Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Starwood and Hilton Peasant (Fallen Away from Status)
Posts: 842
Its kind of a West Coast nostalgia thing for me. Not that they are that good so much as its a small throwback to the 1950's-1960's drive-in culture and limited menu days. I stop if in California and try and remember the way it was when I first visited , before they paved over the California dream. Sort of the same local-color reasons I live on plate-box lunches in Hawaii, shrimp salad on sourdough in San Francisco, and hot dogs from a cart or thin cheese pizza (from some hole in the wall with "Ray" in the name) in New York. It makes no real sense other than enjoying life as it goes by.
For those of us who grew up in So. Calif., it was the best fast food burger around. Although I try not to eat hamburger anymore (too fatty), when I go back to CA, I have been known to stop at In-N-Out.
As others have said, there's probably some nostalgia involved. Still, if you're in So. Calif. and want a decent fast food hamburger, In-N-Out's a good bet.
I'm among those who don't like their fries. I also don't think that much of their chocolate shakes - Arby's chocolate shakes are far superior in my opinion. Your tastes may vary.
Location: Washington, D.C. Metro; UA 1K; HHonors Gold; SPG Plat
Posts: 656
I'm a convert to In-N-Out. Years ago in So Cal, after hearing all the hype, I had to try it... now I'm a true believer. The best fast food burger around, IMHO. Heck, I've been know to pass on gourmet dinners just to get some extra In-N-Out on my west coast trips.
I had Fatburger recently and didn't think they're even close to measuring up. I do agree with the posts about the fries though, pretty limp and not especially tasty. The shakes are decent though. But In-N-Out is all about burgers... their special sauce is great and the lettuce, tomato, etc always seem especially fresh.
The clown and the king definitely have nothing by comparison.
As ScmutzigMSP, uva185, and I discovered at the Galleria/Henderson, NV location, fries animal style rock! I order my burger as follows:
Double-Double
Well-Done
No Sauce
Extra Ketchup
Extra Grilled Onion
Extra Tomato
Programs: NW silver, Spirit Somebody; DL, CO, UA once gold now dirt. AA & US for magazines.
Posts: 5,999
I try to get an InO meal at least once, usually, when in their territory.
I think it's best-in-class for fast-food burgers, and also rate the french fries highly. In both cases it's because of freshness and not having taste affected by freezing in the process. (For a good primer on how freezing messes taste up, try American fast food from franchises like Burger King or Pizza Hut in countries like Thailand or the Philippines where they can't source anything locally. It has the same taste limitations you often get in the U.S., only more so.)
That said, I'd still rate the likes of Fuddrucker's higher on the burger scale (notably, they're also freshness fanatics).
Location: Between Caltech and JPL (very seldom in BNA now)
Programs: AAdvantage Pt, Delta Ag (demoted), Hyatt Pt (demoted), Marriott Au (demoted), BevMo Club Bev
Posts: 4,948
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fly_from_BNA
They are OK, but would prefer a White Castle burger in a heartbeat!
I have to differ with you, my fellow BNA-based traveler...while I like White Castle well enough, I don't think they're comparable--an In-N-Out burger is just more substantial than a WC slider. (But then, you can't eat 6 or 8 in a sitting, either.)
Of course, Rotier's burgers are better, but I can't do drive-thru at Rotier's.
__________________
…it was raining out of a low sky, and the tide was way out.--from Infinite Jest
Programs: AC Elite, CX Silver, SPG Platinum, HHonors Silver, AA
Posts: 599
I had a slightly fuzzy memory from a previous trip to LAX that the In-N-Out Burger was on Sepulveda Blvd, just around the corner from the Sheraton Gateway. When I had a stopover, I decided to walk over and try it out. Turns out distances seem a lot shorter if you're driving
Now, maybe it was because I was walking too much, but my burger and shake really didn't seem that special. Better than McDonald's, but not as good as Fatburger. But the prices were definitely good!
Programs: Darth Vader of AMEX, A ladys best friend of Hilton, Pt78 of SPG, *G ,US *S, ANA VIP
Posts: 3,541
in and out
Quote:
Originally Posted by Owlchick
In-n-Out will be the only thing I really miss about San Diego when I move away (whenever that may be).
The burgers are much tastier than something similar from other fast food joints of comparable price. Fresh lettuce, fresh tomatoes...with a bit of flavor to them, not like the limp leaves and mushy ooze of other places' "fresh" burger toppings.
Of course, I am currently finishing up my lunch of a Frostie and fries from Wendy's, so clearly, I am willing to eat anything if the price and location is right.
hi
on my way to san diego there where several in-n-outs ...
The best burgers are the ones friends make for you on the grill.
But... IMHO In and Out top them all. I won't NOT make a special trip to have one but if I am out in California or Vegas I will make it a tradition to have double meat, fries (I ask for them well done) and a COKE (OK, In and Out does not have PEPSI and I'm not going to sneak one in. )
I'd love to try the parking lot shuttle to the In and Out at LAX thing with someone sometime.
With apologizes to some Flyertalkers... I had White Castle ONCE and sober... and got very bad food poisoining. The smell of them and the look of them make me sick.
The only other fast food I'll make an effort to get is Chick Fil A.
They are excellent fast food burgers. But they're still fast food burgers, so go with those culinary expectations in mind.
Good value, too. And I like the simplicity of the menu -- kind of a nostalgia thing. And some of their locations have extraordinarily conscientious staff for a fast food restaurant.
I wouldn't pass up a gourmet meal for In-N-Out, but if I'm eating "on the run" in SoCal (they even have some stores in AZ), I'll look for an In-N-Out over the competition.
I think In-N-Out is a good place for a fast food burger. They have a good flavor and their shakes are really good. I like the fries, but they are not the strongest part of the menu. I do like the fact you can see the potatoes being cut up and then deep fried.
