Beloved Burger Chain Plans 70 Location Expansion — Could It Give Burger King a Run for Its Money?

It hasn't been a great year for restaurant chains, and many long-time names in the industry are shutting the doors on locations in the face of declining sales — but one regional favorite from the Pacific Northwest has big plans.

Burgerville, known for its emphasis on local ingredients and a rabid fan base, has announced ambitious plans to increase into the contiguous areas surrounding its current Oregon and Washington territory.

The expansion plan includes opening 70 locations over the next five years. By focusing on markets already connected to their serving area, the business believes customers will be excited to have options closer to home, as many travel to Portland for work and are already familiar with Burgerville cuisine.

Burgerville utilizes 75% locally sourced ingredients, leaving many wondering how its prices will rise against fast-food giants like Burger King and whether it's a worthy expenditure in your fast-food budget . See how the prices hold up in comparison.

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Burgerville

Locally sourced ingredients seem to keep costs down, but what are Burgerville customers paying for some traditional burger menu items?

A bacon cheeseburger runs just over $9, and turning it into a "basket" option will include fries for an upcharge of $6.29. That's a pretty hefty price tag for a burger and fries.

A bundled option can lower that price to $12.99 for two Big Cowboy Sliders, fries, and a drink. That's still expensive for fast-food meals, so the determining factor is whether or not the size and flavor pack a punch heavy enough to make it worth the total.

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Burger King

Burger King is currently offering a $5 Your Way Meal that includes a bacon cheeseburger, four-piece chicken nuggets, fries, and a drink.

The combined menu price for those items would regularly be $8.66. The meal can also have a Whopper Jr. or Chicken Jr. instead of the bacon cheeseburger, but the price point stands.

Fuddruckers

Fast casual dining options offer better quality burger experiences, so Fuddruckers is a more apt comparison to the Burgerville menu. The smallest burger option is 1/3 pound for $9.99, and fries can be added for $5.99.

While there is no emphasis on where their ingredients are sourced, they emphasize that every location uses fresh beef that has never been frozen and contains no fillers or additives.

These prices can vary by location, and there are not currently any in Oregon or Washington, so Fuddruckers isn't likely to be direct competition yet; however, their experience seems to rival that of Burgerville.

Five Guys

Five Guys has limited locations in the Burgerville expansion territory — but the chain is also known for its handcrafted burgers and fries.

Prices vary by location, but a bacon cheeseburger is priced around $10.99 with an additional $5.59 to add on fries, so they definitely don't have Burgerville completely beat.

1. Bottom line

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The question comes down to whether you want a cheap meal or a higher-quality food experience.

Burger King may have the best prices on a value meal compared to fast-casual dining options focused on hamburger experiences, but folks who don't like fast food will find an alternative in Burgerville.

Burgerville offers a larger burger with better ingredients for prices consistent with those of other fast-casual burger restaurants.

The best way to save money on burgers is to make them at home, which many turn to in the face of rising restaurant prices. Cooking at home can help save money, but there will always be nights when it doesn't matter how much money can be saved with home groceries — you need the small luxury of eating food somebody else prepared.

Diners who are used to home-cooked meals are likely to choose the quality value of Burgerville over the cost value of Burger King, so the two burger restaurants may be in less direct competition than they would appear on the surface.

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