Top Fast-Food Burgers in 2025 USA Today Readers’ Poll

Finding the best fast-food burger is kind of like choosing a favorite child. Everyone has their opinion, loyalties run deep, and debates get heated real quick. What makes things even more interesting is when actual culinary professionals weigh in. These folks spend their days crafting elaborate dishes in upscale kitchens, yet many still harbor secret cravings for drive-thru classics.

Let’s be real, there’s something fascinating about watching trained chefs admit they hit up fast food joints after service. Here’s what the latest readers’ poll reveals about the best fast-food burgers you can grab right now.

1. Habit Burger & Grill Double Char Takes the Crown

At number one for the second year in a row, the crown goes to the Habit Burger & Grill Double Char. This California-based chain has been famous for charring burgers over an open flame since 1969. The Double Char comes with two flame-grilled patties, crisp lettuce, tomato, pickles, and caramelized onions on a toasted bun. What’s remarkable here is the consistency of this burger’s dominance in reader polls, even though many people outside California haven’t even heard of the chain. Listen, I have never even heard of Habit Burger & Grill! confessed one food writer after the rankings came out.

2. A&W Papa Burger Earns Serious Respect

The Papa Burger earns second place in 2025, offering two beef patties stacked with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and A&W’s signature sauce. While root beer may be the chain’s claim to fame, the Papa Burger proves A&W is just as serious about burgers. It’s honestly surprising to see A&W ranking this high, considering the chain doesn’t get nearly as much hype as some competitors. Yet it’s a testament to building something solid rather than trendy. This classic has been a consistent fan favorite, previously securing the #2 spot in 2023. It continues to hold strong as one of America’s top fast-food burgers.

3. Jack in the Box Jumbo Jack Holds Strong

The Jumbo Jack Cheeseburger takes a surprising third place in 2025, proving its lasting popularity. Think about it: this burger beat out some seriously hyped competitors. Known as a go-to for late-night cravings, the Jumbo Jack has consistently held its ground in the rankings. It ranked #4 in 2024, and maintains a strong position among burger fans. Sometimes the unsexy choice is actually the smart one, especially when you’re driving home at midnight and need something dependable.

4. In-N-Out Double-Double Slips But Stays Iconic

In-N-Out’s legendary Double-Double drops to fourth place in 2025, after securing 2nd place in 2024. Before you panic, West Coast loyalists, hear me out. This California classic is made with two patties of 100% American beef, two slices of American cheese, onions, tomato, lettuce, and a proprietary spread recipe that has remained unchanged since 1948. Despite the slip in ranking, the Double-Double continues to define the West Coast burger scene and remains one of the most iconic fast-food burgers in the country. It’s hard to imagine In-N-Out falling out of favor completely given the cult following.

5. Culver’s ButterBurger Climbs the Ranks

While many know Culver’s for its chicken, pot roast, or fish sandwiches, the ButterBurger stands out as a signature item. The burger features two fresh beef patties on a lightly buttered, toasted bun and is topped with real Wisconsin-made American cheese. In 2025, it climbed two positions from #7 in 2024, showing growing recognition for this Midwest classic. Honestly, the Midwest doesn’t always get credit for food innovation, but Culver’s is changing that narrative one buttered bun at a time.

6. Five Guys Cheeseburger Offers Ultimate Customization

Coming in at number six, the Five Guys Cheeseburger is all about customization. Customers can choose from up to 15 toppings – everything from grilled mushrooms to jalapeños – at no extra cost, making each order unique. Fresh-baked buns and hand-formed patties set it apart from traditional fast-food chains, and fans often pair it with the brand’s famous hand-cut fries cooked in peanut oil. Chefs have praised Five Guys for its, with one executive chef noting the consistency and reliability are hard to beat. In 2025, it lands in sixth place, slipping one spot from its #5 ranking in 2024, but it remains one of the most beloved burgers in America.

7. Shake Shack Maintains Steady Following

Shake Shack’s modern take on the fast-food burger has earned it a devoted following, especially among those who crave premium ingredients in a quick-service setting. In 2025, it holds steady at 7th place, the same position it secured in 2024, proving that it remains a consistent favorite among burger lovers. Shake Shack has drawn praise from chefs. Executive chef David Standridge, who was awarded two Michelin stars with Joel Robuchon and now heads up the award-winning Shipwright’s Daughter in Mystic, Conn., heads for his burger fix at Shake Shack. The chef told us, “No contest. It’s the Smoke Shack Burger from Shake Shack. It’s super bacon-y, and the potato bun just puts it over the top.”

8. Freddy’s Original Double Delivers Crispy-Edged Excellence

Freddy’s takes eighth place with its Original Double, made with two thin, crispy-edged steakburger patties, melty cheese, and fresh toppings. I think what sets Freddy’s apart is that smashed, crispy texture you get on those edges. Chef Barry Dakake of Barry’s Downtown Prime in Las Vegas has praised Freddy’s. Freddy’s, from Wichita, Kansas, has ranked in my top 10 six years in a row. Famous for steakburgers and frozen custard, the menu also offers dogs and chicken.

9. Burger King Whopper Shows Staying Power

The Whopper, introduced in 1957, remains one of the most recognizable burgers in the fast food industry. Every year, Burger King sells more than a billion Whoppers, each made with a flame-grilled beef patty topped with tomatoes, shredded lettuce, mayo, pickles, ketchup, and sliced onions. Despite its iconic status and enduring popularity, the Whopper has been declining in rankings over recent years, dropping to #8 in 2024 and #7 in 2023. Landing at ninth place in 2025, it still proves its staying power among loyal fans, even as other competitors rise. You can’t kill a classic, apparently.

10. McDonald’s Double Quarter Pounder Gets Chef Love

Here’s the thing about McDonald’s that nobody wants to admit publicly but chefs will tell you privately: when they nail it, they really nail it. Executive Chef Nick Dixon of Capo Restaurant in Boston raves about the classic all-beef, Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese. “I don’t know what it is but it’s the greatest sandwich in the world!” he says. “I don’t even like to get any sides with it because the burger is absolutely perfect just the way it is. It always comes out so consistent and perfectly seasoned. I can always count on this sandwich, it never lets me down,” says Dixon. That kind of endorsement from a professional chef is worth noting, particularly when discussing consistency across thousands of locations.

The burger wars rage on, rankings shift yearly, and regional loyalties will forever fuel passionate arguments. What these polls really show is that quality comes in different forms. Some chains win on freshness, others on customization, and some just nail that nostalgic flavor profile we’ve been craving since childhood. Whether you’re team Habit Burger or ride or die for In-N-Out, the truth is we’re living in a golden age of fast-food burgers. What’s your pick? Let us know in the comments.