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I ranked 13 fast-food double cheeseburgers from worst to best, and my favorite was also one of the cheapest

double cheeseburgers from McDonald's, White Castle, and In-N-Out
I tried double cheeseburgers from 13 fast-food chains to determine which was best.

Erin McDowell/Insider; Deutschlandreform/Shutterstock; Michael Vi/Shutterstock

  • We ranked double cheeseburgers from 13 fast-food chains to see which one reigns supreme.
  • 7th Street Burger, the smallest chain, blew me away with its saucy smash burger.
  • I thought In-N-Out's famous Double-Double was great value and undeniably delicious.

Practically every fast-food chain sells a double cheeseburger, but which one is the best?

Burgers remain one of the most popular foods in the US throughout the rest of the year. A 2023 report by Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation found that 79% of Americans order burgers at restaurants at least once a month. And, while chicken tenders may be the hottest fast-food menu item of the coming year, burger chains like McDonald's and Burger King still trump most chicken chains.

Over the years, I've tried practically every fast-food double cheeseburger on the market. For a definitive ranking, I tried double cheeseburgers from McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Shake Shack, White Castle, Whataburger, P. Terry's, Five Guys, Cook Out, Checkers, Sonic, 7th Street Burger, and In-N-Out.

Here's every fast-food double cheeseburger ranked from worst to best.

My least favorite double cheeseburger was from Burger King. It cost me $3.89.
The author holds a burger king double cheeseburger
Burger King's double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The burger was under $5, but I'm not sure it was worth the price.

It comes with two of the chain's beef patties, American cheese, pickles, mustard, and ketchup on a sesame-seed bun.
burger king double cheeseburger
Burger King's double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

It comes with one slice of cheese.

This burger was super filling, but I liked the other burgers I tried more.
burger king double cheeseburger
Burger King's double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Right away, I tasted the thick beef patties. The burger had traveled a little more than 15 minutes from my local Burger King to my apartment, but the meat was still juicy and the cheese nicely melted.

The pickle slices were thick and crunchy, and I enjoyed the sesame-seed bun, which added a nice textural element. But I thought there was just a little too much ketchup, which will likely vary depending on who's making your burger that day.

It was also a little heavy for my liking. It filled me up a little more than I had anticipated before jumping into the rest of theΒ burger comparison. Still, for a burger that costs just under $4, that might be more of an asset than a hindrance if you want a filling, inexpensive lunch.

Next was Wendy's double cheeseburger, which the chain calls a Double Stack. I ordered it for $4.49.
wendys meal
Wendy's double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

It was about the same price as the burgers from McDonald's and Burger King, though it landed squarely in the middle in terms of value.

A Wendy's double cheeseburger comes with two junior-size hamburger patties, American cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, and sweet onion.
wendys meal
The Wendy's Double Stack.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The toppings looked a little stingy, and they were clustered in the middle of the sandwich. I would have liked to see them more spread out.

The burger bun was fluffy and light, and the toppings had a ton of flavor.
wendys meal
Wendy's double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

But I had to get a few bites in to reach the toppings in the center.

The toppings themselves were amazing. I thought the pickles were the most flavorful out of the burgers I tried, and I liked the use of an onion ring rather than diced onion, although I would've liked more.

The McDonald's double cheeseburger cost me $5.79.
The author holds a mcdonalds double cheeseburger
McDonald's double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

It was slightly more expensive than Wendy's version but had more toppings. It came with an extra slice of American cheese plus chopped onions, and I thought it was still relatively affordable.

The double cheeseburger from McDonald's comes with two beef patties, pickles, chopped onions, ketchup, mustard, and two slices of American cheese.
mcdonalds double cheeseburger
McDonald's double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I was interested to see if the added toppings would amp up the flavor.

I thought the ingredients came together well in this burger, but the bun was a little lackluster.
mcdonalds double cheeseburger
McDonald's double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The bun held everything together and was a good size, but it was a little too soft and didn't have a lot of flavor on its own. But I enjoyed the amount of condiments and didn't find them overpowering.

