Founded in 1986, Five Guys has been popular all over the world for more than 30 years, and for good reason.

We recently re-visited this beloved American burger chain to see how the quality has held up in the three years since they entered the China market, and to sample their newly launched free snacking peanuts – a signature munching staple at all Five Guys across the USA. 

The Five Guys Backstory

In the early 1980s, the Murrells started a take-out burger shop in Arlington, Virginia, serving only handmade burgers and freshly fried fries using pure peanut oil.

This small burger shop quickly attracted a dedicated fan base – and media attention – with many customers voting their burgers as the No.1 Burger in all of Washington, D.C.

In the 1980s and '90s, the Murrell brothers further refined their business philosophy and adding four seated restaurants to meet the increasing customer demand.

In 2003, they began offering franchise opportunities. Within less than 18 months, they sold over 300 franchises.

This unprecedented success of a local burger shop through franchising attracted the attention of numerous American media outlets, including features in industry publications such as Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Business Magazine, and Franchise Times.

Five Guys continues to receive extensive media coverage, and is highly popular globally, attracting a large number of loyal fans.

The Five Guys Goods

While Five Guys has been around for three decades, the menu hasn’t changed much. The same stellar burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, French fries, soft drinks and milkshakes remain for a reason. 

All ingredients are freshly prepared daily in-house, as Five Guys continues to deliver high quality food coupled with warm and thoughtful service to Shanghai diners.

The Burgers

Five Guys’ burger buns are baked using a time-honored, secret recipe – resulting in fluffy buns with a yeasty aroma.

The beef patties are made of high-quality, 120-day, grain-fed beef with a perfect 80:20 meat-to-fat ratio that requires no further seasoning.

Each patty is handmade and cooked on-site after the customer orders, keeping it juicy and enticing.

Diners can also choose from 15 free toppings to build their ideal burger, selecting from fresh vegetables, sauces, and pickles.

Each double cheeseburger has two freshly cooked patties with two slices of American cheddar cheese in between, slowly melting with the heat from the patties, creating a fusion of flavors. 

If you want the 'ultimate burger,' don't forget to add Five Guys' bacon, each slice cooked at high temperatures to remove excess moisture; the fat in the meat crisps, pops and sizzles. 

The Fries 

Each Five Guys fry is traceable. The team carefully selects high-quality potatoes, freshly supplied, with the climate and environment of the production area being crucial for potato growth. 

Every morning, Five Guys' staff (in red hats) pre-treat the potatoes; each fry is cut directly from the whole potato, matching the potato's size.

After selection, washing, and cutting into skin-on fries, they are washed again. The fries, varying in length, are then fried in pure peanut oil. 

After draining, the fries are fried a second time as each customer places an order, for a twice-fried crispy exterior, and soft, mashed potato-esque inside. 

Diners then can choose their French fry flavor – original or Cajun spicy – and their dipping sauce – ketchup, mayonnaise, hot sauce, and BBQ sauce. 

Most importantly, when bagging, the team overfills the cup, adding an extra scoop, even spilling into the bag for an avalanche of potato goodness! 

The Milkshakes 

Five Guys' DIY feature isn't limited to burgers; they also offer nine free mix-ins for milkshakes, which can be added at will. 

Toppings include bananas, strawberries, vanilla, salted caramel, peanut butter, Biscoff cookies, chocolate, Oreos, the signature crumbled bacon bits and a whipped cream topper. 

The Five Guys Experience

Five Guys approachable red and white design and inviting, brightly lit space, plus an open kitchen, make it a destination to visit for people of all ages and backgrounds. 

The boldly American decor and pop music convey the brand’s style, while employees greet visitors enthusiastically.

At the counter, employees interact with the clientele, chatting with diners and guiding them through the ordering process to ensure that each guest chooses a meal he or she will enjoy.

After placing an order, customers can watch as the team freshly cooks the beef patties, assembles the burgers, fries the fries, and makes the milkshakes to ensure everything served is fresh, high-quality, and tasty.

Peanuts!

The Five Guys experience is structured from ordering to dining, with the bonus of peanuts adding a special touch. 

To ensure the same flavor worldwide, Five Guys uses peanut seeds from the US, grown in China.

Only carefully selected and processed peanuts enter the stores, resulting in a nostalgic snack diners can munch on to make the Five Guys dining experience that much more complete. 

Peanuts are a Five Guys’ tradition, found in all store locations across the USA. Their introduction in the China market after three years makes the experience finally feel complete for all customers, foreign friends and locals alike. 

Five Guys Shanghai Locations:

Printemps Huaihai, 1F, No.939 Huaihai Zhong Lu, Huangpu 

Raffles City Changning, Store No.09A, 2F, East Raffles City, Kaixuan Lu, Changning

HongYi Plaza, 1F, HongYi Plaza, No. 299 Nanjing Dong Lu, Huangpu

Taikoo Hui, Store No.220, LG2, Taikoo Hui, Shimen Yi Lu , Huangpu 

Hopson One, Store Unit B2-01, B2, Hopson One, No.2228 Huangxing Lu, Yangpu