What the Five Guys Menu Looked Like 20 Years Ago
In 2005, Five Guys was a humble burger joint in Alexandria, Virginia. The red-and-white awning and a few tables with a simple menu were all it needed to build a loyal following. The fries were cooked in peanut oil, and the burgers were made to order. It was that simplicity that made people fall in love with the place.
The Early Days of Simplicity
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Mike Mozart from Funny YouTube, USA
In those early years, Five Guys had one goal: to make a great burger without cutting corners. The menu had limited options. A hamburger cost $3.49, a cheeseburger was $3.99, and the “little” versions were a dollar less. Bacon added another 60 cents or so, which was still a steal. Fries came in small, medium, or large for $1.19, $2.09, and $3.49, cooked in 100% peanut oil and served with an extra scoop tossed into the bag.
Drinks were simple too. Coke, Diet Coke, Root Beer, and Sprite, with a large priced at just $1.49. What really stood out was the toppings list. Customers could add lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, mushrooms, ketchup, mustard, or mayo, all of which were included in the price. If you wanted to go bold, you could ask for jalapeños or green peppers. It was one of the first burger chains to make full customization part of the experience.
Prices That Made People Smile
Image via Reddit/NoYOUGrowUp
Those prices are almost unthinkable now. A full meal back then (burger, fries, and drink) ran around $7 before tax. Adjusted for inflation, that should be about $11 today, but anyone who’s been to Five Guys lately knows it’s double that. A cheeseburger alone can top $10, and adding fries and a drink often hits $20 or more. Online commenters often joke that you can barely “feed five guys at Five Guys” without spending $100.
Still, part of what made the early menu so loved was how accessible it was. You didn’t need a big paycheck to enjoy a fresh, juicy burger. At the time, the quality of the ingredients stood out in a fast-food market full of frozen patties and microwave shortcuts. Everything was cooked fresh, and the fries were cut on site. People noticed, and word spread fast.
Fast Forward to Modern Times
By 2013, Five Guys had crossed the Atlantic and opened its first UK location in London’s Covent Garden. It carried the same “no freezers, no microwaves” promise and a bigger focus on customization. UK stores use 120-day grain-fed Scottish beef, offer 15 free toppings, and serve milkshakes that can be mixed with over ten flavor options.
The Coca-Cola Freestyle machines let customers create over 100 drink combinations, and that same extra scoop of fries still finds its way into every bag. The menu may be fancier now, but the heart of it hasn’t changed.