#1-Ranked Habit Burger & Grill Doubles Down with Billboard Burn After Beating In-N-Out (Again) in USA TODAY’s 10Best
In-N-Out drops to #4. Habit makes sure they see it.
IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- It’s happening again.
Last year, Habit Burger & Grill playfully trolled In-N-Out with a billboard congratulating them on their #2 win in USA TODAY’s 10Best burger rankings.
This year? Let’s just say the Sharpie came out.
A new billboard has appeared outside In-N-Out’s iconic LAX drive-thru. The same sign from last year has been recycled, but this time, the “#2” is scribbled over in red and replaced with an even more humbling “#4.” Beneath it, Habit proudly flexes its own win: Voted #1 by USA TODAY’s 10Best. Again.
And the timing? Almost too perfect. Just days after the USA TODAY rankings dropped, headlines broke that In-N-Out’s CEO is relocating to Tennessee, while the brand expands east and consolidates its California operations.
Did Habit’s top spot play a role? Hard to say. But the timing is deliciously suspicious.
“We congratulated In-N-Out on being #2 last year with a billboard," said Jack Hinchliffe, Chief Marketing Officer at Habit Burger & Grill. "This year, we were going to send a gift but couldn’t afford the postage to Tennessee, so we saved a few bucks and reused the same billboard. We just had to swap out the 2 for a 4.”
Last year’s billboard sparked viral buzz, lighting up the internet with burger feuds, fan wars, and spicy comment threads. People took sides, doubled down, and debated: Double-Double vs. Double Char. Some even called it the start of the Burger Wars.
And this year, Habit’s not just back, they’re doubling down.
As In-N-Out heads east, Habit seems perfectly happy right where they are: on top.
USA TODAY’s 10Best Awards also named Habit Burger & Grill:
- #1 Best Fast Casual Restaurant
- #1 Best Side, Tempura Green Beans
Connect with Habit Burger & Grill on social media at: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn
*Voted #1 based on USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice 2025 Awards for Best Fast Food Burger, Best Fast Food Sides, and Best Fast Casual Restaurant. Readers voted for their favorite nominated business. (Published July 2025)
About Habit Burger & Grill
Born in sunny Southern California in 1969, Habit Burger & Grill is known for Charburgers cooked-to-order over an open flame. But the menu extends far beyond burgers—it’s a celebration of Californian-inspired flavors. Alongside the brand's signature Charburgers is a meaningful array of handcrafted sandwiches, crisp salads, and creamy shakes, ensuring there's something for everyone. Habit Burger & Grill has earned notable recognition, with its Double Char being ranked #1 by USA Today 10Best1, its Tempura Green Beans also reaching a #1 rank in USA Today 10Best2, the brand being named Best Fast Casual Restaurant3, and its Chicken Club recognized as the best grilled chicken sandwich by The Daily Meal4. The brand was also featured in Newsweek’s “America’s Favorite Restaurant Chains 2023” and included in Thrillist’s roundup of “Underrated Burger Chains that Need to be in Every State!” Habit Burger & Grill has since grown to over 385 restaurants across 14 states and internationally—continuing to serve up bold fresh flavors, made-to-order. Learn more at www.habitburger.com.
Sources: USA Today 10Best, USA Today 10Best, The Daily Meal, Newsweek, The Daily Meal, Thrillist
1Based on USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice 2024 Awards for Best Fast Food Burger. (Published July 2024 & 2025).
2Based on USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice 2024 Awards for Best Fast Food Sides. (Published July 2024 & 2025).
3 Based on USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice 2024 Awards for Best Fast Casual Restaurant. (Published July 2025).
4 Based on Daily Meal’s survey of consumer reviews from Reddit, Yelp! and TripAdvisor (Published Dec. 2023).
Habit Burger & Grill Press Contact: HBGMedia@yum.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ceec1e6-7ab4-41a2-83a1-c1f97ae6d4b5
Habit Burger & Grill Doubles Down with Billboard Burn After Beating In-N-Out (Again) in USA TODAY’s 10Best
In-N-Out drops to #4. Habit makes sure they see it.
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