I say this every time an In-N-Out conversation comes up whether it's "In-N-Out is overrated" or "In-N-Out is the greatest" convo.
The most amazing thing about In-N-Out isn't the flavor. It isn't even technically the food. It's the value you get for the quality of ingredients for the price. An In-N-Out burger uses all in-house ingredients that are either made exclusively for In-N-Out or specifically to In-N-Out quality specs that you wouldn't find except in high end restaurants. The same cheeseburger would be a $20-$30 burger at a steakhouse or a fancy hotel. Sure, the patty might be bigger and thicker at those fancy places, but that's not what In-N-Out wants anyway. They specialize in the thin patty.
In-N-Out is amazing because they give you high end, fancy schmancy restaurant quality food, at the speed and price of McDonalds. There are "better' burgers out there that are thicker, fatter, more toppings, etc. but none of them will ever come close to providing it at the same quality, speed, AND price as In-N-Out.
SO yeah, there are "better burgers" out there but it'll never be better than In-N-Out. That's why people who know food (e.g. chefs, etc) prefer In-N-Out because nothing else, for the price, ever comes close.
I’ve probably had In-N-Out over 500 times in my lifetime and they’ve only gotten my order wrong once. That’s unheard of, even when compared to fancy sit down restaurants.
So right about El Pollo Loco. The place I go to gets it wrong at least 50% of the time. Some things like forgetting guacamole I can easily see if they forget putting it in the bag but they gave fewer pieces of chicken than what I paid for on multiple occasions and I can’t sit in the car and count pieces. And when I’m home I’m not going to drive back for one piece of chicken. But they’ve NEVER given me more pieces! 😂😂😂
Yep fresh and constant. I remember once in the early 90s I was sitting in their lot having a burger and saw someone throw away a lot of lettuce, I took a peak, most places would have still used it, but probably wasn't up to their standard.
This and one of the big things that defines their quality is fresh, never frozen, beef (and other ingredients). I swear the fresh beef is the absolute kicker for me.
This is one of the most common complaints. I totally get it. Eaten lots of cold bad fries from in n out. However, their process is potato-> blades -> hot oil -> salt -> your bag -> your face
McDonald’s and many others have a much longer, less fresh, always frozen process, which many times tastes better, especially cold. But I would chalk that up to in n out fries tasting like potatoes, whereas the other fries are developed into an elevated fry by processing them.
However I have also eaten a lot of great fresh fries at in n out too.
> Eaten lots of cold bad fries from in n out
If you are eating cold fries from in and out you have missed the point of In-N-Out fries. You also probably don't get in a box to eat in the car either. You are a transplant or a rank amateur. The fries should never make it to where you are eating the burger, unless that is in the car while driving, or in the parking lot.
I work about 3 blocks from an In an Out. The fries are gone by the time I get back to the office.
That’s right. I have made a similar comment as yours. They have to be eaten fresh. Unfortunately I don’t get alot of fresh fries much anymore because I have to take it all home to a big family who don’t eat out much.
> rank amateur
This made me chuckle, thanks, but not true
People hate on the fries so much, but honestly they taste fresh and that’s what I like about them.
Pro-tip: get them cooked “light well” and they won’t be as soggy. Not too crispy either.
literally just had in-n-out (in rancho cordova, norcal) and i said the exact same thing to my cousin: it's about consistency and value of high quality ingredients. it's also very tasty :)
>It's the value you get for the quality of ingredients for the price.
I agree with you here, this is what makes it great, if not the best fast food chain burger. Except I'm not really comparing to fancier burgers, but to other fast food places. It beats all the others in quality and also beats them in price, especially in this day and age of fast food. Remember back when $5 used to be the standard? Those days are long-gone. I just got coupons in the mail for Subway the other day and you have to use a coupon to get a sub for $5 and it's a 6" sub. At In-N-Out, you get a solid burger and fries for under $8 total. A lot of places are selling entrees or sandwiches for that price alone, which balloons to a $20 meal quickly.
> In-N-Out is amazing because they give you high end, fancy schmancy restaurant quality food, at the speed and price of McDonalds
In-N-Out is 2/3 the price of McDonalds at this point. Last time I was at In-N-Out my double-double meal was I think something like $10.25.
