Yahoo Autos Admit it, Five Guys is better than In-N-Out
Both Five Guys and In-N-Out fast-food chains have massive followings.
On a recent trip to California, I tried In-N-Out for the third time.
After trying the fries, burger, and shake, I still think Five Guys is a better chain.
It's an age-old rivalry: an East Coast-born burger chain versus its fast-food foe of West Coast fame. Burger and fry fans rally behind their favorite chain as soon as a conversation of Five Guys versus In-N-Out starts, and I wanted to pit the two head-to-head, critically, for the sake of my own opinion.
Admittedly, I've been a Five Guys fan for nearly a decade. The chain started as a restaurant in Arlington, Virginia, but my love affair started around 13 miles away in Maryland. What was originally just an easy spot for game-day lunch quickly became the site of many personal memories.
In-N-Out's story began with a drive-through stand in Baldwin Park, California, but I learned about it as a social status on Instagram. It's an accessible meal that allows anyone to feel and look like Los Angeles celebrities, so long as you snap a photo of your animal-style fries and double-double with cheese.
I first had In-N-Out at 18 years old. I'm not sure whether I ordered the two-patty classic, or if I went single patty, but I remember getting my fries animal-style — every In-N-Out die-hard I've spoken with says that's the only way to do it.
That first visit was exciting, but the food was disappointing to me. The fries were stiff, thick, and, in my opinion, tasted like cardboard, plus I couldn't get any flavor from the bun on my burger. I couldn't understand why everyone raved about it so much.
After years of being told that I must have ordered wrong if I didn't like In-N-Out, I gave the chain another try. Still, I was underwhelmed. As someone who now writes about food for a living, I thought it best to try again — this time with a more detail-oriented eye.
So on a recent trip to LA, I took a California native with me to sample some of the chain's finest. I ordered two servings of animal-style fries (one well-done, the other regular), two orders of plain fries (also with the varying cooks), one double-double animal style, one Neapolitan milkshake, and his personal favorite: one double-double animal style with extra grilled onions, extra spread, and chopped chilies.
Even after my latest visit to In-N-Out, I wasn't all that impressed and I still prefer Five Guys. Here's why:
In-N-Out's fries don't taste as fresh as Five Guys'
Every In-N-Out fan I've spoken with admits the fries on their own aren't great, but that animal style is their salvation. I agree, but even with the special sauce, grilled onions, and cheese on top, I still think they're not good. To spread the toppings around, you have to order the fries in a to-go container and shake them vigorously. After shaking my fries and letting them sit for just a few minutes, though, I found that the whole dish congealed into a block. That said, if you can eat the topped potatoes fast enough, I think they're delicious.
In my experience, Five Guys does a better job with its fries. The fast-food chain's boardwalk-style fries retain their oily, salty flavor and mashed-potato texture for an hour after being pulled from the fryer. That texture is the goal at Five Guys, where they use a washing, soaking, and double-frying process. I find their longevity impressive.
Unlike In-N-Out, Five Guys serves hot sauce
"But they have the chilies!" In-N-Out fans might say. But chilies and hot sauce aren't interchangeable. Imagine, for example, ordering jalapeños on nachos and receiving hot sauce instead. I'm someone who loves a nice hot sauce/barbecue sauce combination on my burgers, so while the chilies are tasty, they just don't cut it for me.
It all comes down to the bun
A bun can make or break any sandwich. For me, the sub-par bread component at In-N-Out is the downfall of this burger. I think the bottom piece is too thick, and the bun overall is dry.
Five Guys uses sesame seed buns that are less chewy than potato rolls but provide a touch of sweetness while introducing the savory tang of yeast. I've tried four burgers at In-N-Out — on three separate visits to two different locations — and each time, the bun added nothing to my meal.
Take away the bun and you've got yourself a very solid burger — juicy, flavorful, and with imperfectly shaped edges, it is comparable to the patty at Five Guys. So maybe my mistake was not ordering it in a lettuce wrap? That will be my next try.
It's no secret that I've been a longtime fan of Five Guys, but a big part of me went into this taste test thinking the third time would be the charm for In-N-Out. Instead, I'm even more confident now that my East Coast favorite is worlds better.
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