The chopped onions added a lot of flavor, and the burger patties were juicy despite being thinner than the Burger King ones. I liked the added cheese but didn't think it was necessary.

Next up was the double-meat Whataburger with cheese.
whataburger double cheeseburger in paper packaging on blue background
Whataburger double meat burger with cheese.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

It costs $9 at a Whataburger in Austin, excluding tax and fees.

I ordered it with a large bun, American cheese, grilled peppers and onions, pickles, and ketchup.
whataburger double cheeseburger
Whataburger double meat burger with cheese.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The burger was a decent size and I could see the gooey cheese peeking out from underneath the soft potato bun.Β 

Unlike the other double cheeseburgers, this burger had sliced jalapeΓ±o peppers that I imagined would add quite the kick.
open whataburger double cheeseburger
Whataburger double meat burger with cheese.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The ingredients definitely set this burger apart from the others.

I thought the burgers had a delightfully crispy texture to them, and the toppings added a ton of flavor.
bitten into whataburger double cheeseburger
Whataburger double meat burger with cheese.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The bun was light and fluffy, but I did think the burger patties could have been a little thicker and juicier.

Coming in ninth was the double cheeseburger from P. Terry's Burger Stand, a regional chain I visited in Austin.
p terrys double cheeseburger
P. Terry's double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The burger cost only $5, making it one of the cheaper burgers I tried.

Despite being less expensive than the Whataburger double cheeseburger, the P. Terry's burger was larger.
p terrys double cheeseburger
P. Terry's double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I ordered it with pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard, and American cheese.

I again thought the cheese could have been more melted, but the size definitely made up for that small detail.
p terrys double cheeseburger
P. Terry's double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

One of the benefits of ordering from P. Terry's is that you can easily customize your burger and add a number of toppings including grilled onions, the chain's special sauce, tomato, lettuce, and more.

I thought the burgers were juicy and the pickles had a tart crunch to them.
bitten into p terrys double cheeseburger
P. Terry's double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The bun was slightly underwhelming, but I thought it was an excellent, large burger with tons of flavor, especially for the low price. I also thought the mustard really came through and added a lot to the burger.

The double cheeseburger from Shake Shack was the second most expensive burger I tried.
shake shack double cheeseburger in paper wrapping on blue background
Shake Shack double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I paid $12.49 for a double cheeseburger. I could customize my toppings, but I went with pickles, onions, and Shack sauce.

Right away, I thought the burger was massive.
shake shack double cheeseburger in paper wrapping on blue background
Shake Shack double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The burger patties were perfectly crispy on the outside and covered in gooey melted cheese. The pickles also looked large and homemade. It was even heavy to pick up.

The toppings were generous and the chain's signature Shack sauce, which is a mayo-based sauce with a slight mustard flavor, made it really tasty.
shake shack double cheeseburger in paper wrapping on blue background
Shake Shack double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The cheese was thick and perfectly melted.

However, biting into the Shake Shack burger was a little overwhelming, in my opinion.
bitten into shake shack double cheeseburger in paper wrapping on blue background
Shake Shack double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The burger wasΒ huge, which was both an asset and a hindrance. I struggled to get through more than a few bites.

However, despite being the second most expensive burger, I thought it was worth the price. The burger patties were much thicker than the other burgers I tried, and the toppings took it over the edge in terms of flavor.

Overall, I was impressed ... but stuffed.

In seventh place was the double-decker burger with cheese from Checkers.
checkers double cheeseburger
Checkers double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The burger has since been replaced with the Big Buford, which has all the same ingredients but a bakery-style bun instead of a sesame-seed bun. The burger costs $7.69 at my local Checkers in Brooklyn.

I thought this burger was a little pricey for the size.
checkers double cheeseburger
Checkers double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

It was smaller than my hand, though it did include a variety of toppings like tomato, lettuce, and red onion. The burger also comes with American cheese, dill pickles, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise on a toasted bun.

