Eater DC - Chain Burger Restaurants Power HourThe DC Restaurant, Bar, and Nightlife Bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52682/favicon-32x32.png2015-04-16T15:55:02-04:00http://dc.eater.com/rss/stream/81963062015-04-16T15:55:02-04:002015-04-16T15:55:02-04:00Stanton & Green's Woong Chan Misses In-N-Out, Too
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<figcaption>Stanton & Greene | R. Lopez</figcaption>
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<p>Eater asked a couple bartenders to share favorite chain burgers.</p> <p>If In-N-Out ever ventures to the East Coast, Stanton & Greene bartender Woong Chang may just be the first person in line.</p>
<p>"In-N-Out all the way," Chang said. "Growing up in the suburbs of Southern CA, all of my significant high school memories involved In-N-Out: football games, dances, dates, make-out sessions, break-ups, you name it, I feel like they all happened at In-N-Out. But, their double-double honestly changed the way I view fast food burgers. Also, if you are in the 'know', there are so many hidden items on the menu. I once ate a 9-by-9 animal style as a dare; yes ,that's 9 patties and 9 slices of cheese. I disgust myself sometimes."</p>
https://dc.eater.com/2015/4/16/8429953/stanton-greens-woong-chan-misses-in-n-out-tooMissy Frederick2015-04-16T15:52:02-04:002015-04-16T15:52:02-04:00Will Steak 'N Shake Ever Open in D.C.?
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<img alt="Steakburger from Steak 'N Shake" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6RewzTZqAsLuZzZf3Twgcb963zI=/0x0:801x601/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46132842/steakburger.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Steakburger from Steak 'N Shake | Facebook</figcaption>
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<p>For Chain Burger Power, Eater DC checked in with several cult favorite burger chains to see if they have any intention of coming to D.C.</p> <p>Many Midwesterners love the burgers at Steak 'N Shake. And the chain is actually getting a little closer to D.C. A franchisee in Maryland is expected to open a location in Millersville, Maryland this spring.</p>
<p>Locations closer to D.C. could be on the horizon. Attempts to reach the company and local franchisee were unsuccessful. But the<a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/blog/charm-city-flavor/2014/07/steak-n-shake-entering-into-maryland-with-10.html"> franchisee told</a> the Baltimore Business Journal last July that Silver Spring, Bowie and Crofton were among the areas he is targeting for the up to 10 stores he plans to open. The closest Virginia location right now is in Fredericksburg.</p>
https://dc.eater.com/2015/4/16/8422671/will-steak-n-shake-ever-open-in-d-cMissy Frederick2015-04-16T15:48:02-04:002015-04-16T15:48:02-04:00Will Umami Burger Ever Come to D.C.?
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<p>For Chain Burger Power, Eater DC checked in with several cult favorite burger chains to see if they have any intention of coming to D.C.</p> <p>West Coast chain Umami Burger <a href="http://dc.eater.com/2013/2/27/6474779/what-umami-burgers-new-funding-means-for-d-c">has been talking</a> about opening a location in D.C. since 2013 (and since it received an influx of funding for expansion purposes). Unfortunately, the way things stand now are about the same place they stood those years ago.</p>
<p>A spokesman says there's still no news on when the chain might enter the marketplace. "We do think Umami Burger would do well in the D.C. Metro area," he said. Founder Adam Fleischman is actually from Silver Spring.</p>
https://dc.eater.com/2015/4/16/8422539/will-umami-burger-ever-come-to-d-cMissy Frederick2015-04-16T15:42:02-04:002015-04-16T15:42:02-04:00How Do The Prices Of Local Fast Food Burger Options Compare?
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<figcaption><a href='https://www.facebook.com/BGRBurgerJoint/photos/pb.160545804069.-2207520000.1429024653./10152600053569070/?type=3&theater'>BGR/Facebook</a></figcaption>
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<p>Patty size, ranked by weight and price, from Five Guys to BGR.</p> <p>Looking for a burger that won’t break the bank? The humble hamburger invented as a street food over 100 years ago was never meant to be expensive. Yet today it proves difficult to eat any lunch in a city restaurant without spending at least ten dollars. But steer clear of the McDonald’s drive-thru, because the D.C. area offers many affordable burger chains. Eater checked out how some chain prices stack up:</p>
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https://dc.eater.com/2015/4/16/8411285/burger-prices-local-fast-food-dcChristine Blau2015-04-16T15:34:01-04:002015-04-16T15:34:01-04:00Don't Expect In-N-Out, Culver's or Carl's Jr. in D.C. Anytime Soon
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<figcaption>In-N-Out | Official</figcaption>
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<p>For Chain Burger Power, Eater DC checked in with several cult favorite burger chains to see if they have any intention of coming to D.C.</p> <p>When talking cult favorite burger chains, a few obvious contenders come to mind.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most omnipresent: California's own In-N-Out Burger. Should the chain ever expand to the East Coast, it would be a game changer for the burger world. But there are no plans for this to happen anytime in the future.</p>
<p>"We only operate in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Texas today," the company said in a statement. "While we hope to make it to D.C. someday, our slow growth plans will prevent us from getting there in the near-term future. While D.C. certainly is a great city and filled with many opportunities, it is just too far away from our distribution centers and patty production facilities." The company makes all of its burger patties in facilities in California and Texas, and since they don't freeze anything, their growth plans are limited by how far they can travel from those facilities.</p>
<p>Another burger joint with its own fans: Culver's, a Midwestern chain also known for its frozen custard. Spokesman Paul Pitas says all of its restaurants are owned by independent franchisees, but the company has not heard from anyone interested in establishing a Culver's in the D.C. area.</p>
<p>Though their semi-salacious commercials still play in the D.C. market, Carl's Jr. also won't be opening in Washington. The company also owns Hardee's and does not open Carl's Jr. locations in the same markets where Hardee's operates (there are locations in Maryland and Virginia).</p>
https://dc.eater.com/2015/4/16/8415325/dont-expect-in-n-out-culvers-or-carls-jr-in-d-c-anytime-soonMissy Frederick2015-04-16T15:30:02-04:002015-04-16T15:30:02-04:00Where to Find Chain Veggie Burgers in D.C.
