Jessica Gueghlein never used to give it a second thought when she wanted a good hamburger — she headed to In-N-Out, that drive-through icon of Southern California car culture.
But her affections have strayed. Lately she’s been hitting an East Coast upstart aggressively expanding in California — Five Guys Burgers and Fries.
“We chose this over In-N-Out,” said Gueghlein, chowing down with family members at the Five Guys in Valencia that opened in January. She liked the fresh, flavorful burgers and hand-cut fries at Five Guys — as well as the novelty of trying something new. “It’s the fourth time we’ve been here since they opened.”
Five Guys executives insist they’re not out to complete with In-N-Out, which started in Baldwin Park in 1948.