Steak n Shake is the best!

They have the best shakes...true. But In n out is what a hamburger's all about.

During the past 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States. In 2008, only one state (Colorado) had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-two states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; six of these states (Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia ) had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 30%.

What a surprise that these businesses are doing so well!! Clog those arteries America and then pass a health care bill that makes all the taxpayers pay for the irresponsible that eats this gross crap including the POTUS. Michelle Obama thanks you for glorifying it MSNBC and wants to know if you will donate to her Campaign against childhood obesity. Whataburger just GROSS!!!

Not to mention meat that is shot up with bovine growth hormone and antibiotics.

I like Whataburger...

they make you want to throw rocks at McDonalds, Wendys, and Burger King...

With out a doubt "In N Out" is over rated Tommys is the best

IT'S NOT ICE CREAM - IT'S CUSTARD.

Custard is way better than ice cream. Milwaukee, WI is sort of the home for it. I go to Culver's (the only chain mentioned that exists in Wisconsin, to any degree) but the "one-off" local places do it even better. Kopp's, Leon's or Gillie's all have better custard and Kopp's is about the best burger there is...

Yes, "it's the cosmic fusion of meat and bun"... I had some the other day. They are just as you remember them.

I think inconsistancy is the biggest issue with Five Guys, but the one by my house (I live in west Houston) is amazing and one of the better burgers I've found in town. My husband and I go once a week. It's spotless, the food is consistantly great (juicy burgers and fresh ingrediants), and even the bathrooms are always clean. I'll admit I'm not too crazy about the fries - but that's not enough to keep me from going back. We've been to another Five Guys on the other side of town and it definitely wasn't anything to write home about. And for the record, I have above average intelligence!

I have to agree, we've gone to 5 Guy's here and there with friends. I've never been impressed. Over priced for a very greasy burger and burnt fries. I'd get a better burger nearly anywhere else. I do like the peanuts though :-)

Count me in, the food is overpriced and just average.

Exactly right. 5 Guys=greasy, overpriced. I pity the person above who couldn't get napkins. You need tons of napkins at 5 Guys just for the grease.

You are right my friend Friendly's does have a good burger. I might suggest you try a burger at Dennys. I was surprized at how good they were.

Didn't know we had Krystal Burgers in NC...I'm guessing this must've been along an interstate route like I95 or I85, cause there's not a lot of KB's here. Had some of those tiny burgers about 30 years ago in Georgia. Like you, I wasn't overly impressed.

Steak N' Shake is now in several locations in Piedmont (central) part of NC. We stop at one every time we have the opportunity. One of our very favorites. We also visit several in Indianapolis when we're at the '500.

In small towns across this part of eastern NC, Andy's is a regional chain. Burgers and 'dogs are a given, but their cheesesteak is their signature. Gotta love a place where I can get a burger with southern chili sauce, mustard, onions, and slaw! That's how we do it here.

TVtooner: I found a Krystal's in Asheville, North Carolina, near the Asheville Mall (if you are familiar with western North Carolina). Caught me by suprise when I past it, so I did a quick turn around, and had an unexpected lunch there. Again, a southern version of White Castle. Also mentioned farther down this thread Sonic. Sonic has good burgers and food as well. Nice touch on serving tater tots and the roller skating car hop service. Sonic just recently opened a restaurant not too far from where I live. It's been open for about 2 months now, and unless you go on a weekday, the stalls are packed with cars on the weekends.

PelicanMan: It's been ages since I've had any Denny's food. the ones where I live here closed up shop many years ago. Someone mentioned farther down the thread Fuddruckers. They went out of business, as far as I know. Only went there once or twice, from what I remember, their burgers were pretty good too.

Andrew, Agreed that Steak and Shake and Friendly's should have been included. Krystal and White Castle are interchangeable, and both are really good. Since WC was first, it's likely that Krystal was a knock-off, a very tasty knock-off. I don't understand why Fatburger made the list, because Red Robin beats them hands down and I don't consider RR to be anything other than average. My favorite, though, has to be Tasty Freez. Their burgers are just dripping with grease and wonderfully fresh toppings. Combined with a chocolate malted shake, it can't be beat. That said, it's been 30 years since I've had one, so it's possible they aren't as good as I remember. The big problem with most of the newer chains is that they are using meat which is too lean. Give me that good fat any day of the week.