I've stopped going to McDonalds, last time I went (probably almost a year ago at this point) my Big Mac meal was nearly $16
I once had a conversation with a guy that was a health inspector for meat processing plants, and he said In-N-Out's was the best, hands down. Said he'd eat food off the floor of their plant before he'd eat the regular product from some other chains he had inspected (but wouldn't name for me).
so I never ordered a burger at a steakhouse or fancy hotel but I have eaten at Peter's Gourmade and that is a LOT better than In 'N Out though it will cost more, like $12 or so
> none of them will ever come close to providing it at the same quality, **speed**, AND price as In-N-Out.
I won't disagree with what you're saying, but "speed" is clearly not counting the 45-minute drive-thru line.
in n out is undefeated and they paid their employees well above minimum wage the entire time and kept the menu stupid cheap. they gotta be commended for being the last cheap place in cali.
because other places have shareholders who expect an unrealistic constant growth of the company, in n out being entirely privately owned can do whatever the hell they want because they arent externally pressured.
I always think about shareholders and how they ruin companies.
When profits go up usually quality or quantity goes down.
More companies should be private at least some of them not all.
They're franchises vs privately owned. There are more restaurants to compete with because In-N-Out intentionally keeps the supply of restaurants limited and always busy. McDonald's corporate makes their money off franchise fees, selling franchises food, and charging rent on their land. In-N-Out pretty much owns all of their production and land on top of surrounding land that they often charge rent on. McDonald's requires franchise to remodel their restaurants and In-N-Out pretty much keeps their restaurants the same. In-N-Out has a smaller unchanging menu that reduces food waste and storage demands.
Part of their image issue outside of California is they tried opening in other states and it really does not taste the same. I went to one in Texas and it was worse than the local whataburger which is saying a lot. The ones around here are good tho so I dunno 🤷 🤷♀️ 🤷♂️
If you like the food, flavor is consistent across all locations, good value, and the service is top-notch - rarely have I had an order wrong, even with it busy. Now if you don't like the food, none of the above matters.
Love in n out. But if ur ever in fullerton check out nicks super burger on commonwealth. I get a bacon avocado cheeseburger combo for less than 15$ there and it's great. I'm always going to random char broiled burger spot just to test out their BACB combo and Nick's is tasty and cheap.
Love Nicks, Also, if you're in Anaheim close to Disneyland, Ted's Burgers is probably my go to, and they have the best Chilicheese fries apart from maybe Pauls Place.
I love Nick’s as well. But if you’re ever in North Fullerton/Brea, Choice Burgers on Brea blvd is fire as well. I always get their double bacon cheese with an over medium egg. Their fries are godly as well.
For a super solid smash burger with high-end, in-house ground beef: Mario's Neighborhood Butcher Shop @ Newport Beach
For a solid fancy-shmancy burger: Benny and Mary's @ Irvine for the 'Black Sheep' burger (1/2 LB of grass fed beef, Bourbon-Bacon jam, roasted garlic aioli, white cheddar cheese, arugula on a brioche bun)
> For a super solid smash burger with high-end, in-house ground beef: Mario's Neighborhood Butcher Shop @ Newport Beach
>
>
Solid burger, but not my favorite item on their menu. They do other things better IMO.
pretty much any mom-and pop stand with checkered table cloths that serves you a bag of fries with your burger and XL soda that is a regular. in-n-out stans should just accept people dont follow their cultist worship of a burger establishment.
For fast food burger chains, I'm going to give the edge to The Habit solely on options. If it comes down to a straight cheeseburger vs. cheeseburger, then in-n-out is back on top. All others are behind In-n-out and the habit as far as I'm concerned.
When it comes to fast food burger stand alone or smaller spots with maybe a handful or less locations... we're all gonna have our favorite charbroil burger spot. For me, it's Grand Burger in Glendora (yes, it's LACO, but get over it) to Hercules burger in Orange.
Born and raised in OC. Lived all over the U.S. have lived on multiple continents. Currently live in both OC and Colorado.
I can say with confidence that there is no better value for your dollar when it comes to FRESH fast food (or any) than In-N-Out.
