Funny thing about McD's...

my favorite of theirs in the plain ones... the originals. Perhaps once a year I'll have a Big Mac... maybe a Qtr Lb'r... but usually I get the originals.

I like Burger Kings Burgers BUT... they put WAY too much 'goop' on them... those sauces. It's like eating soup. Even when I tell them to 'hold' the goop they usually screw up and don't. But again... I might eat at Burger King once every 2 or 3 years.

I've never had a 5 Guys... but there was one near me, (40 miles in Fresno), might still be there.. not sure.

My guess on your experience with In & Out is you just don't care for them... I say that because they're very consistent, 1am or not. Troy is going to chew your ass out... every time I pick him up in California the first thing out of his mouth, even before "Hi"... is "Where's the nearest In&Out"?

I'm actually a fan of White Castle, (don't have them in Calif.).... but I don't know why. Maybe it's just because they are so different?

Lastly, you're right, of course, about locally owned Burger joints.. .they ARE the best... well, some of them are. Right now I'm not aware of a good one near me but I'm sure there must be. When I'm traveling out of state that's what I look for.. locally owned... I almost NEVER eat at franchises when traveling. - JamesJM