I was inspired to post for the first time in a long time today, after purchasing my current favorite everyday burger again.

Let me try to explain as succinctly as possible. I’ve been eating burgers for a very long time. I’ve had a few standout favorites over the years. Back in the 90’s it was the basic burger at the Onion Grill, a single location in Lombard, IL that should have become world famous, but sadly, it was not to be. Of the current chains of fast casual burger shops I’m partial to the California burger at Meatheads. Too many shops go overboard, and while I like bacon, sometimes it dominates in a way that takes away from the burger instead of enhancing it.

Meanwhile, among the fast food chains, I generally find one good burger at each that is worth the trip. Rarely do any of the other options on the menu hold up. For example, Burger King has maybe once or twice produced a specialty burger that came close to the classic execution of the Whopper. Even these days when I’m trying to watch what I eat more, I’ll stop by for a Whopper Jr. w/ cheese. At McDonald’s it’s the Quarter Pounder Deluxe if I have the calorie allowance, but usually it’s the McDouble. Checker’s/Rally’s has the Checkerburger/Rallyburger and everything else is ingredient overload. I don’t have a Whataburger, In-N-Out, or Jack In the Box near me.

Yet, the current standout burger for me is the Double Stack at Wendy’s. Not by itself, although it’s good as is. Instead, thanks to the ease of customization that the app allows, I’ve created a combination of the Double Stack and the Junior Cheeseburger Deluxe. The reason this is standout for me among the chains is based on a few simple things. First, the double patty means a meatier bite than, say, a single patty Whopper. The lettuce is whole leaf, so it doesn’t fall out like the Daily Double at McD’s. The onions are whole sliced, the ketchup, mustard, mayo, and pickle round out the complete flavor profile. Most times it’s a solid meal, but when I’m lucky enough to catch fresh patties, it’s an absolute delight.

In fact, for my money, Wendy’s is currently my top chain overall. McDonald’s edges them out on the fries, but not by much, but Wendy’s nuggets are superior, you can’t knock the classic Frosty, and often the specialty burgers are standout as well. So if you’re in the mood for a solid, classic, loaded burger at a value price, download the app, add tomato, lettuce, and mayo to a Double Stack, and let me know what you think!

Enjoy!