First thought: How did it take this long for someone to open a burger joint on Fremont East, clearly a perfect fit? Then again, there are some seriously amazing burgers in the vicinity, like the ones at Carson Kitchen and Glutton and Fukuburger, which is often parked around the corner.

But Flippin’ Good is decidedly different from its neighbors, another attempt to elevate the beloved fast-food burger à la Shake Shack or In-N-Out; it’s clear from its clean, casual design this place is supposed to be a franchise. Like those popular burger brands, Flippin’ Good tastes like its own thing, and the flavor is freshness—it actually tastes like its tagline: “Because fresh tastes better!” The lettuce, tomatoes and pickles are crisp. The never-frozen beef is clearly never frozen. And the Flippin’ Sauce, which is probably exactly what you think it is, can be dominant in the mix, tangy and slightly creamy and even vegetal. Easy picks: the Flame, with jalapeños and pepper jack, and the Farm, with fried egg, smoky bacon and American cheese.

Unlike the restaurants that occupied this space previously, Flippin’ Good, thankfully, is open late on weekends. But this is not the greasy fast-food burger you could be craving after a Fremont crawl. It’s different, and better.

Flippin' Good Burgers & Shakes 505 E. Fremont St., 702-776-7991. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 a.m.; Sunday, noon-10 p.m.