This is my review of my first 5Guys visit in San Marcos, California. The atmosphere in Orange may be better, but the food has got to be the same ... or they have even worse quality control issues than even a disgruntled customer could imagine.
I like burgers, heard the buzz ... so I thought I'd give it a shot.
FWIW, I love In 'n Out. Simply the best fast food burger chain.
The only good thing I can say about 5Guys is that the burger itself was pretty good ... close to backyard hot of the grill with some nice 'extras.'
Atmosphere: A little bit of the red and white checkerboard tiles and motif a la In n' Out. But with some huge differences. Totally chaotic seating patterns. Waiting customers rearends in your face when you sat at the table. Those new fake wood metal chairs with a seat that is slanted forward so you can't wait to get up and leave ... if gravity doesn't push you to the floor first. Cheesy awards posters all over the wall from some podunk places or local throwaway newspapers you never heard of. Staff constantly wading in and out of the clumps of waiting customers trying to sweep up the peanut shells. To put it simply, I've been in some great hole in the walls with food worth it ... but for a new operation, jazzed up fast food store this was the worst ergonomic, people moving operation I've ever encountered. Maybe other stores are different, but this was a disaster. And I forgot to mention the crowding of the tables with tall tables interspersed between the regular ones and people politely trying to turn sideways and sidle between them to avoid bumping into others.
Food: The cost was ridiculous. A cheeseburger for $5.79. A small order of fries for $2.49. Yes, they fill up the half pint container with the fries and then dump more in the bag all over your order. I guess that is to make it 'generous.' In fact it is shortly a greasy mess with the bag sitting in the middle of your table while the expanding grease spots start oozing through your 'center piece.' The fries themselves, when still hot, were at very best, OK. Nothing special, very similar to In 'n Out's, but cut a little thicker with some weird browning on the outside. They would win no contests ... despite having a sign up stating what state and farm these 'fresh' spuds were from. Were I that farmer, I'm not sure I'd want the publicity.
If your a glutton and you want to pound food, you might like this place. But if your an average consumer who likes decent or better food at reasonable prices ... don't waste your time.
PS I just joined Yelp to write this review because I was so repelled by my experience at this restaurant.
And, full disclosure, while I worked in the restaurant business for over 10 years total ... I have not done so in over 30 years and I have no financial interest in any restaurant or fast food chain.
In n' Out has absolutely nothing to worry about. I'd buy that stock, except it is a closely held private company with no public offerings. I know, because I asked.
On the other hand, were In n' Out to creep back East to where ever these 5 Guys come from we won't have to worry about anyone seeing those cheesy awards posters on their walls. read more