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Lili Munguia assembles burger orders at the Fremont Five Guys Burgers and Fries franchise restaurant, in Fremont, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010. (Anda Chu/Staff)

Five Guys Burgers and Fries take a page from the In-N-Out playbook: made-to-order burgers with fresh ingredients and a limited menu. But the East Coast chain that has expanded into Northern California has enough differences to make it distinct.

Let's start with their basic hamburger ($4.99). It's big: two quarter-pound patties on a bun.

So if you aren't ready to down half a pound of beef, you might want to consider the little hamburger ($3.69), which is just a single patty.

Whatever size you choose, the burger is made-to-order, cooked well-done but still plenty juicy with great beefy flavor and a nice char on the outside.

You'll pay extra if you want cheese, bacon or both on your burger, but any other topping or condiment -- and they have 15 of them -- is free.

They use iceberg lettuce but never overdo it -- unlike some places where lettuce can often seem to be the main attraction in the burger.

The tomatoes are always red, fresh and flavorful, even in the late winter or early spring.

You can also get green peppers, grilled onions or mushrooms and several sauce options, including barbecue and A-1.

The Five Guys burger does have one weakness, and it can be a big one -- the buns. The bun feels and tastes like a generic brand. It's not really noticeable if you eat your food quickly after getting it.

But because they wrap their burgers and hot dogs in aluminum foil, if you wait any length of time at all before unwrapping, the heat of the burger ends up steaming the bun, so it loses a lot of its structure and is halfway to paste.


Let me make clear: If you're eating right away, the great flavor of the burger and the fresh toppings make the bun irrelevant. It's only an issue if it's going to be wrapped up for a while.

The best item on the Five Guys menu is the fries. A regular order ($2.69) is huge, more than enough for my wife and me. The large order ($4.69) is legitimately family-sized.

The fries are hand cut, and each day they write on a white board where the potatoes are from.

They are perfectly cooked in peanut oil, light and fluffy inside, and unsalted so you can add salt in whatever level your taste buds or blood pressure permit.

You can also order the fries Cajun style, and they will come with a mildly spicy coating that will linger on your taste buds even after the fries are gone.

Five Guys also serve a Kosher Style Hot Dog ($3.69). It's split down the middle, grilled and then served flat in a hot dog bun. The flavor is excellent with just a slight crunch to the skin.

Unfortunately, the bun has the same issue as the hamburger bun.

Five Guys offer fountain soft drinks, including multiple types of iced tea (a welcome change from your typical fast food place). They do not sell milk shakes, which is a disappointment.

But overall, Five Guys are a great option if you are looking for a burger that is a step up from the big fast-food chains and you are eating right away.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

121 Curtner Ave., San Jose

Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. except for Fridays and Saturdays, when they are open to 11 p.m.
Types of food: Burgers, fries, hot dogs
Average meal price: Less than $10
Good choices: The burgers, the fries, the hot dogs
Not recommended: Letting a burger or hot dog stay wrapped in foil too long
Attitude: Very friendly, always willing to explain the menu
Amenities: Free peanuts!
Vegetarian options: Besides the peanuts? A veggie sandwich and grilled cheese
Drinks: Fountain sodas
Eat in car: Easily
Next-day edibility: The buns probably not the best
Who goes there: People looking for a step above the typical fast food chain burger
Credit cards: All major ones
Parking: Plenty
