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May 28, 2008
Better Than In-N-Out? East Coast Burgers Come to LA
Photo of a Five Guys Burger by mrmatt via Flickr
Nancy Luna of the OC Register's fantastic food blog, Fast Food Maven (it's more than just fast food), took a field trip out of Orange County to the East Coast last year and while there, visited Five Guys Burgers to taste test the talked-about nosh that many compare to In-N-Out. However, her findings led her to say that they are actually more comparable to The Counter.
For the uninitiated, Five Guys opened in 1986 in Virginia and has since expanded the concept along the East Coast from Florida to New York. Along the way, the chain has earned rave reviews from fans who’ve compared its food and decor to Irvine-based In-N-Out Burger.Among the accolades: Five Guys’ is “rated” as a great bargain burger in the infamous Zagat Survey. The Washington Post has also referred to Five Guys as “the Willy Wonkas of burgercraft.” New York Magazine also named Five Guys one of the best “cheap eats” in and around the Big Apple.
She says the meat is just as tasty, but Five Guys is more customizable with choices of around a dozen toppings and sauces "from fried onions to A-1 sauce" (hence The Counter reference). But to the French fries, she gives the East Coast eatery a high-five: "the fries (fresh from Idaho and fried in peanut oil) are much more superior than INO’s potato chip-tasting French fries."
Phil Ratner, the former president of Marie Callender's, has the rights to open 30 locations in Southern California. At the moment, there is only plans for a second location in Cerritos set to open later this year.
Related Burger Posts on LAist
-- Photo Essay of food at The Counter in Santa Monica
-- Burger Wars: The Counter to open in Studio City, Sapphire to Close
-- New Organic Burger Chain to Open in West Hollywood
-- Burger Wars: Is Fatburger Better than In N' Out?
Photo by Five Guys Fries by jslander via Flickr
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they opened a five guys in my hometown of staunton, va two years ago. the bmi average has easily doubled since then...
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I lived in DC for 7 years before moving to LA. Five Guys is better than any burger I've had here. Better than In-N-Out, better than Fatburger (which is better than In-N-Out), better than Tommy's.
Don't eat there often, though. I think I can identify which artery is hardening as I eat.
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I heard about Five Guys a number of years ago and I'm excited to see it has made its way out here. It just needs to get closer to SFV.
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I went on a business trip to Florida and the folks there were RAVING about Five Guys. I told them that it wouldnt hold a candle to In-N-Out. They dared me to try it and then say the same thing...
They won. The burgers are similar to In-N-Out in that they are made fresh and they dont mess with heat lamps and all that shit. The difference is that they offer a little variety in their burgers and their fries are WAY better. I am not exaggerating. WAAAAAY better. This might not be a big deal to some people, but when burgers are this good, you have to split hairs somewhere.
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I grew up in LA and moved to DC a few years ago. Five Guys is great for a non-national, making a gazillion dollars a year and sharing .001 percent with the poor children chain, but In-N-Out will always be better.
If I could afford to, I might try opening an In-N-Out franchise in DC...
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WHOA! Five Guys in SoCal...I'm not that big on burgers but I do like Five Guys. I'm gonna have to make my way down to Carson for that. I moved here from Virginia last September and still maintain that Five Guys has the best fries. I don't care much for In-N-Out, actually. Never go.
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How can anyone compare the two? Five Guys is actually GOOD! I moved here from Virginia in September and I've never been much of a fan of In-N-Out. Five Guys has outstanding fries. And they always carry vinegar for them...yummy.
I definitely have to make my way down to Carson now.
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In-N-Out fries suck. There, I said it. The burgers are good, but I really hate their fries. Among other things, I think they don't cook them at a high enough temperature, so they end up soggy and flavorless.
My favorite burger chain is EZ Takeout, which is pretty much an exact clone of In-N-Out (double-double => double take, etc.) except that their food is significantly better. (They also have a bigger menu, which tends to vary significantly between locations... in Acton they have hotdogs on the menu (which I haven't seen anywhere else) and in Upland you can get some limited Mexican-style items. Oh, and the boysenberry shakes... yum.) .. too bad they only have a half dozen or so locations.
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Having lived in both locations, the In n'Out Burger wins for one simple reason: the toasted bun. Five Guys burgers come wrapped in foil because the bun is effectively non-existent; at its best it's a disintegrating-Wonder-bread level excuse to keep your hands separated from the meat and fixings. Granted, the fixings available at Five Guys are better, such as the A1 sauce or jalapeños, but In n'Out has Animal-style to counter that. In the end, having the Five Guys burger always fall apart isn't more trouble than it's worth, but the In n'Out delivers a better sandwich where the bread both supports and adds to the meal.
As for the debate about the fries, the Five Guys baseline potato is better, no doubt. The seasoned fries are among my favorites. But for all you In n'Out fry haters, I have three words for your next order: "Fries Well Done." The fries get griddle cooked after being deep fried and the golden tasty crispiness can be transcendent. Secret menu folks, learn it.
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those fries look damn good. But if I'm going to OC for fast food, I'm going to Portillo's!
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I went to the grand opening and had lunch with a friend of mine who is thinking about investing in a franchise and was also told that it was better than In N Out. I have to say we both enjoyed our lunch and felt it was different (I don't know about better) than In N Out. It was more like a burger you'd have at a BBQ. I'd probably compare it to Fatburger or Fudruckers. Love the choices, the fries are good but I'm not a fan of In N Out fries anyways. I didn't like the fact that they use foil and styrofoam. Will I eat there again? Yes, most definately yes.