We Went to 8 Drive-Thrus to Find the Best Fast-Food Burger

Despite having the nation's fastest drive-thrus, Burger King's basic cheeseburger was small, thin, dry, and tasted like it had been frozen, with a sloppy excess of ketchup making it a messy meal.

Burger King

Known for its fries and Coke, McDonald's cheeseburger was thin, mildly flavored, and small, with plenty of ketchup, mustard, and onions, but it didn't make the top spot for fast-food burgers.

McDonald's

Famous for ice cream, Dairy Queen's cheeseburger had a decent patty and bun but was dry and had too much mustard, not making it a favorite.

Dairy Queen

Slightly better than Dairy Queen, this burger had a mild charbroiled flavor but a thin patty, making the bun-to-patty proportion off-balance.

Hardee's & Carl's Jr.

Known for fresh, never frozen beef and square burgers, Wendy's cheeseburger was fresh with a grilled flavor and good toppings, but the cheese wasn't melted, and there was too much mustard.

Wendy's

Surprising for a chain known for root beer, A&W's cheeseburger was fresh, with a bakery-like bun, melted cheese, and well-portioned condiments, making it a good choice.

A&W

Famous for carhop service and slushies, Sonic's large and flavorful cheeseburger had well-seasoned beef and unique toppings like mayo, lettuce, and tomato, though the cheese could have been more melted.

Sonic

The best fast-food burger was Culver's ButterBurger, made with fresh beef, Wisconsin cheddar, and a buttered bun, offering a juicy, perfectly savory burger with a crispy toasted bun and melted cheese.

Culver's