I Have edited my original entry to include 4 places to rate: 5 Guys, In-N-Out, Ruby Tuesday, Tommy's Hamburgers on Rampart in Los Angeles...so here goes.
Ok...after all the hoopla....and how this was the best burger in the USA....I HAD TO TRY IT...and I did tonite.
Verdict: It's a great hamburger. Is it the best?...Depends on what you want out of a burger:
Pros:
1. LOTS OF MEAT. If you like a really beefy hamburger where the bun and extra stuff is a minor player....then THIS is the place for you.
2. Extras: Grilled onions, tomato, lettuce, jalapenos, fried mushrooms, etc. are all thrown on for no extra charge. This helped raise my rating from 4 to 5 stars
3. Reasonable price: Looked like a 1/4 pound patty for $3.09 and $2.29 for regular fries, good for an average appetite.
4. Fries. These fries stay crispy in the bag for awhile and the quantities are huge for the price. Not oversalted as must fries are. A large can feed 2 to 4 people.
5. Quantity, Value for $: Top shelf in value. Lots of food with good quality overall.
6. Good tasting meat. Grilled, fried correctly. good carmelization of outer patty meat surface.
Cons:
Buns: Tasted doughy and undercooked. Bun was squished in general....as were the buns in all of our party's burgers. Bun fell apart quickly.
How does it compare to In-N-Out. Tied but for different reasons.
In-N-Out: Overall the taste and presentation of the burgers are better. The buns are grilled and tasty. They don't fall apart. The balance of taste of the overall burger is better...Crispiness from the bun and lettuce....flavor from the grilled onions....coolness of tomato...the warmth from the burger. The meat patty is much smaller here....but it's only $1.50. 2 or 3 In-N-Outs = 1 5 guys in meat quantity.. Fries here fall apart fast. You need to eat them within 5 min after it comes off the fryer. Otherwise, take out fries are mushy
5 Guys: If you like beef, this is your place. If they grilled the buns to help them keep their shape better, that would put this place over the top. A soggy, limp bun...kept this burger from going off the chain.
PS: For completeness I have to add another entry here. The Ruby Tuesday in Linthicum, MD as well as most other Rubys...serve a really excellent burger. The meat is juicy and thick. Carmelized on the outside. The bun is very good and substantial. The fries are coated in seasoned flour to give it an added crunch....and it stays crispy for a long time. Ruby's in this ranking would be 5 stars as well. Plain burger alone approaches $10 with tax and tip...but it includes fries.
PPS: One of my original favorites and still is...but I dont live in the area to eat there more is Tommy's Hamburgers on Rampart Ave...in Los Angeles. This is an altogether different kind of hamburger. Much like In-N-Out in size and overall appeal..this is the consummate CHILI BURGER. The taste cannot be match by any other chili burger. This is like In-N-Out...the sum is greater than the parts. It JUST WORKS. Eating it with several yellow peppers is just divine. You have to eat here at least once in your life. There is a line at 3 am. Limos from Beverly Hills come here at all hours...and the drivers wait in line.
Ok now the hard part...how would I rate them?
1. In-N-Out. Always a line at all hours....the burgers with grilled onions is satisfying yet you dont feel stuffed ... there is just this intangible taste about the whole meal that is so appealing.
2. Tommy's Hamburgers. Best chili burger...prepared well like In-N-Out. If you order without chili...expect stares from the staff. Again...there is something intangible about the whole burger that makes this unique...and only at this store on Ramparts. This place has a line 24 hours a day. I passed by there once at 8 am...and there was a small line....geesch. But the line moves fast
3. Ruby Tuesday: Far underrated as a hamburger place. The meat is superb. The bun is toasted...the fries are seasoned and great.
4. 5 Guys: Great place if you are extremely hungry and don't want to pay restaurant prices. The best place to get filled up if you are a big eater and like lots of beef. Great basic fries.
All these places are 5 stars...but each for their own reasons. It all comes down to personal tastes....so your ranking could be quite different. read more