Your favorite burger.

[davedove]

This comment will get me roasted but I will never understand the love for In-N-Out, 5 Guys, etc...  Maybe because I grew up where places like that did not exist. I suppose they are good when you compare them to other fast food joints.

For chains, they're pretty good.  The real problem is that most fast food chains start with a frozen hockey puck and then make it worse.  The best burgers do tend to come from independent stores, although just because a store is not part of a chain doesn't guarantee a good burger.  It's pretty much a crap shoot.  While chains generally don't have exceptional burgers, you can find some that are consistently good.

I've also found that, just like everything else, taste in burgers is very individual.  Some like the really thick burgers and some prefer the thinner ones.  Some like really rare ones and others can't stand anything less than well done.  So, no burger is ever the best burger for everyone.  The best a burger can do is get a majority of the votes.

[GolfLug]

For a chain, Yardhouse burgers are hard to beat... This one, gorgonzola, peppercorn burger with truffle fries is the best I have had.

[jsgolfer]

I like Freddy's Steakburgers and 5 Guys for the best chain burgers.

Yardhouse burgers are very good, as well as I like Red Robin, especially any burger with a fried (runny) egg on it.

[davedove]

I like Freddy's Steakburgers and 5 Guys for the best chain burgers.

Yardhouse burgers are very good, as well as I like Red Robin, especially any burger with a fried (runny) egg on it.

Freddy's is a really good burger, as are others that are similar, like Steak n' Shake and Culver's.  The smashed style burger is my favorite style.  I tend to favor Steak n' Shake, even though there are none really close to me, because of their price.  You can get several different burger and fry combinations for under $5.