Restaurants

Every burger on the menu of the world’s best-known chains, the regional specials you can only get abroad, and the ones I have rebuilt at home. Search by restaurant or by burger: type “big mac” and you land on the right menu.

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  McDonald'sSame golden arches, wildly different burgers in every country.26 burgers
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  Burger KingFlame-grilled since the 1950s, and still defined by one burger.19 burgers
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  Wendy'sSquare burgers on round buns, because the founder refused to cut corners.11 burgers
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  KFCA fried chicken empire whose best burgers are sold outside America.13 burgers
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  PopeyesThe New Orleans chicken chain whose sandwich sold out America in two weeks.2 burgers
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  Chick-fil-AThe chicken sandwich that started the wars, and a chain that closes every Sunday.5 burgers
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  Sonic Drive-InOrder through a speaker from your car and a carhop brings the burger.6 burgers
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  Jack in the BoxA drive-thru that sells more tacos than burgers and still makes a great Sourdough Jack.7 burgers
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  Carl's Jr.Charbroiled burgers, onion rings inside the bun, and ads nobody forgot.6 burgers
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  Hardee'sBiscuits in the morning, Thickburgers the rest of the day.6 burgers
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  WhataburgerA Texas institution with a burger too big for one hand.9 burgers
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  Five GuysEvery burger is a double unless you say otherwise, and the toppings are free.9 burgers
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  In-N-Out BurgerThree burgers on the board and a secret menu everyone knows by heart.8 burgers
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  Shake ShackA hot dog cart in a New York park that turned into a global burger chain.7 burgers
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  Culver'sWisconsin in a burger: buttered buns, cheese curds and frozen custard.9 burgers
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  White CastleThe first fast-food burger chain, still steaming tiny square sliders on onions.7 burgers
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  Checkers & Rally'sTwo names, one menu, double drive-thrus and fries everyone argues about.6 burgers
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  KrystalThe South’s answer to White Castle: tiny square burgers with mustard and onions.5 burgers
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  SmashburgerA whole chain built on pressing a ball of beef flat on a hot griddle.5 burgers
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  Steak 'n ShakeSteakburgers ground in front of customers, back when nobody trusted ground beef.5 burgers
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  FatburgerThe Last Great Hamburger Stand, founded by a woman and immortalised in hip-hop.8 burgers
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  Red RobinThe sit-down burger chain with bottomless fries and a burger topped with a fried egg.8 burgers
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  Habit Burger & GrillThe chargrilled burger Consumer Reports once called the best in America.7 burgers
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  Freddy's Frozen Custard & SteakburgersThin, crispy steakburgers and frozen custard, named after a WWII veteran.4 burgers
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  BurgerFiFlorida’s “better burger” chain, built on natural Angus beef and a Wagyu CEO.6 burgers
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  Johnny RocketsA 1950s diner fantasy with a jukebox, red vinyl and ketchup drawn into a smiley face.5 burgers
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  A&W RestaurantsAmerica’s oldest drive-in chain, and the burger that lost to bad maths.4 burgers
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  Dairy QueenThe ice cream chain that quietly sells a lot of burgers, especially in Texas.6 burgers
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  Cook OutA Southern drive-thru with a tray deal, dozens of milkshake flavours and char-grilled burgers.2 burgers
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  Hopdoddy Burger BarAustin’s burger bar, where the menu runs from bison with fig jam to a rare tuna burger.9 burgers
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  Black TapThe New York burger bar famous for Instagram milkshakes and a Wagyu blue-cheese burger.3 burgers
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  Dick's Drive-InSeattle’s drive-in with four burgers, no substitutions and college scholarships for staff.4 burgers
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  Slater's 50/50Half beef, half ground bacon, and a peanut butter and jelly burger for good measure.2 burgers
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  A&W CanadaCanada’s A&W, a separate company with its own Burger Family and a Beyond Meat first.7 burgers
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  Harvey'sCanada’s burger chain where you watch them dress your burger exactly the way you ask.3 burgers
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  Bob'sBrazil’s first fast-food chain, founded by a Wimbledon champion.3 burgers
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  HesburgerThe Finnish chain that outsold McDonald’s in the Nordics and the Baltics.3 burgers
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  QuickThe Belgian burger chain that took on McDonald’s across the French-speaking world.2 burgers
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  Patty & BunThe London burger joint that names its burgers after TV characters and soul singers.7 burgers
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  MEATliquorA burger van turned into a dark, loud London bar famous for the Dead Hippie.8 burgers
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  GoikoSpain’s burger obsession, where the bestseller is named after Kevin Bacon.4 burgers
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  Vkusno i TochkaWhat McDonald’s turned into in Russia after it left in 2022.6 burgers
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  MOS BurgerJapan’s answer to McDonald’s, where the buns can be made of rice.6 burgers
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  LotteriaThe Korean chain that once had more than double McDonald’s market share.3 burgers
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  Kua 'AinaA North Shore surf-town sandwich shop that became a Hawaiian burger chain in Japan.2 burgers
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  JollibeeThe Philippine chain that beat McDonald’s at home, with sweet spaghetti on the side.4 burgers
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  Mom's TouchKorea’s chicken burger chain, famous for a whole fried thigh in a bun.4 burgers
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  Hungry Jack'sBurger King by another name, because in Australia the name was already taken.5 burgers
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  Grill'dAustralia’s “healthy burger” chain, where your change goes to a local cause.6 burgers
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  BurgerFuelNew Zealand’s cheeky burger chain, with beetroot, pineapple and a burger called the Bastard.4 burgers