There’s something almost sacred about the American burger. It represents more than just ground beef and a bun. When you sink your teeth into a truly great burger, you’re tasting tradition, innovation, and a whole lot of culinary passion. So when professional chefs weigh in on which chain burgers deserve recognition, we should all be paying attention.
Let’s be real here. You might think you know your favorite chain burger, the one you swear by after late nights or long road trips. Maybe you’ve argued with friends about whether Five Guys beats In-N-Out, or if Shake Shack’s patties trump everything else. The truth is, the burger landscape has shifted dramatically in recent years, with some unexpected contenders rising to the top while beloved favorites have stumbled in rankings.
Habit Burger Takes the Crown Against All Odds
Santa Barbara-born Habit Burger & Grill was considered to have the best burger in town for the second year in a row, according to a poll conducted by USA Today. The chain’s signature Double Char beat out burgers from In-N-Out and Five Guys to earn the top spot. This surprised nearly everyone who hadn’t tried one. I think the average burger lover on the East Coast probably never even heard of Habit Burger before this ranking made waves. The Habit Burger Grill opened its first spot in Santa Barbara, California in 1969 and has since grown to over 380 locations. The entire award-winning menu is cooked to order and burgers are cooked-to-order over an open flame.
At number one for the second year in a row, the crown goes to the Habit Burger & Grill Double Char. This California-based chain has been famous for charring burgers over an open flame since 1969. The Double Char comes with two flame-grilled patties, crisp lettuce, tomato, pickles, and caramelized onions on a toasted bun. The distinction matters because flame-grilling provides smoky depth that you simply can’t replicate with a standard flat-top griddle. Chefs know that technique drives flavor, which is why they’ve consistently placed Habit Burger at the top.
In-N-Out Slips Despite Chef Devotion
Here’s where things get interesting. In-N-Out’s iconic Double-Double slipped to fourth place this year, down from its second-place spot in 2024. This shocked longtime fans who treated the West Coast chain like a religion. One of the more opinionated, and well-traveled, food personalities and chefs, the late Anthony Bourdain, was another In-N-Out fanatic. He told Eater the chain was his favorite restaurant in Los Angeles, and praised the bun, good quality meat, non-limp fresh greens, and the perfect “cheese-like substance” of this “brilliant” burger.
In-N-Out is a beloved West Coast phenomenon that’s famous for using premium fresh ingredients, a simple limited menu and great value. “The double double Animal style burger is always a go to,” says Chef Andrew Owens, a private chef in California. “It’s always good no matter what!” Animal style is on the chain’s notorious secret menu and has thousand island dressing, caramelized onions, fresh tomato and onions, and seared mustard on the buns. Despite this devotion from culinary professionals, consumer preferences have clearly evolved. Sometimes the classics don’t hold their position forever.
Five Guys Commands Chef Respect Through Fresh Never-Frozen Beef
If the menu at Five Guys seems small, take a closer look: according to the chain, there are a quarter of a million ways to order a hamburger within its highly customized ordering system. On top of that, all of Five Guys’ burger toppings come at no extra cost, so you can add whatever you want without the fear of your tab slowly creeping up. With so much control over what goes on your burger, it’s no wonder that Five Guys is one of the highest-ranked burger chains among satisfied customers. Beyond customization, Five Guys uses never-frozen patties that are hand-made every day.
The dedication goes deeper than marketing speak. While Wendy’s is famous for never freezing their beef, Five Guys takes it a step further. Not only is their beef never frozen, they don’t even have freezers on the premises! That’s an impressive level of dedication to offering fresh food. Furthermore, while other burger places claim to be experts in the field, Five Guys chefs have the recipes down to a science so much so that they don’t even use timers – and that’s basically unheard of in this industry. Five Guys has been around since 1986 and prides itself on everything being fresh. “Everybody loves the hand formed, grilled to order for a smoky char and perfect juiciness,” says Chef Andrew.
Shake Shack Earns Gourmet Fast-Food Status
Beloved for its milkshakes, crinkle fries and fresh burgers, Shake Shack is a hit with customers and chefs. “The chain is a testament to the power of simplicity and repetition,” says Chef Joe Nierstedt | Katsubo in Charleston, SC. “The execution is pure: Smash, sear, salt. The result is a burger that efficiently delivers a good crust and retains its moisture.” He adds “They’ve perfected the system for a juicy, well-charred patty, and making that simplicity consistently excellent is the operational objective.”
