Introduction
When it comes to burgers, there are a lot of options out there. But if you’re looking for the highest quality food, you should look no further than these four regional burger chains. From the West Coast to the East Coast, these four burger chains have been serving up delicious burgers for years. Whether you’re looking for a classic burger or something a little more unique, these four regional burger chains have something for everyone. So, if you’re looking for the best burger around, look no further than these four regional burger chains. Eat this, not that!
4 Regional Burger Chains With the Highest Quality Food
When it comes to burgers, there’s no shortage of options. From fast food chains to local restaurants, there’s something for everyone. But if you’re looking for the highest quality food, you’ll want to check out these four regional burger chains.
1. In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out Burger is a West Coast favorite, and for good reason. Their burgers are made with fresh, never frozen beef and are cooked to order. They also offer a variety of toppings, including their famous “Animal Style” option. Plus, their fries are cooked in 100% vegetable oil and their shakes are made with real ice cream.
2. Whataburger
Whataburger is a Texas-based chain that’s been around since 1950. They offer a variety of burgers, including their signature Whataburger, which is made with a quarter-pound of beef and served on a five-inch bun. They also offer a variety of toppings, including jalapenos, grilled onions, and their famous “Fancy Ketchup.”
3. Five Guys
Five Guys is a popular East Coast chain that’s been around since 1986. They offer a variety of burgers, including their signature “Little Bacon Burger,” which is made with two patties and topped with bacon, cheese, and their famous “Five Guys Sauce.” They also offer a variety of toppings, including grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, and jalapenos.
4. Culver’s
Culver’s is a Midwest chain that’s been around since 1984. They offer a variety of burgers, including their signature “ButterBurger,” which is made with a patty of fresh, never frozen beef and topped with real Wisconsin butter. They also offer a variety of toppings, including grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, and their famous “Cheddar Cheese Sauce.”
These four regional burger chains offer the highest quality food around. Whether you’re looking for a classic burger or something a little more adventurous, these chains have something for everyone. So the next time you’re in the mood for a burger, be sure to check out one of these regional chains.
When it comes to burger chains, the difference between regional and national brands can be difficult to define. Coastal favorites like In-N-Out and Shake Shack, for example, have only a fraction of, say, McDonald’s domestic store count—but nonetheless, rank among the top 14 largest burger chains by sales. As countless regional brands have proven over the years—from Culver’s and Hardee’s to Checker’s and Carl’s Jr.— “regionality” is by no means a barrier to financial success and popularity with customers.
In fact, of the top 14 burger chains by sales in 2020, nearly half were chains operating fewer than a thousand stores (several of which grossed more than a billion in sales). With such a crowded market, it’s worthwhile taking stock of which regional chains are mostly highly rated by customers. Here’s a look at four smaller-scale burger chains with the highest quality food, according to fans.
And don’t miss 5 Outdated Burger Chains Attempting to Make a Comeback.
Famous for its signature ButterBurger, made with fresh-never-frozen beef, the Wisconsin-based chain has been in the better burger business for nearly 40 years, having first set up shop in 1984. In terms of sales, Culver’s ranked among the top 25 U.S. fast-food chains in 2020, pulling in over $1.9 billion in sales with a footprint of just 782 stores. The chain’s restaurants are spread across 26 states but are concentrated in Wisconsin, on the west shore of Lake Michigan.
Culver’s ranked among the top five in this year’s USA Today’s Top 10 Best Regional Fast Food list, and has received rave reviews from Insider’s Frank Olito (who called the chain’s burgers “the best burger I’ve ever had”) as well as celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern, who recently named Culver’s as his go-to fast-food joint for road trips. The chain has a loyal following on Twitter, too, with fans going to bat for Culver’s as “[the] Midwest’s In N Out but better.”
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Founded in 1950, The Texas chain is beloved for its signature namesake item—a burger “so big that it [takes] two hands to hold.” Like Culver’s, Whataburger punches above its weight in terms of sales: in 2020, the chain raked in over $2.7 billion with a footprint of just 844 stores. The bulk of Whataburgers is located in Texas, but the chain’s footprint already spans 14 states and will continue to expand in the coming years.
A top-ranked regional burger chain, Whataburger is routinely pitted against California chain In-N-Out in terms of quality. (The comparison of the chains is unending on Twitter, and there’s even a Reddit discussion devoted to the topic). Hoping to put the matter to rest, Business Insider conducted a side-by-side test in 2019 and judged in favor of In-N-Out. Whataburger won the popular vote the same year, though, in a survey conducted by USA Today.
Cook Out got its start in 1989, and currently has a footprint of 313 stores spanning ten states. Founded in North Carolina, the burger and BBQ chain is mostly concentrated in the Southeast.
Above all else, Cook Out prides itself on the freshness of its ingredients. Similar to In-N-Out, the chain has its own meat commissary (founded in 1999), which keeps its stores supplied with fresh-never-frozen beef—ground, delivered, and cooked fresh every day.
Tasting Table ranked Cook Out alongside In-N-Out and Shake Shack, calling the chain’s burgers “basically like eating a burger off the grill in your backyard.”
A small-scale Alabama burger chain (with a current footprint of just 20 stores), Milo’s Hamburgers got its start in 1946 in Birmingham, founded by Milo Carlton, a former U.S. Army mess cook. In the restaurant’s first summer of business, Carlton invented and perfected “Milo’s Famous Sauce,” taking feedback from customers and finding the perfect balance of sweetness and spiciness.
Today, Milo’s is beloved for its flagship burger (which comes “drenched” in the Famous Sauce), as well as its three-ingredient Sweet Tea, which is so popular that the chain runs a separate business bottling the tea and supplying it to retailers.
A fixture of Alabama cuisine, Milo’s was named in 2019 one of “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die” by the Alabama Department of Tourism.
Owen Duff