Board 8 > A Five Guys restaurant finally moved into my area and I was blown away by....

(+) Yeah! (+)

I have heard of the name Five Guys but we never had one in our area, so when one opened up in our area, me and my family were excited to go try it out. When we got there, we noticed how empty the parking lot was. At 5:30 on a weeknight, we thought it would be a little more active. We walked in and noticed just one couple sitting at a table.

As we approach the counter, we look up at the menu board and our jaws just hit the floor. They wanted $10.49 for just a basic hamburger. And that's just for the hamburger. That's not a value basket price or anything. The prices went up from there if you wanted cheese or any sort of specialty burger. Fries were about $5. So you were easily looking at $15+ for just a burger and fries with no drink.

After sharing a moment of shock and disbelief, we just walked out. Literally the gourmet burger restaurant down the street (Red Robin) is cheaper than this place, and that includes tip.

Maybe Five Guys can survive in regions where they have been able to develop a reputation of some sorts, but I have no idea how that restaurant is going to survive here. Easily the most expensive burgers in town except maybe the fancy restaurants downtown. I don't care if the meat is fresh. I don't care if they give a generous portion of fries. Them prices are crazy.

That is all.

I would've at least picked up some fries. That's what they're known for, right? But if you didn't have to wait in line so I guess it's fine.

I mean it's the same as shake shack or smash burger

Not really my thing but it's a solid step up from a $7 McDonald's burger

They do give you enough fries to feed a small army, but otherwise, I don't really find them worth the price.

the cajun fries are good

Wait til you see the price of a hotdog..

It's amazing what people will pay to have a restaurant cook their burger less.

I got Wendy's the other day and the burgers were like $8.50. Would rather pay $10 for Five Guys I think.

Note that their basic hamburger has two patties.

I am surprised to know that somewhere actually has a Five Guys with a higher price than my local one though

in fairness the hamburger there starts as a double patty unless you request the smaller one and they stack the toppings on thick. It isn't my go-to when I went a CHEAP burger, but it's in the rotation when I want a GOOD burger.

masterplum posted...

I mean it's the same as shake shack or smash burger

Not really my thing but it's a solid step up from a $7 McDonald's burger

I mean Wendys, Carls Jr., Jack In the Box, etc. are also solid steps up from McDonalds while only being slightly more expensive.

Five Guys food IS really good, but you definitely pay for it.

Kenri posted...

I got Wendy's the other day and the burgers were like $8.50. Would rather pay $10 for Five Guys I think.

Remember, $10 is the price for literally just meat on a bun.

I used to love Five Guys, and they're still delicious, but yeah their prices just aren't excusable anymore.

You used to be able to get like two bacon cheeseburgers and a large fry to split for like $20, which was still kinda pricy but it was worth it, but now the same meal will cost you like $35 and at that point it's just not worth it anymore

I think it's partially the location that they chose to set up shop that's going to hurt them possibly. As I mentioned, they are blocks away from a gourmet burger restaurant (that offers bottomless fries with all their meals by the way), but they are also a few blocks away from a very popular jumbo burger/frozen custard shop. Politicians that visit always stop there. It's one of those kind of places. The burgers there are already on the expensive side. I think they charge $8.50, which is still a couple dollars cheaper than Five Guys.

I don't know. Maybe I'll try out Five Guys by myself once just to see if the food is worth it...I guess we just experienced sticker shock when we were not expecting it, and it took us by surprise.

Haven't been to five guys in years, but I'm pretty sure they didn't charge for toppings. Don't remember how much they cost, seems like your prices are way higher

Used to go there for lunch in nyc sometimes. their burgers were humongous

Right you just pay the flat price and they hook the topics up. I get "all the way + barbecue sauce" on a bacon cheeseburger.

I very much liked their food the few times that I've had it, but that's how I feel about their prices too. They're not "cheap fast food" and they're not "a step above cheap fast food". They're one step above that tier, but you're pretty much paying "real food" prices for food that's not necessarily restaurant-tier. Or you could get a pizza for the same price as a Five Guys meal and at least you get more food for the cost.

Shame because as I said their burgers are good, just not justifiable to buy.

Five Guys prices are insane, yeah. Their food is good but it's really hard to feel good about eating it when there's basically no argument to justify them compared to the glut of far more competitively priced options, at least in my area.

Forceful_Dragon posted...

Right you just pay the flat price and they hook the topics up. I get "all the way + barbecue sauce" on a bacon cheeseburger.

