Do we like them?

Do we like Five Guys?

Fast-casual burgers, fries and shakes chain, based in Lorton, Virginia, with about 1,900 restaurants worldwide.

Our score: 6 out of 10. A well-liked, privately held burger chain with no major scandals. We'd give it a cautious yes: the only big black mark is a California wage settlement, and the information we found on it is limited.

Five Guys is the burger-and-fries chain founded by Jerry Murrell, who still appears as CEO. It has grown to around 1,900 restaurants worldwide, according to Fast Company. It's privately held, so there are few public figures to go on.

The main legal drama we found is Lusk v. Five Guys Enterprises. California workers alleged meal and rest break violations and unpaid overtime. Bloomberg Law reported that a judge rejected the $1.2 million settlement four times over drafting problems, and it finally won approval on the fifth try.

2026 has brought a run of store closures. Fast Company counted at least 14 closed or closing in the first half of the year. The chain is still hiring and opening elsewhere.

Food Bible reported in March that Murrell handed out $1.5 million in bonuses to staff after a promotion put pressure on them. That is a nice touch, but it comes from one outlet. Overall we'd say a mixed-to-decent score.