We tried McDonald's answer to the fast casual burger boom - and it could be the future of the chain

McDonald's dark days are over.

The company's turnaround plan implemented last year has taken hold - restaurant sales are soaring, and the chain soundly beat estimates for first-quarter earnings.

McDonald's has introduced all-day breakfast and a new McPick 2 value menu as part of the reform.

But another facet of the face lift is a huge leap in quality: the "Create Your Taste" custom burger option.

Locations nationwide now have touch-screen kiosks that allow customers to choose exactly what goes into their custom burger, including multiple bun options, specialty sauces, and unique toppings.

Is it enough to restore McDonald's burger clout in the face of better burger chains like Shake Shack? We took a closer look.