In-n-Out Burger

[traxx]

Here are the main reasons people (especially here in California) love In-n-Out:

1. It's extremely fresh. Nothing ever frozen, high-quality beef, they cut the fries right in front of you.
2. It's inexpensive. You can get a cheeseburger, fries and drink for about $4. That's cheaper than McDonald's and just about everywhere else.
3. It's simple. Burgers, fries, drinks and shakes. That's about it.
4. It's friendly. They pay their people very well and demand not just good service, but that it be cheerful. It shows.
5. It's tasty. The burgers will not blow you away but they are darn good and usually it takes a while for people to truly appreciate the entire package.


When comparing burgers you really have to break them down into three categories:

1. Fast food: Drive-thru, mass produced, inexpensive. In-n-Out rules here.
2. Quick Service: No drive-thru but order at the counter and mid-priced. Tuckers, Five Guys, Smash Burger, etc.
3. Restaurant: Red Robin, Chili's, The Counter, RePUBlic, etc. Typically higher priced.

Thank you. I've never understood the love for In-N-Out. A burger can only be so good. I can see these things added together making a difference. If I lived near one, I'd probably eat there but I don't see me having the same devotion for the burgers than some people have for Apple products.

[Roger S]

Tasted like a Sonic burger to me personally but I don't spend a lot of time wondering why people prefer one chain to another. I love White Castle but I know a lot of people who absolutely can't stand White Castle..... Just means more White Castle for me. ;+)

[tuck]

Here are the main reasons people (especially here in California) love In-n-Out:

1. It's extremely fresh. Nothing ever frozen, high-quality beef, they cut the fries right in front of you.
2. It's inexpensive. You can get a cheeseburger, fries and drink for about $4. That's cheaper than McDonald's and just about everywhere else.
3. It's simple. Burgers, fries, drinks and shakes. That's about it.
4. It's friendly. They pay their people very well and demand not just good service, but that it be cheerful. It shows.
5. It's tasty. The burgers will not blow you away but they are darn good and usually it takes a while for people to truly appreciate the entire package.


When comparing burgers you really have to break them down into three categories:

1. Fast food: Drive-thru, mass produced, inexpensive. In-n-Out rules here.
2. Quick Service: No drive-thru but order at the counter and mid-priced. Tuckers, Five Guys, Smash Burger, etc.
3. Restaurant: Red Robin, Chili's, The Counter, RePUBlic, etc. Typically higher priced.

Spot on!

[mcca7596]

OK BBQ eater if it tasted like a sonic burger to you then you must not have gotten the spread, it's a thousand island type sauce. Sonic has nothing like it; did you ask for mayonnaise or mustard instead?

[Jesseda]

OK BBQ eater if it tasted like a sonic burger to you then you must not have gotten the spread, it's a thousand island type sauce. Sonic has nothing like it; did you ask for mayonnaise or mustard instead?

reading this makes me so hungry for IN-N-OUT right now

[Roger S]

OK BBQ eater if it tasted like a sonic burger to you then you must not have gotten the spread, it's a thousand island type sauce. Sonic has nothing like it; did you ask for mayonnaise or mustard instead?

It was about 5 years ago so I don't remember exactly what was on it... I do remember taking the first bite and thinking to myself "Hmmm.... Tastes like a Sonic Burger." ...... I don't recall any thousand island type condiment on it.

And I by no means thought it was a terrible burger. Would eat there if we had one here but I'd prefer a White Castle.

[MadMonk]

I put an In-N-Out burger as better than Sonic, but not as good as Braum's. In terms of speed and friendly service, In-N-Out are head and shoulders above both.

[Pete]

BTW, there are very few options at In-n-Out... No jalapenos, bacon, etc.

They also don't come up with a new pretzel-bun, chipotle-sauce gimmick every month.

They do have "animal style" (grilled with mustard, extra spread and grilled onions) but otherwise they serve a bun, hamburger patty, lettuce, tomato and onion with their unique sauce. That's pretty much it.


