I’ve lived in CA on two separate occasions. Once in the early 80’s and once for a year just before I retired. Anyway, my experience with In-N-Out is about the same as yours. I don’t understand the hoopla. In fact I saw an article just two days ago rating around 20 or so fast food burgers and they were rated #1. 🤷♂️
But one thing for sure. The fries are terrible. I seem to recall they tasted like cardboard. And nothing, ketchup, salt, whatever changed that. The burger? Meh. And animal style? What a joke. Nope. Not for me.
Sorry you had a mediocre experience there PJ... I've only ever had In-N-Out when visiting California, and it's always been outstanding, including the fries. They are much less salty than other restaurants' fries, which I really like, so much prepared food is just so damn salty. I know their whole business model was to have stores only where they could get their fresh ingredients from their warehouses within a day's drive (my Dad used to keep books for a couple folks who were franchisees, albeit over 20 years ago now). I know they made the considered decision to expand by getting their distribution points up and running, but sounds like they are not there yet further east...
I went once in Los Angeles about 20 yrs ago and my main takeaways were that the menu was simple (unlike McDonald's) and service was efficient. So I got in and out pretty quickly, just like the name suggests. I honestly don't remember the food being remarkably good or bad.
The only other one I've been to was in Scottsdale, AZ maybe 10 yrs ago, and it was similar, I guess. I wouldn't drive past a Culver's to get to an In-N-Out.
I like the fries, but only if you eat them right there. If you take them home they turn into cardboard. I think the burgers are Ok but they get a big thumbs up from me because if your order a combo that includes cheese, they deduct the price of the cheese. No other burger chain does that.
I am imbedded in the land of In-n-Out. 9 out of 10 So. Cal residents would say that In-n-Out is the best burger. Those same 9 people would say that hamburgers are BBQ, so you have to question the representative sample.
Yes, I am that 1 out of 10 that would tell you that In-n-Out is an average burger (at best), the french fries are terrible and the shakes are just as bad. I have tried different locations, different styles, requesting double fried, french fries, etc. But to no avail. I finally said, "no more for me".
Here is an example - I went to my son's bachelor party that he held down in Mexico back in October. 16 of his friends at a house on the river. When we came back across the border, all the young men wanted to go to In-n-Out. Since I knew the plan and before we left the river house, I made two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. When we got to In-n-Out, I did not order anything and ate the PB&J sammys....to everyone's amazement. They asked me why??? My response, "In-n-Out stinks".
With all that said, if In-n-Out originated in Texas, you'd be singing its praises. All you Texas boys would and you know I'm right
Not true! I’ve criticized many places here in Texas, I’m an equal opportunity offender. 🤓 I even criticized Whataburger, which originated in Texas, last year! I posted here about an overpriced piece of crap chicken sandwich I got at one of their locations. The sandwich was mediocre at best and puny in size.
I've never had In 'n Out. Carl's Jr. opened here briefly - way too much sauce on those. I don't like dripping messy burgers.
Being Texan I've had Whataburger quite a bit. Not my favorite - I don't see what the hype is about but they have the best onion rings. The best local burger in my area is a local chain called Hamburger Depot.
As far as fast food burgers in my area I rate them on this scale:
1. McDonald's
2. Burger King
3. Whataburger
Burger King and Whataburger seem to have trained their employees to put a 10lb weight on the burger before wrapping it: The bun is smashed as thin as the meat and thus it is doughy and chewy - yuck!
Panhead John Maybe you should review Red Robin next
Last edited by 58limited; January 17, 2025, 06:22 PM.
Panhead John Favorite of the fast food hamburger joints. Sad, isn't it? There are other burger joints around here that are way better: Daddio's, Willy Burger, Hamburger Depot, Novrosky's, Checkers, and lots of food trucks with great smash burgers, etc.
Just for grins, I googled In-N-Out French fry reviews. It was pretty much a slaughter. Here’s one guy’s review on Reddit. 😂 We need to recruit him to become a member…😂
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Just because they are fresh cut doesn’t make them great. I can cut some russets at home and do literally nothing special to them. No soaking. No pre-freezing. No double-fry, nothing. Just cut them and put them in a regular ass pot with some store brand ass vegetable oil and pull them out when they look done. These will turn out 900 gabrillion times better than the elementary school gluestick tasting cardboard texture bullshit they pass as fries at in n out. It’s like they are actively doing something wrong to their fries to intentionally sabotage them as some sort of psy op or something.
On a sad note, all of the Popeye's are closed in my region: the franchise owner hasn't been paying his employees it seems; as well as other serious problems.
Large Big Green Egg, Weber Performer Deluxe, Weber Smokey Joe Silver, Fireboard Drive, 3 DigiQs, lots of Thermapens, and too much other stuff to mention.
I can’t remember the last time I had a fast food burger. Because every time I’ve had one, I wind up thinking to myself, “Well, that was a waste of money and stomach space.”
Went to an In-N-Out for a burger and fries while in California in 2015. Haven't been back. Haven't made an effort to get back on subsequent trips to their territory. Haven't missed it.
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