Five Guys

Five Guys at 1736 Tilden Ridge Drive in Hamburg, Pennsylvania is a fast food restaurant specializing in hand-formed burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and fresh-cut fries prepared to order. The location operates within the Tilden Ridge Shopping Center off Interstate 78, an area that serves both Hamburg residents and the steady flow of travelers passing through northern Berks County. The restaurant can be reached at +1 484-660-3640.

Like other locations in the chain, the Hamburg restaurant follows a counter-service format: guests order at the register, receive a number, and wait while the kitchen assembles the order. There is no drive-thru window at most Five Guys locations, and the model is built around a relatively short menu executed the same way at every store, with the differences coming from how each customer chooses to build a burger or sandwich.

Company Background

Five Guys began in 1986 in Arlington, Virginia, when Jerry and Janie Murrell opened a single carry-out burger shop with their sons. The family stayed local for nearly two decades, operating a handful of restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area before beginning to franchise in 2003. Growth after that point was rapid, and the brand expanded across the United States, Canada and internationally over the following years. The Hamburg restaurant is part of that broader franchise network and operates under the same recipes, sourcing standards and preparation rules used company-wide.

Several of the company's founding policies remain in place and shape the day-to-day operation of every store, including this one. Burgers are cooked well done by standard. Beef is not frozen, and restaurants do not have freezers on site. Potatoes are cut in the store rather than arriving pre-processed. These practices explain why kitchens at Five Guys locations are visibly busy: much of the prep work happens in view of the dining room throughout the day.

The Menu

The core of the menu is the burger, offered as a regular (two patties) or a little (one patty), with cheeseburger and bacon cheeseburger variations of each. Patties are formed by hand rather than pressed into uniform pucks, which is why no two burgers look quite alike. All toppings are included at no additional charge, and the standard list runs to more than a dozen options:

• Lettuce, tomato, raw onion and grilled onions
• Sautéed mushrooms, green peppers and jalapeño peppers
• Pickles, relish and fresh-cut sliced onions
• Mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, hot sauce and A.1. Steak Sauce

Because every combination is permitted, the company has long advertised hundreds of thousands of possible ways to order a burger. Customers who prefer to skip the bun can request a bowl, and the same topping list applies.

Beyond burgers, the menu includes hot dogs (plain, cheese, bacon, bacon cheese and a kosher-style all-beef dog), a grilled cheese, a BLT, a veggie sandwich made from the standard topping selection, and a Cheese Veggie Sandwich. Chicken options have been added at many locations in recent years. Sides are limited to fries, served in two styles: Five Guys Style, cooked in peanut oil and salted, and Cajun Style, seasoned with a spice blend. Potatoes are cut on site each day, and many stores display a sign noting which farm the current supply came from.

Drinks include fountain beverages, and many locations feature a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine with a wide range of flavor combinations. Milkshakes are made to order with mix-ins that can include bacon, banana, chocolate, coffee, malted milk, Oreo cookie pieces, peanut butter, salted caramel, strawberry, vanilla and whipped cream, with no limit on how many are added.

Bins of complimentary in-shell peanuts are set out in the dining area for customers to snack on while waiting. Because peanut oil is used for frying and peanuts are present in the dining room, guests with peanut allergies should plan accordingly.

Ordering and Service Options

Guests can order at the counter in person, or place orders in advance through the Five Guys mobile app. Advance orders can be designated for dine-in or takeout, which is useful during peak periods such as weekday lunch hours and travel-heavy weekends along the I-78 corridor. Third-party delivery is available in many markets, and catering options, including burger and sandwich platters, can be arranged for meetings, team events and gatherings.

Orders are packed for takeout in bags that typically include an extra scoop of fries beyond what fits in the cup, a practice that has become one of the chain's better-known quirks. Bacon is cooked in batches on the flat-top grill, and burgers are assembled only after the order is placed, so wait times reflect actual cooking rather than holding food under warming lamps.

Accessibility and Facilities

The Hamburg location is set up to accommodate guests with mobility needs. According to its Google business listing, the restaurant offers:

• A wheelchair accessible entrance
• Wheelchair accessible seating in the dining area
• A wheelchair accessible restroom
• Wheelchair accessible parking in the lot

The dining room features the chain's familiar red and white tile design, with open seating at tables and a clear sight line to the kitchen line and the fry station. Parking is shared with other tenants of the Tilden Ridge Shopping Center, and the lot is sized for the retail traffic the center draws.

Location and Service Area

Hamburg sits along the Schuylkill River in Berks County, roughly midway between Reading and Allentown, and the Tilden Ridge area has developed into a commercial hub for the surrounding townships. The restaurant's position near the I-78 interchange makes it accessible to drivers moving between the Lehigh Valley and Harrisburg, as well as to visitors headed to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Blue Marsh Lake, Cabela's and the outdoor recreation areas of the Blue Mountain ridge. Local customers come from Hamburg borough, Shoemakersville, Tilden Township, Perry Township, Bernville, Kutztown and nearby communities.

Practical Information

• Address: 1736 Tilden Ridge Dr, Hamburg, PA 19526
• Phone: +1 484-660-3640
• Category: Fast food restaurant serving burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, fries and milkshakes
• Service styles: Dine-in, takeout, mobile and online ordering, catering
• Payment: Major credit and debit cards, along with mobile payment options accepted at most locations

Customers are encouraged to call the restaurant directly for current hours, seasonal menu items and details about large group or catering orders.