Agreed, the animal-style fries are good -- at least if calories aren't an issue. :)

Otherwise, I also find the fries a bit disappointing (compared to the burgers and shakes). You would think their "fresh cut" approach would yield a superior product, but it doesn't seem to.

Agreed, but it could. A local BBQ place near my house, since closed, made the best fries I've had in my life. They cut the potatoes fresh, but with the skins on and about 3/8" instead of the <1/4" of In-N-Out. They fried them about 2/3rds done, then let the basket hang at least 30 minutes. Then they would go back in the oil until perfectly crispy, and they would stay crispy for a good long time. I have no idea if it was a great trick, or if they did it to save time when someone ordered fries, but it sure worked.

That isn't a trick. It is how they should be cooked. Mmmmm vlaamse frites.

Exactly! It's like I really, really, really want to like them, but...well, I'm just underwhelmed.

They should be fresh, tasty, and [relatively] healthy, but they end up coming out limp, unsubstantive, and bland.

Perhaps I'm hampered by my preference for thick-cut steak fries and a bouquet of seasonings. If you like thinly cut (shoestring) fries and a clean taste, you'll probably enjoy In 'N' Out's.

Wow. Double-dipping potatoes seems to make for fascinating food. You've got twice-baked potatoes...and now twice-fried fries? ;)

I think we need to experience In N Out again :p... its been over six months for myself... :o

Then you can compare 'regular' fries to 'extra crispy' or whatever its called :D

There isn't a command to have thicker fries is there? :D (Can I just get the whole potato deep fried? :p)

Interesting -- didn't realize this was a recognized cooking technique. :)

I recently had a street food lunch in Paris with my son, who doesn't like a lot of "fancy" French food. I reluctantly got him a bag of frites. I say "reluctantly," because the fries were seemingly pre-cooked and sitting in a warming tray. When I ordered them, the cook stuck them in the fryer for a minute or two. They were absolutely delicious -- we got a second bag!

Now I know why.

A business we own was located in Palo Alto. It moved to SLC. I was just telling my gf that I wish it was still in CA so I could go to in and out. Now I found out In and Out opened in Salt Lake. Alleulia! Im there for lunch today!

going to go to Vegas for the weekend so it will be nice to get an In-n-out fix.mmmmmmm

maybe I will even go for Animal syle!!!

Thanks for the Salt Lake heads up. Didn't realize they were going into northern Utah. I recall they opened one up near St. George, but I thought that was just an outpost for their Vegas operation. I'm sure they will now grow throughout northern Utah.

Any other new expansion on the horizon? I would have thought they'd creep up the West coast to Oregon and Washington. Utah somewhat surprises me.

"Fries extra-well" is, IIRC, the official unofficial term for crisply cooked fries from their secret menu.

Not that I know. Wish there were. Well, not the whole potato--in the short time you'd allot for an In-N-Out run, the center of the potato would still be quite raw. :p

While the thought of doing a short turn in LAX (or any city, for that matter) feels wholly wasteful to me--there's so much to see and do there--if I were forced to choose just one regional chain to get a "fix" from, I'd pick Baja Fresh over In-N-Out. Granted, it's a bit more difficult to get to (a few miles south on Sepulveda), so if I were on your schedule, beckoa, I suppose we'd have to go to In-N-Out... ;)

If you're flying into SJC, there's a new one that just opened in view of the runways. Not really walking distance from the terminals, but an easy stop on the way out:

In-N-Out Burger
SAN JOSE
550 NEWHALL DRIVE
SAN JOSE, CA 95110
1-800-786-1000

At 880/Coleman exit.

It's closer to SJC than the Milbrae one is to SFO, or the Oakport St. Oakland one is to OAK.

Def go animal style on the second one... first keep it pure ;)

St. George and now SLC... interesting. Now if it was near the airport, we could do an In N Out run while there... how long until they open more stores there I wonder?

In-n-Out's fries generally seem to be a love 'em or hate 'em thing. I personally love love love 'em, but I feel like I'm generally in the minority. I didn't care for animal-style fries the one time I ordered them, though I always get my burger animal style.

I wonder about that - I think part of it may be that the real fans hear "they're just OK" as "hate 'em."

Personally, of the major fast food chains I'd call In'n'Out fries behind Wendy's, about on par with McDonalds, and well ahead of the fries at Carl's/Hardee's, Jack in the Box, or (worst of all) Burger King. Then again, I'll skip the fries at any of the last three.

I'd love to see In'n'Out give a thick cut fries option.

Just back from a visit of Carlsberg In-N-Out ^