Dick's Burgers Gets Esquire's 'Life-Changing' Award Over Shake Shack, In-N-Out

Quick: what chain has the best, the most "life-changing" burgers in America? Los Angeles favorite In-N-Out? Culver's, Wisconsin's Home of the Butter Burger? New York Times restaurant critic-vetted Shake Shack? Not according to Esquire readers.

Instead, when the magazine's asked users to name their pick for the most life-changing burger in America, they picked Dick's Drive-in, which has six locations in western Washington state.

The poll wasn't even close. Dick's commanded a whopping 56% of the vote, putting it worlds ahead of In-N-Out and Five Guys, the chains in second and third respectively.

The resounding victory is especially surprising when you consider how many more In-N-Out and Five Guys locations there are than Dick's. Unlike some other polls, this one was not adjusted for the size of the chains. Dick's, though, is known for its rabid fan base. The restaurant's Facebook page has almost 200,000 fans, who are enthusiastic over the dependable allure of the brand's $2.70 fresh-made hamburgers.

Do you agree with Esquire's readers? Vote in our poll, or comment on this story, to tell us.

Quick Poll

Which of these chains do you think has the most life-changing burgers?

Dick's

In-N-Out

Five Guys

Shake Shack

Culver's

VOTE

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Comments

[camanokat]

08:50 PM on 03/13/2012

My favorite dispensary, Dockside, is in Fremont so I stop by Dick's in Ballard on the way home. Their burgers and fries are very good, but I think In n Out is better...fist place I hit when I get out of LAX. Five Guys is decent, not great.

[kjallyn]

08:25 PM on 03/13/2012

I have a Pavlovian reaction to the words "shake shack". I would be happy to try Dick's as a comparison...that sounds very much like a win/win.

[Mr Autistic]

07:56 PM on 03/13/2012

The best, the "most life-changing" American Burgers cannot be gotten from a chain; they can only be gotten from the sheer will and effort of one oneself.

[Rebecca Herivel]

01:36 AM on 03/13/2012

Had Dick's tonight. As a Seattleite, born and bred, I can tell you that Dick's is definitely the best. Are there other places with more gourmet burgers with more trimmings? Yes. But that's not what Dick's is. Dick's is the very cheapest, tastiest, perfectly-sized burger you can get at any fast-food joint and they also have fantastic fries (which you can watch being cut in front of you) and the best shakes. Dick's is also the experience - yes, the burgers themselves may not be "life-changing" taste-wise, but they are consistent and they are quite tasty and distinctive - but the experience of pulling into the old-fashioned drive thru, meeting and talking with other people who are there for the same thing you are...it's great. On my prom night, our limo pulled into Dick's at 1:30 AM and we all got burgers. If you show up in your graduation gown as a new graduate (high school or college), you get a free burger. I was one of those who waited in line for forever when they opened their new location in Edmonds (just north of Seattle and MY hometown) and I will continue to go there my entire life. The Dick's experience is something that you just can't get at a Five Guys or an In-N-Out (yes, I've been to both). THAT is why Dick's is a "life-changing" burger.

[mlaiuppa]

01:35 AM on 03/13/2012

I do. In my own kitchen.

I grind my own hamburger, make my own patties, season and grill.

I'll be working on my own baked hamburger buns soon.

[mia8485]

04:16 PM on 03/14/2012

What time is dinner?

[Debbie Wallis]

08:21 PM on 03/12/2012

Absolutelydamnfrickiskippy its Dick's Drive In all the way :) ... a name that is synonymous with Seattle's food scene. Now if I could get an order to go ... say to Oregon? :)))))

[Issaquah79]

05:49 PM on 03/12/2012

When my husband and I first started dating we would go order 5 fries and rootbeers or milkshakes at Dicks. The fries are THE BEST! Real potatoes! We're vegetarians so no burgers but I have taken my family there and they did LOVE the burgers. I never go to Dicks anymore, not into junk food these days. It probably been 10 years but I still think about those dates and eating ALL of those fries whenever I drive by. Good times!

