Ranked: Best Cheeseburger From 5 Fast-Food Chains

The most basic cheeseburger at McDonald’s cost $3.49, excluding tax and fees, at my local McDonald’s in Brooklyn, New York.

The cheeseburger had a smattering of diced onions across the bottom of the patty and inside the bottom bun. The cheese made the burger patty and top bun stick together, sandwiching the other ingredients inside.

Overall, it was a good snack but not hearty enough to satiate me for a full meal. I also thought the bun was a little flavorless, and the cheese could have been more melted.

The condiments also overpowered the taste of the burger — this cheeseburger really only tasted of cheese and ketchup to me, while the bun made my mouth feel a little dry.

I didn’t really taste the onions, though I thought the pickles were tart and crunchy.

The cheeseburger cost $2.79, excluding tax and fees, at a Burger King in Brooklyn, New York. It was the least expensive burger I tried.

This burger appeared to be just a touch bigger than the McDonald’s burger. The cheese was also more melted.

I thought the addition of diced onion and mustard on the McDonald’s burger did little to amp up the flavor, and I found this burger much tastier.

The bun had a distinct sesame flavor, and the beef patty had a slight smokiness that tasted fresh off the grill.

The cheese was thick and perfectly melted onto the burger patty, something I didn’t experience with the burger from McDonald’s. For its low price, I thought this burger was a good value.

While Wendy’s offers a variety of different burgers, big and small, the Dave’s Single is the chain’s most classic cheeseburger. Named after Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas, it is available in multiple sizes, from a single to a triple-stacked burger.

It features one of Wendy’s signature square-shaped patties and is the chain’s version of a classic cheeseburger.

It cost $8.74, excluding tax and fees, at my local Wendy’s in Brooklyn, New York. It was the most expensive burger I tried.

The Dave’s Single cheeseburger comes with a quarter-pound beef patty, a slice of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, mayo, and onions.

When I lifted the top bun of the burger, it was practically dripping sauces, which I didn’t necessarily mind. There was also a generous serving of pickles and a large slice of tomato.

Next time, I might remove the mayonnaise or ask for a half-serving to reduce how moist the burger was.

I thought the toppings tasted fresh, and it was a good size. However, I wasn’t sure if it was worth the high price tag.

The Cheese Champ, which is Checker’s most basic cheeseburger, cost $6.49, excluding tax and fees, at the location I visited in Brooklyn, New York.

The burger had one patty and was topped with American cheese, tomato, red onion, lettuce, pickles, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise. It was served on a toasted “bakery-style” bun.

Checkers served one of the largest burgers I tried, and I thought it was also relatively affordable at just under $7. The burger toppings were fresh, especially the thickly cut sliced tomato and iceberg lettuce.

I thought the cheese and beef patty were both flavorful, and the burger had the perfect amount of condiments to add moisture and flavor without making it too soggy.

My only complaint was with the bun, which I thought was a little too thick and stodgy compared to Sonic’s fluffier bun.

Overall, I was impressed.

The Sonic cheeseburger cost $8.04, excluding tax and fees, at my local Sonic Drive-In in Brooklyn, New York.

There was a generous serving of each topping, and they were evenly layered across the burger patty to ensure that every bite had an equal amount of all the ingredients.

While it wasn’t the cheapest burger, I thought it was a great value considering its size and the amount of flavor packed into it.

The beef was juicy but well-seasoned, the cheese added the perfect amount of tang, the pickles and tomato were fresh and added a tart crunch to every bite, and the soft bun held everything together.

Although Sonic’s burger was quite similar to Checkers’, I preferred the more expensive option solely for its flavor. It simply tasted fresher and better overall.

The next time I’m reaching for a classic fast-food cheeseburger, I’ll stop by Sonic Drive-In.