Five Guys

A family business

Five Guys was founded in 1986 in Arlington, Virginia, by Jerry and Janie Murrell and their sons. The name originally referred to Jerry and the four boys; a fifth son born later also joined. They kept the menu simple: burgers, hot dogs, fries and drinks, and they focused on doing those well.

Fresh and made to order

Five Guys burgers are made of two thin patties, cooked well done and assembled to order with any combination of free toppings, from grilled onions to jalapenos. The fries are cut in the store from whole potatoes, often stacked in sacks in the dining room with a sign showing which farm they came from.

Fries are cooked in peanut oil, which gives them a distinct flavour, and portions are famously large: staff traditionally add an extra scoop to the bag.

Peanuts and allergies

Many locations offer free roasted peanuts in the shell while you wait. Because peanuts and peanut oil are everywhere in the restaurant, people with peanut allergies are advised to take care. The company lists allergen information on its website.

Growth

After years of local success, Five Guys began franchising in 2003 and grew rapidly across the US, then into Canada, the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Its success helped define the better burger category, sitting between classic fast food and sit-down restaurants in price and style.

Menu guide

A regular hamburger at Five Guys has two patties; the little hamburger has one, which is plenty for many people. Cajun-style fries are seasoned with spices, and milkshakes can be customised with mix-ins such as bacon, peanut butter or coffee. Burgers come wrapped in foil and are cooked well done by default. Because portions are big, many groups share a single order of fries.

Did you know? Five Guys does not use freezers in its restaurants for burgers or fries; there are coolers but no freezers. The company has said it counts more than 250,000 possible ways to order a burger, thanks to its free toppings.

Like most chains, prices vary by city, so check the menu in the app before you go.

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