Red Robin is an old favorite of mine.
(So much so that I almost went there for prom one year before my parents pointed out that we should go somewhere a little more…well…fancy.)
But let’s face it:
There are a LOT of great burgers out there today.
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So I put together a list of burger places that are certainly competitive with Red Robin.
My only criteria was “fans must have a legitimate claim that the burger is better.”
Some of these restaurants are sit-down like Red Robin, some are fast-casual, some are even (gasp) fast food.
It’s all about the burger!
Starting with an old favorite…
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In-N-Out is never going to have the kind of selection that Red Robin does.
They just don’t have that many topping combos!
And that’s ok – because the underlying product is just so good.
(Especially if you get the burgers “animal style”).
So if you’re on the West Coast, just go to In-N-Out. You’ll save money and you’ll leave happier.
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Unlike In-N-Out, Five Guys is everywhere.
And the product is just incredible.
The burgers, the fries, the peanuts, the shakes…
They’re not as “fancy” as Red Robin, but the execution is just done so well that it doesn’t matter.
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I love Smashburger for many reasons.
(Their beef tallow fries are just one of them!)
But my favorite thing is how thin and crispy their burger patties are – without getting burned – thanks to the metal smasher.
Lots of great toppings options too, but it’s really just about a great burger.
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Chili’s burgers are probably the most “similar” to Red Robin’s in my estimation…
The patties are thicker like Red Robin’s, and you get a little more of the same “kind” of burger – with cool recipes like the BBQ brisket burger and the mushroom Swiss burger.
For me, with Chili’s it comes down to the buns and the fries, which are both superior to Red Robin’s (I like thinner fries).
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Culver’s is in the Midwest and gradually growing toward the coasts, so if you live in California or New York and haven’t heard of them – yet – I can’t blame you.
Their ButterBurgers are to die for, especially with the buttered buns. It’s just another solid upgrade from Red Robin (at a much lower price point). Also, their hospitality is genuinely incredible – you get a real “small town” feel any time you step into a Culver’s.
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Whataburger is based in Texas but rapidly building up a national footprint.
Like most of the other fast foody options, Whataburger doesn’t have the depth of toppings and flavors that Red Robin does, but it makes up for it with great execution on a handful of tried-and-true recipes.
Their sweet & spicy bacon burger is one of my favorites, but their avocado bacon burger (on Texas toast) is also fantastic – as are their standard burger options too!
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If there’s anyone who’s elevated the fast food burger, it’s Shake Shack.
And honestly, I’d take a Shake Shack burger over Red Robin any day.
After all, you can get their Shack Stack (which is a cheeseburger topped with a fried portobello mushroom patty) for a full $3 cheaper than Red Robin’s (single patty) mushroom burger.
It’s no contest.
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I couldn’t leave without giving Red Robin its due.
After all, the Royal burger and the Whiskey River BBQ burger are two old favorites I’ve eaten plenty of times over the years.
And there’s a reason so many other burgers are compared to them!
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So there you have it – seven burgers whose fans would certainly claim they’re better than Red Robin’s.
None of them offer the same level of customizability (aside from maybe Five Guys), but each of them has an argument, for sure.
But here’s the real question:
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What do YOU think?
Are any or all of these better than Red Robin?
Who else should I have added to the list?
Let us know in the comments!
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