The burger patties were very juicy and the toppings tasted fresh.
checkers double cheeseburger
Checkers double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I also thought the American cheese was very tangy and flavorful. Overall, I enjoyed the combination of flavors. However, the price prevented this burger from ranking higher.Β 

I also tried the double cheese slider from White Castle.
white castle double cheeseburger on blue background
White Castle double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

White Castle sliders tend to be eaten in pairs, so I ordered two. Each burger cost me $3.55, so I ended up paying $7.10.

The burgers were small but packed with flavor.
white castle double cheeseburger on blue background
White Castle double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The burgers smelled strongly of onions and condiments the second I removed them from the bag.

The amount of toppings on each burger was generous.
white castle double cheeseburger on blue background
White Castle double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The pickles were crunchy and flavorful. Though the burgers each had a bun sandwiched in the middle of the burger, it wasn't too bready β€” instead, it allowed the flavors to really come together while still being filling.

I was blown away by the cheeseburgers from White Castle, a result I admittedly wasn't expecting.
white castle double cheeseburger on blue background
White Castle double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

As the cheapest and smallest burgers, I was expecting them to be a little lackluster. However, I found that good things definitely come in small packages. The onions, condiments, and pickles were flavorful, but it was the beef that really impressed me.

The small-but-mighty burger was one of the most flavorful out of the ones I tried, easy to eat, and perfectly priced.Β 

My fifth-favorite double cheeseburger was from Five Guys.
five guys cheeseburger
Five Guys cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Five Guys doesn't technically have a "double cheeseburger" β€” its regular cheeseburgers already come with two slices of cheese and two beef patties.

My burger cost $13.55, excluding taxes and fees, making it the most expensive burger I tried.

I was able to customize my toppings, but I ordered the burger with pickles, grilled onions, ketchup, and mustard.
five guys cheeseburger
Five Guys cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Right away, I noticed that the toppings were generous. The pickle slices were large, and none of the toppings cost extra to add.

The burger was large without being too intimidating.
five guys cheeseburger
Five Guys cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I thought it was a perfect size. It required two hands to pick up and eat, but it wasn't as heavy as the burger from Shake Shack. Slices of melted American cheese coated each burger, and there wasn't so much sauce that it dripped out from underneath the sesame-seed buns.

The burger patties were crispy on the outside but juicy on the inside.
five guys cheeseburger
Five Guys cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I thought the pickle slices were thick, crunchy, and tart. I also really enjoyed the choice of a sesame-seed bun β€” it added a bit of texture to each and every bite.

The grilled onions also really impressed me. They were soft and almost caramelized, adding a lot of flavor that I didn't get from any other burger.

My fourth-favorite double cheeseburger came from Sonic Drive-In.
sonic double cheeseburger in tin foil wrapping on blue background
SuperSonic double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The SuperSonic double cheeseburger was the only burger I tried that came with lettuce and tomato. Since this was the default option, I decided to try it with these toppings rather than specifically remove them.Β 

The burger cost me $9.75, excluding taxes and fees.

The burger came with a hearty serving of shredded lettuce, tomatoes, two slices of cheese, diced onions, pickles, mayonnaise, and ketchup.
open faced sonic double cheeseburger in tin foil wrapping on blue background
Sonic double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Unlike Sonic's quarter-pound double cheeseburger, which comes with two junior patties, the full-size burger has a combined half-pound of meat.Β 

The bun was perfectly soft but still held the sauce-covered burger together.
bitten into sonic double cheeseburger in tin foil wrapping on blue background
Sonic double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The ingredients tasted fresh and vibrant. The tomato wasn't too watery, the lettuce was crisp, and the burgers tasted well-seasoned and juicy. Plus, the burger was a very generous size.Β 

However, despite all these accolades, I thought the price was a little steep compared to what I got from Cook Out and In-N-Out.

My third-favorite double cheeseburger came from Cook Out, a regional chain I visited in South Carolina.
cook out double cheeseburger
Cook Out big double burger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

You can order a "big double" from Cook Out any way you wish, but I ordered mine with cheese, ketchup, mustard, onions, and pickles. It cost me $4.99, not including tax.

