If you’re anything like me, sometimes only a good burger will do for dinner! There’s nothing like some well-seared, high-quality ground beef on a bun. And we’ve got some great options here in the Triangle: Shake Shack, Only Burger, Bad Daddy’s and Al’s Burger Shack come to mind. But sometimes a more basic burger really hits the spot and that’s where Five Guys comes in! A popular chain with over 1,500 locations in the US that originated in Virginia, there are a handful of Five Guys in the Triangle area. And while it’s not fancy, it does all the basics really well and then some. Here’s what to expect if you drop into this popular Five Guys location at North Hills in Raleigh.
Located in the older section of North Hills by the movie theater, Five Guys North Hills sits in a premium spot next to the smaller greens area and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. Step inside and you’ll be flanked by boxes of peanuts with the order counter up front. The color scheme at Five Guys is all red and white, it feels a bit old-school and nostalgic! There’s a short menu upfront and it should be PRETTY easy here. In classic grill fashion, you can get burgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, a grilled cheese sandwich, and BLT. And while you can also get a shake here, it’s nothing fancy like that other restaurant that is in a Shack. Where you’ll have to make some decisions is on the toppings for your sandwich. Most all the sandwiches are under $10 and then add some fries (small, medium, large) to your order.
Order up at the counter, self-serve your drink, and find a table for your meal! It usually only takes 10 or 15 minutes even though your burger is cooked to order. Grab your eats and get ready to tuck in! Five Guys burgers are not quite smashed but definitely flatted on the grill. The basic iceberg lettuce and yellow American cheese finish off my burger but of course, you can choose from fifteen free toppings ranging from LTO, ketchup, mustard, mayo, relish, grilled onions, peppers, A1 sauce, hot sauce, barbeque sauce, and more. It’s a very satisfying burger, juicy and stacked on top of a lovely sesame seed bun.
You can customize your meal to your heart’s content, try the Five Guys cheese sandwich with a burger patty and grilled onions for an impromptu patty melt. If you want more than peanuts, order up their fries but be aware that even their little fry could easily feed two people. Five Guys does skin-on fries that are well salted and will be the perfect accompaniment for your beefy burger.
Overall I’m a fan of Five Guys even though it falls short of some newer options. Five years ago, Five Guys would have been in my Top 3 burgers but now with Shake Shack and Bad Daddy’s in the area, it’s fallen behind a bit. But if you’re in North Hills and looking for a beefy fix, you could do far worse. Enjoy Five Guys for what it does well, a quality, fast-casual burger that will keep you filled up. There’s always a place in my heart for a grill that delivers this type of basic but delicious eats!
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