I think I might have heard of Luby's once or twice, haven't seen a Fuddruckers in a couple of decades at least. I remember eating at one around 1994 or so in Florida while on a TDY (temporary duty assignment) -- I don't recall being either partcularly impressed or offended...

Jivaro wrote on Dec 2, 2020, 11:25:

Beamer wrote on Dec 1, 2020, 16:44:
Fuddrucker's parent company is liquidating, so, yeah, it's unlikely they'll still be here in 2021.

damn it 2020!

Both Fudd and Luby's have a message popup on their homepage about it (same parent company)

Message tldr "they plan to be around for a long time"
I hope so!

I'm more upset about losing Luby's.
https://www.fuddruckers.com/

https://www.lubys.com/

Beamer wrote on Dec 1, 2020, 16:44:
Fuddrucker's parent company is liquidating, so, yeah, it's unlikely they'll still be here in 2021.

damn it 2020!

Cook for myself? How uncivilized! yes, I am kidding

It's fucking burger people. If you want a good one go buy 1b ground beef at a grocer, cut it in half, but it in George Forman grill for 5-6 minutes and you pretty much beat any burger on the market other than a restaurant that knows how to really make a burger like you.

Fuddrucker's parent company is liquidating, so, yeah, it's unlikely they'll still be here in 2021.

RedEye9 wrote on Dec 1, 2020, 09:28:
No one ever mention Fuddruckers when the topic of good burgers arises.

Love me some Fuddruckers. Don't live close enough to get one very often. I like a place called The Habit here in California as well.

I don't like In&Out because, firstly, the name is a little TOO on point. Secondly, the burger patties are paper thin. The burger patty needs to be the largest part of a hamburger IMHO. There is nothing worse than biting all bread. I also find the whole animal menu stuff to be nonsense. I am not a fan of secret menus in general tho. Somebody likes them though, because the lines at the In&Out near me are out to the street all day. The rushes around meal times just make the line literally run out into the street. As they say, no accounting for taste.

Five Guys hamburgers are pretty good. The fries are bad and the one close to me is not a good one. It isn't clean consistently and the service is always "fuck, I don't want to be here" levels of depressing.

You aren't enjoying the true burger mastery of In-n-Out unless you're ordering a Double double 'Animal Style'. Just say it, they know what you're talking about.

Five Guys is the most restaurant-like of the fast food burgers. While that has its advantages, it's also a fairly mediocre restaurant burger, almost definitely cooked well done. Take away the toppings and it's pretty clear it's not the best beef and not the best cooked.

The only fast food burgers I'll eat are Shake Shack and In-n-Out. Shake Shack's quality is pretty apparent, though you pay for it, and though I can only speak for ones in the city (I've been to one in NJ and it didn't taste the same, for whatever reason.) But these two places don't do restaurant burgers, they do pressed burgers, a style you only find in places like them. If I want a restaurant burger, there are a dozen places near me that do a much better one than Five Guys (albeit for a higher cost.) But only two other places near me do pressed burgers, both trying to be like Shake Shack or In-n-Out (and, frankly, both are pretty good.)

I live near the Shake Shack test kitchen, and for a while it was doing an aged Pat Lafreida patty with Beecher's chedder. It was really damn good.

Burrito of Peace wrote on Dec 1, 2020, 08:22:
I have tried Five Guys three times, all three times I ended up having to stay close to a bathroom. Moreover, I found their food to be overpriced and underwhelming.For a solid burger in the Austin area, Dan's is where to go. Price is right and their hickory bacon BBQ cheeseburger is awesome. I prefer their curly fries over any other place's fries. Grab some extra napkins, though, because it is a classic diner grease burger.

Thanks for the pro tip, I live within 4 miles of the Airport Blvd location.

Burrito of Peace wrote on Dec 1, 2020, 08:22:
I have tried Five Guys three times, all three times I ended up having to stay close to a bathroom. Moreover, I found their food to be overpriced and underwhelming.For a solid burger in the Austin area, Dan's is where to go. Price is right and their hickory bacon BBQ cheeseburger is awesome. I prefer their curly fries over any other place's fries. Grab some extra napkins, though, because it is a classic diner grease burger.

Five Guys must be modeled after GM Steakhouse that was on Guadalupe. You literally had to sit on the toilet as you ate the burger, it was a staple after UT games.
Having moved from the Austin area I do miss Dan's
and the Juan in a Million breakfast taco.
What's The Real Story Behind Dan's And Fran's Hamburgers?
https://juaninamillion.com/
No one ever mention Fuddruckers when the topic of good burgers arises.

I have tried Five Guys three times, all three times I ended up having to stay close to a bathroom. Moreover, I found their food to be overpriced and underwhelming.For a solid burger in the Austin area, Dan's is where to go. Price is right and their hickory bacon BBQ cheeseburger is awesome. I prefer their curly fries over any other place's fries. Grab some extra napkins, though, because it is a classic diner grease burger.

Jonjonz wrote on Dec 1, 2020, 06:50:
If any of ya'll were from the south, you would know Backyard Burgers is where you go for burgers.

Lived in Montgomery for three years, never heard of 'em. Granted that was 25 years ago...

This comment was edited on Dec 1, 2020, 08:39.

If any of ya'll were from the south, you would know Backyard Burgers is where you go for burgers.

Mr. Tact wrote on Nov 30, 2020, 22:58:
We have a Five Guys in town here, but I've never been to it -- though I have been meaning to give them a try.. No Shake Shack. Best burgers as far as I know in town are a local hangout called "Farren's" -- I hope they are surviving the lull...

This country is probably going to lose 40-50% of its small businesses in some areas.

More on topic, Five Guys is probably the best burger chain around currently; I'm sure there are some local places that are better, but if you have to go to a chain, Five Guys is amazing. I have been quite underwhelmed by the other 'famous' smaller chains, In-n-Out, Shake Shack, etc. are all worse than Five Guys, at least the ones I've experienced.

We have a Five Guys in town here, but I've never been to it -- though I have been meaning to give them a try.. No Shake Shack. Best burgers as far as I know in town are a local hangout called "Farren's" -- I hope they are surviving the lull...

Krapalicious wrote on Nov 30, 2020, 19:52:
Five Guys, really? That's an interesting choice. One of my local Five Guys consistently offers terrible service, so I wouldn't go there again. But, I do like that you can put as many toppings as you want. But, it's kinda pricey if you don't do it. The long wait times to get your order aren't really worth it either.

I said this the other day, In-N-Out burgers are pretty good. Fries are trash.

Personally, I like the smokiness of Shake Shack. I love their crinkle fries too.

You had mentioned the secret of perfect fries from scratch, they gotta be twice cooked.
Deep fry once at low temp (they can be refrigerated for 24 hours) and then deep fry again at higher temp.
Heat oil to 325 degrees F.
Par cook until potatoes are light brown, 5 to 7 minutes.
When ready to serve heat oil to 350 degrees F.
Cook potatoes again until golden brown, about 2 minutes.
src
this recipe recommends the first cook at 275

My favorite restaurant style french fry are crinkle cut, all that surface area exposed to hot oil with more places to capture salt. drool

Five Guys, really? That's an interesting choice. One of my local Five Guys consistently offers terrible service, so I wouldn't go there again. But, I do like that you can put as many toppings as you want. But, it's kinda pricey if you don't do it. The long wait times to get your order aren't really worth it either.

I said this the other day, In-N-Out burgers are pretty good. Fries are trash.

Personally, I like the smokiness of the beef patties and the use of a potato bun at Shake Shack. I love their crinkle fries too.