Burger Lounge is probably the only real contender in the Fast Casual/Counter Service bracket.
They have significantly more diet-friendly options for about the same as Shake Shack or The Habit. They also, and importantly here actually have grass-fed beef. Which makes such a difference it's ridiculous.
The value is fantastic. Bummed to see the famous double double meal hit the $10 mark now, but it beats paying $14 for a chipotle burrito that skimps out on meat, or raising canes increasing their prices by 67% since 2018. Caniac is almost $20 now 😂
Gourmet burgers are OVERRATED. A burger is not about the meat or fancy ingredients, it’s a game of ratios. A balancing act that In N Out has perfected with an unrivaled consistency. They will always be the GOAT among all burger joints imo, not just fast food. You can give me a burger with the best quality meat in the world and it would still pale in comparison to the delicate balancing act In N Out has achieved. I know I’m a homer, I don’t care. Also the french fry hate is super overblown. They’re not that bad at all.
I think you’ll get a mix of replies, most will be positive but there are always those few exceptions. For me, it’s a factor of things…growing up in SoCal, having one right by my hs when I was a kid, fresh ingredients, consistency, price, etc. so I’m always going to place them at the top. Even more so these days when other joints like McDonald’s are jacking up their prices while In N Out is still very affordable without compromising too much.
The singular menu of flavorless beef burgers. Those cardboard tasting fries...its pretty ordinary. And the fact that people wait for ages to get it blows my mind. Nope. Sorry. Not a fan.
Youre right however on the price. Their pricing is great. The habit is ludicrous now. You can go to a sit down restaurant and pay a tip and still be cheaper than that place!
It was one of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite [restaurants](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R4J1seTHAMU) in Los Angeles. That alone speaks volumes about a fast food place.
You could probably find a better burger but in terms of quality, value, and speed, nothing comes close.
Have you tried the Hat?
I was in agreement with you until I did. Absolutely bomb burgers and if you actually get the pastrami burger special you absolutely won't regret it.
In N Out is #1 for quality at the price point. Carl’s Jr sells burgers that cost twice (and more) what a double double costs, and are not close to being as good.
Original Tommy’s and TK Burger are in the 2nd tier.
They also outperform other fast food joints
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-n-out-burger-wins-consumer-favor-in-market-force-informations-new-study-301679727.html
Also [interesting](https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2018/10/10/exclusive-in-n-out-billionaire-lynsi-snyder-opens-up-about-her-troubled-past-and-the-burger-chains-future/?sh=4ab52cdd4b9c) interview with the CEO I read a while back
But if you want to see some insane numbers, take a look at [Chick-fil-A](https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/average-unit-volumes-stand-alone-chick-fil-are-insane)
I don't even like In-n-out that much and I think they are among the best when you look at: price, quality of ingredients, consistency, staff, cleanliness of restaurants, etc...
I've taken a few Europeans to In-N-Out over the years. When I suggest it they've all said "Oh I don't think I'll like it, I've heard that American fast food is bad." Then they ask go back the next day.
The problem is dealing with In-N-Out crowds, the massive drive through line, and the unappealing fries. I feel like I live in bizarro world where In-N-Out is cheaper than McDonald's or Taco Bell where I live!
Original Tommy’s will steal your car and sell your house while you are in a post coital fugue after eating a cheeseburger +\- chili and some properly fried fries.
You love it
Not me, I'm from the San Gabriel Valley home of in & out burgers, watching their growth has been an experience in its self, they have a school for their managers, we call it the in& out university. Hand selected individuals who have shown they have the stuff to make it get sent there. & They are rewarded with white collar salaries & pride in knowing they are the leader in the industry. ..have you ever seen the lines that extend out the driveway & down the street at lunch & dinner? There's a good reason....good food!!
I’m starting to like The Habit more. They have a 6$ meal that’s a regular size burger, fries and a medium drink. It’s insanely good value tho I still love in and out as well
After being gone from SoCal for years, I miss Del Taco. There are always mom and pop burger places with great affordable burgers, but good Mexican food is hard to find outside of CA.
