Follow along as we try some of the most famous Five Guys secret menu hacks.
*Originally published on May 3, 2021:
Known for its fresh meat patties and amazing fries, Five Guys lives up to its reputation for having one of the best burgers in town. That said, there's always room for improvement, right?
Every now and then, the newest "secret menu" items will pop up, and an Instagram-star dish is born. I researched some of the more outrageous ones and decided to start with one of my favorite franchises: Five Guys. (Don't even go near one if you have a peanut allergy, though: Five Guys has huge bins of free peanuts in every store and use peanut oil for all of their frying.)
The Five Guys manager on duty, Hellder, assured us that people order all sorts of stuff and that she'd be happy to help us. A few sketches later, she had patiently assembled our special order. Here's a breakdown of what we tried.
The Patty Melt
This diner classic is a combination of a regular cheeseburger and a grilled Texas toast bun for a buttery, cheesy experience you're sure to enjoy. The taste was great—a crispy toasted bun was a nice change from the typical soft bun that soaks up much of the grease if you eat too slowly. It's on the big side (because of the Texas toast), so I wouldn't recommend this one for a first date meal.
Photo by Vina Sananikone
The Sloppy Joe
Ask for a burger with grilled onions, grilled green peppers, ketchup, and BBQ sauce. This tastes EXACTLY like a Sloppy Joe, but it's easier to eat because the meat is in patty form. This one is on the smaller side of the burger spectrum.
The Grilled Cheese Cheeseburger
You may have to draw this one for them. Imagine a cheeseburger (double patties at Five Guys) plopped between two grilled cheese sandwiches instead of buns, and you've got the most famous secret menu item. Not for the faint of heart, this monster is huge and meant to be shared. If you get your normal burger toppings like lettuce, tomato, and onion, you will have trouble fitting this one into your mouth. Save it for special occasions, post-breakup venting sessions, and for amazing your out-of-town guests.
Photo by Vina Sananikone
Honorable Mention: The Burger Bowl
We didn't try this one, but it looks great. You can order any burger without a bun, and it will come in a boat with all of your toppings. Remember, most of Five Guys' toppings are free, so go nuts!
Courtesy of Five Guys
Keep in mind, secret menu items are not necessarily well-known to your local restaurant's staff. Have a pen handy in case you have to draw a diagram of what you want, and make a note of the ingredients needed to make it. Places like Five Guys—with excellent, quality "building blocks"—are like flames to the foodie moths who come up with this stuff. Create your own secret menu hack today!
For more information, including how to find a Five Guys near you, visit its website.
Do you have a favorite Five Guys secret menu item that we didn't try? Let us know in the comments below!