I did notice this when looking at the menu. They have an incredibly high floor price, but then additional toppings/burger options only went up in price minimally. Very odd pricing scheme.

Looking through everyone's comments, I'm glad I'm not alone in thinking their prices are a bit extreme.

One of our Five Guys locations here closed a couple months ago because there were cheaper options that were just as good a block away.

People who don't live near that one would prefer to spend the same price on a Bacon Deluxe basket at Culver's anyway. You get a lot more and it's still significantly better than the cheap options.

I don't know how much longer Five Guys can stick around given what they're charging. People who want to spend more on a burger can go to a sit down restaurant and get one for $12. Why would they go to a fast food place?

yeah the five guys near me recently raised their burger to $10.59

their burgers are really good, but I never would have expected them to go over $10 lol

I definitely think Five Guys is overrated, ecen outside the price.

It's not awful, and it's a step up from the main fast food burgers, but just barely, and there TONS of fast, better burger places in my area. It's never worth it.

Where do you live that $15 for burgers/fries is outrageous? Or have you not looked at Red Robins prices recently? Mine is $15 for burger/fries, def not cheaper including tip. Five Guys tastes way better than Red Robin too.

I do think it's a lot but fast food and chain restaurants in general have been really expensive for 5+ years, and went up around 50% in the last 2 years for obvious reasons. You're paying for familiarity with them, and to some extent speed. But they've been slow for 5+ years too. McD and Wendy's and BK and such are all $10-15 meals nowadays. Popeyes is relatively cheap still, but sooooo slow. Cookout is still the best, cheap and fast.

I have a local place where you can get a whole chicken that you just saw roasting on a fire in front of you with 2 sides for $12, and it comes out in less than 5 mins. That's what competes with Five Guys more than anything.

Five Guys is a little expensive but it's worth it. And for what its worth it blows every sit down restaurant in my area out of the water when it comes to burger quality.

5 Guys has the best burgers and fries. Its not even a question! You get what you pay for. And Id rather spend more for that quality.

Red Robin?!? Get outta here with that shit!

Also, peanuts!

The Five Guy's fries are actually a deal considering quantity and quality. You can't compare it to getting a side of fries anywhere else. A "small fry" means they put the burger in the bag, and then they literally dump fries into the bag itself until the bag is nearly full, then throw a napkin on top. Technically there's a cup that the fries go "in", but that's kind of just a joke.

The burger is definitely expensive but like others have said, it's large. I'd say it's comparable to the $7 or $8 large burgers at most fast food places.

I've never been in a Red Robin's because for some reason I always thought they were in the same vein as Applebee's

So seeing them described as "gourmet burgers" threw me for a loop...but I guess that's their tag line?

Anyway I have no horse in this race since I haven't been to Five Guys in over five years and our local burger chain is really good

guffguy89 posted...

I think it's partially the location that they chose to set up shop that's going to hurt them possibly. As I mentioned, they are blocks away from a gourmet burger restaurant (that offers bottomless fries with all their meals by the way), but they are also a few blocks away from a very popular jumbo burger/frozen custard shop. Politicians that visit always stop there. It's one of those kind of places. The burgers there are already on the expensive side. I think they charge $8.50, which is still a couple dollars cheaper than Five Guys.

I don't know. Maybe I'll try out Five Guys by myself once just to see if the food is worth it...I guess we just experienced sticker shock when we were not expecting it, and it took us by surprise.

To be fair red robin sucks and five guys is way better

guffguy89 posted...

Literally the gourmet burger restaurant down the street (Red Robin) is cheaper than this place, and that includes tip.

Sure, but Five Guys is faster and has better food. Five Guys is a bit overrated and the prices are a bit high for what's basically fast food, but Red Robin is worse in just about every way.

Five Guys is higher quality than other fast food burger places, but it's definitely pricey. I especially don't like how their fry sizes are basically false advertising: small fries are more expensive and higher quantity than large fries from some other restaurants.

VintageGin posted...

I've never been in a Red Robin's because for some reason I always thought they were in the same vein as Applebee's

They're absolutely in the same vein as Applebee's lol. Burgers are their focus but otherwise it's like identical.

Red Robin a completely generic burger that is not special in any way. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's an Applebees/Chilis/TGI Fridays situation. All the same restaurant.

When you get fries at a Five Guys, just get the smallest size. You basically get the same number regardless of size, because they just fuckin' dump all of it in and fill the bag.