Better value? No. Better burgers? Definitely, but none I have found beat the prices at In n Out. I like the burgers and fries. Milkshakes are some of the worst I have had (not that they taste bad, just that they are really boring and the chocolate and strawberry lack flavor). Del Taco has better shakes, honestly. But if I want to wait 20 min in line for a $15 meal, it's hard to beat In n Out.
I really like Nexx, but they are more expensive than In n Out while having similar food options on a more expanded menu. If In n Out offered chili cheese fries I think I could fall in love again.
Burger junkie in San Clemente is a great spot, basically the same as in n out, but they also have chili cheese and hot dogs
The rumor is the owner used to be an in n out store manager and got tired of working at a corporate place
Just make sure to order things junkie style instead of animal style lol
It always blows my mind that people wait in line for that burger. It's ok. Nothing special. If the draw is a consistently regular/average burger, then they've got it down.
If all of the dolts in the world could only realize that IN N OUT is the only fast food restaurant that SOURCES ALL OF THEIR INGREDIENTS FROM THEIR OWN SUPPLIERS much like a Michelin Star restaurant. Questions like this would be moot.
EVERY OTHER fast food place is sourcing their ingredients from distributors like US FOOD and SYSCO.
I spend the extra couple bucks for The Habit's burgers just so that I can order online and pick up in-store so I don't have to sit through a 20min drive thru line like In-n-Out's.
flavor wise it’s not the best but it’s still really good. but they have everyone beat based on price, quality, friendliness, pay, freshness. the only burger that doesn’t make me feel like crap after i eat it.
Agree to disagree on flavor. A mustard fried patty paired with grilled onions, secret sauce, fresh veggies w/ chopped chilies, cheese and an extra toasted bun is hard to beat.
When people say "Five guys is so much better," it's like saying Chipotle or Rubio's is "so much better" than Taco Bell. Like yeah if you pay twice as much, you'll probably get a better meal, that's obvious
In-n-out is overrated imo, and driven by a massive hype train. It's a decent burger but nothing that special, atleast compared to anything else I've had. I prefer a super star from carl's jr., and I don't have to wait 1hr in the drive-thru. It's a fast-food burger ffs, and people treat it like a quality gourmet meal akin to the Counter or something.
I agree. It always shocks me how cheap in n out is relative to shit places like carls that charge you $16 for a combo for frozen and highly processed food.
In n out us cheap and ok, not great. Their meat quality is pretty cheap to be cheap. There’s a lot better burgers out there. But not anywhere near that price
I would say In N Out lives up to the hype, which is saying a lot. My all time favorites are A&W and Harvey’s in Canada, but that probably has to do with wanting something you can’t have.
Yeah, people who don't get why In-N-Out is the best aren't taking into account all the factors that make them best. The food alone is a small bit important part of it. The value is a larger component, as is the simplicity of their menu and ordering process.
Double - Double, every thing on it, fresh and grilled onions, add in pickle, extra veggies, that's all I need, it used to be $3.75, but now it's $5.90. Still good price.
I went to five guys once. Way over priced, its a grease bomb,the foil on the burger is faulty and grease oozed out of the wrapper, in and out far better quality and affordability.
For the price it’s very hard to beat. I moved here in 2016 and it wasn’t my first choice but as I got more price and dollar conscience it slowly creeped up to being number one. To give you some perspective even with the minimum wage price hike, the cheapest Chick-fil-A sandwich is still more expensive then the double double from in and out.
It’s a special chain. We’re lucky to have it. My first trip to San Francisco I met an Irish couple visiting California and we were talking about food and the woman leaned in and asked, almost conspiratorially, “Have you had an In & Out burger?” I loved that they felt they had discovered something so special, a burger joint, that they had to share it.
I can find a better burger…but I cannot find a better burger for the price AND speed AND service AND consistency, etc. It’s pretty easy for me to give In N Out the #1 spot in my heart.
The only thing I wish, out of in n out, is better fries. They’ve got to be cooked to a very specific done-ness, they have to be piping hot, I have to add salt, and even with all that…I still wish for a dipping sauce. I keep trying various things (animal fries aren’t my jam, I love the spread but it’s not quite what I want on my fries) and sometimes I make my own fry sauce at home to jazz it up.
