No menu merchandise is kind of as iconic as a fast-food cheeseburger, and each chain does theirs a little bit in another way.
McDonald’s has been serving cheeseburgers because it was based in 1940, and its most elementary cheeseburger stays one of many least expensive gadgets on the menu.
Different chains have beefed up their most elementary cheeseburger choices with larger patties and toppings like tomato, pink onion, and shredded lettuce in an effort to supply higher worth.
I attempted and ranked cheeseburgers from six main chains: McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Sonic Drive-In, Shake Shack, and Checkers.
The entire burgers had been barely completely different. Nevertheless, there was a transparent winner when it comes to style and worth.
This is how six fast-food cheeseburgers ranked, from worst to finest.
McDonald’s had my least favourite cheeseburger.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
Essentially the most fundamental cheeseburger at McDonald’s price $3.49, excluding tax and costs, at my native McDonald’s in Brooklyn, New York.
The cheeseburger got here topped with a single beef patty, pickles, chopped onions, ketchup, mustard, and a slice of American cheese.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
The cheeseburger had a smattering of diced onions throughout the underside of the patty and inside the underside bun. The cheese made the burger patty and high bun stick collectively, sandwiching the opposite components inside.
I did not thoughts the cheeseburger, but it surely wasn’t my favourite.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
Total, it was a very good snack however not hearty sufficient to satiate me for a full meal. I additionally thought the bun was a little bit flavorless, and the cheese might have been extra melted.
The condiments additionally overpowered the style of the burger — this cheeseburger actually solely tasted of cheese and ketchup to me, whereas the bun made my mouth really feel a little bit dry.
I did not actually style the onions, although I assumed the pickles had been tart and crunchy.
Burger King’s fundamental cheeseburger was up subsequent.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
The cheeseburger price $2.79, excluding tax and costs, at a Burger King in Brooklyn, New York. It was the least costly burger I attempted.
The burger got here with American cheese, pickles, ketchup, and mustard on a sesame seed bun.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
This burger gave the impression to be only a contact larger than the McDonald’s burger. The cheese was additionally extra melted.
Whereas this burger had fewer toppings, it was extra flavorful.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
I assumed the addition of diced onion and mustard on the McDonald’s burger did little to amp up the flavour, and I discovered this burger a lot tastier.
The bun had a definite sesame taste, and the meat patty had a slight smokiness that tasted recent off the grill.
The cheese was thick and completely melted onto the burger patty, one thing I did not expertise with the burger from McDonald’s. For its low value, I assumed this burger was a very good worth.
Wendy’s Dave’s Single cheeseburger landed in fourth place.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
Whereas Wendy’s gives a wide range of completely different burgers, huge and small, the Dave’s Single is the chain’s most basic cheeseburger. Named after Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas, it’s accessible in a number of sizes, from a single to a triple-stacked burger.
It options one in all Wendy’s signature square-shaped patties and is the chain’s model of a basic cheeseburger.
It price $8.74, excluding tax and costs, at my native Wendy’s in Brooklyn, New York. It was the most costly burger I attempted.
The burger got here slathered with condiments and toppings.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
The Dave’s Single cheeseburger comes with a quarter-pound beef patty, a slice of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, mayo, and onions.
Once I lifted the highest bun of the burger, it was virtually dripping sauces, which I did not essentially thoughts. There was additionally a beneficiant serving of pickles and a big slice of tomato.
I assumed the burger was tasty, however the condiments barely overpowered the opposite components.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
Subsequent time, I would take away the mayonnaise or ask for a half-serving to cut back how moist the burger was.
I assumed the toppings tasted recent, and it was a very good dimension. Nevertheless, I wasn’t certain if it was well worth the excessive price ticket.
Checkers got here in third place.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
The Cheese Champ, which is Checker’s most elementary cheeseburger, price $6.49, excluding tax and costs, on the location I visited in Brooklyn, New York.
The burger got here loaded with toppings.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
The burger had one patty and was topped with American cheese, tomato, pink onion, lettuce, pickles, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise. It was served on a toasted “bakery-style” bun.
The burger was huge and juicy. I assumed it was an important worth.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
Checkers served one of many largest burgers I attempted, and I assumed it was additionally comparatively inexpensive at slightly below $7. The burger toppings had been recent, particularly the thickly reduce sliced tomato and iceberg lettuce.
I assumed the cheese and beef patty had been each flavorful, and the burger had the right quantity of condiments so as to add moisture and taste with out making it too soggy.
My solely grievance was with the bun, which I assumed was a little bit too thick and stodgy in comparison with Sonic’s fluffier bun.
Total, I used to be impressed.
Shake Shack’s basic cheeseburger was a bit dear.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
The ShackBurger prices $10.09, excluding tax and costs, at my native Shake Shack in Brooklyn, New York.
The chain additionally gives a plain cheeseburger for $9.49, however I made a decision to strive the ShackBurger as a result of its components had been extra much like these of different burgers I attempted.
The ShackBurger got here with lettuce, sliced tomato, cheese, and Shack Sauce on a smashed burger patty.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
This was the one smashed cheeseburger I attempted.
The components appeared and tasted exceptionally recent, and the crisp tomato was sliced thick sufficient so as to add taste and juiciness to every chew.
This burger was tasty, however I wasn’t certain it was well worth the value.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
This was an distinctive fast-food cheeseburger — all of the toppings tasted recent, the Shack Sauce added a whole lot of savory taste and moisture, and the crispy burger patty was the right texture.
Nevertheless, the burger was smaller than a number of the different chains. It additionally price over $10, making it the most costly burger I attempted.
When it comes to worth, I assumed this burger barely missed the mark.
My favourite cheeseburger got here from Sonic Drive-In.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
My native Sonic Drive-In in Brooklyn, New York, charged $8.04, excluding tax and costs, for the cheeseburger.
The burger got here topped with one slice of cheese, pickles, tomato, lettuce, diced onion, mayonnaise, and ketchup.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
A beneficiant serving of every topping was evenly layered throughout the burger patty to make sure that each chew had an equal quantity of all of the components.
I assumed this was an important basic cheeseburger, and I might undoubtedly order it once more.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
Whereas it wasn’t the most cost effective burger, I assumed it was an important worth, contemplating its dimension and the quantity of taste packed into it.
The meat was juicy however well-seasoned, the cheese added the right quantity of tang, the pickles and tomato had been recent and added a tart crunch to each chew, and the comfortable bun held every little thing collectively.
Though Sonic’s burger was much like Checkers’, I most popular the costlier choice solely for its taste. It merely tasted brisker and higher general.
The following time I attain for a basic fast-food cheeseburger, I will cease by Sonic Drive-In.