There’s something almost meditative about watching a Shake Shack cook work. For many burger enthusiasts, it does not get any better than a Shake Shack burger. This is for good reason: Every step of the burger-making process has been designed to ensure customers enjoy the maximum amount of flavor. Shake Shack uses a blend of fresh, whole muscle sirloin, brisket, and short rib; all incredibly flavorful cuts. What’s more, the chain works with the very best suppliers, including Pat LaFrieda, a celebrated company that supplies the chain’s New York-based restaurants. He loves Shake Shack’s Smoke Shack burger, saying, “It has some heat and acidity from the cherry peppers, smoked bacon, and American cheese. It hits all the best notes of a delicious dish for me.” However, he also loves In-N-Out, saying “The In-N-Out Double Animal Style comes in second…or tied for first.”
McDonald’s Maintains Classic Consistency According to Pros
Here’s something that might surprise the burger snobs out there. McDonald’s has been a dominant force in fast food for decades and remains at the top for best burgers. “The regular burger at McDonald’s is still one of my favorites,” says Chef Andrew. “It is the founding father of McDonald’s,” he noted. “It is perfectly executed with balanced flavors. There’s a reason this chain dominates the global burger landscape. Consistency matters in the restaurant world, and McDonald’s has mastered that art form better than almost anyone.
Executive Chef Nick Dixon of Capo Restaurant in Boston raves about the classic all-beef, Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese. “I don’t know what it is but it’s the greatest sandwich in the world!” he says. “I don’t even like to get any sides with it because the burger is absolutely perfect just the way it is. It always comes out so consistent and perfectly seasoned. I can always count on this sandwich, it never lets me down,” says Dixon. When a chef running a high-end restaurant admits to craving McDonald’s, that tells you something about universal appeal.
Wendy’s Fresh-Never-Frozen Philosophy Wins Chef Loyalty
As for fast food, it would have to be Wendy’s junior bacon cheeseburger,” says James Beard nominated Chef Douglass Williams, owner of Mida and Apizza in Boston. “More than just eating it, I have so many memories of making it, the touch of the bun, the pride that I took in making it, and understanding its simplicity. Sometimes the emotional connection to food matters just as much as technique and ingredients. Though the distinguishable square burger patties are somewhat meant to trick you into thinking you are eating a bigger sandwich, make no mistake that the patties are fresh and of the highest caliber. The menu at Wendy’s includes a few unique offerings you do not normally see at a fast-food burger chain, including its popular baked potatoes. Professional chefs even have their go-to Wendy’s orders, emphasizing the brand’s wide reach and commitment to quality ingredients.
Whataburger Holds Texas Pride Despite Lower Rankings
Texas’ favorite Whataburger lands at number ten with its Double Meat Whataburger. This burger features two large beef patties layered with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and mustard on a toasted bun. In recent years, it held positions #6 in 2024 and #4 in 2023; however, the 2025 results indicate that readers are shifting their tastes, and competitors are catching up. Still, fans recognize it as a hearty classic that represents Texas pride. Fort Worth-based Chef Tim Love told Esquire he loves Texas chain Whataburger, saying, “It’s like a fresh, clean, Texas version of McDonald’s.” Regional loyalty runs deep when it comes to burgers, especially in Texas where Whataburger borders on a cultural institution.
Burger King’s Whopper Shows Staying Power Despite Decline
Every year, Burger King sells more than a billion Whoppers, each made with a flame-grilled beef patty topped with tomatoes, shredded lettuce, mayo, pickles, ketchup, and sliced onions. Despite its iconic status and enduring popularity, the Whopper has been declining in rankings over recent years, dropping to #8 in 2024 and #7 in 2023. Landing at ninth place in 2025, it still proves its staying power among loyal fans, even as other competitors rise.
The Whopper once defined fast food excellence. Whopper, Burger King: This used to be the gold standard for quality fast-food burgers. Unfortunately, in a competitive burger market, it doesn’t quite stand out anymore. Sometimes legacy brands struggle to evolve with changing consumer expectations. The flame-broiled flavor that once set Burger King apart now competes with chains offering fresh beef, open-flame cooking, and more creative toppings.
A&W Papa Burger Surprises with Second Place Finish
The Papa Burger earns second place in 2025, offering two beef patties stacked with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and A&W’s signature sauce. While root beer may be the chain’s claim to fame, the Papa Burger proves A&W is just as serious about burgers. This placement shocked many industry observers who associate A&W primarily with floats and nostalgia rather than burger excellence. This classic has been a consistent fan favorite, previously securing the #2 spot in 2023. It continues to hold strong as one of America’s top fast-food burgers.