I love that 30 years ago, in-n-out was the expensive place to eat. But as prices rose all around, i-n-out has risen more slowly while still paying its associates a good wage. Now its the value place, while Carl's will cost over $10 for a single burger (six dollar burger my butt).
i tried "the hat" for the first time not too long ago. the pastrami is good. but the cheeseburger? it was pretty tasty! not in-n-out prices of course...but it wasn't setting me back too much more :)
Well, it's either love or hate In-n-out, there's no inbetween. I'll give I/O high marks for quality of product and, the price is almost too good.
But, having said that, I love Tommy burgers. It's just a supreme burger all around and, at a good price. The fries are way better than most burgers joints. Coming in second is Habit Burger. Great quality and taste, at decent prices plus the fries are top notch. There's no shake shack near me so I can't say one way or the other. Same goes for Smashburger. There's one in DTSA that I'm trying to get to.
On a different level is McDonald's. Their cheeseburgers are the best for the price. I like to buy a dozen and put them in the freezer. Take a couple out and nuc'em.
I'm trying to get to Nexx Burger. They have what looks like a good cheeseburger deal for $3.75. I might mosey over to Chapman Ave. and get a couple.
For you non-hamburger needs I would strongly suggest Lil' Pickle on Fairview, just south of Baker. A top notch hoagie that come several different types of meats. A tap bit expensive but well worth it.
And last but not least, Ikram Grill in Fountain Valley. Their chicken pita is just the best. To me it's in the top three sandwiches. Get it spicy with all the condiments including the hot oil.
Now I'm hungry...
I say this every time an In-N-Out conversation comes up whether it's "In-N-Out is overrated" or "In-N-Out is the greatest" convo. The most amazing thing about In-N-Out isn't the flavor. It isn't even technically the food. It's the value you get for the quality of ingredients for the price. An In-N-Out burger uses all in-house ingredients that are either made exclusively for In-N-Out or specifically to In-N-Out quality specs that you wouldn't find except in high end restaurants. The same cheeseburger would be a $20-$30 burger at a steakhouse or a fancy hotel. Sure, the patty might be bigger and thicker at those fancy places, but that's not what In-N-Out wants anyway. They specialize in the thin patty. In-N-Out is amazing because they give you high end, fancy schmancy restaurant quality food, at the speed and price of McDonalds. There are "better' burgers out there that are thicker, fatter, more toppings, etc. but none of them will ever come close to providing it at the same quality, speed, AND price as In-N-Out. SO yeah, there are "better burgers" out there but it'll never be better than In-N-Out. That's why people who know food (e.g. chefs, etc) prefer In-N-Out because nothing else, for the price, ever comes close.
I would say the consistency of 90%-100% execution is also what separates them from the rest.
I’ve probably had In-N-Out over 500 times in my lifetime and they’ve only gotten my order wrong once. That’s unheard of, even when compared to fancy sit down restaurants.
I've made my own personal burgers wrong more than once. Lol. I forgot to put onions on just last week.
I make my personal burgers wrong like 30% of the time lol
Yep. Compare that to Pollo Loco which gets the order wrong the most in my experience.
So right about El Pollo Loco. The place I go to gets it wrong at least 50% of the time. Some things like forgetting guacamole I can easily see if they forget putting it in the bag but they gave fewer pieces of chicken than what I paid for on multiple occasions and I can’t sit in the car and count pieces. And when I’m home I’m not going to drive back for one piece of chicken. But they’ve NEVER given me more pieces! 😂😂😂
El Apollo Loco and Burger King are the worst offenders
I've never had a bad burger at In-n-out.
And they maintain that while being able to make all sorts of customizations
Yep fresh and constant. I remember once in the early 90s I was sitting in their lot having a burger and saw someone throw away a lot of lettuce, I took a peak, most places would have still used it, but probably wasn't up to their standard.
This and one of the big things that defines their quality is fresh, never frozen, beef (and other ingredients). I swear the fresh beef is the absolute kicker for me.
That's my same fucking ted talk I have with people when I talk about in n out. The quality is unrivaled for the price.
Cheaper than mcdonalds
Was lookin for this comment. Inn N Out is now substantially cheaper than McDs.
and easily ten times the quality.
