Among the standouts in the ranking were In-N-Out Burger and Five Guys Burgers and Fries.
"In this case, the bigger-name burger wasn't better," said Tod Marks, Senior Project Editor forConsumer Reports. "The Five Guys patty was more flavorful, juicy and meaty tasting."
Popular fast-food chains such as Wendy's and Burger King fared better than McDonald's, but they still scored lower than the highest-rated chains. Fuddruckers, Burgerville and Back Yard Burgers were also recognized among the higher ranked chains.
In addition to conducting the survey,Consumer Reportssent a reporter to make an informal comparison of the burgers at Five Guys and McDonald's. According to the report, Five Guys basic burger of two 3.3-oz. griddled patties on a lightly browned sesame seed bun was bigger and beefier, came with a $5 price tag and offered 15 free toppings choices. McDonald's $1-burger – a 3.5-oz. patty with pickle slices, bits of raw onion, and a dab of ketchup and mustard on a lightly browned bun – tasted mild and more greasy than beefy with the major flavor coming from the toppings.
The full report and ratings are at www.ConsumerReports.org.