For all of you eaters who do not want greasy, pre frozen, factory assembled fast food, there is a treat out there waiting for you. Five Guys Burgers and Fries was founded in Arlington, Virginia in 1986 and it’s simple business plan has led to an explosion of franchises in the last two years. Five Guys has expanded into Massachusetts with new locations in Foxboro, Canton, Dedham, and Walpole. Every franchise has been met with extreme local fanfare and are getting busier by the day.
So what separates Five Guys from your Burger Kings and Wendy’s? Well for starters the chain uses all fresh meat and the burgers and hot dogs are grilled right in front of you, when you order from the cashier he shouts to the cook what you asked for, for example, if you order a hamburger (which is double stacked) he shouts “two patties” and they are put on the grill and cooked “juicy and well done” right before your eyes.
Perhaps the biggest difference between Five Guys and the average fast food restaurant is the price. At first glance you might think this is not a good thing, but it is. The price reflects the cost of ingredients and fresh produce which makes the meal much more pleasant. A burger, fries, and a drink at Five Guys will run you around $11.00 compared to $5.00 for a similar meal at Macdonald’s. At first glance the price of the meal seems steep, but after you see the portion sizes and taste the result, you will realize it’s worth it.
The menu at Five Guys is tiny compared to that of the average fast food giants, it contains both single and double stacked hamburgers and cheeseburgers, kosher hot dogs, two kinds of fries, and two sizes of fountain drinks. This allows for streamlined ordering that gets rid of the potentially annoying person in front of you who can’t decide what to get.
No matter what that person likes, they can be sure it is exactly what they want. Five Guys offers a variety of optional toppings for their burgers from caramelized onions to A-1 sauce and everything in between. The burgers are worth the considerably lengthier wait than your average fast food joint, sometimes up to eight or nine minutes The burgers are totally customizable and prepared with care.
The real standout product at Five Guys are the fries. The chain offers two varieties, Five Guys style and Cajun style, and both are cut each day from real Idaho potatoes. Fans rave about the fried goodness, cooked in peanut oil . Cooks fill up a cup with fries, place it in your bag, and then dump another cup full. The folks at Five Guys pride themselves on serving ample portions of greasy comfort food.
Once you get your burger and fries add in a drink and all the free peanuts you can eat . At Five Guys you are in for a divine dining experience.