For more than a decade, Five Guys fans in the UK have known exactly what to expect when they walk through those red-and-white chequered doors.
Burgers stacked how you like them, hot dogs, grilled cheese, fries that take up half the bag no matter what size you order, and milkshakes with more custom combinations than anyone could ever reasonably attempt. It’s a formula that has barely shifted since the chain arrived here in 2013, with its customer loyalty staying strong exactly because of that consistency: quality over quantity.
Even the brand’s occasional new milkshake flavour has always felt more like a fun bonus than a sign that the menu might evolve in any significant way. Five Guys has built its reputation on sticking to what it knows, and the idea of them suddenly swerving off-course has never seemed particularly likely.
Occasionally, though, some proper menu changes can break through.
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This week, in addition to Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone alcohol getting added to the menu, Five Guys has rolled out its new Loaded Fries across restaurants in England, Scotland and Wales, marking a genuine first in the brand’s UK timeline.
A generous portion of the fast food brand’s signature Salted or Cajun fries is now topped with hot cheese sauce and a secret fry sauce, before being finished with up to 14 toppings. That includes everything from onions, bacon, and jalapenos to pickles, tomatoes, and grilled mushrooms, offering what the chain claims are more than 131,000 possible combinations.
Five Guys’ UK CEO John Eckbert didn’t downplay the moment either, calling the launch 'a historic moment for Five Guys as our first-ever food menu addition'. He added: “We believe they’ll be an instant hit and a go-to choice for fans across the UK.”
The item has already begun making the rounds on social media, where early taste-testers have labelled the fries ‘elite’, ‘10/10’, ‘genius’ and ‘yummy’.
Plus, whilst the brand often keeps things understated, Five Guys itself has described the new dish as ‘legendary’ and an ‘instant hit’, signalling just how confident it is in the launch.
Although there is some slight scepticism, such as one user saying: “That’ll be £18 please," assuming the novelty of a coveted item like loaded fries at Five Guys comes with a massive price tag, many fans engaging with this new drop can’t seem to get enough.
Loaded Fries are available for dine-in and takeaway nationwide, though Heathrow Terminal 5 remains the one location excluded.
Ben Williams