Whataburger Is Tasty, But These 8 Burgers Are on Another Level

The United States is often considered a hamburger nation. After all, there is no meal more quintessentially American than a hamburger, fries, and a shake. There are plenty of options to choose from, too, with tens of thousands of burger restaurants throughout the country. But when you want the tastiest hamburger, there are specific places you turn to, and for many, it's always been Whataburger.

Known for their perfectly cooked burgers and delicious sides, Whataburger has always been the best choice for fast-food hamburgers, and while these burgers are delicious, they aren't the only option. Every year, more burger restaurants pop up around the nation, and eight burger joints are on another level that you should try. You never know, you could find your new favorite burger.

This post was updated in November 2025 to include relevant information about some of the most popular burger restaurants.

Yes, Whataburger is delicious. However, many people think that In-N-Out Burger is better. Both restaurants have their similarities. Both have smaller menus and tasty burgers without a lot of unnecessary frills.

Many people think that In-N-Out is better because the burgers and fries are so fresh, so they provide a certain taste that can't be compared. You can sit there and watch them cut your fries and know they're the real deal. It's an incredible restaurant. Unfortunately, locations are limited, so try it if you can.

If you're going to see how much better IN-N-Out Burger is for yourself, then you should try the famous Double-Double burger. This is a basic burger with double patties, lettuce, and tomatoes. But what really brings it to the next level is the special sauce that's been the same since 1948. Once you go to In-N-Out, you may never look at Whataburger again.

While Whataburger and Shake Shack both have passionate followings, their locations don't always overlap — Whataburger is mostly in the South, while Shake Shack is found in select cities nationwide. Still, you may live in a place with both places, and many times people will pull into the Shack Shack drive-thru over their competitor. Why? Well, in addition to having delicious shakes in a wide variety of flavors, they also have amazing burgers and savory options.

If you're going to Shake Shack for the first time, check out the ShackBurger. It's loaded with delicious Angus beef, lettuce, tomato, and their famous ShackSauce. Plus, it's all placed on a perfectly toasted potato bun. It's a simple burger, as you'd find at Whataburger, but it's so much better. You'll certainly go back for more.

While Whataburger is delicious, the chain doesn't always offer the variety that many customers desire. That's where BurgerFi comes in, where not every meat is the same. When you order, you can choose between standard patties or vegetarian, meatless, and gluten-free options.

They are proud that their meat comes from the farm and not the lab. That's not to say that Whataburger meat is low quality, but BurgerFi just knocks it out of the park.

When looking for the best taste comparison between them and Whataburger, order the classic BurgerFi Cheeseburger. It's loaded with double lettuce, tomato, double patties, and double cheese. There's also antibiotic-free Angus beef. It's an amazing burger made even better with a side of fresh-cut fries. This is a great restaurant for a variety of flavor palates.

While Whataburger serves some pretty amazing burgers, what you see is what you get. You're limited in how you can customize your meal. At Fuddrucker's, the meals are made to order, so you can get them exactly how you like.

That's one thing they have over Whataburger. In addition to that, they have some of the freshest buns in the industry. The restaurant says that they're made fresh every day.

If you visit this restaurant, go for the Original Fudds meal option. Essentially, it's choosing your burger your way. You get to choose the type of meat and how it's cooked. You also get to choose the toppings. They have a legendary toppings bar that offers endless options to make your burger just right. It's a variety you won't get at Whataburger.

If you visually compare a Smashburger sandwich with a burger at Whataburger, you may find it hard to see a difference, at least visually. However, Smashburger is famous for literally smashing their burgers so they're thin and lean. The process also packs in the flavor. While they're similar, for my money, I'll take the Smashburger any day.

There's a tie between two great sandwiches at Smashburger. One of them is the Truffle Mushroom Swiss Burger. It's packed with fresh mushrooms and amazing beef flavor. If you don't like mushrooms, you could also try the Classic Smash. Get it with onion, pickles, lettuce, and tomato, and it will be a party in your mouth.

Yes, Wendy's is a major chain and not quite the niche pick as some of the other restaurants on this list, but they continue to deliver amazing food. The executives at Wendy's know that newer burger brands like Whataburger are making a splash, so they continue to try to innovate to keep up. Wendy's has a vast menu with tasty choices that make it a must-have.

Go on any best-of-burger list, and you'll find the Baconator on top of most of them. This is considered to be one of the best burgers of all time. It's loaded with bacon and those amazing square patties. The patties are also covered in cheese, so it's a flavor explosion in every bite. It's just a bit better than many of the options you'll get at Whataburger.

If Whataburger is delicious, then Fatburger is on another level. They take their name seriously by adding heaping toppings to burgers that also have tasty, large patties that are never frozen. They also have some of the best milkshakes in the world. Fatburger restaurants are not as common as Whataburger, but they're worth a try if you want something new.

Like Whataburger, Fatburger has a smaller menu that won't overwhelm you upon your first visit. When you go, try the original Fatburger. The burger has only one beef patty, but it's huge and full of flavor.

Get it with all the fixings, and you'll get lettuce, onions, relish, mayo, mustard, and more. The beef patty has the right amount of caramelization that brings the flavor to another level.

Finally, while we know that Whataburger is delicious, Habit Burger Grill gives that chain a run for its money. This is another restaurant that you won't find everywhere, so try it when you come across it. People generally love the burgers because they're freshly chargrilled and perfectly cooked over an open flame.

Most people find that the best burger at Habit Burger is the Double Char. It's a good-sized burger, but you can squeeze it down with your hands and get that flavor punch that we all love. The burger patties are perfect, and even the lettuce is somehow better than at other chain restaurants. Get a side of fries and look forward to a fantastic meal.