But considering those basics, they do it as well as you can for anywhere near their price point.

[bradh]

Man I guess I just don't get it. I grew up in SE Texas, spent a few years on the west coast, and now live here. I found nothing special about In N Out.

[soonerguru]

Man I guess I just don't get it. I grew up in SE Texas, spent a few years on the west coast, and now live here. I found nothing special about In N Out.

Not sure what your scale of comparison is, but IN-n-Out is to be compared with a fast-food burger, like McDonald's, etc. There is no comparison. It is heads and tails above that in food quality and taste. They use quality ingredients in their food, without fillers and overly processed stuff that will give you cancer like all the major chains use.

It's not "the best burger on earth," it's the "best fast-food burger made with quality ingredients."

[bradh]

Not sure what your scale of comparison is, but IN-n-Out is to be compared with a fast-food burger, like McDonald's, etc. There is no comparison. It is heads and tails above that in food quality and taste. They use quality ingredients in their food, without fillers and overly processed stuff that will give you cancer like all the major chains use.

It's not "the best burger on earth," it's the "best fast-food burger made with quality ingredients."

My scale of comparison is a few posts earlier in the thread, Whataburger. I can't taste the difference in In N Out's "quality ingredients" over a standard Whataburger. I'd never compare it to McDonalds. I know what I'm getting when I eat those single cheeseburgers from the golden arches.

And come on, stepping out your front door and breathing gives you cancer these days

[MWCGuy]

I have had good burgers at just about every place that makes them. Some of my favorites are bowling alley snack bars. They usually make a good greasy cheeseburger. South Robinson Auto Auction made a good greasy burger in their snack bar back when they were in business. A burger is next impossible to screw up unless you serve it like Bricktown Brewery (Stale bun with a patty that taste like leather.)

[mikesimpsons82]

It's not "the best burger on earth," it's the "best fast-food burger made with quality ingredients."

Shake Shack puts In-N-Out to shame.

[ryne]

Here are the main reasons people (especially here in California) love In-n-Out:

1. It's extremely fresh. Nothing ever frozen, high-quality beef, they cut the fries right in front of you.
2. It's inexpensive. You can get a cheeseburger, fries and drink for about $4. That's cheaper than McDonald's and just about everywhere else.
3. It's simple. Burgers, fries, drinks and shakes. That's about it.
4. It's friendly. They pay their people very well and demand not just good service, but that it be cheerful. It shows.
5. It's tasty. The burgers will not blow you away but they are darn good and usually it takes a while for people to truly appreciate the entire package.


When comparing burgers you really have to break them down into three categories:

1. Fast food: Drive-thru, mass produced, inexpensive. In-n-Out rules here.
2. Quick Service: No drive-thru but order at the counter and mid-priced. Tuckers, Five Guys, Smash Burger, etc.
3. Restaurant: Red Robin, Chili's, The Counter, RePUBlic, etc. Typically higher priced.

Pete pretty much summed it up perfectly. I have been to In-N-Out many times and can't get enough of it. I also took my girlfriend there recently and she went in with high expectations (my fault) and she was very impressed. They are not the fanciest or the most expensive, but for a quick, cheap burger it can't be beat.

[OKC_Chipper]

Lived in DFW area this summer and I can tell you that In and Out is far and away better than Whataburger. By far my favorite fast food burger.

[adaniel]

My scale of comparison is a few posts earlier in the thread, Whataburger. I can't taste the difference in In N Out's "quality ingredients" over a standard Whataburger. I'd never compare it to McDonalds. I know what I'm getting when I eat those single cheeseburgers from the golden arches.

And come on, stepping out your front door and breathing gives you cancer these days

In-n-out is overrated. Not bad, but at the end of the day its a fast food burger. It thrives in a place like California, which really does not have a beef/burger culture like we do in this part of the world. I think part of their following is a "grass is greener" effect. They do decent business in their Texas locations due to all the California transplants and late night drunkies needing a quick bite, but I know it's nowhere close to the drive thru lines wrapping around the block like when they first opened.

