I ordered the same burger from Shake Shack, In-N-Out, and Cook Out and liked the West Coast chain the most

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Erin McDowellAug 12, 2022, 20:32 IST
I ordered the same burger from Shake Shack, In-N-Out, and Cook Out and liked the West Coast chain the most

I tried the same burger from Shake Shack, In-N-Out, and Cook Out to see how the different region-famous chains compare.Drew Angerer/Getty Images; Don & Melinda Crawford/Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images; Kiran Ruparelia Captures/Shutterstock

  • I tried the same burger from Shake Shack, In-N-Out, and Cook Out to see how the different region-famous chains compare.
  • I ordered double cheeseburgers from all three chains and thought they were all slightly different.
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While Shake Shack has locations all over the country, it's beloved and based in New York City.

While Shake Shack has locations all over the country, it's beloved and based in New York City.
Shake Shack double cheeseburger.Erin McDowell/Insider

It cost me $9.49 for a double cheeseburger. I was able to customize my toppings, but I went with pickles, onions, and Shack sauce, which is a creamy, mayonnaise-based spread.

Right away, I thought the burger was massive.

Right away, I thought the burger was massive.
Shake Shack double cheeseburger.Erin McDowell/Insider

The burger patties were perfectly crispy on the outside and covered in gooey melted cheese. The pickles also looked large and homemade. It was even heavy to pick up.

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The burger was huge, which was both an asset and a hindrance. I struggled to get through more than a few bites.

The burger was huge, which was both an asset and a hindrance. I struggled to get through more than a few bites.
Shake Shack double cheeseburger.Erin McDowell/Insider

However, despite being the most expensive burger, I thought it was worth the price. The burger patties were much thicker than the other burgers I tried, and the toppings definitely took it over the edge in terms of flavor.

Overall, I was impressed ... but stuffed. I also thought my burger could have been a bit more well-done, which is simply a personal preference.

My second-favorite double cheeseburger came from Cook Out, a regional chain I visited in South Carolina.

My second-favorite double cheeseburger came from Cook Out, a regional chain I visited in South Carolina.
Cook Out Big Double burger.Erin McDowell/Insider

You can get Cook Out in multiple Southern states, with the highest concentration of locations in North Carolina. You can order a "Big Double" from Cook Out any way you wish, but I ordered mine with cheese, ketchup, mustard, onions, and pickles. It cost me $3.89, not including tax, making it the cheapest of the three burgers I tried.

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The burger came wrapped in foil and featured two juicy patties.

The burger came wrapped in foil and featured two juicy patties.
Cook Out Big Double burger.Erin McDowell/Insider

It also had thick slices of fresh onion and large pickle spears layered on top of the burger.

For the price, I thought the burger was out of this world.

For the price, I thought the burger was out of this world.
Cook Out Big Double burger.Erin McDowell/Insider

The cheese slices were thick and tangy, and the burger was perfectly moist and medium-rare. It was also very large, and, after already eating dinner, I struggled to get through more than a few bites, though I kept wanting to go back for more.

At an amazingly low price, this burger definitely earned the second-to-top spot on my ranking.

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In my opinion, the best burger I tried was the famous Double-Double burger from In-N-Out.

In my opinion, the best burger I tried was the famous Double-Double burger from In-N-Out.
In-N-Out Double-Double burger.Erin McDowell/Insider

In-N-Out became California's first drive-thru hamburger stand when it opened in 1948. While the chain has expanded to other states on the West Coast, it's still regarded as a primarily Californian chain.

It cost me $4.50, which I thought was an excellent deal for the large burger sitting in front of me. One of the first things I noticed was how thick the burger patties were, they were much thicker than other burgers I tried at a similar price point.

Most Double-Double burgers come with lettuce, tomato, onions, and spread. To keep my burger similar to the other burgers I tried, I ordered it with onions, pickles, and spread, which I thought tasted similar to Thousand Island dressing.

The first thing I noticed about the In-N-Out burger was how juicy the burger patties were, followed by the incredible layers of cheese.

The first thing I noticed about the In-N-Out burger was how juicy the burger patties were, followed by the incredible layers of cheese.
In-N-Out Double-Double burger.Erin McDowell/Insider

The cheese slices were perfectly melted and coated each part of the burger, something I couldn't say about any other burger I tried.

The bun was perfectly soft and held everything together perfectly, while the special spread had my mouth watering for another bite.

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Of all the burgers I tried, I thought the In-N-Out double cheeseburger packed the most flavor for the best price.

Of all the burgers I tried, I thought the In-N-Out double cheeseburger packed the most flavor for the best price.
In-N-Out Double-Double burger.Erin McDowell/Insider

I thought when it came to a double cheeseburger, the West Coast chain really nailed it. The burger was beyond flavorful, the perfect size, and, in my opinion, very good value for money. The next time I'm in a state with an In-N-Out, I know where I'll be filling my burger craving.

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