Five Guys Burgers & Fries - the very first location opened in Arlington, VA in 1986, and in the next 15 years slowly started to expand into the DC-metro area. It wasn't until the year 2002 that Five Guys decided to franchise into Maryland and Virginia. Now, they have over 750 locations across the Eastern seaboard. The first NY area location opened within the past two years, and has now quickly expanded to 15 in NYC alone.
Five Guys used to be a destination burger joint for me. I was first introduced to their burgers in a PA location back in 2007. Soon after, whenever I was back in PA or DC Five Guys was definitely one spot I HAD to visit. The restaurants themselves don't have much to them. Red and white tiled walls, cheap wooden tables with free unshelled peanuts, and bags upon bags of potatoes in the front. But their burgers are amazing. No less than a double patty, formed and cooked right in front of you, you make your own combination, and so incredibly juicy.
As busy as they ever are, the lines move quick. Side note, and also a huge plus, you can order right from your phone. Go here to the android website to download the Five Guys app.
You have your base choice of hamburger, cheeseburger, bacon burger, or bacon cheeseburger. Then you get to add any combination of free additional toppings, which include mayo, relish, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, lettuce, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, ketchup, mustard, green pepper, A1 steak sauce, bbq sauce, and hot sauce. Let them do the math for you, that's over 250,000 possible burger combinations.
I find complete satisfaction in simplicity. I always get the bacon cheeseburger with grilled onions.
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| Five Guys Double-Patty Bacon Cheeseburger with Grilled Onions |
Were you expecting me to say an order of their fries? Well, I'm not going to. I will admit I hate the fries at Five Guys. The company sells itself on knowing that your order of fries is always hand-cut, fried fresh, and put into a plastic cup into a brown bag, and you can see the grease form on the outside of the bag. I'm not a fan. Whether you get the regular or slightly spicy cajun style, they're never cooked right for me. They are almost always soggy, never crispy, flavorless and really messy. Not anywhere remotely close to satisfy a fry craving for me.
If you are going to disagree and opt to try them yourself, go for the cajun style. They are slightly, but not by much, better. The spices do a good job of soaking up a lot of the excess grease.
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| Cajun Fries |
Five Guys Burgers & Fries
301 Bayonne Crossing Way
Bayonne, NJ 07003
Shake Shack - The original Shake Shack opened as a modern-day "roadside" burger stand in Madison Square Park, NYC in 2004. Almost immediately, it became a NY institution and developed an incredibly huge following. In just a few short years Shake Shack has expanded to 17 locations in NYC, upstate NY, CT, DC, Miami, Dubai, and Kuwait (eh?).
I have the upmost respect for Danny Meyer and his company, Union Square Hospitality Group. I believe he is incredibly passionate, an amazing restauranteur, and a smart businessman. But Kuwait before the west coast? Heck, even before NJ or Philly? What were the thoughts behind that one?
Anyway, Danny Meyer hit a goldmine when he opened Shack Shack. I have never seen so many people willing to wait upwards of an hour to an hour and a half for a burger. On warm, sunny days the line for the MSP location is around the park. They installed a camera on the building so you can see how long the line is from the web before even leaving your office or home. They will cut people off if the line gets too long. And the craziest part about it? People don't seem to mind.
...What the eff is wrong with NY'ers? How is it that the people of the city that created the NY minute all of a sudden slow down and stop everything to wait on line for a burger? How is it that a company who built their name on hospitality and warm service pride themselves so much on seeing the long lines they even included it on their website? Are the burgers really that good?
Danny Meyer might hate me forever for saying this, but I will be honest. They're good, but not great. In fact, they're not worth the hype. Whenever I visit Shake Shack I always opt to visit on cold, rainy days because I know at those times there is no one on line. That should tell you something right there. It's not the food drawing people in, it's the location. It's being able to sit outside and enjoy the weather. NY'ers LOVE eating outside. You can name the worst restaurant in the city, but if they have a patio, they're gonna be busy.
The meat for the Shake Shack burger is sourced locally, ground fresh everyday, and shipped to each location in the morning. They then pound it thin, cook it on a griddle, and pack it into a perfectly sized potato bun with tomato (from Lucky's, who has some of the best, juiciest tomatoes in the city), lettuce, Shack sauce, and cheese. If you've never had a Shack burger, try one, but do yourself a favor and go when the line isn't an hour long. The expansion of locations and longer hours now help make this a reality for many.
At Shake Shack you can't make your own combination, but you can choose from a regular burger, cheeseburger, Shack burger (single or double patty on all burgers), 'Shroom burger (deep-fried portobello mushroom stuffed with cheddar and meunster cheese (amazing!)), or the Shack Stack which combines the 'Shroom burger with a single patty Shack burger.
Find it strange that I love their vegetarian option? I don't. I will openly admit I love the 'Shroom burgers. They blow the Shack burgers out of the water. To me, they are worth the long lines. Crispy, crunchy, cheesy, melty, warm, incredible. On my many, many visits to Shake Shack over the years I always get a 'Shroom burger. Honestly, until yesterday afternoon, I don't think I have had a Shack patty for a few years now. There's just not much to them. So thin, charred from the grill, and not juicy at all. That's not a good burger to me.
Below is the Shack Stack. One burger patty, the incredible deep-fried 'Shroom burger, with lettuce, cheese, tomato, and Shack sauce.
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| The Shack Stack |
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| Shake Shack Cheese Fries |
Shake Shack
SE Corner of Madison Square Park
Near Madison Avenues and E 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010
So in my opinion, who wins? Hands down I think Five Guys wins the burger category. But overall Shake Shack is a better experience. More options, more lively, good food, good drinks, and great locations. But please NY, don't wait an hour on a line for a burger. It pains me to see this.
i totally agree with you about the burgers at five guys..and how disappointing the fries are.
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