http://www.sfgate.com/technology/businessinsider/article/In-N-Out-just-lost-its-title-as-America-s-11149811.php
In-N-Out just lost its title as America's favorite burger chain
Kate Taylor,
provided by
Published 7:26 am, Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Five Guys has triumphed over In-N-Out in a battle of the burger brands.
The chain received the top spot in the burger category in The Harris Poll's annual EquiTrend Study. This is the first time Five Guys has been crowned the burger champion in the study, which asks respondents to rate brands based on familiarity, quality, and how likely they are to consider purchasing its items.
"The burger brand category has become less fragmented, as regional brands expand and become available in more parts of the country," Joan Sinopoli, vice president of brand solutions at The Harris Poll, said in a statement. "This is certainly the case with Five Guys, who has shed its 'small regional player' designation as it expands its footprint and marketing budget along with its fandom, which is a tremendous contributor to brand equity."
Five Guys ousted In-N-Out, which had the top spot for the last two years. The West Coast chain snagged the No. 2 spot.
While McDonald's earned top marks for familiarity, the fast-food giant ranked seventh, behind brands like Shake Shack, Wendy's, and Culver's.
The first Five Guys opened its doors in 1986, in Arlington, Virginia. The chain is known for its burgers, grilled in front of customers and topped with limitless toppings, and fries, cooked in peanut oil.
"It's a simple burger that's filling and delicious in a guilty sort of way," Hollis Johnson wrote in his Business Insider review of Five Guys. "As the better-burger industry evolves, there's something to be said for restaurants that serve an honest, humble burger in a no-frills environment. It's the classic American burger enterprise."
While many "better burger" chains like Smashburger and Shake Shack aim for trendy designs, Five Guys has a no-fuss atmosphere, with an open kitchen and bold red-and-white decorations.
The chain earned national recognition in 2009 when President Barack Obama stopped at a DC location while taping a day-in-the-life segment with NBC Nightly News and ordered a round of burgers for his staff. His order was a cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, jalapeno peppers, and mustard, according to NBC.
5 Guys is competing against sit down restaurant burgers and loses 9/10.
In N Out is competing against fast food burgers and wins 9/10.
I'm not surprised motherfuckers.
No way. When we lived in Dallas, we had access to In N Out. Best burger I've had from a chain by a mile.
Pablo Duke -Some people just feel better with Five Guys in them, some prefer a quicker In-n-Out.
Don't think we have in and out over here but we have 5 guys and I love it. It's expensive though. Although the fries are massive portions
5 Guys
I have lived on the West Coast and the East Coast.
There is ZERO comparison.
In N Out is an infinitely better quality burger.
Never been a fan of five guys, but I love me some smashburger
DaveFu -Lmfao.Pablo Duke -Some people just feel better with Five Guys in them, some prefer a quicker In-n-Out.
In n out all the way.
Browny85 - Don't think we have in and out over here but we have 5 guys and I love it. It's expensive though. Although the fries are massive portions
thats because potatoes are cheap as fuck, like cheaper than the cartons they serve them in.
if it drove them more business and they could just shovel'em into your car they would
lol
Pablo Duke -Some people just feel better with Five Guys in them, some prefer a quicker In-n-Out.
Rofl
Meh
I give 5 guys the edge.
If 5 Guys had the In&Out bun, that would be awesome.
The Habit might be better than both though. Santa Barbra is awesome!
They are not comparable. Five guys is not in the same realm as in n out.
5 guys is better but more expensive.
Five Guys got it's name because Five Guys jizzed in the secret sauce. Fact.
Z NEDCMK1 -Shake shack was the most dissapointed of my life. The cheese fries are just a craft single slapped on top of potato wedges. Service sucked real bad too. Got orders wrong.
In N Out was by far the most disappointing food experience of my life.
It is really poor quality food.
Five guys sucks. In n out 4ever. Have given five guys burgers multiple chances. No go. Never find myself randomly craving a good burger and go "five guys." But in n out? Yep. Five guys is overrated.
Born and raised in California - not an In n Out fan. Too greasy and the lines are not worth the wait. And there are always lines.
Z NEDCMK1 -HurtFeelings -Hahaha I'm not a fan of the frozen meatpuck myself but have at em all you want.Z NEDCMK1 -In N Out was by far the most disappointing food experience of my life.
It is really poor quality food.
<span class="User-367361" id="userPost60047623">Shake shack was the most dissapointed of my life. The cheese fries are just a craft single slapped on top of potato wedges. Service sucked real bad too. Got orders wrong.</span></blockquote>
I am not a fan of shake shack either.
The other thing is, the Pat LaFrieda burgers are available at half the bars in the city, so yo can get a nicer version.... just about anywhere. Shake Shack wouldn't be as disappointing if the lines and crowds weren't so bad.
That being said, Shake Shack makes In n out look like ground shit on a bun served with wet potatoes.