5 Ordering Tips For The Best Cheeseburger At Five Guys

Five Guys has been a standout burger place for years, and many customers consider it the best of the best. A 2026 YouGov survey found that Five Guys took the top spot as America's favorite fast food burger place, even though it's also widely recognized as one of the most expensive burger places, too. You have to pay for quality, though, and that means you want to get your money's worth.

A standard cheeseburger from Five Guys is going to be tasty, but if you want the best cheeseburger, there are some simple tips to ensure yours is going to stand out and be worth the money. We scoured social media for recommendations from Five Guys fans to find the toppings and ordering tricks they say make a cheeseburger even tastier. These aren't secret orders or menu hacks; they're simple tips fans suggest to take a Five Guys cheeseburger from ordinary to extraordinary. We're not necessarily suggesting you try all five tips at once, although nothing is stopping you. All of them together would certainly make for a filling and delicious burger. 

Onions are among the world's most important ingredients, and they appear in savory cuisines all over the globe. We've shared tips for cooking with onions that demonstrate just how versatile they are, and that versatility is exactly why they help elevate your Five Guys cheeseburger. Onion is the only ingredient Five Guys offers in two different ways as a burger topping.

While most chains offer raw onion as a burger topping, Five Guys also offers grilled onions, and  fans on Reddit recommend them. Some like to double down and add both kinds of onions, which is a great way to change up both the flavor and texture of any cheeseburger.

Raw onion brings a crunchy texture and a sharp, pungent taste that contrasts with the savory meat and cheese, cutting through their richness for a more balanced bite. Grilled onions have a much milder, sweeter flavor that complements the savory ingredients while offering a more tender mouthfeel than the raw version. The result is two dramatically different onion experiences, and using both can make your cheeseburger more complex.

When Tasting Table ranked every Five Guys Popular Picks topping combination, the spicy version with fresh jalapeños took the number two spot. "Swapping in crisp, green slices instead of the typical pickled version made the entire burger taste brighter and more refined," our taste tester said. "They added a delightfully bright crunch and slightly sweet flavor that made every bite lively." Other fans on Reddit also prefer the snappy crunch of the fresh jalapeños on their burger. The brightness, both in terms of color and the flavor jalapeños bring, is a strong contrast to the fatty, rich ingredients of a cheeseburger. The spice also pairs nicely with the creamy cheese and rich meat, creating a balance between flavor and heat.

Some customers prefer jalapeños grilled on the flat top, which Five Guys will do for you if you ask. Like ordering extra bacon, you'll need to request in person due to limits with the online ordering system. 

Many burger spots charge you for every additional topping you put on a burger. When you order a "heavy all" Whopper from Burger King, you could end up paying several dollars more for the extra onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and even ketchup. Five Guys doesn't charge extra for additional toppings, which is a nice touch, but many people don't know exactly what that includes. It's not just toppings like BBQ sauce and onions that are free. You can also get bacon at no additional charge.

In one Reddit on the topic, a commenter suggested ordering extra bacon because it's free. While it's fine to see someone on Reddit claiming that they work for Five Guys and confirming it, you can never really be sure, right? Luckily, Five Guys' own website confirms it. There is one caveat, though. You can't order extra bacon for online or delivery orders. You have to go in person to ask. Adding bacon to your cheeseburger give you a more salty, smoky, umami flavor. The extra bacon gives the burger a meatier bite along with a crispier texture. 

A melty slice of cheese on your burger brings creaminess and a savory depth of flavor that a plain burger lacks. It can also help hold the ingredients together as it melts, creating a more cohesive, delicious bite. 

Five Guys already adds two slices of cheese on a cheeseburger, but these are substantial burgers and, if you order a lot of extra toppings, the flavor balance could be thrown off. Too many veggie toppings like fresh onion, lettuce, and tomato can be tasty but can also diminish the saltiness and fattiness that you want when you bite into a cheeseburger. Extra cheese can help restore the balance.

Extra cheese from Five Guys might get messy, but that is part of the appeal for some fans. You can peel all that extra cheese off the foil and add it to your burger as you eat. You can put it on your fries and enjoy some impromptu cheese fries. It's just more of a good thing. The best part? According to fans on Reddit, you can also get extra cheese for no additional charge when ordering in-store.

Five Guys offers a two-patty Cheeseburger and a single-patty Little Cheeseburger. However, you can add an extra patty to any burger for an additional charge, typically around $3, though prices vary by location. The chain's patties are 3.6 ounces each, just under a quarter pound. If you order an extra patty on a two-patty, you're getting about 10.8 ounces of beef before cooking, making for a very substantial burger.

Some fans order an extra patty for a more practical reason. "Save the patty and bacon and you've got a Five Guys burger for $3 plus the cost of a hamburger bun at home," said one Redditor who also takes advantage of Five Guys' free extra-bacon policy.

A reviewer on Tripadvisor said they enjoy a three-patty cheeseburger with no bun as a high-protein, low carb option. You can add multiple extra patties if you order in person, though customers who have tried three have found it hard to manage.