In-N-Out Burger has been named America's best burger chain in a new ranking by Yelp, dethroning its bitter rival Habit Burger & Grill. The list, released for International Burger Day, evaluated chains with more than 100 locations across multiple states based on user reviews and brand performance.
Founded in 1948, In-N-Out Burger is known for its simple yet inventive burgers and fries, including the popular Double-Double and Animal Style fries. With over 400 restaurants, it was also named the top burger chain in the Western region. The chain plans to open seven new restaurants while phasing out artificial ingredients from its menu.
Habit Burger & Grill, which had previously boasted about beating In-N-Out in a fast food burger showdown, came in second place overall. It cracked the top five in the West and Northeast regions and has nearly 400 restaurants worldwide. Yelp reviewers praised its Charburger, which comes with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and mayo.
Shake Shack, which began as a New York hot dog cart in 2001, ranked third and was the top-ranked burger chain in 21 states and Washington DC. It has over 320 restaurants across the US and plans to open 80 to 85 company-operated restaurants this year. Culver's, with over 1,000 locations across 26 states, came fourth and was named the top burger chain in the South and Midwest regions.
McDonald's and Burger King, two of the largest fast food chains globally, ranked 17th and 19th respectively. Other chains like Wahlburgers, Jack in the Box, and BurgerFi also made the list, with BurgerFi in 13th place despite its bankruptcy filing last year. Yelp's Kadecia Ber noted that consumers today prioritise quality ingredients and customisation in addition to convenience.
