When it comes to fast food burgers, McDonald‘s and Five Guys are two of the biggest names around. McDonald‘s is the quintessential fast food giant, with over 38,000 locations worldwide serving up quick and cheap burgers, fries, shakes and more. Five Guys is the trendy upstart known for fresh, customizable burgers and a hip, lively atmosphere.
But how do McDonald‘s and Five Guys really stack up, especially when it comes to health? Is Five Guys actually a healthier choice, or is it just marketing hype? As a food industry expert, I dug into the data to find out. Let‘s compare McDonald‘s vs Five Guys across key areas of ingredients, nutrition, food safety and more to see which one comes out on top.
Company Overview and Growth
First, let‘s set the stage by looking at some key facts about each company:
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McDonald‘s
- Founded: 1940
- 2020 revenue: $19.2 billion
- Locations: 38,000+ worldwide
- Employees: 200,000+
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Five Guys
- Founded: 1986
- 2020 revenue (est.): $1.7 billion
- Locations: 1,600+ worldwide
- Employees: 20,000+
So McDonald‘s is clearly the bigger, more established player, with over 20x the locations and 10x the revenue of Five Guys. However, Five Guys has seen impressive growth for a younger company. It expanded from around 600 US locations in 2010 to over 1,600 worldwide in 2020.
Financially, Five Guys remains privately held and doesn‘t disclose full financials. But estimates put its annual revenue around $1.7 billion, with average unit volumes of $1.2 million. That‘s lower than McDonald‘s $2.9 million per unit but impressive given Five Guys‘ relatively small footprint. (Source)
In terms of brand value, McDonald‘s has long been a top global brand worth $129.3 billion per Forbes. Five Guys is a more niche player without McDonald‘s universal recognition. Yet it‘s built a loyal following and frequently ranks among America‘s favorite burger chains in surveys (Source).
Ingredients and Food Quality
One of Five Guys‘ biggest selling points is its commitment to fresh, high-quality ingredients. According to the company, Five Guys uses only fresh ground beef with no preservatives, additives or fillers. Burgers are cooked to order and served on fresh-baked buns. Fries are made from fresh-cut potatoes and cooked in 100% peanut oil.
Five Guys founder Jerry Murrell sums up the chain‘s food philosophy: "We figure if we‘re going to sit here and eat this stuff, we might as well make it as good as we can get it." He says the chain spends more on ingredients than typical fast food restaurants and can charge premium prices as a result. (Source)
In contrast, McDonald‘s has long faced criticism over the quality and purity of its ingredients. While the company has made efforts to improve in recent years, its burgers still contain preservatives and fillers not found at Five Guys. McDonald‘s beef is flash frozen, not fresh, and fries are made from processed frozen potatoes. McDonald‘s chicken is raised with antibiotics, while Five Guys uses antibiotic-free chicken. (Source)
Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition and food studies at New York University, sums it up: "Five Guys is a cut above typical fast food. It‘s fresher, less processed and feels higher quality. But it‘s still a burger and fries place, not a health food chain." (Source)
When it comes to suppliers, both chains primarily use large-scale industrial producers, not small local farms. Five Guys‘ beef comes mainly from two big plants in Georgia and Texas, while its potatoes mostly arrive pre-cut from a facility in Idaho. McDonald‘s works with OSI Group and other major suppliers for its beef, chicken and produce. So while Five Guys‘ ingredients may be fresher and less processed, both chains still rely on standard mass-market supply chains.
Nutrition Facts Comparison
Now let‘s get to the nutritional nitty gritty. The tables below show how McDonald‘s and Five Guys stack up across key menu items for calories, fat, sodium and more.
| Item | Calories | Fat (g) | Sat Fat (g) | Protein (g) | Carbs (g) | Sodium (mg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald‘s Hamburger | 250 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 31 | 480 |
| Five Guys Hamburger | 840 | 43 | 19.5 | 39 | 39 | 430 |
| McDonald‘s Big Mac | 540 | 28 | 10 | 25 | 46 | 940 |
| Five Guys Bacon Cheeseburger | 920 | 62 | 29.5 | 51 | 40 | 1310 |
| Item | Calories | Fat (g) | Sat Fat (g) | Trans Fat (g) | Sodium (mg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald‘s Med Fries | 320 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 230 |
| Five Guys Regular Fries | 953 | 41 | 7 | 0 | 962 |
| Item | Calories | Fat (g) | Sat Fat (g) | Sugars (g) | Protein (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald‘s Vanilla Shake | 530 | 15 | 10 | 63 | 11 |
| Five Guys Vanilla Milkshake | 850 | 46 | 29 | 82 | 15 |
So across the board, Five Guys‘ menu items are significantly higher in calories and fat than McDonald‘s. A Five Guys hamburger has over 3x the calories and 5x the fat of a McDonald‘s hamburger. Five Guys‘ fries and shakes are similarly much heavier than McDonald‘s.
The portion sizes are a big factor here. A Five Guys burger is typically 2x the weight of a McDonald‘s burger (around 6 oz vs 3 oz). Five Guys‘ regular fries have 2.5x the calories of McDonald‘s medium fries. So while the ingredients may be fresher, you‘re getting a lot more food—and a lot more calories, fat and sodium as a result.
Of course, the flipside is you may feel more satisfied and full from a Five Guys meal vs McDonald‘s. Five Guys also allows more customization to reduce calories, like skipping the bun or swapping a lettuce wrap.
