Adam Richman Finally Weighs In On The Shake Shack Versus In-N-Out Debate - Exclusive

Anyone who seriously claims to love burgers is well familiar with the age-old war between Shake Shack and In-N-Out. Are you team Shack Stack? Or do you go wild for Animal Style? The long-standing East Coast versus West Coast showdown elicits strong opinions among fans — and you can't get away with not taking a side. Many chefs and foodies have weighed in on this debate over the years, from Gordon Ramsay to Chrissy Teigen to the late, great Anthony Bourdain. Now the celebrity foodie, proclaimed burger lover, and "Man v. Food" star Adam Richman is taking up arms in the great burger battle.

Mashed spoke exclusively with Adam Richman recently at the New York City Wine & Food Festival, where he was participating in none other than the event's annual Burger Bash. So we couldn't resist the opportunity to put Richman on the spot and have him defend his stance on the Shake Shack versus In-N-Out debate.

When we asked Adam Richman to name his favorite fast food burger, he didn't hesitate for a second before proclaiming, "Shake Shack." This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who's a fan of Richman. He grew up in Brooklyn, just one borough over from the original home of Shake Shack, and as an East Coaster through and through, he's staying true to his roots.

"They make one called the ShackMeister that's pretty sexy," Richman told Mashed with a twinkle in his eye. Unfortunately, this monster of a burger — made with a hamburger patty, melted cheese, Shack sauce, and a heaping pile of beer-battered crispy shallots — is a limited-time offering. It debuted in 2015 and made another appearance in 2020, but it's unclear when the ShackMeister might be available again. In the meantime, you can still chow down on jaw-busting options like the Shack Stack, the SmokeShack, the new Hot Ones Burger, and the classic Shack Burger.

This isn't to say he doesn't enjoy In-N-Out every once in a while when he finds himself out West. "I like a Double-Double, Animal Style," he confessed. But it's more than just the burgers that put In-N-Out at a disadvantage for him. "Here's the issue," he said. "Burgers and fries go together like hugs and kisses. In-N-Out fries s*** the bed. I know they're real potato, but they're atrocious. They're so bad." For that reason, Shake Shack — with its perfectly salty crinkle-cut fries — edges out its biggest competitor in Richman's eyes.

For the latest from Chef Adam Richman, follow him on Instagram. Plus, learn more about the annual Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival, presented by Capital One, and be sure to check out the highlights from this year's event.