California-based fast food chain has best burgers in US. Hint: It’s not In-N-Out

Craving a juicy burger? A California-based restaurant chain serves up the tastiest hamburgers in the nation, according to USA Today readers.

The publication recently ranked the best fast food burgers in the United States in 2025, setting out in search of menus with “creative combinations of flavors and offer diners a wealth of options for a truly custom-tailored burger.”

Habit Burger & Grill — founded in Santa Barbara and headquartered in Irvine — landed the No. 1 spot on the list.

Here’s why:

Why California chain has best burgers in the US

Habit Burger & Grill’s Double Char burger earned first place on USA Today’s list of best fast food burgers — beating out fellow California company In-N-Out for the coveted spot.

Habit Burger & Grill specializes in burger patties cooked over an open flame.

“Order the Double Char from the Habit’s California-inspired menu and get ready for two freshly char-grilled beef patties, caramelized onions, fresh lettuce and tomato, pickles, and mayo on a toasted bun,” USA Today said. “You can also add cheese.”

The California-based fast food chain has been around since 1969.

Since then, it’s expanded to more than 350 restaurants across the country.

In addition to best burger bragging rights, USA Today also handed Habit Burger & Grill the top spot on its list of the 10 best fast food sides to try in 2025.

In that ranking, USA Today praised Habit Burger & Grill’s tempura green beans as a tasty side dish that “combines the crispiness of tempura with the fresh flavor of green beans.”

Habit Burger also took the crown for best fast food burger in USA Today’s 2024 poll.

Where are Habit Burger & Grill locations in California?

Habit Burger & Grill has more than 270 locations in California, including:

• 7340 El Camino Real in Atascadero

• 839 Higuera St. in San Luis Obispo

• 4730 Freeport Blvd. in Sacramento

• 8124 Delta Shores in Sacramento

• 3520 North Blackstone Ave. in Fresno

• 702 West Shaw Ave. in Fresno

• 3680 G St. in Merced

• 1801 McHenry Ave., Suite D, in Modesto

Where are top 10 fast food burgers in US?

These were the 10 best burgers offered by quick-service restaurant chains in the United States in 2025, according to USA Today:

1. Double Char at Habit Burger & Grill
2. Papa Burger at A&W
3. Jumbo Jack Cheeseburger at Jack in the Box
4. Double-Double at In-N-Out Burger
5. ButterBurger Cheese, Double at Culver’s
6. Cheeseburger at Five Guys
7. ShackBurger at Shake Shack
8. Freddy’s Original Double at Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers
9. Whopper at Burger King
10. Double Meat Whataburger at Whataburger

How did USA Today come up with its rankings?

To narrow down its list of the best burgers in the nation, USA Today said it called on newspaper editors and a panel of “burger buffs” to nominate their favorites.

The publication then asked readers to vote for their top picks.

The best burger joints with the most reader votes landed on the top 10 list, USA Today said.

This story was originally published July 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "California-based fast food chain has best burgers in US. Hint: It’s not In-N-Out."

Hannah Poukish

The Tribune

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Hannah Poukish covers San Luis Obispo County as The Tribune’s government reporter. She previously reported and produced stories for The Sacramento Bee, CNN, Spectrum News and The Mercury News in San Jose. She graduated from Stanford University with a master’s degree in journalism.