This Midwest Burger Chain Has One Of The Best Cheeseburgers In America

In today's fast food landscape, you're never too far from a solid burger. But if you tasted them side by side, some would no doubt be better than others. Enter Freddy's Original Double, the signature handheld from Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. In a ranking of nine fast food cheeseburgers by Mashed contributor Nikelle Murphy, the Midwest-based darling claimed one of the top spots.

Murphy considered the burger flavorful and, for the most part, well-constructed. "Each [patty] is crisped and browned at the edges for a nice texture contrast from the more tender beef in the middle. The salted beef patties are smothered with two slices of American cheese, so no bite is without a touch of melted goodness. I was impressed that the burger I got from the drive-thru holds up to the pictures online," she wrote. Despite a heavy-handed mustard application and somewhat messy eating experience, Murphy said it's worth the spend.

Of all the Kansas-born chain's burgers, the Original Double is arguably the most essential. In an exclusive interview with Mashed, former Freddy's CMO Laura Rueckel called it the "highest selling burger" and recommended it to first-timers above all other handhelds. It's surprisingly simple, too: two smashed, lacy steakburger patties (often made with premium sirloin or ribeye), cheese, mustard, onion, and pickles on a toasted bun. In Murphy's ranking, it came behind only Shake Shack and Wayback Burger, beating Five Guys, Wendy's, Arby's, McDonald's, Burger King, and Sonic.

Freddy's Original Double is the most popular menu item at Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. Prices vary, but it costs $8.49 or $11.99 for a combo with a side (fries, chips, tots, onion rings, or cheese curds, among others, some of which cost a little more) and a drink. The double-patty cheeseburger has 670 calories, 38 grams of fat, 32 grams of carbs, 6 grams of sugar, and 48 grams of protein. You can customize cheeses, condiments, and toppings, or even trade the bun for a lettuce wrap.

Brothers and Kansas natives Bill and Randy Simon and their friend, Scott Redler, opened the Midwestern chain in 2002, naming it after the Simons' dad, Freddy. The mission was simple: made-to-order food and quality ingredients in a nostalgic, friendly environment. Now, Freddy's is one of the fastest-growing franchises in the country with almost 600 locations.

And Freddy's has countless fans. "I had Freddy's Original Double Combo and I really liked it. The beef patties were really thin, like they were smashed in and had crispy crust around them," one Reddit user shares. "Freddy's Original Double is my favorite fast food burger, best pickles," another Redditor attests. "They are fantastic, the whole menu is great. Burgers are more on the smash side, so double is mandatory," another Reddit user writes. "I got a Freddy's Original Double Combo for under $11, and it was much better than the Five Guys cheeseburger I got a week later that cost over that for just the burger," shares one more Redditor.