Carl's Jr. in Copperfield (Houston, Paris: to live, to eat, car)

[TVC15]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

Whataburger blows. Frozen patties and processed veg are the lazy way out. If you can't taste the difference between fresh and frozen, then yeah -- Whataburger is good, because they're always open.

In-N-Out is great -- top of the low-end chains.
Smashburger is a cut above them.
Five Guys may top them both in overall experience, but takes a close second to taste in Smashburger, in my opinion.

Carl's Jr. is infinitely better than Hardee's, but is somewhere in the middle -- a notch above Whataburger, but beneath In-N-Out.

If you truly want the best Quick-serve (as opposed to full-service restaurant) burger in Houston, it's the hickory cheeseburger at Beck's Prime. It's worth the $7.

Or, splurge for the $13 burger at Vic and Anthony's. Now you're talking.

I can tell the difference between fresh and frozen but when your dealing with a fast food hamburger...they taste the same once cooked. A Fast food hamburger is all it is.

Now if you want to spend 13$ on a restaurant hamburger then sink your teeth into a Houston's Restaurant hamburger! They ground up the meat daily and the toppings are so fresh and never disappointing. The fries are outstanding as well! Best hamburger hands down IMO!

[dalparadise]

Originally Posted by TVC15

I can tell the difference between fresh and frozen but when your dealing with a fast food hamburger...they taste the same once cooked. A Fast food hamburger is all it is.

So, you're saying you can't tell the difference...

[DJboutit]

Five guys to me avg Smash is only a little better I like Cues Wild Kitchen Roadster Grill Broiler Burger & Princes the best

[TVC15]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

So, you're saying you can't tell the difference...

I suppose with the fire grilled/broiled fast food burgers I can't. However I am no connoisseur of fast food...especially hamburgers. The only places that I will eat a hamburger is one that I make and grill in my back yard or at Houston's and I am thankful we have one here in San Francisco. So when that hamburger craving hits me...you won't find me at In N Out Oh and for that yummy bluecheese bacon burger I go to Jeffrey's! http://jeffreyshamburgers.com/

I look forward to In N Out arriving in Houston so that the Houstonians that have not tired it will taste it for themselves. It is no big deal and tastes just like a Whataburger patty. If you like Whataburger patties then you will like In N Out....it's just a fast food burger!

[pnc66]

I believe Carl's Jr. is now open if anyone is interested. There was a huge line there today. I'll wait till the excitement dies down before I try and go there. I haven't had Carl's Jr. in forever. I do hope they're as good as I remember them!

Is In N Out coming to Houston?

[testmo]

Originally Posted by Texas User

Right, because of the competition.

what was discussed in the article is the higher end and mom and pop deliciousness

and even then there are a huge amount of higher end burgers and a huge amount of freshly made "home like" hamburgers

[cheryjohns]

Yeah, I saw the looooooong line at Carl's yesterday. I am not going to sit line for 45 minutes - so I guess I will wait until the "new " wears off.

On a positive note, I tried Smash Burger a few days ago, because of this thread. I can't believe Carl's can beat them. The Smash Fries, with the seasonings, are fantastic.

[Texas User]

Beck's Prime is good.

[dalparadise]

Originally Posted by cheryjohns

Yeah, I saw the looooooong line at Carl's yesterday. I am not going to sit line for 45 minutes - so I guess I will wait until the "new " wears off.

On a positive note, I tried Smash Burger a few days ago, because of this thread. I can't believe Carl's can beat them. The Smash Fries, with the seasonings, are fantastic.

The only Carl's Jr. locations I have tried were in So. California and one time in Oklahoma City. In both cases, they were older restaurants, so maybe new ones are different. That said, they did NOT beat Smashburger on quality. they did edge Smash out on variety.

The Carl's in SoCal even had a nice fresh salad bar that I don't remember seeing in OKC.

If you think of Carl's Jr. as an upscale and more inventive Burger King, I think you'll get it. Smash is more like a fancier In-N-Out, in my opinion, but not quite as good, for some reason...and I'm willing to admit cache may have something to do with it.

[dalparadise]

Originally Posted by Texas User

Beck's Prime is good.

Underrated and underappreciated, but slightly overpriced. A perfect example of local Houston flavor -- the kind of stuff Southern California burger chain legends are made of. If Beck's were based in California, I'd bet people would love them more here.