I'm all for Friendly's being on the list. They have a pretty good burger, and its' consistant, not bad then great, just pretty good everytime. Friendly's would also be on my list because I liked that my father would take me there for burgers and ice cream and I take my son :-)

My wife usually orders "protein style" at In N Out. The "secret" menu is great. My stepson always used to get 4x4's (and then he couldn't eat for the rest of the day).

Burgerlover, check your facts before you jump on someone else about checking theirs. I grew up in southern Cal and live in SD now. Been eating In-n-Out all my life and they do, indeed, have pickles. They'll ask you if you want raw or grilled onions (I suggest asking for "whole grilled", which is an entire cross-section slice of an onion). They don't normally put pickles on their burgers, but you can ask for them. "Animal style" means you are basically bundling toppings...the patty is coated in mustard (which also doesn't come standard) before it is cooked and they add pickles and don't ask whether you want grilled or raw onions, they just give them to you grilled for animal style. Google In-n-out Secret Menu...

Red Robin used to have bigger burgers?! I feel so betrayed.

I have lived all over the country and have sampled most of the ones listed, I will go out of my way to get a Frisch's Big Boy, still the best tasting even though the burger is a bit skimpy, think it's the sauce. There is also something about In' Out that keeps us going there as well. Loved Whattaburger while in Texas, nothing like White Castles at three in the morning after the bars close.

SONIC! Oh damn, I forgot to mention the Sonic. Yeah, I go there when I can, but I do miss the "Thousand Island Burger". Wish they'd bring that back. My idea of dessert is a Lemon-berry Creme Slush.

Every Christmas, my family gives me another loaded Sonic gift card.

Aren't Checkers and Rallys the same thing? I do like their fries.

Where? Never heard of them in KC.

I ate at Vista in Manhattan two weeks ago. It was excellent

Sonic beats What a Burger hands down and they are less expansive. There is nothing like sitting in your car on a summer evening and downing a Sonic burger, chilli cheese fries and a cherry lime coke! with your friends.

And when I drive back home, I'm still sucking down on my Lemon-berry creme slush.

Still waiting here in eastern NC for them to bring back that Thousand Island burger.

TVTooner: I think this new Sonic that opened near me has the Thousand Island Burger. And because I live near Philly, this Sonic has a Philly Cheesestak with sauteed onions and onion rings on the side. Come to think of it, across the street from the Sonic, a Five Guys opened up around the same time. Talk about burger wars.

I found Cook-Out while on vacation in Eden, NC. And if they had existed way back then, I think Adam and Eve would have tried harder to avoid eviction. Great tasting burgers.

Cook Out (based in Greensboro, NC and always fresh, never frozen) is far and away the best fast-food burger anywhere! Cheeseburger platter with o-rings and a chocolate shake...man!

Thank you! I was thinking the same thing. Cook Out is great and I'm lucky to have one very close to where I work (much to the detriment of my waist line). They offer a very diverse menu (chicken strips, pulled pork barbecue, etc.) and unlike many places that offer more than one type of food, everythng I've tried there has been great. Great shakes, too! Their "tray" deals (what most places would call a combo) are a good bargain.

Five Guys is pretty good, especially their fries, but I think it's weird that they don't have shakes. I got burned out on them back when I was doing mystery shopping and ate there up to twice a week sometimes! :P Now that I have discovered Cook Out, I won't bother with Five Guys.

I used to live in Texas and I miss Whataburger.

I was wondering if anyone was going to mention Fuddruckers.. It's a 1.5 hour drive to the nearest one, but worth it for me.

Fuddruckers is very good, but they're in bankruptcy. Franchise locations are still open, but getting hard to find. See http://fuddruckersrestructures.com/

Fuddruckers is awesomeand so is Cheeseburger Cheeseburger. whey are they not on the list I have never heard of white Castle. In and Out has the worst fries. Krystal is white trash. What-a-burger is good but very very greasy, but i doo like the ketchup diapers that NO ONE HAS. Five guy's is the same as In and Out.

Aye Fuddruckers, nothing like over paying for a burger that you have to fix up yourself.