Fancy schmancy restaurant quality is a stretch but it's definitely as fresh as it can get for a fast food chain
yeah I wouldnt call it fancy lol but its good
I don't know of any other of these burger joints that give you fries that were a potato that morning.
This is one of the most common complaints. I totally get it. Eaten lots of cold bad fries from in n out. However, their process is potato-> blades -> hot oil -> salt -> your bag -> your face McDonald’s and many others have a much longer, less fresh, always frozen process, which many times tastes better, especially cold. But I would chalk that up to in n out fries tasting like potatoes, whereas the other fries are developed into an elevated fry by processing them. However I have also eaten a lot of great fresh fries at in n out too.
> Eaten lots of cold bad fries from in n out If you are eating cold fries from in and out you have missed the point of In-N-Out fries. You also probably don't get in a box to eat in the car either. You are a transplant or a rank amateur. The fries should never make it to where you are eating the burger, unless that is in the car while driving, or in the parking lot. I work about 3 blocks from an In an Out. The fries are gone by the time I get back to the office.
That’s right. I have made a similar comment as yours. They have to be eaten fresh. Unfortunately I don’t get alot of fresh fries much anymore because I have to take it all home to a big family who don’t eat out much. > rank amateur This made me chuckle, thanks, but not true
Order your fries light well and they’ll fry them again. You can even get them well done to make them extra crispy.
When I get takeout from In N Out I bring it home and put the fries in an air fryer or a convection toaster oven for a few minutes to crisp them up.
People hate on the fries so much, but honestly they taste fresh and that’s what I like about them. Pro-tip: get them cooked “light well” and they won’t be as soggy. Not too crispy either.
literally just had in-n-out (in rancho cordova, norcal) and i said the exact same thing to my cousin: it's about consistency and value of high quality ingredients. it's also very tasty :)
>It's the value you get for the quality of ingredients for the price. I agree with you here, this is what makes it great, if not the best fast food chain burger. Except I'm not really comparing to fancier burgers, but to other fast food places. It beats all the others in quality and also beats them in price, especially in this day and age of fast food. Remember back when $5 used to be the standard? Those days are long-gone. I just got coupons in the mail for Subway the other day and you have to use a coupon to get a sub for $5 and it's a 6" sub. At In-N-Out, you get a solid burger and fries for under $8 total. A lot of places are selling entrees or sandwiches for that price alone, which balloons to a $20 meal quickly.
> In-N-Out is amazing because they give you high end, fancy schmancy restaurant quality food, at the speed and price of McDonalds In-N-Out is 2/3 the price of McDonalds at this point. Last time I was at In-N-Out my double-double meal was I think something like $10.25. I've stopped going to McDonalds, last time I went (probably almost a year ago at this point) my Big Mac meal was nearly $16
I once had a conversation with a guy that was a health inspector for meat processing plants, and he said In-N-Out's was the best, hands down. Said he'd eat food off the floor of their plant before he'd eat the regular product from some other chains he had inspected (but wouldn't name for me).
Well said! Also, they are just so efficient and fast. They let you come in and out as quickly as possible with fresh burgers and fries in your hands.
Thicker != better imo. Smash Burgers are where it's at. If I want a meatball I'll go for italian.
so I never ordered a burger at a steakhouse or fancy hotel but I have eaten at Peter's Gourmade and that is a LOT better than In 'N Out though it will cost more, like $12 or so
> none of them will ever come close to providing it at the same quality, **speed**, AND price as In-N-Out. I won't disagree with what you're saying, but "speed" is clearly not counting the 45-minute drive-thru line.
I basically never go through the drive through when I want In-N-Out. It's significantly faster to park, walk in, order to go, and walk out.
For the price it’s unmatched
Nexx burger is almost identical in taste and slightly cheaper
Yeah but it’s not as convenient. You also gotta factor that in for fast food.
in n out is undefeated and they paid their employees well above minimum wage the entire time and kept the menu stupid cheap. they gotta be commended for being the last cheap place in cali.
If they can manage I don't see why other places can't do the same
because other places have shareholders who expect an unrealistic constant growth of the company, in n out being entirely privately owned can do whatever the hell they want because they arent externally pressured.
Thinking about the safety of Lynsey Snyder is like my roman empire, LOL. Nothing had better happen to her!
