Five Guys is delicious. Everyone knows it. It's also, let's be honest, expensive. Walking out of there having spent north of twenty dollars on a burger, fries, and a drink is not exactly shocking anymore. In fact, it happens constantly. But here's what most people don't realize: there's a whole layer of smart ordering strategies sitting right under the surface of that simple menu board.
Whether you're a regular or a rare visitor trying to make every dollar count, these seven hacks could genuinely change how you order. Some are surprisingly simple. Others are a little more creative. All of them are real, verified, and actually work. Let's dive in.
1. Order the Regular Burger and Ask for an Extra Bun - Walk Away With Two
This one sounds almost too good to be true, but it has gone genuinely viral for a reason. Five Guys traditionally serves up double patties on its regular burgers, and the chain also serves small-sized "little" burgers with just one patty. The trick is to use that double-patty structure to your full advantage.
You can order a regular burger, ask for an extra bun, and request that toppings be placed on the side - ending up with two juicy burgers. With this approach, you'd be paying around $9.89 for two burgers, as opposed to roughly $15.38, which is the cost for two little burgers. That's a meaningful saving for doing almost nothing differently.
Success with the hack does depend on securing an additional bun with your order, as not all Five Guys locations may provide the extra bun for free due to potential lost profits. So be polite, be friendly, and know going in that it might not always fly. Still worth trying, honestly.
2. Load Up on the 15 Free Toppings - Every Single Time
Here's the thing that surprises a lot of new visitors: you can genuinely pile on toppings without paying a cent more. When it comes to Five Guys burgers, there are 15 toppings to choose from, and there isn't a limit on how many you can add. You could add all 15 toppings and not be charged anything extra. The combos are so endless that there are over 250,000 different ways you can order a Five Guys burger.
You can choose from a regular hamburger or cheeseburger and pile on 15 free toppings, including classics like lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles, as well as less common options like grilled mushrooms, jalapeños, and grilled onions. Think about that. You're essentially getting a fully loaded, restaurant-quality burger at no extra charge.
Think of the toppings like free upgrades on a flight. Most people sit in economy without asking. The smart ones always check what's available. Load up on grilled mushrooms, A1 sauce, jalapeños, and green peppers, and you've transformed a basic patty into something seriously special - at no added cost.
3. Skip the Fancy Burger and Try the Grilled Cheese Patty Melt Hack
Honestly, this might be the single most underrated money-saving move at Five Guys. The "Patty Melt Hack" involves ordering a grilled cheese sandwich with a burger patty added. This costs less than ordering a cheeseburger but provides essentially the same ingredients in a different configuration.
Instead of ordering a regular bacon cheeseburger for nearly $14, you can order a grilled cheese sandwich with toppings including bacon for $7.19. That's a difference worth paying attention to. You're getting the same core experience - melted cheese, a toasted bun, meat - for significantly less money.
The grilled cheese burger hack started as a Reddit post shared by a Five Guys employee and ended up taking over TikTok. The idea is simple: take the restaurant's grilled cheese, that buttery toasted sandwich bread with a pile of melted cheese in the middle, and slide a hot burger patty right into it. Call it clever, call it sneaky. I call it smart ordering.
4. Share a Regular Order of Fries - Seriously, One Is Enough
Five Guys fries are the stuff of legend, and the portions are almost comically generous. Each portion of fries is technically meant to be measured in cartons, but the employees end up dumping massive amounts into the bag to the point where even the smallest size is more than enough for two people to share. This is not an exaggeration. It's almost a rite of passage to be genuinely stunned by how many fries are left at the bottom of the bag.
Five Guys is known for its generous fry portions, and community verification confirms that a "regular" size fry is typically enough for two to three people, making it far more economical than ordering multiple small fries. If you're eating with a friend or a partner, order one regular, split it, and pocket the savings immediately.
Their potatoes are freshly cut, soaked in water, and only fried in refined peanut oil using fryers that cook absolutely nothing else. So not only are you getting more food than expected, you're getting a genuinely high-quality product. Splitting fries is the easiest financial win on this entire list.
5. Choose the Veggie Sandwich for a Budget-Friendly, Topping-Loaded Meal
Not everyone knows this option exists, and even meat lovers should pay attention here. Five Guys offers a veggie sandwich that includes all available toppings for significantly less than a burger, and it's considered one of the highest value-per-dollar menu items, especially when loaded with premium toppings like grilled mushrooms and green peppers.
The veggie sandwich features freshly grilled onions, mushrooms, and green peppers layered with lettuce and tomatoes on a soft, toasted sesame seed bun. Add jalapeños, A1 sauce, and extra grilled onions and you have something genuinely satisfying for a fraction of the burger price. Five Guys sandwich prices range from roughly $4.99 to $8.63, depending on the sandwich and location.
It's a bit like ordering a fully customized pasta dish at a restaurant but paying the side dish price. You're using the same kitchen, the same fresh ingredients, the same care - just without the beef patty markup. For anyone watching their budget, this is a genuinely smart call.
6. Snack on the Free Peanuts While You Wait - It's Built Into the Experience
Most people mindlessly munch on the peanuts without thinking twice. But if you treat them intentionally, they're actually a meaningful little bonus that reduces how hungry you feel when your order arrives. Serving peanuts for free began as a way for people to pass the time while they waited for their meals to be cooked, and it became such a hit and such a Five Guys tradition that they continue stocking stores with peanuts to this day.
The free food isn't just good for customers either. If patrons are occupied with peanuts instead of waiting by the counter, employees can focus on cooking without feeling watched. It's a win for everyone involved, really. The kitchen works better, and you get a snack.
The price of this snack food is already built into the cost of the burger and fries. So you're technically paying for them whether you eat them or not. Take advantage of what you've already paid for. Fill up a little before the burger arrives, and you might find you don't need to order as much food overall. Simple logic, bigger savings.
7. Know That Five Guys Is the Most Expensive Burger Chain - and Plan Accordingly
This last point isn't a secret menu item or a clever combo. It's perspective, and perspective saves money. Five Guys is known for their fresh, juicy burgers, but they come at a price: the popular restaurant was identified as the most expensive burger chain according to a 2024 report by MoneyGeek. Going in knowing that changes how you order.
The cost of a Five Guys meal has slowly been rising over the last few years. The average price for a meal consisting of a burger, fries, and drink went up 14% from $18.33 in 2022 to $20.84 in 2024. That upward trend means that every small ordering decision matters more than it used to.
Five Guys does not currently have any senior or student discounts, and they do not offer any rewards or loyalty programs. So the only real leverage you have is ordering smarter. Use every free topping. Share fries. Try the sandwich alternatives. Consider the double-bun trick. These aren't shortcuts - they're just good strategy for a chain that gives you the tools to spend less without eating less.
Leave a Reply