The Absolute Best Burger On Wendy's Menu And Why It's A Must-Order Item

What is Wendy's known for if not its extravagant lineup of burgers? Its menu is filled with towering stacks of juicy meat patties, crispy bacon, and golden cheese layered into one another, jam-packed in between soft bread buns — a fast-food haven in its purest form. In an effort to find out exactly which burger is the best, Tasting Table ranked every Wendy's burger from worst to best, and unsurprisingly, Dave's Single takes the crown. A quintessential burger at its finest, Dave's Single doesn't need dramatic sauces or quixotic toppings to make an impact. It simply embraces what really matters: freshly made ingredients and ratio precision. As it turns out, that's more than enough.

Named after Wendy's founder Dave Thomas, there's no doubt that Dave's Single is one of the food chain's most long-standing signature dishes, and that's probably because it sticks to elements that always work. Within each burger, you'll find familiar ingredients such as Wendy's square meat patties, American cheese, lettuce, onion, pickle, and tomato, all complemented by ketchup, mayo, and occasionally, mustard. The glossy, toasted buns hold everything together with a perfect mix of tender and firm textures. It's a classic and reliable creation, something you can order without a second thought and still have a great meal every time.

Compared to Wendy's burgers and possibly every other McDonald's burger, Dave's Single has no problem coming out on top. It's a far cry from the cheeseless Jr. Hamburger that ranks last on our list, or even the Jr. Cheeseburger. Meanwhile, other bacon-based creations like the Baconator and Big Bacon Classic just miss the mark with a slight hitch in bacon and sauce textures. What Dave's Single lacks in novelty, it makes up for with careful attention to detail. The ground meat, as famously advertised, is always fresh and never frozen. After all, Wendy's is one of the most popular food chains that offers fresh, non-frozen fast food. As a result, the beef patties not only carry a truly savory taste but also offer a tenderness that melts right in with the cheese.

Additionally, Wendy's has mastered the cheese-to-beef ratio. While its cousin, the Dave's Triple, has three consecutive meat patties, which can be a little overwhelming to the untrained palate, the Dave's Single offers just enough to throw an impactful flavor punch. Neither element overpowers the other, but instead harmonizes to deliver a satisfying mouthfeel. All this richness is balanced out by the fresh, subtly earthy veggies — and the pickles? Well, they add just a hint of tanginess and a little bit of depth to each bite. It's nothing too fancy or revolutionary, but when all the ingredients are good individually and also work well together, it's no surprise that this burger has stood the test of time.