All chain places suck.

*Stevencrowder.jpg*

McDonald's makes them crispy on the outside without overcooking them by using silicone in their oil. That used to be the secret ingredient. Others have since discovered it. Probably not very healthy. In fact, it may even be deadly long-term. Just don't know.

Well if that's what the hype is presented as, of course that's what we expect. :rofl: Of course some of it is interpretation, because i can't imagine people going through the throes of religious ecstasy for a burger that isn't gourmet. Apparently they do and i was wrong.

What do you consider a chain?

More than a couple dozen locations.

I try my best to eat at mom and pop / localplaces when ever I go out.

There's a burger place here (2 locations) called Brome. They have the best burgers I've ever had in the country, by far. You just won't get the same at a high volume high turn place.

1: Chef has an idea for a burger joint.

2: Chef opens burger joint. The burgers are very good.

3: Chef expands the burger joint concept, opening other locations and eventually franchising.

4: Suddenly, because the burgers were so good that the chain was successful, the burgers cease to be good.



The size of a restaurant chain has little to do with it. I've had very good burgers from large chains (Shake Shack, Chilis, etc) and very unremarkable, almost McDonalds-ish burgers from tiny little mom-n-pop shops.


In-n-Out makes a burger which is at the top of its category. I define this category as "places with a drive-thru window."

I'd agree that it's in the top percentile, and maybe their consistency lands them top prize. (I wouldn't know. I had it once and that was enough for me) But a GOOD Steak 'n' Shake is better. A GOOD 5 Guys is better. I also found Whataburger to be easily as good if not better than In 'n' Out.

And if i'm eating fast food and accelerating my demise, may as well go for it, full send, and hit up some Hardee's. One thing they all have in common other than Hardee's: The fries are terribad. Which is ok, because i think potatoes are worthless garbage food with no reason to be ingested.

Either way, i eat things from a drive thru window a maximum of 2 times a year because it's all terrible. (Drive-thru window slammed into the side of the pizza joint down the street doesn't count)

moe's southwest grill > chipotle

Welcome to MOOOOOEEEEE'SSSSS!!!!!!!!!

Drinks in glasses? Metal forks? Waitresses and menus? Steak-n-Shake ain't in the same group as a place where you pump your own ketchup into a paper cup and wait for them to call your number. (And as a matter of personal preference, I don't find the burgers all that tasty. My sister loves the place, but that's the only time I'd ever go.)

Five Guys makes me ill. Everything is so greasy, and yet the burger manages to be flavorless at the same time.

Whataburger ain't bad, but more like the southern version of Jack in the Box.



Best burger on earth: Kuma's Corner in Chicago. https://kumascorner.com/#menu


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This one is the Lair of the Minotaur burger. Bourbon-poached pair, brie, caramelized onions, and pancetta.

They're juicy, flavorful, and the cooks actually pay attention. If you order it medium, you'll get it medium.

Thank you for saying so. I thought about posting that same thing earlier but figured there was no point because everyone has their favorites. Steak homewrecker with all of the standard ingredients on their list is just right. The hot sauce they call rock and roll sauce is very good.

By the way, is anyone else here a fan of Valentina hot sauce? It has a fantastic flavor other than just being hot. It is quite unique.

Valentina is legit. I have the OG and the "extra hot" whatever they call it on hand. I dump it on chili, in rice/chicken/veggies bowls, whatever.

Yes, they are both good and do not lose their flavor when you go up to the higher heat version, like so many sauces. Down here it's common to put it on everything from roast chicken to rice and beans to steak.

Don't get me wrong. Family restaurants can have the absolutely worst food too.

I can't remember the last time I've been to a chain and got good food(something not frozen even). I can remember the last place I got bad food and it was a local joint, Thursday in South bend. Asian food from a place called woschie. Great reviews and everyone in the city raved about it. But a simple dish like pad tahi was crap. Overdone noodle. No seasoning. Rubber frozen chicken. Yuck. And my pot stickers we're cold.

On the other hand the Mexican food a few doors down I had the night before was fantastic. Mom and dad working hard in the kitchen with the kids behind the counter. You could tell they had some passion in their work.

Passible fast food burgers can be had at Culver's. IMO

Same here. Was just curious since I know of a restaurant group here in OK, that has multiple locations of the same pub. You can get a damn fine burger and pint of Guinness at any of the 3 locations. They also have a pretty decent mexican place (Ben and his wife ate there with me) and good sushi place all under the same ownership.

It is "not just a jelly doughnut" day tomorrow.

Do these exist outside of michigan / north middle flyover area?



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Yes they do.

They do but never as good as I used to get them at Knapps in Rochester, fresh.

They're fairly common in Poland.


They're also popular in Chicago, but I admit that while ORD is a major hub, we are completely surrounded by the Midwest in much the same way that West Berlin was completely surrounded by East Germany.

At the hospital for my total hip replacement. Product of a cycling encounter with a car 5 years ago.