12 Five Guys Secret Menu Items to Try, from the Patty Melt to the Mega Shake

I’ve had the same Five Guys order for years: a little cheeseburger with pickles, hot sauce, mayo and grilled onions, fries and a vanilla malt. But now that I’ve heard about these Five Guys secret menu items, I’m feeling very tempted to switch things up. These unofficial fan-favorites have been popularized by customers (and the internet) with good reason. Read on for a food editor’s favorite picks, ranging from a grilled cheese-burger hybrid to a sweet-and-salty milkshake that’s not for the faint of heart.

• Modifications: ask for two beef patties between two grilled cheesesandwiches

If you’re feeling extra peckish, this three-in-one sammy should hold you over. It’s a lot of cheese and bread, but I’m betting if you’re a Big Mac fan, this Five Guys secret menu item will be right up your alley. If your location is having trouble ringing up your order, ask for two little burgers and two grilled cheeses, then nix the burger buns and assemble the sandwich yourself.

• Modifications: ask for a burger without the bun

On a low-carb diet? Allergic to gluten? This bunless alternative to a burger will satisfy. It’ll come in a to-go tray with toppings of your choice (pickles, lettuce, tomato and mushrooms are a great place to start). If you’re feeling decadent (or you’re on keto), add bacon and cheese for good measure.

• Modifications: ask for a bacon cheeseburger with extra bacon, mayo, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, jalapeños, hot sauce and A1

For those who can take the heat. This burger is especially messy and saucy, but I doubt you’ll mind once you taste it. It also offers a generous dose of spice. Might I suggest adding relish too for a sweet-and-sour punch of flavor?

• Modifications: ask for a burger with grilled peppers, grilled onions, ketchup and barbecue sauce

No, it doesn’t have chili-like ground beef instead of a patty— the toppings are what give this uncanny take on the original its name. The sweet, tangy combination of condiments and the slightly charred vegetables result in a sloppy Joe-like flavor with significantly less mess.

• Modifications: ask for a grilled cheese with a burger patty

It still comes on the usual sesame seed bun, but this Five Guys secret menu item calls for grilling the bun on both sides and serving it upside-down. The patty melt also gets an extra slice of cheese (one on the top and one on the bottom), so it’s a great choice for people who prefer a high cheese-to-beef ratio.

• Modifications: ask for a hot dog with tomatoes, onions, relish, green peppers, pickles, Cajun seasoning, hot sauce and mustard

Have you had a Chicago-style hot dog before? It’s “dragged through the garden,” aka loaded with fresh produce. This is a spicier homage to the O.G. FYI, instead of rattling off all those toppings, there’s a good chance your local Five Guys will know this secret menu item by name.

• Modifications: ask for a BLT with no bacon, add grilled mushrooms

You’ll notice a veggie sandwich and cheese veggie sandwich on the Five Guy’s official menu, but this plant-based alternative to the classic bacon, lettuce and tomato combo is also an option. The main difference between this and the cheese veggie sandwich is mayo, but you can go to town with whatever condiments you’d like.

• Modifications: ask for Cajun seasoning on your burger patties

I found this Five Guys secret menu hack on Reddit. A former employee recommends asking for Cajun patties, which calls for smashing the Cajun seasoning that’s typically reserved for fries into the burger on both sides as it grills. Pro tip: It’ll be appreciated if you order this toward the end of the day, since the grill needs to be scraped down afterward.

• Modifications: ask for well-done fries

You may need to wait a few extra minutes for these spuds, but I promise it’s worth it if you like your fries supremely crunchy and deeply golden in color. (But if you ask me, Five Guys fries don’t need any help in the deliciousness department—after all, they won my ranking of the best fast food fries.)

• Modifications: order fries topped with (or alongside) beef and toppings of your choosing

Are you an Animal Style-type eater at In-N-Out and beyond? Then odds are you prefer your fries with more than a modest squirt of ketchup. At Five Guys, you can top them with everything from a few slices of cheese to chopped burger patties, bacon and all the fixings.

• Modifications: ask for a vanilla milkshake with chocolate, peanut butter, bacon and peanuts

Sweet, salty and oh-so decadent. Five Guys famously offers whole peanuts in their restaurants to which customers can help themselves. Here, you’ll have the experts make your milkshake for you, then add as many peanuts to the mix as you’d like (or see if they’ll add them to the blender for you, if you want them broken into pieces).