Is In-n-Out Burger THIS good?

[pie_man_25]

I remember when we got one in San Ramon, CA, which was about 10min from my HS, and it was basically a challenge to drive there, get food, and get back to eat it in class, just taunting the rest of us. Teachers put up with it. I understand a line at 1am (they close late) but during the day? That thing must've opened that day. That said: I'll put In-N-Out against anything cooked by teenagers. The traffic fingerprint is why they do not exist in some places, as well as their logistics/supply chain. As not all places can be delivered ingredients in sufficient time. My instincts say McD's and BK have more lax time frames.

Logistics will kill just about anything. It could be that their supply chain would require significant investment to expand their network into certain regions before they can invest in the real estate. BK and McDonald's have been international outfits for decades, opening up a new franchise in any town probably happens without their CEO even knowing about it at least every month. For a comparatively small outfit, though, it's bound to be much more difficult and need some investment or problem solving before they can reasonably expand. It's not just trucks, it's warehouses, slaughterhouses, potentially contracting with more farms, and figuring out how much money that'll cost and where it'll all come from.

 

[buldog5151bass]

People go where they know, not necessarily the best place. Anywhere in the US, you know exactly what your burger will taste like. In the Midwest, Dominos often wins local polls for best pizza. Any New Haven, or NYC resident would cry if they saw that.

 

[FilterFunk]

Animal style has a lot of....stuff on it. I never get it. I prefer my meals simple (which is why I like in n out).

It's like some sort of secret sauce-ish concoction with bits of ground beef and icassume onions and other things dredged onto the burger and fries. If you ask for animal style, this is what they'll give you. A lot of people really like it

Thanks for the info!

I don't want all that stuff (although the young me would probably be all over it), and I was underwhelmed by their regular burger, so I guess In-n-Out just isn't for me...

 

[FilterFunk]

People go where they know, not necessarily the best place. Anywhere in the US, you know exactly what your burger will taste like. In the Midwest, Dominos often wins local polls for best pizza. Any New Haven, or NYC resident would cry if they saw that.

Good point.

Similarly, people who think KFC is "the bomb" have probably never had proper Southern fried chicken.

 

[friskinator]

Good point.

Similarly, people who think KFC is "the bomb" have probably never had proper Southern fried chicken.

They could at least go to Publix. Their fried chicken is in my top 5.

 

[macaroni tony]

Thanks for the info!

I don't want all that stuff (although the young me would probably be all over it), and I was underwhelmed by their regular burger, so I guess In-n-Out just isn't for me...

Yep...it either is or it isnt; clean, fresh and consistent are what works for me 75% of the time. The other 25% I need a little more flavor, I'm going elsewhere

 

[macaroni tony]

Good point.

Similarly, people who think KFC is "the bomb" have probably never had proper Southern fried chicken.

Is there a chain who makes proper southern fried chicken?

I make it, my mom and grandmother make it (from time to time) but I wonder how our socal taste buds fare vs the real thing

 

[buldog5151bass]

Go back about 50 years and Kentucky Fried Chicken was pretty good...

 

[Jazzdogg]

Born and raised in San Diego. In & Out has clean stores, clean-cut employees, and a limited menu to keep food cost manageable.

I find the food OK, but unremarkable. Then again, I seldom eat fast food, preferring homemade by a country mile.

What I don't understand is folks sitting in line, engines running, in a state where gasoline is typically more than $5/gallon. When we take the grandkids, we park and go inside.

 

[Hot Rats]

Is In-N-Out the burger chain that has secret menu? I've only had their burger one time and it was a good one from what I remember but that was 16 years ago.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Is In-N-Out the burger chain that has secret menu? I've only had their burger one time and it was a good one from what I remember but that was 16 years ago.

Was that the one in Monterey near the aquarium? That one is the only one I have eaten at, once, back in May 2007. From what I recall, I liked the burger and fries I had.

 

[Hot Rats]

Was that the one in Monterey near the aquarium? That one is the only one I have eaten at, once, back in May 2007. From what I recall, I liked the burger and fries I had.

Imola Ave in Napa. 2004 maybe. So possibly 20 years.

 

[Dr. Gonzo82]

In-n-out is good for a chain, but I had way better burgers in small restaurants during my stays in California.

Still, when it came to non vegetarian foods nothing compared to anything pulled (chicken, pork).

 

[Mike N]

What I don't understand is folks sitting in line, engines running, in a state where gasoline is typically more than $5/gallon. When we take the grandkids, we park and go inside.

With $15 or $16 being minimum wage in NY, you're lucky to find anyone behind the counter when you walk in your average fast food joint. Many places have gone to the self serve kiosk and it's a giant pita, imo...... just like self checkout at the big box store or grocery store. Instead of four cashiers, now you have one guy/gal overseeing a handful of self checkouts.

If you actually want to interact with a human and not a machine at Mickey D's, drive thru is the way to go.

 

[Jazzdogg]

With $15 or $16 being minimum wage in NY, you're lucky to find anyone behind the counter when you walk in your average fast food joint. Many places have gone to the self serve kiosk and it's a giant pita, imo...... just like self checkout at the big box store or grocery store. Instead of four cashiers, now you have one guy/gal overseeing a handful of self checkouts.

If you actually want to interact with a human and not a machine at Mickey D's, drive thru is the way to go.

The California minimum wage is $15.50 in 2023. The last In & Out we visited was fully staffed, and there was a long line of customers.

 

[E2942]

Tommy Burger for the win, right near the one zero one freeway.

 

[ElMon]

Whataburger (pickles/onion/lettuce/mustard)

Braum’s
(Bacon cheeseburger)

C’mon out y’all.

 

[Deleted member 394512]

I switched from In & Out to The Habit. The one in Glendale in the shopping plaza above the Ralphs with underground parking was the best. Super cold shakes.

In & Out peaked in the 80's for me. Still better than BK or McDs though.

Now that I live in the Ozarks, I am digging Freddies. Smash burgers and thick custard ice creams. Now I have to drive 1.5 hours to get some. Damn it!

 

[Jazzdogg]

People go where they know, not necessarily the best place. Anywhere in the US, you know exactly what your burger will taste like. In the Midwest, Dominos often wins local polls for best pizza. Any New Haven, or NYC resident would cry if they saw that.

LOL! I grew up in San Diego and have spent a fair amount of time in Mexico. My idea of "good Mexican food" is typically quite different from folks who live, or grew up, in other parts of the country. A second generation Italian-American friend comments on the "Italian" food served at "Olive Garden" in a similar vein.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Many places have gone to the self serve kiosk and it's a giant pita, imo...... just like self checkout at the big box store or grocery store. Instead of four cashiers, now you have one guy/gal overseeing a handful of self checkouts.

Over at the Acoustic Guitar Forum there is a long and interesting thread on just this very subject.