It seemed like Steak ‘n Shake had a solid grip on its corner of fast food. Despite their terrible service they were still top dogs in regards to a fat steakburger and a tall shake. But now, Freddy’s has risen to challenge Steak ‘n Shake for the greasy throne.

With its new location on Highway K, Freddy’s is more convenient than ever. However, Steak ‘n Shake has been established as an easy go-to with more locations in St. Peter’s and Lake St. Louis. However, convenience does not decide power. For this matchup, I’ll be comparing burgers, ice cream, fries and customer service.

Burgers

Going on just taste, Steak ‘n Shake has the edge. It’s tough to beat the classic steakburger; the flavor just explodes in your mouth. While Freddy’s takes second in this category, they still make pretty good burgers. For a basic double cheeseburger, both have a similar price of about $8 (including fries and a soft drink) so price isn’t a major conflict. One thing a Freddy’s burger does better than Steak ‘n Shake is fill you up. Often, even a double cheeseburger won’t be enough to satisfy from Steak ‘n Shake, and although the difference is small, it is definitely noticeable. In the end, Steak ‘n Shake beats out Freddy’s burgers. If you want the biggest deciding factor, take a look at a 7×7 from Steak ‘n Shake and the answer is clear.

Ice Cream

Straight away I have to give this one to Freddy’s. There’re a lot of factors, but in the end Freddy’s is much better. Steak ‘n Shake wins for options, but honestly, they never taste quite right. Freddy’s custard is much fuller than Steak ‘n Shake’s cheap, thin ice cream and the taste is overwhelmingly better.

Fries

The biggest difference here comes from service. In all of my trips to Steak ‘n Shake, I’ve never had a serving of fries that wasn’t cold and dripping grease. At Freddy’s, the fries are cooked much better and their signature fry sauce adds the oomph to your eating experience. Steak n’ Shake has potential, but Freddy’s wins out again.

Customer Service

It’s pretty obvious who wins this one, but there’s more to it than you might expect. Steak ‘n Shake is awful, but Freddy’s is no Chick-fil-A. At Freddy’s, they use an intercom to announce when your food is ready, and you have to pick up the tray yourself. It’s not a terrible concept; a lot of fast food restaurants won’t bring your food to your table, but Freddy’s execution is off. Also, being constantly interrupted by an annoying intercom through a meal is a major negative. Regardless, Freddy’s does win. If Steak ‘n Shake put any effort at all in to their service, the contest might be in their favor. But their carelessness makes you and your food suffer, causing Freddy’s to be the more desirable burger joint.

This throwdown is based a lot off of personal experience, but even glancing at the reviews on Google shows the reasons why Freddy’s is growing. For teenagers, fast food will always be a way of life. The craving for a steakburger is not to be denied. The question is, which franchise is held nearest and dearest to your heart? Or more importantly, to your stomach?