Ranking The 10 Best (And Worst) Fast Food Burgers

There aren’t many things that sum up the essence of America more than the fast food restaurants that litter the country, and while they feature a wide variety of items on their menus, the most popular chains are usually judged on the merit of one specific offering: a burger.

Plenty of Americans rely on fast food restaurants for a quick meal when they’re hungry, and it’s hard to go wrong with the burgers that tend to be their most popular menu item.

As someone who’s maybe a bit too familiar with fast food burgers, I figured I might as well put that knowledge to good use by ranking the ones I’ve had with the help of some fellow connoisseurs who helped me firm up their spots on this list.

It’s worth noting I’m trying to limit the definition of fast food to the kind of places known for having a drive-thru and relatively reasonable prices (which means the likes of Five Guys and Shake Shack didn’t make the cut).

I’m also focusing on what each chain positions as its standard cheeseburger when it comes to defining “burger,” so while I can respect a Big Mac, a Whopper, and a Baconator, offerings like those aren’t being taken into consideration.

Finally, I did what I could to cover as many regional bases as possible, but there are still a few places popular in certain areas of the country that weren’t taken into consideration.

10. Burger King

Burger King has historically attempted to set itself apart from the rest of the pack with the “flame-grilled” method that exposes all of its burgers to an actual flame thanks to the proprietary broiler used to cook them.

While I appreciate the uniqueness of the method, I don’t think it does much to elevate the burger and have never really enjoyed the flavor it imparts (which has a tendency to lean toward “burnt” as opposed to “smoky”).

I also like mustard, but I’ve always felt Burger King goes way too heavy on that particular condiment while making ketchup a bit of an afterthought.

The burgers are perfectly fine in a pinch, but I’m not going out of my way to track one down.

9. McDonald's

I honestly thought I’d have McDonald’s higher on this list when everything was said and done, but after weighing it against the rest of the competition, I had to put it near the bottom.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with the burgers served up at Mickey D’s, but there’s also nothing particularly noteworthy about them.

You always know what you’re going to get (which usually includes a bun that’s a little drier than it probably should be), and even though it’s an undoubtedly well-rounded offering that’ll scratch that burger itch, it’s pretty much the definition of “fine” at the end of the day.

8. White Castle

As someone who’d never had White Castle before watching a movie where two guys go to some wild lengths to get their hands on some, I assumed it had to be something pretty special.

In hindsight, I guess I should have known it was going to have trouble living up to the hype, and I was definitely a little disappointed when I tried it for the first time.

With that said, the cooking method that helps take the onions to the next level is a very welcome tweak, and there’s something to be said for the novelty of the slider approach.

7. Wendy's

Wendy’s is the last member of the fast food restaurant trio most people would consider “The Big 3,” and while it has the best burger of that group, it still doesn’t measure up to the ones I’ll be addressing after it.

The primary claim to fame at Wendy’s is the fact that its signature square patties are never frozen, and that’s reflected in both the flavor and the texture department.

I’m using what is officially referred to as the “Jr. Cheeseburger” as my metric here as opposed to the Dave’s Single, and while I can understand why some people might find the decision to use rings of onion instead of the chopped variety overpowering, I personally prefer that approach.

6. Sonic

I have to give credit where credit is due to Sonic for being one of the rare fast food chains to offer a standard burger with all of the fixings; I’m not personally a fan of mayo or tomato on mine, but I’m not going to dock them for having them by default.

Sonic also seasons its meat, and while it doesn’t magically elevate the end result, it helps their burger firmly end up on a higher tier than the ones I’ve already mentioned.

However, it’s still not exactly a flavor explosion, so the chain ends up near the middle of the pack.

5. Hardee's/Carl's Jr.

Hardee’s burgers are what Burger King burgers want to be, as the restaurant (which operates under the Carl’s Jr. name in the western half of the United States) uses a charbroil method that imparts a smoky taste a bit more successfully than its competitor.

It does lose some points for using frozen burgers instead of fresh ones, which certainly holds them back when it comes to flavor and texture. With that said, you can do a lot worse.

4. Whataburger

Whataburger literally sticks out from the pack thanks to the Texas-sized bun used for the burger that was first whipped up in The Lone Star State, and it certainly isn’t lacking in the flavor department.

The chain also uses fresh beef that’s cooked to order, and that extra effort is more than enough to put it in the top half of the best fast food burgers. The aforementioned bun tends to be on the drier side, but it’s still a very solid all-around product.

3. Culver's

If I’m going to eat at a fast food restaurant, I’m throwing nutrition and dietary concerns out the window, and I can’t help but respect any purveyor that stresses the role butter plays in setting its buns (and, in turn, burgers) apart.

There’s a reason Culver’s is widely considered the gold standard in Wisconsin and a good chunk of the Midwest, and the quality of the fresh beef shines in a burger that also boasts cheese sourced from the state where it was founded.

Culver’s also gets bonus points for using red onions instead of the white ones that tend to be the default, which is a small touch that still makes a noticeable difference.

2. In-N-Out Burger

The freshness of the beef at In-N-Out is a major reason it was initially hesitant to expand beyond the West Coast, and you only have to eat there once to understand why it’s the first stop plenty of people make after they get off of a flight that lands in Los Angeles.

You can’t talk about In-N-Out without discussing the Thousand Island-style sauce that really takes things to the next level, but that’s just one of the many reasons its juicy (and surprisingly inexpensive) burger lands near the top of this list.

1. Steak 'n Shake

Steak ‘n Shake doesn’t just make burgers—they make “steakburgers” that feature patties made with premium cuts like sirloin and T-bone that are never frozen once they’re prepared.

The chain was also well ahead of the smashburger curve, and that method helps to provide a crispy texture that also boosts the flavor of the juicy meat.

The final result is what I would consider the best fast food burger I’ve ever had, and it definitely earned its spot at the top of this list.