The burger came wrapped in foil and featured two juicy patties.
cook out double cheeseburger
Cook Out big double burger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

It also had thick slices of fresh onion and large pickle spears layered on top of the burger.

For the price, I thought the burger was out of this world.
cook out double cheeseburger
Cook Out big double burger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The cheese slices were thick and tangy, and the burger was perfectly moist and medium-rare. It was also very large, and, after already eating dinner, I struggled to get through more than a few bites, though I kept wanting to go back for more.

At an amazingly low price, this burger definitely earned the second-to-top spot on my ranking.

My second favorite came from 7th Street Burger, a smaller chain based in New York City.
7th street burger double cheeseburger
7th Street Burger double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

7th Street Burger is a small chain of quick-service burger restaurants with 19 locations in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, DC.

Since it opened in 2021, the chain has quickly grown a reputationΒ for its no-frills approach to smashΒ burgers, which feature crispy patties, gooey cheese, and the chain's signature sauce.

I ordered a double cheeseburger, which comes with two beef patties, American cheese, onions, pickles, and house sauce on a Martin's potato bun. It cost $9.50, excluding tax and fees.

There wasn't much customization to do for this burger β€” you can't order it with lettuce or tomato.
7th street burger double cheeseburger
7th Street Burger double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

However, this burger was perfect exactly as the chain designed it. The burger patties were delightfully crispy on the outside yet managed to stay juicy.

Melted slices of cheese oozed between the two thin, expertly griddled, and charred beef patties, all smothered in the chain's signature sauce, a creamy, tangy take on classic burger sauce.

The burger was served on a pillowy-soft potato roll, which kept things simple.
7th street burger double cheeseburger
7th Street Burger double cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

There were no lettuce or tomato slices to cut through the rich, savory indulgence, but that only added to the burger's savory flavor. I didn't miss the opportunity to customize my burger with additional toppings. It was probably the best smash burger I've ever had.

With pickles and onions to round out the flavor, the double cheeseburger offered a satisfying, nostalgic flavor that elevated the classic smash burger experience.

In my opinion, the best double cheeseburger I tried was the famous Double-Double burger from In-N-Out.
in n out double double, fries, and drink on blue background
In-N-Out Double-Double burger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

It cost me $4.90, which I thought was an excellent deal for the large burger sitting in front of me. One of the first things I noticed was how thick the burger patties were β€” they were much thicker than other burgers I tried at a similar price point.

Most Double-Double burgers come with lettuce, tomato, onions, and spread.
in n out double double on blue background
In-N-Out Double-Double burger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

To keep my burger similar to the other burgers I tried, I ordered it with onions, pickles, and spread, which I thought tasted similar to Thousand Island dressing.

The first thing I noticed about the In-N-Out burger was how juicy the burger patties were, followed by the incredible layers of cheese.
bitten into in n out double double on blue background
In-N-Out Double-Double burger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The cheese slices were perfectly melted and coated each part of the burger, something I couldn't say about any other burger I tried.

The bun was perfectly soft and held everything together perfectly, while the special spread had my mouth watering for another bite.

Of all the burgers I tried, I thought the In-N-Out double cheeseburger packed the most flavor for the best price.
bitten into in n out double double on blue background
In-N-Out Double-Double burger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

When it came to a double cheeseburger, the West-Coast chain really nailed it. The burger was beyond flavorful, the perfect size, and, in my opinion, very good value for money.

The next time I'm in a state with an In-N-Out, I know where I'll be filling my burger craving.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I compared double cheeseburgers from famous East and West Coast chains. The cheaper one had a slight edge.

in n out double double and 7th street burger double smashed burger
I compared two famous burgers from the East and West Coast, and the cheaper burger won.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

  • I compared two famous burgers from the East and West Coast.
  • In-N-Out's animal-style Double Double burger was large and came with lots of toppings.
  • The gooey cheese and soft bun of the double cheeseburger from 7th Street Burger in NYC blew me away.

There's a lot of debate over which coast has the best, well, everything.

From pizza to Mexican food and, of course, burgers, foodies on both sides of the country will always claim their coast does it best.

