 3x what most fast food places charge they still can't afford to give out water like every other fast food place I've ever been to. Meanwhile, you can go to JiTB and buy $1.49 tacos and get a free water if you ask.

Five Guys is expensive. It's like $10.50 or so for cheeseburger. But I think it's worth it because I love the toppings there. I like fully involved/all the way burgers. And 5 guys patties are bigger than Shake Shack and seasoned better. And they give you 2 slices of American cheese with 2 beef patties.

Fountain water is free at both Five Guys and Shake Shack. Both places charge for bottled water. But all the Five Guys I've been in have the Coca Cola Freestyle machine and there's selection of water there. It's free. Just need to ask for a water cup. Shake Shack location near me doesn't have any drink machines customers can use but they have tap water by the condiment station along with water cups. I stopped drinking soda couple years ago so I always get free water to drink when I eat out.

 

[Captante]

Shake Shack is my #1 over all those after immediately after trying it the first, second and third time, that was back at the first location in Madison Square Park when it was the only location - and then after they started opening more it was still by far #1 - though I have to say I feel maybe something has lost a bit of quality in the last few years.

Try the one in downtown New Haven... lets just say if that was your first Shake-Shack experience I doubt you would ever have been back! (the original one in NYC is 10x better IMO)