Been going out of my way recently to hit Shake Shack. There's something about their Smoke Shack Burger and those delicious cherry peppers along with the bacon & their sauce (I add onion too) that just hits the spot for me.

Based on burgers only, my top three - in order - would be:

1. Shake Shack
2. In 'n Out
3. Five Guys

Shout outs to Johnny Rockets for their Chocolate Malteds, and you won't be able convince that McDonald's doesn't have the best fries when you hit them just right. Other places may have a better fry on a consistent basis, but when a McDonald's french fry is in the zone, there's none better.

What do you like? And why?

:-)
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I'm a fan of In 'n Out....maybe it's because I only get them when I go to Cali, but their quality reminds me of Wendys when they first opened up and gave a sh!t.

Besides that there is no other chain I get burgers from. Lots of good independant burger joints in Chicagoland though.
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I'm a fan of Steak 'N Shake...just love the old school feel of the place and really enjoy the food. And the shakes ain't bad either.
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Never ever was an In 'n Out fan to be honest.

Five Guys for local but there are a lot of places here that I've never been to that people swear by Slater's 50/50 and Hodadies to name two.
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There's one around here called Juicy Burger. They use really good sirloin for their burgers and they're mostly build your own.
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My top two are local places:
1) Love Shack. Yes, that's the name. It's a small place about a mile from my house. Limited hours and days of operation. Run by a husband and wife who do all the cooking. The burgers are fantastic; they take great pride in them and it shows. My favorite has caramelized onions, grilled mushrooms, and blue cheese on it. It is a sublime burger.

2) Mugshots. A local place that started in Hattiesburg, Mississippi then grew to have franchises throughout the state and in Alabama. Has won awards for best burger in the state every year for pretty much the last decade. Just flat-out great burgers. Their wings are great too, especially with the Carolina honey-mustard sauce.

3) Whataburger. When it comes to a fast-food burger, it's hard to beat Whataburger.

Honorable mention: McD's Quarter Pounder w/cheese and a side of hot and salty fries. Ol' reliable. Toss in a large Sprite and you have what was in my youth my hangover cure. :-)
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My favorite is Beinlichs outside of Chicago. They make a very tender patty, not too thick or thin. They only allow grilled onions and cheese to be ordered on the burger... they don't allow salads. It's a lodge type atmosphere with the short menu posted on the wall.

I do a version of theirs. Fresh ground chuck ensures plenty of oozing fat. Slow smoking adds more goodness. Searing on the cast iron over blazing coals give a great crust. The meat is frozen before grinding, and spread out before seasoning and forming patties. A good burger should not be over compacted
Punt

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My favorite burger joint isn't anymore. As a fat prepubescent in the early/mid '60s my dear departed mother used to take me to the lunch counter at G.C. Murphy's a few Saturdays a month. I can still taste those big grilled burgers today, crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle. Perfectly balanced with lettuce, tomato, bacon, and cheese, all on a bun always as fresh as the ground round . . . man, they were great, each and every time.

There's no more Murphy's, there's no more Mom, and there's damn few lunch counters left in this world also. I'd give my left one for one more of those Saturdays.
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1) le tub Fort Lauderdale - burger and key lime pie
2) aux cheval in Chicago - burger and pepper bacon
3) matts bar in Minneapolis - burger and juicy Lucy
4) anchor bar in superior Wisconsin - burger and home cut fries but the atmosphere is awesome
5) Vj's drive inn Winnipeg Canada - burger and hotdogs and homemade double Greek fries
6) dairy whip in Winnipeg Canada - burger or hot dog but the chili fries shoestring style
8) Charlies idrive (bar seats only and on kids menu)
9) whataburger
10) in and out
11) Freddy's
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I'm in the minority here, so don't go too hard on me: Burger King. Yeah, the whopper does it for me, better than anywhere else... though, we don't have the same selection in Canada as you 'muricans.
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Big chains: In-and-Out and Five Guys
PNW: Mcmenamins (a brewpub chain)
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Big chains: Smashburger & Habit Burger
Local: Callahan's and Slaters 50/50 (half beef - half bacon)
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1. Mugshots
2. Whataburger
3. Five Guys
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Love Me Some Mugshots!:-)
http://www.mugshotsgrillandbar.com
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:-)

I usually get a burger and take an order of wings home.
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Big chains: Smashburger. Love the bacon and blue.

Local joint: Mercury Burger Bar. Some creative combinations, with a side of tater tot poutine. Worth killing my diet for once in a while.
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Local place, Plainfield Station. Was a gas & service station built in the 1930's for a town that no longer exists (Plainfield). Somewhere along the way it turned into the complete dive that it is today. Great sloppy burgers, cold beer often short poured because they won't dump the foam, nutty owner, trashy old barmaids, at least a 35% chance you are going to run into someone you know there, torn barstools, slightly dilapidated building, **** adorning most every spot on the walls and ceiling, neons and posters from beers they don't even sell, and a huge back patio where you can smoke (a rarity here in CA). Someone once published a review and called it "The rural version of Cheers". Everything that goes together to make a dive bar & grill great.


As for chains, they are all about the same to me. Krush and Habit are a bit better, followed by In-N-Out and Five Guys.


PS: I miss the old Hamptons on Highland. :-) Nothing really compared to that place, something so unique about it.
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Local - Urban Butcher, they cure their own meats and make their burgers using dry aged steak. It's a $20 burger after you add the house cured bacon and cheese, but it is the best burger I have ever had.

Chains:
Shake Shack
Whataburger
BurgerFi
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for chains I like smash burger and Wahlburgers,
My favorite is Mr. Bartley's Burgers in Harvard square Cambridge,
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Strictly a west coast operation but I've been chomping down on these since the early 70's. Amazingly I'm still alive. Mostly.

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