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<figcaption>Elevation's Vegan Burger | Official</figcaption>
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<p>Can vegetarians survive at these burger joints?</p> <p>Vegetarians often don't exactly feel at home at a burger joint. But some outlets do make an effort to cater to the non-meat-eating crowd. Here's how local chains stack up when it comes to vegetarian options.</p>
<p><b>The Chain: </b>Burger King</p>
<p><b>The Burger: </b>Burger King's Veggie Burger is actually a Morningstar patty topped with the usual lettuce, tomato and onion.</p>
<p><b>The Chain: </b>Elevation Burger</p>
<p><b>The Burger:</b> Elevation actually has two vegetarian options: The #1 incorporates cheese into the patty, while the #2 is vegan and grain-based.</p>
<p><b>The Chain:</b> Smashburger</p>
<p><b>The Burger: </b>Smashburger has a black bean burger that can be used as the base with any of their toppings. It is not vegan.</p>
<p><b>The Chain: </b>The Counter</p>
<p><b>The Burger:</b> The burger joint has a homemade version that's also vegan, with ingredients like corn, rice and black beans.</p>
<p><b>The Chain:</b> Plan B Burger Bar</p>
<p><b>The Burger:</b> The menu boasts a homemade veggie burger option which can be customized with toppings.</p>
<p><b>The Chain: </b>Be Right Burger</p>
<p><b>The Burger:</b> BRB lists "The Vegetarian Burger" as a special.</p>
<p><b>The Chain:</b> Burger 7</p>
<p><b>The Burger:</b> The chain has a "vegan burger" that diners can add various toppings to.</p>
<p><b>The Chain:</b> BurgerFi</p>
<p><b>The Burger:</b> The VegiFi burger is made from a crispy quinoa base and topped with white cheddar, lettuce and tomato.</p>
<p><b>The Chain:</b> Z-Burger</p>
<p><b>The Burger:</b> Z-Burger's veggie burger has a black bean-based patty.</p>
<p><b>The Chain: </b>BGR</p>
<p><b>The Burger:</b> BGR's veggie burger is made from brown rice, black beans, molasses and oats.</p>
<p><b>The Chain: </b>Red Robin Burger Works</p>
<p><b>The Burger: </b>Red Robin dresses up a Gardenburger-brand patty for its veggie burger.</p>
<p><b>The Chain:</b> Shake Shack</p>
<p><b>The Burger:</b> Shake Shack's 'Shroom Burger has a whole portabello mushroom as the patty.</p>
<p><b>The Chain: </b>Burger 21</p>
<p><b>The Burger: </b>Burger 21 has two vegetarian options: a black bean burger and The Greek, topped with feta.</p>
<p><b>The Chain: </b>Good Stuff Eatery</p>
<p><b>The Burger: </b>Good Stuff's 'Shroom Burger is accented with cheddar and Muenster cheeses.</p>
https://dc.eater.com/2015/4/16/8402581/where-to-find-chain-veggie-burgers-in-d-cMissy Frederick2015-04-16T15:19:02-04:002015-04-16T15:19:02-04:00Trevor Frye is an In-N-Out Fan
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<p>Eater asked a couple of bartenders about their favorite chain burgers.</p> <p>Bartenders should know something about a hangover food like burgers, so Eater asked a couple of them about their favorite chain burgers for Power Hour.</p>
<p>Trevor Frye of Dram & Grain's favorite is not a local one. "I rarely eat fast food burgers but whenever I'm in Vegas, I always go In-N-Out," he said. "It cures any hangovers from the night before. It's like my non-boozy 'hair of the dog.'"</p>
https://dc.eater.com/2015/4/16/8429643/trevor-frye-is-an-in-n-out-fanMissy Frederick2015-04-16T15:16:02-04:002015-04-16T15:16:02-04:00Will Sonic Ever Move Closer to D.C.?
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<figcaption>Sonic | Facebook</figcaption>
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<p>For Chain Burger Power, Eater DC checked in with several cult favorite burger chains to see if they have any intention of coming to D.C.</p> <p>If Washington, D.C. residents want to pick up a hamburger from Sonic (or some tots, or some cherry limeade), they have a bit of a drive in store.</p>
<p>The company says it considers seven of its restaurants in the greater D.C. area, though that definition is generous. The closest Sonic right now is in Edgewater, Maryland, though the website lists that the chain is coming soon to Capital Heights and Waldorf in Maryland, as well as to Fredericksburg in Virginia.</p>
<p>A spokesman says they're "poised for growth" in the market. "We're open to conversions of existing retail property and interested in line urban settings in addition to our traditional Carhop experience," a spokesperson said via email. They're also hoping to line up some franchise candidates inside the Beltway eventually as well.</p>
https://dc.eater.com/2015/4/16/8422641/will-sonic-ever-move-closer-to-d-cMissy Frederick