Anyway, yeah, their burgers and fries are both really good. It's not a joint you stop at every week for lunch, but maybe once or twice a month when you're really hankering for a top-class fast food burger.

I would say Five Guys is the 3rd best burger I've ever had. 2nd is this little dine-in place here locally, and 1st goes to the Q burger from Q39, a famous Kansas City BBQ restaurant.

Also, count me in the Red Robin especially sucks for the price crew.

guffguy89 posted...

Literally the gourmet burger restaurant down the street (Red Robin)

lmao

I may go as far as to say that the small fry at Five Guy's is technically more food than a full McDonald quarter pounder combo.

UshiromiyaEva posted...

Red Robin a completely generic burger that is not special in any way. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's an Applebees/Chilis/TGI Fridays situation. All the same restaurant.

I don't know why, but, I have a more positive feeling about it than those others. Maybe specializing in burgers helps a little.

I'm not exactly a Red Robin hater but it does show that their marketing works that the default response is that it's fair their burgers are overpriced but Five Guys as fast food shouldn't be when the quality and quantity of burger is greater at Five Guys for the price.

Like I think both are overpriced and Five Guys is overrated but yeah.

The Red Robin jingle has the word Yum in it. It cant be bad!

Yeah I don't know where you guys are that this is abnormally priced for a burger. Plus inflation is hitting everything crazy right now. If they are charging for toppings that's new (they used to give a bunch for free and only some were extra) but also in line with places raising their prices.

To me there's basically three tiers of burger you pay for:
1) gourmet burgers at sit-down restaurants - $15+ ish but really you're getting apps and drinks and shit
2) fast casual like Shake Shack, 5 Guys, Smashburger etc that's like $10-12 just for the burger with fries a la carte
3) fast food which is $8-10 for a meal

If you are lucky you can find local burger shacks that are priced at tier 2 or under but are better than anything else in quality. So it's kind of an obsolete category in that case. But it's absolutely not competing with McDonalds or whatever.

I also don't like Five Guys' fries. They're wayyyyy too salty. The fact that you get like a million of them is more a detriment because of that.

Control-F "grease"

0 results found?

Their prices have definitely risen lately but who's hasn't. I'm also pretty sure the price gap between the "Littles" (1 patty) and the "Regulars" (2 patties) has increased as well.

But yeah they have a very basic menu they make as confusing as they possibly can. The only things you really pay for on a burger there past the meat itself are cheese and bacon. Otherwise you can get every topping or no topping and it'll be the exact same price.

MrSmartGuy posted...

When you get fries at a Five Guys, just get the smallest size. You basically get the same number regardless of size, because they just fuckin' dump all of it in and fill the bag.

Very this, but occasionally you'll get someone new who actually measures it out which is probably more likely at a new place.

The price for Five Guys was never good.

At least not for any near here.

Also the burgers werent very good unless you wanted to pay for a lot of grease.

There.

The little hamburger is just a regular burger. That's like maybe $8 and then you get the smallest fries for another $3 or $4. So $11-12 for the both.

These days I would be shocked if you could get a burger at Red Robin/Applebee's or whatever for less.

I went to Nando's last weekend and their chicken sandwiches start at $11. Food is just expensive these days.

Food prices are up like 30-50% literally everywhere

now you got people complaining about greasy burgers? burgers? that's the point! If I want something healthy I'll eat something else!

Five Guys and shake shack might be better burgers overall but In N Out is such a great value for a full meal that i go there for burgers by default

Paratroopa1 posted...

Food prices are up like 30-50% literally everywhere

which is kinda mind boggling to me because production of food seems like its at a all time high

Haven't been back to the States since 2019 and these prices are blowing me away. I used to love Five Guys but I definitely never paid $10 for a burger

Like others have mentioned you must have not been to red robin recently, red robing is most likely more expensive than five guys for most of their burgers (their prices have gone up a lot) but they do come with bottomless fries. Five guys cajun fries are so good though, I personally like them a lot more than red robin's fries. They are also a great deal. I'm pretty sure the official small fry is something like fill up the small cup and then just pour a whole additional scoop in the bag. (This isn't them being generous, it's literally what it's supposed to be)

Personally though I find just getting a little cheeseburger is plenty for me, bacon isn't worth it for the price and with a bunch of the toppings+fries its plenty of food. Without a drink its maybe 12 bucks or something.

Also I still can't get over considering Red Robin a gourmet resturant lol.