Five Guys Burgers & Fries

[strat1117]

Apparently they've been around for quite a while, but I was just introduced to this wondrous attraction. The burgers are delicious and BIG (double is the norm; a single is called a "little"), with all the trimmings you could reasonably want. And then there are the French Fries -- well the French Fries are just spectacular. Fresh cut from what appear to be their own personally grown potatoes (the sacks are all over the place, and there is a whiteboard at the counter to let you know where the potatoes they are frying up that day were grown). Yes, it's fast food, but it is so much better than anything the big chains offer that you really have to try it if there is one near you (assuming, of course, that you like this sort of thing). I sure do.

Enjoy!

EDIT [as suggested by Mark the Wise]: YMMV

 

[texasPI]

Neil, i agree. I just was introduced to them myself. They're great!

 

[ProphetNoir]

Oh Yeah!!!!
They came to New York a couple of years ago shortly after I moved here from DC.
In DC they are legendary. Big, greasy, delicious!

 

[jazzman]

Perfect beach food.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Totally agree. 5 Guys is great. All other fast-food burger joints do not exist for me now that I have savored a 5 Guys burger. And yes, the fries are that good x1000.

 

[homebrewer]

They are excellent burgers, but I'm sad to say that they are a mere shadow of the former Five Guys.... I grew up eating at the original 5 locations in northern VA, and fondly remember the insanity of their burgers. These places were decidedly dives, usually in a seedy part of the industrial parks. Peanut shells on the floor, loud music, and a line always out the door. The buns were made by a small, secret local bakery, and the burgers weren't so much patties, as they were globs of ground beef held together by the cheese.

That being said, they are still the best around and are worth going just for the obscene amount of fries they throw into the bag when you order a large. Long live the 5 Guys!

 

[kap49]

I'm originally from the DC area and have been eating at Five Guys in VA and later in MD, for more years than is probably good for me. Absolutely great food.

 

[ProphetNoir]

I'm originally from the DC area and have been eating at Five Guys in VA and later in MD, for more years than is probably good for me. Absolutely great food.

Anything this good just CAN'T be good for you.

 

[Cmaster03]

According to my wife, they are near us in Raleigh and she likes their burgers. Looks like some 5 Guys is in my future.

 

[the beav]

We just got one a few weeks ago. I like the burgers, but I find the decor a bit on the sterile and tacky side. At least at our location, the only decor on the walls are posters announcing "Voted best burger in Washington DC, 2007" or something like that, like I'd really care. The self promotion is a little too much for me.

 

[SpyvSpy]

Best burgers IMO. Got one 2 minutes from my house.

 

[NightLad]

Hm... must be an American franchise because I've never heard of them.

However, I was recently introduced to M&M Meats vegitarian burgers... AMAZING! Even my meat-obsessed friends love them. So good, and no fatty/greasy residue. Try them out if you are up for something new.

 

[Lynchmeister]

The hamburger is quite possibly the world's greatest food. Ok, I take that back...this isn't up for debate...the burger is the world's greatest food.

 

[rickboone1]

I went there once. Worst burger I have ever had in my entire life. Service was non-existent. I'd written it off for good until I keep hearing everyone else rave about it. My Aunt included. She lives alone, 5 guys feed her. I've decided to give it one more try. One day. But only one more try. I mean, if it's good for Obama...it's got to be good, right?

 

[strat1117]

We just got one a few weeks ago. I like the burgers, but I find the decor a bit on the sterile and tacky side. At least at our location, the only decor on the walls are posters announcing "Voted best burger in Washington DC, 2007" or something like that, like I'd really care. The self promotion is a little too much for me.

I went there once. Worst burger I have ever had in my entire life. Service was non-existent. I'd written it off for good until I keep hearing everyone else rave about it. My Aunt included. She lives alone, 5 guys feed her. I've decided to give it one more try. One day. But only one more try. I mean, if it's good for Obama...it's got to be good, right?

It's definitely not a place to go for decor or service -- it's a fast food joint, for Pete's sake -- but the burgers are great and the fries are fantastic. I find it hard to believe it was the "Worst burger you ever had in your life," unless you've never eaten fast food at the big chains or something was wrong with the burger you got. I guess one never knows, do one?

 

[rickboone1]

It's definitely not a place to go for decor or service -- it's a fast food joint, for Pete's sake -- but the burgers are great and the fries are fantastic. I find it hard to believe it was the "Worst burger you ever had in your life," unless you've never eaten fast food at the big chains or something was wrong with the burger you got. I guess one never knows, do one?

I'm going to respectfully disagree. It is my opinion that there is NEVER an excuse for poor service. No matter what industry you work, service should be compromised or weakened.

 

[dwestenk]

I went there once. Worst burger I have ever had in my entire life. Service was non-existent.

Went to one in Indianapolis and this was my experience exactly. A long wait, a bad burger, tasteless fries, and prices much too high! Never again.

 

[gone down south]

Every store I've been in has the same decor, a bunch of old reviews and newspaper articles from when they started out in DC and NoVa. Kind of like Subway's subway map wallpaper.

I would give them a second and third chance. Their burgers may not match up to a gourmet kobe slider, say, but for fast food greasy deliciousness there's none better. Maybe the further you get from the mid-Atlantic base the worse they get?

 

[Abdiel]

I have a five guys near me in SC and one of the best burgers and fries out there.

 

[strat1117]

I'm going to respectfully disagree. It is my opinion that there is NEVER an excuse for poor service. No matter what industry you work, service should be compromised or weakened.

I don't disagree with you at all. In the one near my house, the service was fine -- they took my order, gave me my food after a relatively short wait, and got everything right, which is all I expected. I didn't mean to imply that you should put up with service that is actually bad, just that you shouldn't expect any more personal service than you get in a normal fast food joint.

Went to one in Indianapolis and this was my experience exactly. A long wait, a bad burger, tasteless fries, and prices much too high! Never again.

I suppose each store has its own operators, for better or worse. This was not my experience at all, and the prices weren't a heck of a lot higher than Burger King. Weird, huh?