To see how famous burger chains from each coast compared, I tried cheeseburgers from one West Coast-based and one East Coast-based chain: In-N-Out's iconic Double Double animal-style cheeseburger and 7th Street Burger's smashed double cheeseburger.

Founded in New York City in 2021, 7th Street Burger now has 19 locations in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, DC, and has grown a reputation for its no-frills approach to smash burgers featuring crispy patties, gooey cheese, and the chain's signature sauce. Infatuation called it one of the best burgers in the city and "an unapologetic salute to salt and fat."

In-N-Out, on the other hand, is an institution on the West Coast thanks to its simple menu dating back to its founding in 1948 and the popularity and arguable cult following associated with its "animal-style" burgers. It's now in eight states, and in 2023, it opened its 400th restaurant.

The chain's president,Β Lynsi Snyder,Β has said the In-N-Out has no plans to expand to the East Coast, much to the dismay of fans outside the west and southwest regions of the US.

Here's how these two famous burgers compared in terms of taste and value.

In-N-Out is commonly thought of as a Californian chain, but I visited an In-N-Out restaurant in Austin.
in n out burger
The In-N-Out location was painted a bright white to accent the chain's signature red branding.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

When I arrived in Austin, In-N-Out Burger was one of the first places on my must-visit list. Luckily, the nearest location was just a short drive from my hotel in South Austin.

When I arrived at the restaurant, I spotted the iconic yellow-and-red logo on the crisp white building. As someone from the East Coast, this would be my first time experiencing In-N-Out and I couldn't wait to try it.

I ordered a Double-Double burger "animal style" and an order of fries.
in n out burger meal
The burger came wrapped in paper.

Erin McDowell/Insider

In-N-Out's most iconic menu item is arguably its Double Double burger, so I knew I had to try it.

Although I've heard mixed reviews on the chain's plain fries, since I ordered the burger animal style, I decided to order them on their own rather than "animal style" or with cheese.

The burger came partially wrapped in paper, which made it easy to hold and bite into.
in n out double double animal style burger
The burger came with two patties, lettuce, tomato, and gooey cheese, plus sauce with onions.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The Double-Double includes two patties, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, and spread, but ordering it animal-style adds mustard-cooked patties, pickles, extra spread, and grilled onions.

When I visited in 2021, the entire meal came to $11.80, including tax, which I thought was a fair price considering how much food I received. The price of a Double Double has since risen from $4.50 to an average price of $5.29 at some locations, ABC News reported in June.

The cheese and sauce practically oozed out of the burger. I wasn't complaining.
in n out double double animal style burger
The burger was large and loaded with flavorful toppings.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

After biting into the massive burger, tangy mustard, pickles, and onions hit my tongue.

The pickles were tart and crunchy, the beef patties were over-the-top juicy and flavorful, and the cheese-to-meat ratio was spot-on.

The onions added a lot of flavor and the spread stood out with its rich, savory taste. It reminded me more of Thousand-Island dressing rather than a typical burger special sauce.

The toppings tasted fresh and added a lot of flavor to the burger.
in n out double double animal style burger
I liked the toppings, sauce, and cheese on this burger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The burger patties themselves were on the thinner side, and I thought they were just OK. To me, the real standouts of this burger were the layers of melted cheese, the tangy sauce, and the lettuce, tomato, and pickles.

If I were grasping to find other criticisms, I also wasn't blown away by the bun. It was soft yet didn't have much flavor on its own, and it was slightly dry and crumbly.

However, this was a truly exceptional burger, and once earned the top spot on my ranking of every fast-food double cheeseburger.

I was eager to see how the New York-based chain would stack up against this West Coast icon.

I was interested to see if 7th Street Burger in New York City could top In-N-Out as my favorite fast-food burger.
7th street burger in the lower east side manhattan
I visited the 7th Street Burger location on the Lower East Side in Manhattan.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

When I arrived at the Lower East Side location in Manhattan on a rainy weekday, there were hardly any people inside the small standing-room-only restaurant.

