{
  "id": 17244428,
  "title": "I went to Shake Shack, Five Guys, and Smashburger with a $20 budget. One chain offered the best food and the most value.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/i-went-to-shake-shack-five-guys-and-smashburger-with-a-20-budget-one",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-30T15:25:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/burger-chain-restaurants-best-value-shake-shack-five-guys-smashburger-2026-10"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "I visited Shake Shack, Five Guys, and Smashburger with a $20 budget to determine which fast-casual burger chain offered the best food and value. I ordered similar menu items at each restaurant— a cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake or soda. At Shake Shack, the ShackBurger ($7.79) consisted of an Angus beef patty, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and ShackSauce. The ShackSauce was creamy and tangy, while the crinkle-cut fries ($4.99) were crispy and well salted. A vanilla shake ($6.49) rounded out the meal, totaling $19.27. The ShackBurger, fries, and shake provided a solid meal for the price.\n\nNext, I visited Five Guys, where the Little Cheeseburger ($9.25) included one beef patty and customizable toppings such as lettuce, tomato, pickles, and ketchup. The Little Fry ($5.30) was larger than expected, making the meal more affordable. However, the burgers tasted similar to traditional fast food, and the high prices made it hard to justify the cost. I opted for a Diet Coke ($3.30) for $17.85 before tax and tip, resulting in less variety for my money.\n\nFinally, I tried Smashburger, where the Classic Smash ($7.89) came with an Angus beef patty, American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, pickles, ketchup, and Smash Sauce. The burger tasted fresh, and the fries were delicious. Although I couldn't afford a milkshake, the overall meal left a lasting impression and provided excellent value for the money.",
  "summary": "I visited Shake Shack, Five Guys, and Smashburger with a $20 budget. I ordered similar meals, but some chains offered more value than others.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Business",
        "title": "Five ways the Budget will affect you if you are under 25",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/five-ways-the-budget-will-affect-you-if-you-are-under-25",
        "published": "2026-10-28T18:55:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}