I will say I know a native of OC now living in Plano who says their burgers are not the same as they are in CA, but I digress. I have had one in San Diego as well as one in Allen TX and it was the same: fresh but a little bland beef, limp lettuce, and stale fries. In terms of chains, I would argue that it's no better than Whataburger and probably inferior to Five Guys. And compared to the local places its not even a contest.

[bradh]

Five Guys really is good. I never got that craze either until they opened here. The burger is good (better than Whataburger and In N Out) but the real kicker is those damn cajun fries. I can appreciate a place that takes such an ownership in the quality of their fries.

[Bunty]

Lived in DFW area this summer and I can tell you that In and Out is far and away better than Whataburger. By far my favorite fast food burger.

Is it also better than Wendy's?

[metro]

Thank you. I've never understood the love for In-N-Out. A burger can only be so good. I can see these things added together making a difference. If I lived near one, I'd probably eat there but I don't see me having the same devotion for the burgers than some people have for Apple products.

You must not have eaten at Nic's.

[metro]

Not sure what your scale of comparison is, but IN-n-Out is to be compared with a fast-food burger, like McDonald's, etc. There is no comparison. It is heads and tails above that in food quality and taste. They use quality ingredients in their food, without fillers and overly processed stuff that will give you cancer like all the major chains use.

It's not "the best burger on earth," it's the "best fast-food burger made with quality ingredients."

Totally agree, comparison wise, In and Out is most similar to McDonalds as far as type of burger and taste, with the exception being you can tell In and Out uses fresh ingredients and not McFillers and McPreservatives; but taste is still similar, just superior. As far as "animal style" it's not mustard folks, it's a thousand island dressing, just like McDonalds Big Mac.

[adaniel]

Five Guys really is good. I never got that craze either until they opened here. The burger is good (better than Whataburger and In N Out) but the real kicker is those damn cajun fries. I can appreciate a place that takes such an ownership in the quality of their fries.

Five Guys fries=bomb. I typically don't like thick fries as they are prone to getting soggy, but the flavoring they use is phenomenal.

[mikesimpsons82]

You must not have eaten at Nic's.

Doubtful because it doesn't sound like that person absolutely hated burgers. Leaving Nic's they would think burgers are supposed to be bland and taste medicre and may never want a burger again. That is, of course, they don't go into it thinking that they're supposed to think it's good so they do anyway, despite how terrible it is.

[Jeepnokc]

Totally agree, comparison wise, In and Out is most similar to McDonalds as far as type of burger and taste, with the exception being you can tell In and Out uses fresh ingredients and not McFillers and McPreservatives; but taste is still similar, just superior. As far as "animal style" it's not mustard folks, it's a thousand island dressing, just like McDonalds Big Mac.

[I]t is actually both. Here is the description from Wiki

[/I"Animal Style" is one of the most popular "secret" styles; in addition to the standard toppings, Animal Style burgers include pickles, extra spread, grilled onions, and mustard fried onto each meat patty. "3×3" (pronounced 3-by-3), "4×4", or variations of "m" × "c", refers to a burger with a varied amount of meat patties, "m", and slices of cheese, "c": e.g. a burger with six meat patties and three slices of cheese is a "6×3". The In-N-Out "secret menu" section of the website only mentions the "3x3" and "4x4", which are registered trademarks of the company.[3]]

[corwin1968]

Nice to see that my burger question as spawned it's very own thread.

I have been aware of In-N-Out's distribution center policy and given that they are in the Dallas area it's only a matter of time before they expand into Oklahoma. We're practically next door to Dallas in terms of the transportation industry.

[MadMonk]

I think the whole mystique around In-N-Out is that we don't have one here. I used to be the same way about missing Krispy Kreme donuts (the best ever) until we got one of those. I'm still that way about getting to drink a Cheerwine. Every time I go back "home" I have to bring a case or two back with me.