But there‘s no getting around the basic nutritional reality: Whether fresh or not, Five Guys burgers and fries are more indulgent, calorie-bomb type foods than McDonald‘s. If pure calorie count is your main criterion, McDonald‘s comes out ahead.
Food Safety and Cleanliness
Food safety is an often-overlooked part of restaurant health, but it‘s crucial. And here, McDonald‘s and Five Guys both perform well, with strong internal safety practices and few reported issues.
According to its website, McDonald‘s works with leading food safety firms to maintain strict standards for handling, storage and preparation. Restaurants go through a rigorous 72-point assessment each year. McDonald‘s was an early adopter of industry best practices like color-coded cutting boards to avoid cross-contamination.
Five Guys also takes food safety seriously as part of its emphasis on quality. Employees receive special safety training, and the company has detailed protocols on everything from handwashing to cooking temperatures. State inspection reports show consistently strong safety compliance across Five Guys locations.
While no major food safety scandals have hit either chain recently, McDonald‘s has dealt with isolated issues like a cyclospora outbreak linked to salads in 2018. But overall, both McDonald‘s and Five Guys seem to recognize food safety as mission critical. As a consumer, you can have confidence that these companies take extensive precautions with what you eat.
Cleanliness is a related factor that impacts the dining experience. Here, McDonald‘s and Five Guys take notably different approaches. McDonald‘s leans into automation and disposable packaging to keep restaurants tidy. Five Guys has more of a fast casual setup, with real plates and an open kitchen where you can see the grill.
In my experience, Five Guys restaurants tend to feel cleaner and less chaotic than busy McDonald‘s. The open kitchen instills more confidence that food is being prepared safely. And the dining room often has a tidier feel without McDonald‘s sometimes sticky self-order kiosks and emptied trays. But this varies by location, and some may prefer McDonald‘s ultra-standardized, high-volume approach.
Customer Experience
Finally, let‘s compare the typical customer experience at McDonald‘s vs Five Guys. Three key areas stand out:
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Wait times: Five Guys‘ cooked-to-order model means longer waits than McDonald‘s, where burgers are pre-made and held in warming trays. At peak times, the wait at Five Guys can easily be 10+ minutes vs under 3 minutes at McDonald‘s. Five Guys‘ open kitchen also means more potential variability in wait times.
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Ordering: McDonald‘s has moved aggressively into digital ordering via in-store kiosks and mobile apps. This speeds up ordering and lets customers skip the line. Five Guys has a more old-school model of lining up to order at the counter. The digital approach gives McDonald‘s an efficiency advantage, especially for pickups and rushes.
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Atmosphere: Five Guys cultivates a fast casual feel, with an open kitchen, booths, real plates and complimentary peanuts. The vibe is more laid-back than McDonald‘s fast-paced, grab-and-go style. Background music and friendly staff make Five Guys more of a sit-down place to relax vs McDonald‘s get-in-get-out model.
So in terms of pure speed and convenience, McDonald‘s has the edge. Five Guys offers more of a fast casual dining experience, but that comes with longer wait times and potentially slower service, especially at peak times. For health-conscious diners, this could cut either way—some may prefer Five Guys‘ less rushed pace and real plates, others McDonald‘s quick service and touch-free packaging.
Conclusion and Recommendations
So after all this analysis, is Five Guys actually healthier than McDonald‘s? I have to say no—but with some caveats.
On the most critical measures of what‘s in the food and how it‘s prepared, Five Guys does have an edge over McDonald‘s. Five Guys uses fresher, less processed ingredients with fewer preservatives and additives. It cooks burgers to order rather than letting them sit under heat lamps. For people who prioritize natural ingredients, Five Guys is a better choice.
However, in terms of calories, fat and overall nutrition, Five Guys is no healthier than McDonald‘s. In fact, Five Guys‘ burgers and fries are actually much heavier across the board thanks to its large portion sizes. A single Five Guys meal can easily exceed 1500-2000 calories. And McDonald‘s offers more variety for lighter eating like salads and grilled chicken.
Ultimately, neither Five Guys nor McDonald‘s is a particularly "healthy" place to eat in the big picture—they‘re both fast food burger chains, after all. But within that category, Five Guys can legitimately claim an edge in terms of food quality and prep methods, if not nutritional stats. The company has succeeded in branding itself as a step up from typical fast food. The question is whether you‘re willing to accept much higher calorie and fat levels in exchange.
My advice for the health-conscious fast food eater would be:
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Best option: Avoid both and opt for grilled, steamed or baked lean proteins and veggies with whole grains and healthy fats. Chipotle, Panera and Sweetgreen offer better all-around healthy fast casual options.
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At Five Guys: Stick to the "Little" size burgers. Skip the fries or split a small. Customize burgers with healthy veggie toppings vs bacon and cheese. Consider a lettuce bun or no bun.
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At McDonald‘s: Opt for simple grilled chicken, yogurt parfaits, oatmeal or side salads. Avoid "Double" or "Deluxe" burgers, large shakes and large fries. Watch the sauces and dressings.
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At either: Practice moderation. If you‘re craving a burger and fries, slow down and savor a modest portion as an occasional treat, not an everyday meal. Consider splitting dishes and saving half for later. Drink water, not soda. And round out your diet with plenty of whole, unprocessed foods.
The bottom line: Between McDonald‘s and Five Guys, I‘d give Five Guys a slight edge for the health-conscious based on ingredients and food prep. But both should be occasional treats, not dietary staples. The healthiest approach is to limit fast food period and focus on nutrient-dense whole foods from quality sources. Don‘t let the "health halo" of trendier chains distract from the fundamentals of a balanced, natural diet.
