I just received this email from yelp and thought I'd pass it on. Things like this are always "Take it with a grain of salt.", but interesting. I have been to 17 of the listed restaurants, but White Castle goes back almost 60 years, and some almost that long ago too. I did manage a number of Jack in the Box locations in the mid '70s, but was never impressed with their food.
Pit Barrel Cooker
Weber Master-Touch
Blackstone Omnivore 4 Burner Griddle
Thermoworks: Signals, Billows, Thermopens, Thermopops, Nodes, bunch of silicone stuff, and more!
OnlyFire Rotisserie w/ Basket attachment for the Weber
Vortex for the Weber
Both of Meathead's books!
Way too many BBQ related accessories, tools, and doo-dads!
Large Big Green Egg, Weber Performer Deluxe, Weber Smokey Joe Silver, Fireboard Drive, 3 DigiQs, lots of Thermapens, and too much other stuff to mention.
9, but I haven't been to a Jack in the Box since the 70s. I wouldn't go to any of them today, unless it was a social situation that required it. Like a pit stop while traveling and everyone wanted to stop there.
Currently own:
Weber 22 and 26 Kettle.
Regular gasser with rotisserie.
Custom built horizontal stick burner.
Custom built duel fuel "whole hog" cooker.
​​​Many other tools of the trade.
Looks like 8 but I haven't been back to any of them for years. I have a double smash burger almost every weekend at my favorite local casino however... The best I've ever had.
Started smoking in Aug 2025. First smoker is a Weber Searwood. I purchased a ThermoWorks Smoke to get a more accurate temperature and the pro-series needle probe. I also have a Weber grilling basket, Weber grill brush, and the Grillart steambrush. I've tried all sorts of pellets and wood flavors and my family mainly likes the Traeger signature blend. I have a meat injector and shears for poultry.
I also recently purchased a new 2010 used Weber Kettle Performer. Just got a cover for it. I bought the ThermoWorks RFX with 1 wireless probe, the SnS and DnG to spruce up the grill. I have not cooked on it yet. I cut a hole and installed the ThermoWorks billows. I did buy 4 bags of the B&B charcoal briquettes.
All my cooking has been on the Searwood. I absolutely love cooking Pork Shoulder, chicken wings, chicken breasts and steak. I won first place in my church chili cookoff (I bragged to everyone about it) and I really enjoyed the chili (and I don't really like chili). I really enjoyed Moink balls. I like cooking ribs, chicken breasts, and chicken legs with white sauce.
I look forward to cooking pork burnt ends, smoked turkey for Thanksgiving, and maybe even a brisket.
I'm still trying to determine rubs my wife will really enjoy. I love the rubs from the website, but my wife just wants some rubs that will bring out the meat flavor so she can taste the meat. I'm seeking simple rubs for chicken breasts and steaks.
I love soda and especially Dr. Pepper. I don't drink alcohol.
I live near Boise, ID. I've been married for 25 years and I have 5 kids. I'm a second career dentist.
I honestly was the least impressed with Habit and 5 Guys. Both have decent but greasy burgers with a ton of crap on them for a huge price. Though nowhere near as greasy as Cookout, how that place has a massive line everyday at lunch and yet we don't have more heart surgeons in my area is a major mystery.
The Sourdough Jack is my jam at Jack in the Crack... sadly, none near me and if I'm gonna drive 6+ hours round trip for food, that ain't it.
Red Robin generally is pretty consistent and has some great burger options, I never understood why they didn't optimize and add a drive through limited burger focused menu to some of their busier locations.
10, if I can count Hardee's as a Carl's. But, I didn't have a burger at Sonic, and Jack in the Box was over 50 years ago (though they just moved back into the Chicago area, so maybe I'll return someday soon).
If not cooking outdoors, I am cooking on the stovetop with my 14" carbon steel wok, 12" CI skillet, or in the oven with my two Lodge CI pizza pans, or two dutch ovens. I've also got a nifty Lodge carbon steel grill pan that rocks for veggies outdoors.
Looks like 11 for me. 12 if you consider Hardee's to be the same as Carl's Jr. (They were merged then separated again).
I've also been to quite a few places not on that list. One of my favorites, and this is nostalgia talking, was the old chain Fuddruckers. It was cool as they had an in-house butcher shop and made a great burger or dog, and had a burger bar with all the fixings, and good fries at the time. When I lived and worked in the Atlanta area in the 80's that was one of my favorite spots, and later for my wife and kids in the mid to late 90's. Last time we stopped off I-75 to grab a burger, it was gone. I tried 2 or 3 of the 3 locations I knew of in the Kennesaw, Marietta and Sandy Springs areas, and all were long gone.
Last edited by jfmorris; January 12, 2026, 04:26 PM.
Loved Fuddruckers. There was one in Richmond, VA when I lived there. Last time I visited was about 2003. Burgers were big and juicy, toppings were super-fresh too.
I see Fuddrucker's still exists as a chain, but is scaled way back. When I lived in Atlanta, there were likely a dozen or more scattered around Atlanta. Now - not a single one in the entire metro Atlanta area. Surprising, considering the population density. Granted, when I was going to Fuddruckers almost weekly it was due to the proximity to my office, and they just had a really good burger. There were fewer burger joints back then, but still...
Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan - near Clare (dead center of lower peninsula).
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
9 here. And of the ones I've visited I still say Wendy's is the best burger but the bar is sadly not too high. They, like quite likely all of them, really need to add some seasoning to their patties though. Unseasoned meat is an awful trait of every fast food place for some reason. McDonald's, in my experience, is the only one that seasons the patty that I can tell.
Yes, I ate many of their baked potatoes when I was in college. My future husband frequented Wendy's, so I at there a lot. I used to get their chili too.
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