This VA Fast Food Burger Named Among Best In Nation

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Five Guys was named among the top contenders for America’s best fast food burger in a recent ranking from USA Today.

The newspaper’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards of 2026 ranked the Five Guys cheeseburger at No. 7 on the list, between Burger King’s Whopper at No. 8 and Shake Shack’s SmokeShack at No. 6. California-based Habit Burger & Grill’s Double Char took the top spot.

“Legions love the hand-formed burgers cooked on a grill at Five Guys,” USA Today said in the ranking.

“Count on American-style cheese melted between fresh patties that are placed on a toasted sesame seed bun with as many toppings as you want. The franchise touts the fact that it uses peanut oil, and there aren't any freezers in Five Guys locations, just coolers.”

Five Guys’ first location opened 40 years ago in Arlington, and the chain is based in Alexandria.

The Five Guys cheeseburger was No. 6 in the 2025 USA Today ranking and came in at No. 5 in 2024.

The USA Today 10Best fast food burger ranking is determined by editors and an expert panel, as well as readers voting for their favorites.

The full ranking is as follows:

1. Double Char, Habit Burger & Grill
2. Double-Double, In-N-Out Burger
3. Freddy's Original Double, Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers
4. Papa Burger, A&W
5. ButterBurger Cheese, Double, Culver’s
6. SmokeShack, Shake Shack
7. Cheeseburger, Five Guys
8. Whopper, Burger King
9. Son of Baconator, Wendy's
10. Double Meat Whataburger, Whataburger