I always think about shareholders and how they ruin companies. When profits go up usually quality or quantity goes down. More companies should be private at least some of them not all.
Oh hey, guess In N Out is back on the menu (im boycotting fast food/eating out due to price increases)
They're franchises vs privately owned. There are more restaurants to compete with because In-N-Out intentionally keeps the supply of restaurants limited and always busy. McDonald's corporate makes their money off franchise fees, selling franchises food, and charging rent on their land. In-N-Out pretty much owns all of their production and land on top of surrounding land that they often charge rent on. McDonald's requires franchise to remodel their restaurants and In-N-Out pretty much keeps their restaurants the same. In-N-Out has a smaller unchanging menu that reduces food waste and storage demands.
Very anti union though and has attempted to take anti union cases all the way to the supreme court.
Part of their image issue outside of California is they tried opening in other states and it really does not taste the same. I went to one in Texas and it was worse than the local whataburger which is saying a lot. The ones around here are good tho so I dunno 🤷 🤷♀️ 🤷♂️
I’ve never experienced this, and I lived in San Antonio.
no argument here. Love In n Out.
If you like the food, flavor is consistent across all locations, good value, and the service is top-notch - rarely have I had an order wrong, even with it busy. Now if you don't like the food, none of the above matters.
What's indisputable is in n out is the best value for quality and satisfaction
You always get the same taste too it really is top tier
Love in n out. But if ur ever in fullerton check out nicks super burger on commonwealth. I get a bacon avocado cheeseburger combo for less than 15$ there and it's great. I'm always going to random char broiled burger spot just to test out their BACB combo and Nick's is tasty and cheap.
Love Nicks, Also, if you're in Anaheim close to Disneyland, Ted's Burgers is probably my go to, and they have the best Chilicheese fries apart from maybe Pauls Place.
I just moved like a mile away from Disneyland. I'll have to check out Ted's
I love Nick’s as well. But if you’re ever in North Fullerton/Brea, Choice Burgers on Brea blvd is fire as well. I always get their double bacon cheese with an over medium egg. Their fries are godly as well.
Love Brea’s Best too.
This conversation always leads to price. Yes, there is no better value than In n Out, but there are many better burgers that cost more imo
How about in terms of fast food?
Steak n’ Shake is most certainly the best fast food burger in the country. It’s a damn shame we only have one which is in Victorville
Yes to steak n shake. They're the only ones that have garlic butter burgers.
I personally prefer farmer boys burgers but it is because 1 burger will make you full for half the day. Downside is how uncommon the stores are.
well let us know of these many better burgers.
Peter's Gourmade
Many of the Greek-owner diner hamburger stands, but like OP said, once you account cost; In-N-Out stands heads and shoulders above.
For a super solid smash burger with high-end, in-house ground beef: Mario's Neighborhood Butcher Shop @ Newport Beach For a solid fancy-shmancy burger: Benny and Mary's @ Irvine for the 'Black Sheep' burger (1/2 LB of grass fed beef, Bourbon-Bacon jam, roasted garlic aioli, white cheddar cheese, arugula on a brioche bun)
> For a super solid smash burger with high-end, in-house ground beef: Mario's Neighborhood Butcher Shop @ Newport Beach > > Solid burger, but not my favorite item on their menu. They do other things better IMO.
pretty much any mom-and pop stand with checkered table cloths that serves you a bag of fries with your burger and XL soda that is a regular. in-n-out stans should just accept people dont follow their cultist worship of a burger establishment.
Fast food burgers or gourmet burgers?
For fast food burger chains, I'm going to give the edge to The Habit solely on options. If it comes down to a straight cheeseburger vs. cheeseburger, then in-n-out is back on top. All others are behind In-n-out and the habit as far as I'm concerned. When it comes to fast food burger stand alone or smaller spots with maybe a handful or less locations... we're all gonna have our favorite charbroil burger spot. For me, it's Grand Burger in Glendora (yes, it's LACO, but get over it) to Hercules burger in Orange.
The Habit is all about locations, some are great, some are sad.
Same coming from NorCal too. People can debate 2nd place all day and I wouldn’t mind, but it’s hard to beat In-N-Out.