However, on the weekend at its flagship East 7th Street location, you can typically expect to wait in line to try one of its famous smash burgers.

I ordered a double cheeseburger with fries and a side of the chain's signature sauce for dipping.
7th street burger double cheeseburger
The cheeseburger was deliciously greasy.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

When I unwrapped my burger, the first thing I noticed was how greasy it was. The paper was practically dripping.

However, the burger patties appeared perfectly crispy, and I could see layers of gooey cheese emerging from the burger.

The cheeseburger also smelled heavenly β€” I imagined it would be the perfect antidote to the many nearly identical salads I typically eat during the workweek.

The burger came smothered in sauce, cheese, and chopped grilled onions.
7th street burger double cheeseburger
The burger had a hearty serving of house sauce on it.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The double cheeseburger comes with two fresh beef burger patties, American cheese, onions, pickles, and house sauce on a Martin's potato bun.

My burger cost $9.50, a side of fries set me back $4.50, and I paid an additional $1 for a side of the house sauce. This was almost double the price of the In-N-Out burger, so the West Coast chain immediately won in terms of value.

No matter how good a fast-food burger is, I struggle to find a reason to pay nearly $10 for one.

Potential reasons for In-N-Out's low prices include its limited menus, a focus on in-house production, and a strategic real-estate plan that places restaurants close to one another and to highways for more efficient deliveries.

In-N-Out also has many more locations than 7th Street Burger, with around 400 total locations compared to just 19, and is a bigger, more profitable company, which could make it easier to keep prices lower for the consumer.

Business Insider reached out to 7th Street Burger for comment on its prices but did not immediately hear back.

The burger patties were decadently crispy but still retained their juiciness.
7th street burger double cheeseburger
The burger came on a Martin's potato roll.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Slices of gooey cheese were nestled between the two thin, perfectly griddled, and charred beef patties and a generous serving of the chain's house sauce, which resembled a tangy, creamy burger sauce.

Held together by a squishy, soft potato roll, this burger was definitely no-frills. There wasn't any lettuce or tomato to cut through the intensely savory fat bomb I was eating, but I didn't mind.

Topped with pickles and onions, this burger delivered a balanced, classic flavor profile that elevated what a standard smash burger can be.

I was truly torn over which burger I preferred.
7th street burger double cheeseburger
I liked the patties and bun better on the 7th Street Burger cheeseburger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The pros for the 7th Street Burger double cheeseburger were the sauce, crispy patties, and the bun.

However, In-N-Out impressed me with its fresh toppings, equally gooey cheese, the sheer size of the burger, and the comparatively low price.

The burgers were also so different in their design. 7th Street Burger does smash burgers, and does them well. Both burgers were incredible in their own right but, if I had to choose just one, I think I'd betray my East-Coast roots and opt for the burger from out west.

In my opinion, In-N-Out's Double Double animal-style simply can't be topped in terms of flavor, size, and value.

However, before I get out to the West Coast again, 7th Street Burger is a perfectly adequate alternative for an out-of-this-world fast-food burger.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I tried the biggest burgers at 5 fast-food chains and ranked them from worst to best

fast food biggest burgers
I tried the biggest burgers at McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, In-N-Out, and Shake Shack.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider; NYC Russ/Shutterstock; Savvapanf Photo/Shutterstock; rafapress/Shutterstock

  • I tried the biggest burgers at McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, In-N-Out, and Shake Shack.
  • Shake Shack's burger was a little overwhelming, in my opinion.
  • Burger King's Triple Whopper impressed me with its flame-grilled patties and fresh toppings.

The biggest burgers at fast-food chains are usually among the more expensive menu items, but which burger is worth that extra cost?

Fast-food costs are a hot topic. Hikes in fast-food prices and "shrinkflation" β€” a phenomenon in which customers claim menu items are getting smaller while either remaining the same price or costing more β€” are upsetting customers, and chains are coming out swinging with meal deals aimed at luring customers back. Yet, as some chains see declines in sales, brands are also thinking beyond limited-time promotions.

