Bites Nearby: Five Guys Burgers and Fries in Dublin

There is a new burger joint in the Tri-Valley known as  at Hacienda Crossings in Dublin. Inquiring minds want to know what it's all about, so I have decided to let everyone in on the facts of this chain. 

It is touted as the In-N-Out Burger of the East Coast, hugely popular in New York, Texas, Florida and most of the surrounding states. I can see similarities between the two places. They both use fresh beef with no preservatives or fillers. They both use real potatoes that are cut on the premises. They both seemingly keep their menus fairly simple. 

But if you examine Five Guys' menu closely you will see that the choices are anything but simple. First, you need to decide what tasty protein you would like on your plate. Will it be a juicy hamburger, a delicious hot dog or a gooey grilled cheese sandwich? 

Regular burgers include two patties for $4.99. You also can get a cheeseburger or a bacon burger for $5.79 or a combination of the two for $6.49. The same is true for the Little Burgers, which start at $3.79 for a plain Little Hamburger. It certainly makes you feel like you're showing restraint when you order a Little Burger, although it is actually a pretty big hamburger. You can feel good about the fact that the "Little" Burger has 220-290 fewer calories than its double-patty counterpart.

You can buy a kosher style hot dog for $3.69, a cheese dog or bacon dog for $3.99 or both for $4.79.

Now here comes the fun part about Five Guys Burgers and Fries... the toppings! All of them are free and there are a lot to choose from to make your burger or hot dog just the way you want it. Five Guys has mayo, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, ketchup and mustard. If you want to act like you are an ordering pro who wants all of these condiments, go for a burger "All the Way."

There are more free condiment choices: relish, onions, jalapeno peppers, green peppers, A-1 sauce, barbecue sauce and hot sauce. You will get your food exactly as you like it. Extra tomatoes, three helpings of jalapeno peppers — they're yours at no extra cost. 

The presentation of the food takes a little getting used to. Whether you are dining in or taking out, food comes in a plain brown paper bag. Your burger or dog or sandwich will come hot and wrapped in foil. I was told that Five Guys would rather spend money on quality food than fancy wrappings and bags, which seems logical. 

Did I mention the fries at this place? They come in two sizes: regular for $2.79 or large for $4.79. This may sound a little pricey but the fries come in cups and they are so plentiful that they'll be falling out of your paper bag! Regular size fries will serve at least two people and I can't even imagine how many could chow down on the large size. The other cool thing about the fries is that you can get them Five Guys style (traditional) or Cajun style, which are seasoned and have a nice kick to them.

The restaurant has a self-serve soda bar and a fun feature while you are waiting for your food. You can help yourself to peanuts that you can shell to help pass the time while your meal is made. If you have to wait a few minutes, it is no big deal. The peanuts will keep you happy. 

I should explain that the restaurant has a veggie sandwich but it isn't a patty. You can just order any of the condiments on a hamburger bun for $2.99. The grilled cheese sandwich is $2.99. One other thing worth mentioning is that the food is cooked in peanut oil, a plus because there is no cholesterol in it. The down side is that people with peanut allergies need to stay far away from Five Guys.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries is definitely a burger place worth checking out. The food is delicious and just the way you like it every time. And if you don't want to wait, you can order ahead online. Just click here.   

Five Guys is in Hacienda Crossing at 4930 Dublin Blvd., Unit 680, Dublin. 925-248-2050. Sun - Thurs 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Fri - Sat 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.