[carnivaluv]

05:06 PM on 03/12/2012

I've never eaten at either one of these restaurants.

[mikeg0477]

05:19 PM on 03/12/2012

Nor have I.

[RedRat]

04:52 PM on 03/12/2012

Ok I have been eating burgers at Dick's since I went to college in Seattle way back in the late 50s. Continued eating them well after I graduated. They are good burgers, so are their fries. But "Life-changing", I have no idea what the heck that means! No restaurant has ever given me a life-changing experience and never will. Whoever dreamed this little diddy up, has his/her head where the sun doesn't shine. It is a misuse of the words "life changing". Life changing experiences are deep and shake the person to the core. Eating a burger from any restaurant is not life-changing. If it is for you a life changing occurrence than I suggest you see a psycho-therapist, your life is seriously out of balance.

[rnl52]

07:54 PM on 03/14/2012

I know. Why didn't they call it an "epiphany" burger. Jeez.

[RedRat]

01:58 PM on 03/15/2012

Perhaps they were making a parody of restaurant reviews? I don't know. As I said, I like Dick's burgers and recommend them, but even "epiphany" is a bit strong. Dick's just serves a good, inexpensive, burger. It's great for those on a budget or in a hurry. I suspect that Dick's is Seattle's equivalent of "White Castle" (have never been to White Castle, so I can't really say--one of these days in my travels I will try one if they still exist).

[cameron d]

04:34 PM on 03/12/2012

Damnit, I want a burger.

[Jesusocialist]

03:39 PM on 03/13/2012

Here in Toronto the best burgers are at Holy Chuck (Yonge & St. Clair), Burger's Priest (Queen East & Coxwell), and Allen's (Danforth & Broadview).

[cameron d]

04:40 PM on 03/13/2012

Had them all! I'm also a Toronto resident.

[Infinitejester]

04:31 PM on 03/12/2012

Do they have a veggie burger?

[NotrePetiteAmie]

09:09 PM on 03/12/2012

Nope.. they do have great fries! Greasy with the skin on! Yumm!! Great shakes too!

[camanokat]

09:48 PM on 03/13/2012

They have a very limited menu. A couple of different burgers, fries, shakes and soft drinks. Simple.

[baxtron]

04:08 PM on 03/12/2012

life changing as is cancerous or orgasmic?

[NotrePetiteAmie]

09:09 PM on 03/12/2012

Both. :)

[Lauren Kottwitz]

03:04 PM on 03/12/2012

Dick's is the cat's meow.

[Elissa TiddeiHelfers]

02:54 PM on 03/12/2012

If you haven't been to a Dick's you don't know what you are missing! In an Out Burgur sucks, their fries taste like cardboard ! Dick's has great burgers and fries! We always use to get the Dick's Deluxe at Dick's on 45 st. in Ballard.

[Joann Vallo]

03:27 PM on 03/12/2012

Are they anywhere in N. Calif? I've never heard of them. innout is good for the fact that they serve gluten free and it tastes good. Other than that? Can't think of anything. As you said, their fries suck and so do their milk shakes, by the way.

[rnl52]

07:57 PM on 03/14/2012

Sorry, only in western WA.

[Debbie Wallis]

08:25 PM on 03/12/2012

I grew up in Ballard and remember it fondly. Now I'm homesick for the first time in years :(
Oh and I agree with RedRat ... life changing, eh no. Want lifechanging, go to Zesto's ;-)

[NotrePetiteAmie]

09:13 PM on 03/12/2012

No more Zesto's :( My Grandma lives two blocks from there.

[Emily Harvey]

02:50 AM on 03/13/2012

Zesto's closed!

[huffpo commies]

02:05 PM on 03/12/2012

in n out hands down. in cali you can munch on a double double with grilled onions and then go walk on the beach. WIN

[camanokat]

09:50 PM on 03/13/2012

There's an In n Out beside the runway at LAX. Watch the planes and have lunch on the patio.

[rnl52]

08:00 PM on 03/14/2012

We can do that in WA. too., long as you don't mind a little snow on your beach.