Burgers are an American icon.Considering how muchfast food I've tried, I've developed some serious opinions ' see a gushing ode to theMcGriddle' and that extends to the burger.After all, I've tried McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Five Guys, Whataburger, White Castle, even Sheetz' and that's the short list. Ishouldhave a decent grasp on what makes a good ' and bad ' burger.I know that thereare myriad variables at work. Is the burger too small' Too messy' Is the bun soggy' How fresh is the beef' Toppings'Is there some gimmicky limited-edition flavor, or is it a simple, old-fashioned burger' It's a lot to mull over.But there's one burger that outranks all the rest and wins in every category, and that's the burger atSmashburger.In terms of quality, the burgers are as close to anicedining experience as you can get in a fast-casual setting. They're of medium size ' nothing overwhelming or gluttonously gargantuan.The ingredients are fresh and definitely in the premium tier. Both burgers I tried at Smashburgerhad vibrant and natural toppings like baby spinach, tomato, and some pretty top-notch blue cheese.The patties, although rather thin ' they're "smashed" on the grill, hence the name ' are savory and cooked to perfection. There's nouneasy, greasy texture to the burger, unlike at many other chains. It's a lean meat that stands out among theflavors instead of suffocating beneath them.Itsclosest competitor, Shake Shack, makes delicious burgers, but they have a certain greasy unctuousness to them. They're enjoyable, but you know they'renot fooling anyone in terms of health.Smashburger isby far the least guilty burger I've tried. Even the unhealthy buffalo blue-cheese burger was wonderfully rounded in flavor and dressed with care and quality.The company says that it uses only 100% Angus beef ' and I'm inclined to believe it. While "Angus beef" has become something of a buzzword in the industry lately (even McDonald's is cavingto the fresh beef push), Smashburger's beeftruly tastes excellent ' tender and satisfying.The Smashburger menu offers some adventurous flavor and topping combinations, and allowsyou to create your own burger masterpiece as well. And while they may be pricey for burgers ' roughly $8, which is cheap in New York City if you can believe it ' the service and quality are worth it.Luckily, Smashburger seems to be nearly everywhere. With locations in 37 states and tencountries, there's bound to be one nearby.Of course, if the field is narrowed to simply fast-food chains, then the choice becomes all the more difficult.I've found that Whoppers are great in theory, but the execution often disappoints. Big Macs are true classics, but McDonald's quality isn't always up to snuff ' and with the death of "Create Your Taste," so too dies that dream. Perhaps ... Wendy's.Yes, Wendy's, with itspig-tailed iconand itsdivisivesquare patties. It'sno longer the Wendy's of yore: Quality is improving. And in light ofthe recent bun change, a fresh Dave's Double cheeseburger has become an incredibly satisfying sandwich.Is there still the requisite fast-food guilt after scarfing one down' Of course. But for me, less so than others. The beef is as juicy and good as ever, the onions, pickles, and tomatoes are typically crisp, and the bun is resilient in the face of ketchup and mayo.But until other fast-food chains step up their game, Smashburger reigns supreme.SEE ALSO:We tried every fast-food fish sandwich just in time for Lent ' here's who does it bestJoin the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: We tried McDonald's new Mac Jr. and Grand Mac to see how they stack up to the classic Big Mac
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