It's Official -- -- National Chain Burger Stores Suck

[big black dog]

Maybe a couple of years ago, I gave up on ever expecting any quality product from the big 3 pizza stores. Without exaggeration, I could get a much, much better product by simply picking up a frozen Tombstone pizza and baking it. (Pizza Inn is great though. They don't deliver here, but I gladly go and pick it up rather than order the crap the big 3 serves.)

On to burgers. I used to love McDonalds and Burger King hamburgers. However, for some time, when I would eat them, they just didn't taste right. Especially McDonalds -- It's like I was eating a meat substitute or something. I thought maybe I just didn't like hamburgers anymore.

It has been a long, long time since I cooked any hamburgers at home. But just on a whim, I tried it last night. Didn't do anything special. Just took some ground beef, sprinkled in some salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and fried it up on the stove.

Ate a hamburger using 2 pieces of bread with mustard. It was the best hamburger I've had in years! Crunchy outer texture of the fried burger with a juicy interior; I know I'll never eat that crap again at the national joints -- just like with the pizza.

[Mountain Mary]

The fries at Five Guys are incredible too.
Was in there with my five year old grandson and some servicemen came in and ordered lunch.

The next person in line stepped forward and paid their bill: no accolades or acknowledgment needed, just a guy who quietly did the right thing.
(I wonder if they get tired of that: hope not) whilst my grandson looked on. It’s not what we say to our kids/grandkids as much as what they see us do.

[bmwcyle]

Another excetion is Foster’s Grill.

[UB355]

Micro waved beef is never good tasting.

[Mountain Mary]

About the garlic, AM. Could be a problem if one has a date, excluding myself who isn’t doing that anymore.
But would garlic salt be okay? and if not, do you mince the garlic?

[Liz]

Next time you’re at Five Guys get a bacon cheese dog. Add jalapenos, crispy bacon and melted American cheese, and get a regular order of Cajun fries. Five Guys will refill your Styrofoam cup with fries for free. Dip your fries in malt vinegar, then ketchup.

Five Guys Hot Dog With Bacon, Cheese & Jalapenos

[Silentgypsy]

We ate out on a regular basis when we were both working. After retirement, got “America’s Test Kitchen” cookbook. Rarely if ever eat out now. Restaurant-quality taste, proper sanitation, and you can have a lot more nice meals at home for the same amount of money.
Unfortunately, what you need most is the time to cook and the time to clean up.

[Fast Moving Angel]

I had a burger last week for the first time in months ... normally I would go to In’N Out but I happened to be near a Carl’s, so I had them make a Six Dollar guacamole-bacon burger and add a slice of green chile. Outside of the meat being slightly dry, it was one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. If I could just get In’N Out to add guacamole and green chile, I’d be in heaven.

[MinorityRepublican]

[no-to-illegals]

why did you post that? I want one! I’ll grill mine, but that would feed at least two people, wouldn’t it. Well, maybe one with a slice left for two hours later....yummy!

[big black dog]

As for pizzas, what are the big 3 you are talking about?

Dominos, Pizza hut, and Papa Johns.

[skimask]

In and Out Burgers are #1 far and away the best in the country other than home made. Too bad they are mostly in CA with a few in NV and AZ

[tlb]

Nights in White Castle
I’m drunk once again
Sliders I’m eatin’
With all of my drunken friends

The bars are all closed now
There’s nowhere else left to go
But what’s in these wrapped burgers
I really don’t want to know

‘Cause I love them
Yes, I love them
Oh, how I love them

Nights in White Castle
Now it’s a quarter to 4
But I ain’t goin’ home now
‘Cause I’m still lookin’ to score

How I love these gut busters
With their little square buns
But I know I’ll get heartburn
And a bad case of the runs

But I love them
Yes, I love them
Oh, how I love them
Ohhh...

[kalee]

I think Papa Johns is better than Pizza Inn.

[darkangel82]

Agreed on that. Not cheap though.

[Kirkwood]

Walmart injects water into all of their meat to increase the weight.

[Dick Vomer]

[cynwoody]

A few years ago I remember some Hindus filing a law suit against McDonalds because the french fries were deep fried in animal fat. I don't know if they won or not, but McDonalds switched to pure vegetable oil and their fries have not tasted as good since.

McD used to cook their fries in a mixture of 7% cottonseed oil and 93% beef tallow. In 1990, they switched to vegetable oil. It was because of cholesterol complaints, not Hindus. They contracted with International Flavors and Fragrances to create an artificial flavoring to replace the missing beef taste.

http://www.mcspotlight.org/media/press/mcds/theguardian0704011.html

[Netizen]

If you buy canned cat food, you’ll notice that the label is troubling. They say such as With Turkey or With Chicken Parts. It’s the With that deserves notice. What is the With, which is clearly the main ingredient? Yes, McD and BK burgers went south some years ago. It is clearly mystery meat in a styrofoam bun. I wouldn’t be surprised if they spray the “meat” with “hamburger flavor.” Only Wendy’s still serves good food. Their crispy spicy chicken sandwich is still delicious.

We have a cat with some type of food allergy and I have gone through ingredient lists a lot and what you say is true. My favorite is 'flavor added'. What is this mystery flavoring? I suspect our cat has a chicken allergy and just try and find food without chicken eggs, chicken meal, chicken fat etc.

And yeah, what have they done with their hamburger buns at these places?

[dr_who]

I usually avoid chain restaurants and greasy spoons and stick to mom and pop places. Better food, better servings, less attention spent to stupid decorations and old junk hanging on the walls for “atmosphere”.

[Netizen]

Not familiar with In and Out, but we used to have Get’m N Go so I guess they are probably similar. We have Checkers and they are pretty decent though I don’t care for the bread they use in place of a bun, but their fries are yummy though a bit greasy.

We have a local pub that has really good burgers for a lot cheaper than Red Robin.