"We're thinking about value," Wendy's CFO Gunther Plosch said in October, Business Insider reported. "We absolutely believe that value in an environment of value-seeking consumers is not about only executing price-pointed promotions and value deals and value bundles β€” there's more to that."

In a bid to find out which chain offered the best value on its bigger-ticket items, I recently compared six of the largest burgers sold at fast-food chains. I tested burgers from McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, In-N-Out, and Shake Shack to see how they stacked up in terms of taste, price, and overall value.

Shake Shack's double cheeseburger was a little too heavy for my liking, while Wendy's and Burger King both impressed me with their triple-stacked burgers.Β 

Here's how the biggest burgers at five fast-food chains ranked, from worst to best.

Shake Shack's double cheeseburger, my personal least favorite, was particularly large.
shake shack double cheeseburger in paper wrapping on blue background
Shake Shack's double cheeseburger was the most expensive I tried.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

It cost me $12.49, not including tax, making it the most expensive burger I tried. I chose pickles, onions, and Shack sauce as my toppings.

The burger patties were perfectly crispy on the outside and covered in gooey melted cheese.
shake shack double cheeseburger in paper wrapping on blue background
The double cheeseburger was huge.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The pickles were large and crunchy, and the amount of other toppings was generous. The chain's signature Shack sauce also added a lot of flavor, and the cheese was perfectly melted.

However, the burger was almost too heavy to pick up.

Biting into the Shake Shack burger was a little overwhelming, in my opinion.
bitten into shake shack double cheeseburger in paper wrapping on blue background
The burger was too much for me.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I know I purposefully ordered the largest burger on the menu, but this burger was massive. I saw it as a hindrance rather than an asset, and I struggled to get through more than a few bites.

Despite being the most expensive burger, I'm not sure it was worth it. The burger patties were much thicker than quite a few of the other burgers I tried, and the toppings definitely enhanced the flavor. However, it was simply too big, to the point where it tasted like a giant meat-and-cheese grease-bomb.Β 

My second-to-least favorite burger was a classic: a McDonald's Big Mac.
mcdonalds big mac
McDonald's Big Mac is iconic.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I was conflicted over whether the biggest burger at McDonald's was the Big Mac β€” which is physically the largest thanks to the extra bun β€” or the Double Quarter-Pounder, which is the burger with the most meat. I decided to try both to appease both sets of McDonald's fans who argue for one over the other.

A Big Mac cost me $7.29 at my local McDonald's, excluding tax.

There was a generous layer of pickles, lettuce, and sauce on the sandwich.
mcdonalds big mac
McDonald's Big Mac was also stacked high with toppings.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The burger patties weren't overwhelming, nor was the sandwich as a whole. I also liked the tangy, creamy Big Mac sauce. However, I thought the added bun made the sandwich taste too much like bread and the other flavors were slightly lost, in my opinion.

The sandwich was a good size and very filling, but I wasn't crazy about the flavor profile.
mcdonalds big mac
I mostly tasted sauce and bread.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I simply wanted more flavor happening. Between the extra bun and the generous serving of Big Mac sauce, that was all I could taste. Tomato, cheese, or simply other condiments might have taken the sandwich to the next level.

The 4x4 is the largest burger available at In-N-Out.
in n out 4x4
In-N-Out's 4x4 is also known as the "Quad Quad."

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The burger, which is on In-N-Out's "not-so-secret" menu, is also referred to as the "Quad Quad," and comes with four beef patties, four cheese slices, lettuce, tomato, spread, and the option to add onions. It cost $9.49, excluding tax and fees.

The giant burger was difficult to hold in one hand, let alone bite into.
in n out 4x4
The burger was delicious.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The burger was far too large for me to eat in one sitting, though the flavor made me want to.Β 

All of the elements of the burger were delicious, from the juicy beef patties to the layers of cheese and fresh lettuce and tomato.
in n out 4x4
In-N-Out's 4x4 was heavy.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

However, the additional burger patties ended up detracting from the burger's overall ranking instead of enhancing it. The burger was overwhelmingly heavy, with the tomato and lettuce failing to offset the excessive amount of meat and cheese.

