After trying burgers at several fast food restaurants around Athens, ODYSSEY staffers determined that new addition Whataburger offers the best fast food burger.
The Wendy’s Dave’s Single cheeseburger is displayed at 415 Prince Ave.on Oct. 10, 2024. Photo by Miles Lawrence
Known across the country for its motto, “Quality is our recipe,” Wendy’s has been a staple in the fast food industry since the chain opened in 1969 – and for good reason.
Located at 415 Prince Ave. and accompanied by a drive-thru window, Wendy’s west-side Athens location is considerably nicer than some of its fast food competitors. While the decor is a bit tacky, sunlight shines through the windows of the dining area, which contains several comfortable seating options that customers can enjoy their meal at.
For $3.79, customers can order a Dave’s Single cheeseburger, which contains a square ground beef patty, a slice of American cheese, tomato, crinkle-cut pickles, mayonnaise, lettuce, ketchup and sweet onions.
While the portion size is a little small and unfulfilling, the taste of the cheeseburger is surprisingly good. The patty isn’t chargrilled, but the meat’s taste doesn’t suffer as a result – the cheese combines perfectly with it to create a melt-in-your-mouth sensation while the vegetable toppings add an amazing textural satisfaction to the burger.
The Dave’s Single is an affordable and surprisingly delicious option for burger lovers, whether they want to enjoy it on the go or in the fast food chain’s pleasant dining area.
A McDonald’s cheeseburger is shown at 1124 Prince Ave. on Oct. 28, 2024. Photo by Adah Hamman
Arriving at the McDonald’s on 1124 Prince Ave., customers are met with a menu that is filled with burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken nuggets, beverages and more. The restaurant is open 24 hours through every day of the week.
Out of all of the items on the menu, the cheeseburger was overall unappetizing, unlike other menu items. The $2.39 cheeseburger is topped off with a flat toasty bun, beef patty, american cheese, with ketchup and mustard, pickles and onions that fail to produce a cohesive taste.
Instead, the major taste from the burger was ketchup. There was no sign of the pickles or onions due to their lack of flavor but there was a strong taste of mustard. Although there was only the taste of ketchup and mustard, the bun was very soft and somewhat made up for the cheeseburger itself.
As for the dining experience, the inside of the restaurant lacked atmosphere, the drink station was messy and some of the tables hadn’t been cleaned, while no one was initially at the counter to take orders. Despite that, the room was really spacious and well-lit.
Overall, the McDonald’s cheeseburger was a below average, uninspiring meal that needed more flavor and seasoning to make up for its several deficiencies.
Dairy Queen’s Original Cheeseburger is shown at 376 Oak Street on Oct. 14, 2024. Photo by Adah Hamman
Walking into the Dairy Queen on 376 Oak Street, customers are met with a variety of food, including burgers, chicken tenders, hot dogs and a diverse selection of frozen treats.
However, the burger wasn’t as appetizing as customers may assume.
The cheeseburger costs $2.19 and has a seasoned beef patty topped with American cheese, sour pickles, ketchup and mustard with an overwhelmingly buttery, flat, but well-toasted bun.
The restaurant was devoid of decorations and was dull. The inside was bland, with tacky colors and furniture, but the addition of red and blue with posters made for a somewhat better aesthetic. In addition, the staff was very quick with the food and helpful towards customers.
The burger itself was disappointing, though. There wasn’t anything special to it, and it had a little too much mustard on the patty, which caused the flavor to be overwhelming. The pickles looked inedible based on how green they were. However, the toasted bun was delicious as well as the seasoned patty, which provided flavor to the burger.
In general, the Original Cheeseburger at Dairy Queen was still an enjoyable burger, even though it lost some points when it came to some ingredients.
A Whataburger is pictured on Oct. 23, 2024 at 3201 Atlanta Highway. Photo by Violet Cantarella
Located at 3201 Atlanta Highway, Whataburger is known for its vast array of food, including sandwiches, chicken and their signature burger, the delicious Whataburger. They’re open 24 hours a day, every day.
The Whataburger includes tomato, lettuce, pickles, diced onions, and mustard. At $5.79, it is one of the most affordable and best burgers on the market. The patty is cooked to absolute perfection, and each ingredient perfectly complements the others. Even though the burger is only around $6, customers should be satisfied with the portion size, as it is deceivingly large.
There are several seating options at the restaurant, including comfortable booths and tables, and while there is no outdoor seating, the full-length windows give the space an airy feel. The staff is also very helpful and happy to answer any questions that a customer may have.
However, a downside of Whataburger is its location, near Academy Sports and Outdoors in a primarily car-accessible area. For Clarke Central High School students who don’t have access to a vehicle, the restaurant’s far-out placement may be too out-of-the-way.
For those who do have a car, though, Whataburger is a great place to sit down and enjoy a tasty burger with friends.
