13 Fast Food Chains With the Best Burgers, Ranked

Most people love a good burger. Making one takes a lot of time, so going out to grab one feels much easier.

The only problem with going out to get a burger is figuring out where to go and get it.

Where’s the best fast-food chain to get one? We’ve compiled a ranked list based on reviews and first-hand experience to answer just that.

Carl’s Jr. (4.5/10)

Carl’s Jr. held a strong title for a long time, but they’ve taken serious flack since 2019. Not much has changed as customers claim the restaurant has little personality and greasy burgers.

While many still enjoy going there, the lack of consistency leaves many customers dissatisfied. Thanks to the combination of complaints and low reviews, Carl’s Jr. gets the lowest score at a mere 4.5.

Shake Shack (6/10)

The Shake Shack burger gets more clout than you might expect. Though not many professionals have reviewed their burgers recently, they have a massive advantage over most fast-food restaurants thanks to their Goldbelly kit. The kit allows you to make the burger from the comfort of your own home without the struggle of making your own patties or even cutting up vegetables.

While the advantages are unique, we can’t exceed a 6 due to a lack of up-to-date information. There isn’t a single positive reputable review of the business in the last 5 years.

Burger King (6.5/10)

A review by a Burger King chef claims that the fast food chain uses good fresh foods. Such a positive review gives them a thumbs up, but we’re here to judge the burger.

While we couldn’t find any recent professional reviews, the restaurant’s chicken burgers were met with moderate satisfaction. Burger King’s burgers tend to be tasty and juicy, but there isn’t anything special to bring the score up. Thus, we’ll leave this one with a solid 6.5.

Wendy’s (7/10)

One of the most popular options at Wendy’s is the Baconator. The ratio of meat included when comparing the price far outweighs the typical location.

However, the Baconator doesn’t hold a candle to other more balanced options. Many people find it too heavy compared to a typical ‘salad’ topped burger. Still, the lovely beefy flavors and balance coming from the sauce make it a popular choice. We’ll give Wendy’s a solid 7.

Five Guys (7.5)

Five Guys gained a reputation for having healthier burger options that lack the usual preservatives. The downside to their burgers involves a decided amount of grease than the average burger.

The burger still tastes very good as long as you eat it within a short amount of time. The vegetables are fresh, and the patties are well-seasoned. The balance of health as a pro and too much grease as a con leaves Five Guys with a 7.5.

Sonic (8.5/10)

Sonic boasts fresh ingredients, which allows the burger to stay fresh longer. For example, the tomato doesn’t bleed out juices, soaking the bun in the first five minutes.

The price of the burger also falls under a reasonable level, and the amount and quality of meat exceeds most fast-food restaurants. The combination of fresh ingredients and a well-cooked patty makes the burger a huge seller. Overall, Sonic gets an 8.5.

McDonald’s (8.5/10)

The most recent review of a McDonald’s burger involves the Double Big Mac. Overall, the burger got a positive reaction. The claims included an excellent meat-to-sausage ratio and a good size to satisfy the average customer.

If anything came back negatively, it would be the price. The patties are delicious and that secret Big Mac sauce is to die for. Based on these findings, we’re giving McDonald’s an 8.5.

Hardee’s (8.5/10)

Hardee’s appeared on the map in 1960 and has undergone many changes since then. They’re known for very beefy burgers that won’t disappoint even the hungriest customer.

The business changed hands once or twice and merged with Imasco Ltd. in 1981. The burger stands strong with a juicy patty and fresh salad toppings. The only notable complaint indicates the buns aren’t toasted, making it feel a bit soft for such a big burger. Still, it remains popular enough to land an 8.5.

Whataburger (9/10)

You’d be surprised how many Americans never heard of Whataburger, yet the Texans will swear by it. They utilize some unique burger options that elevate the primary burger flavors.

We gave these guys a 9 simply because their popularity seems lower due to their lack of presence in other parts of the U.S. Those Americans with the localized luxury of trying Whataburger love the generous amount of sauce and the fact that the patties are always moist and flavorful.

In-N-Out (9/10)

The primary form of clout that In-N-Out gained came from Gordon Ramsay, who claims he modeled one of his own burgers after it. Other reviews state the burger brings juiciness, heartiness, and balanced flavors to the mix.

Thanks to the abundance of information and the approval stamp of Gordon Ramsay, we gave this one a 9.5. The main pros involve good, hand-sized burgers with plenty of flavor options as well as good levels of meat and cheese.

White Castle (9.5/10)

The basic White Castle slide features on Time’s list of influential burgers as the most influential burger in the U.S. The iconic slider’s age came over a century, turning 100 years old in 2021.

White Castle also boasts some interesting cheeseburgers and other options. The main concern about their burgers involves the smaller side compared to most other fast-food chains. However, the logical solution most customers exercise is to try two burgers instead of one. Overall, we give these legends a 9.5, thanks to incredibly positive reviews and consistent quality.

Steak ‘N Shake (9.5/10)

The main positive gained from Steak ‘n Shake involves the cooking process. They originally ground the meat for their patties right in front of the customers, though that practice changed to simply cooking the patties in front of them instead.

Customers also love the uniqueness of their burgers since they seem to utilize steak seasoning as much as the typical seasonings you might expect on a burger. The result of a wonderfully meaty patty combined with cheese and other delights gives them a solid 9.5.

Culver’s (10/10)

Culver’s may not be the most well-known fast-food restaurant with burgers, but it certainly doesn’t disappoint. The ButterBurger holds the hearts of many an American.

The smash burger patties improve on the burger as much as the buttery buns. Customers also love the flavor that comes from a smashed patty with onion straight on it as opposed to raw onion in the salad on top. No one had anything substantially negative to say about them. Overall, Culver’s burgers get a 10!