I had my first 5 Guys burger today at a newly opened store near my office on 34th St in Manhattan.

The first thing that struck me was this statement on the menu: "We cook all our burgers juicy and well done." What an oxymoron, I thought, as I saw the patties curling up on the griddle as they were being cooked to the point of near-dessication.

I can definitely see(taste) the similarity between 5 Guys and In-n-Out. I would rate an animal-style burger from In-n-Out higher than the 5 Guys product, but unfortunately, I have no access to In-n-Out in NYC. So, 5 Guys has a damn good burger, except...

...for the price. I can't justify paying $7.50 for a burger alone when I know that In-n-Out is a better burger and other places nearby have more filling and healthy options for less. 5 Guys is fast food, and I will judge it by fast food price points. At $7.50 and up, I can find a sit-down restaurant or pub with a tastier burger experience. Furthermore, assuming I do feel like paying $7.50 for a fast-food burger, I can walk an additional couple of blocks to Brgr on 26th St & 7th Ave, where they have a gourmet, grass-fed burger for the same price.