The buns couldn't contain the juicy beef patties, and they started disintegrating as I ate the burger. Truthfully, I wouldn't order this again. Although it was tasty, the amount of meat was just too much for me.

I also tried McDonald's Double Quarter-Pounder with cheese. I preferred it over the Big Mac.
mcdonalds double quarter pounder burger
McDonald's Double Quarter-Pounder with cheese.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Looking at the burger in the box, I immediately noticed that it had more meat than the Big Mac. The meat was clearly the star of the show, with the other toppings barely visible beneath the patties and bun.

The burger cost me $9.79, excluding tax. I thought this was a fair price for the meat-heavy burger.

The Double Quarter-Pounder with cheese comes with a whopping half-pound of meat, pickles, onions, ketchup, and mustard.
mcdonalds double quarter pounder burger
The bun let this burger down.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I found this burger to be pretty flavorful, especially thanks to the condiments and large slices of crunchy pickles. However, I wasn't crazy about the bun β€” while I normally love a sesame-seed bun, I found this one to be pretty bland, airy, and artificial-tasting.

I would order this burger again.
mcdonalds double quarter pounder burger
McDonald's Double Quarter-Pounder with cheese felt more manageable than some of the other burgers.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Despite having a lot of meat, the burger didn't feel too overwhelming to eat. I thought it was a realistic sandwich, especially compared to the gigantic burgers from Shake Shack and In-N-Out.

The second-best burger I tried was Wendy's Dave's Triple.
wendys daves triple
Wendy's Dave's Triple has three patties.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

When I arrived at my local Wendy's drive-thru, this extra-large burger wasn't even on the menu. However, thanks to my online research, I knew it could be made and decided to order it anyway. I did wonder how popular this sandwich was, and if many people opt for the triple-patty burger.

The Dave's Triple burger cost $11.24, excluding tax.

Wendy's Dave's Triple burger comes with nearly a pound of beef, American cheese, crisp lettuce, tomato, pickle, ketchup, mayo, and onion.
wendys daves triple
Wendy's Dave's Triple had generous toppings.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The sandwich was difficult to pick up, but all of the ingredients appeared to be well-balanced. There was a large serving of tomatoes, pickles, and cheese, so it didn't look like the beef patties would be overpowered.Β 

I thought this burger had a ton of flavor. The cheese was perfectly melted, and the patties were super juicy.
wendys daves triple
This was a great-tasting burger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

While I personally couldn't finish the entire thing, I definitely thought the flavors were there and it was a good value for the price.

If I were to change one thing, it would be to remove the mayonnaise. It ended up mixing with the juice from the tomatoes in an unappetizing way, creating a tomato-mayo sauce that I thought brought the other flavors down.

My favorite burger I tried was the Triple Whopper with cheese from Burger King.
burger king triple whopper
My favorite burger was Burger King's Triple Whopper with cheese.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Similar to the Dave's Triple, the Triple Whopper also comes with three quarter-pound beef patties, although the ones at Burger King are flame-grilled. The burger cost me $11.29, excluding tax, making it the second-most expensive burger I tried.

Unlike the other burgers, the Triple Whopper only comes with one slice of cheese.
burger king triple whopper
The burger toppings tasted fresh.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

However, I felt that this allowed the other flavors to really come through, and it led to a less gut-filling, more appetizing eating experience.

The lettuce, tomatoes, and onions all tasted fresh, and they added a delicious crunch to the burger.

I also liked the beef patties on this burger the most out of the ones I tried.
burger king triple whopper
I would definitely order the Burger King Triple Whopper with cheese again.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The burger patties had a smoky, savory flavor that made the sandwich taste fresh off the grill. I also thought the patties' shape, which were larger in circumference but flatter than some of the other burgers, made the sandwich easier to eat.Β 

Overall, I really enjoyed this burger and would definitely order it again β€” if I have the appetite.

While I'm not sure I'm happy to pay more than $10 for any fast-food burger, it was a very generous serving and the most flavorful out of the bunch, without being overwhelmingly huge.

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