Fast food has long been considered a convenient, affordable meal option, but as the price of food continues to rise, even a simple order of burger and fries can quickly approach $20.
I wanted to find out how far that budget would stretch at some of the country’s most recognizable fast-casual burger chains — and whether any of the meals would actually feel worth the price. So, within the same week, I visited Shake Shack, Five Guys, and Smashburger.
I ordered a similar meal at each restaurant and compared the taste, portion sizes, and overall value. Here’s how it went.
Shake Shack was my first stop.
Unlike the other two chains I visited, Shake Shack is a publicly traded company. It began as a hot-dog cart in New York City’s Madison Square Park before becoming a permanent kiosk in 2004.
Today, the chain has over 700 locations around the world. One recently opened near my house, so it seemed like the perfect time to give it a try.
The ShackBurger was simple but satisfying.
I ordered a single ShackBurger ($7.79), which came with an Angus beef patty, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and the chain’s signature ShackSauce.
The patty was cooked well and had a nice sear, with thin, crispy edges. The cheese was also perfectly melted over the top.
I especially enjoyed the ShackSauce, which was creamy and tangy, and tasted like a blend of ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise.
The crinkle-cut fries were crispy and well salted.
As a side, I ordered the fries ($4.99). These were crinkle-cut, nicely salted, and crispy on the outside.
I usually prefer very thin fries, but these had a satisfying crunch that won me over and paired well with the burger.
I had enough left in my budget to add a vanilla shake.
For dessert, I ordered a vanilla shake ($6.49). Although it had a pleasant, classic vanilla flavor, the consistency was thinner and more watery than I would have liked. To me, it seemed slightly overmixed.
Overall, I thought this was a solid meal for the price.
My burger, fries, and shake cost $19.27 before tax and tip. The meal wasn’t particularly inventive, but everything tasted great, and I got a nice portion with dessert while staying within my budget.
Next, I visited Five Guys.
Although Five Guys is now a global chain, it remains a family-owned business. Jerry and Janie Murrell opened the first restaurant in Arlington, Virginia, in 1986.
Today, the restaurant has about 1,900 locations worldwide, including approximately 1,500 in the US.
Despite its popularity, I had never eaten there before, so I was curious to see how far my $20 would stretch.
My burger was completely customizable.
Unlike Shake Shack, Five Guys didn’t serve its burgers with a standard set of toppings. Instead, I was instructed to build my own from a long list of included options.
I ordered a Little Cheeseburger ($9.25), which came with one beef patty, and I added lettuce, tomato, pickles, and ketchup. It arrived tightly wrapped in foil, which left it slightly squished.
The patty had lightly crispy edges, and I liked how the cheese melted into the meat. However, of the burgers I tried, this one reminded me the most of traditional fast food.
I couldn’t quite pinpoint what created the familiar taste, but I think it was the combination of the salty, umami beef and the bun’s slight sweetness.
In my opinion, the taste was reminiscent of something I’d get at McDonald’s, which made the higher price harder to justify.
The small fries came in an enormous portion.
I also ordered a Little Fry ($5.30), which arrived in a brown paper bag visibly stained with grease. According to the Five Guys website, this is because the fries are soaked in water and absorb less oil when cooked.
Despite being the smallest size on the menu, the portion was massive. Adding an extra helping of fries to each bag has been a Five Guys tradition since the chain opened. This explained the surprisingly large serving and made the price feel like a better value.
They tasted good, but much of their flavor came from how oily they were. I could see myself enjoying them as a late-night indulgence, but they were greasy enough that I worried eating too many would give me a stomachache.
The higher prices left no room in my budget for a shake.
Because the burger and fries cost more than they did at Shake Shack, I couldn’t fit a milkshake into my $20 budget. Instead, I ordered a Diet Coke ($3.30), bringing my total to $17.85 before tax and tip.
Although I spent less at Five Guys overall, I also received less variety for my money.
Lastly, I made my way to Smashburger.
Founded in Denver in 2007, Smashburger is owned by Jollibee Group, the Philippine-based restaurant company whose portfolio also includes Jollibee and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
Smashburger’s online directory currently lists 158 open and upcoming locations in the US, and four in Canada, making it the smallest of the three chains I visited.
I had eaten here before, but it had been years since my last visit, and I had little recollection of my experience.
In my opinion, this burger tasted the freshest of the three, and the fries were delicious.
I ordered a single Classic Smash ($7.89), which came with an Angus beef patty, American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, pickles, ketchup, and signature Smash Sauce.
I appreciated that all of my preferred toppings came standard, so I didn’t have to customize anything. I also loved the addition of a signature sauce, which was creamy and tangy and gave the burger another layer of flavor.
The beef itself tasted especially fresh, with a clean, pronounced flavor that wasn’t too salty or greasy. The patty could have had more pronounced lacy edges, but the seared crust still added a slightly charred finish. The cheese was nicely melted, and the soft, pillowy bun reminded me of a potato roll.
I paired my burger with the SmashFries ($4.19), which were thin, shoestring-style fries tossed in a blend of rosemary, garlic, and olive oil.
I had enough left in my budget to add on a vanilla shake.
To round out my meal, I ordered a vanilla milkshake ($6.49). It was noticeably thicker than the one I received at Shake Shack and came with a spoon.
It had a creamy, milky flavor, but otherwise tasted like fairly standard vanilla ice cream. It wasn’t especially memorable, but I enjoyed the consistency.
My burger, fries, and shake cost $18.57 before tax and tip, allowing me to get a complete meal with dessert while staying comfortably within my budget.
Overall, I thought my meal from Smashburger offered the best combination of taste and value.
Before tax and tip, I spent $19.27 at Shake Shack, $17.85 at Five Guys, and $18.57 at Smashburger.
Shake Shack gave me a complete meal with dessert within my budget. Nothing stood out as especially memorable, but it felt like a solid, reliable option at a reasonable price.
Five Guys had the lowest total and provided by far the most fries. However, its more expensive burger left no room in my budget for a shake, and the greasy fries and standard burger didn’t feel worth the price. Although I spent less overall, I felt like I received the least variety for my money.
For $0.70 less than Shake Shack, Smashburger gave me a burger, fries, and a thicker milkshake. Its burger tasted the freshest, and the thin, rosemary-seasoned fries were easily my favorite.
Ultimately, Smashburger made my $20 stretch the furthest without sacrificing taste. It offered the best meal, the most distinctive flavors, and the strongest overall value.
Business Insider reached out to Shake Shack, Five Guys, and Smashburger for comment.
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