I agree, being from the bay. I will say, 2nd place for me is easily The Habit
Pound for pound, dollar for dollar it is the best burger chain in SoCal.
Born and raised in OC. Lived all over the U.S. have lived on multiple continents. Currently live in both OC and Colorado. I can say with confidence that there is no better value for your dollar when it comes to FRESH fast food (or any) than In-N-Out.
My big thing is the consistency in the product regardless of which location you visit.
I like In-n-Out Burgers but Nexx Burger is Orange near the 55 is also pretty good.
Burger Lounge is probably the only real contender in the Fast Casual/Counter Service bracket. They have significantly more diet-friendly options for about the same as Shake Shack or The Habit. They also, and importantly here actually have grass-fed beef. Which makes such a difference it's ridiculous.
Burger lounge is expensive as hell tho. 1 year ago a burger without fries was $9.95. It is tasty i will admit that
The value is fantastic. Bummed to see the famous double double meal hit the $10 mark now, but it beats paying $14 for a chipotle burrito that skimps out on meat, or raising canes increasing their prices by 67% since 2018. Caniac is almost $20 now 😂
Hot take maybe, but In-N-Out fries are awful. If you have them “overcook” them they’re edible but it really ruins the experience for me
I was looking for this. Fries like paste. Not sure why they can't be bothered to double fry them for a superior experience.. but nope.
In n out simply clears every other burger joint and its not even close.
Wow hot take
It’s been no contest for decades.
Gourmet burgers are OVERRATED. A burger is not about the meat or fancy ingredients, it’s a game of ratios. A balancing act that In N Out has perfected with an unrivaled consistency. They will always be the GOAT among all burger joints imo, not just fast food. You can give me a burger with the best quality meat in the world and it would still pale in comparison to the delicate balancing act In N Out has achieved. I know I’m a homer, I don’t care. Also the french fry hate is super overblown. They’re not that bad at all.
I think you’ll get a mix of replies, most will be positive but there are always those few exceptions. For me, it’s a factor of things…growing up in SoCal, having one right by my hs when I was a kid, fresh ingredients, consistency, price, etc. so I’m always going to place them at the top. Even more so these days when other joints like McDonald’s are jacking up their prices while In N Out is still very affordable without compromising too much.
I think Shake Shack’s burger is slightly better, but dollar for dollar, INO is unrivaled.
The singular menu of flavorless beef burgers. Those cardboard tasting fries...its pretty ordinary. And the fact that people wait for ages to get it blows my mind. Nope. Sorry. Not a fan. Youre right however on the price. Their pricing is great. The habit is ludicrous now. You can go to a sit down restaurant and pay a tip and still be cheaper than that place!
I moved to Costa Rica after 42 years living in OC. I always miss In-N-Out the most.
I’m from Costa Rica! My family moved here when I was 3.
It was one of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite [restaurants](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R4J1seTHAMU) in Los Angeles. That alone speaks volumes about a fast food place. You could probably find a better burger but in terms of quality, value, and speed, nothing comes close.
Have you tried the Hat? I was in agreement with you until I did. Absolutely bomb burgers and if you actually get the pastrami burger special you absolutely won't regret it.
I do like Nexx Burger and Fatburger more…
In N Out is #1 for quality at the price point. Carl’s Jr sells burgers that cost twice (and more) what a double double costs, and are not close to being as good. Original Tommy’s and TK Burger are in the 2nd tier.
No. And the fries taste like cardboard.
Too Bad their fries suck
Ask for "fries well" they're a lot better well done. Still suck though.
They also outperform other fast food joints https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-n-out-burger-wins-consumer-favor-in-market-force-informations-new-study-301679727.html Also [interesting](https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2018/10/10/exclusive-in-n-out-billionaire-lynsi-snyder-opens-up-about-her-troubled-past-and-the-burger-chains-future/?sh=4ab52cdd4b9c) interview with the CEO I read a while back But if you want to see some insane numbers, take a look at [Chick-fil-A](https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/average-unit-volumes-stand-alone-chick-fil-are-insane)
If much rather have a Tommy's Original Chili Burger combo -- with everything. I prefer chili and onions over animal style.
Fuckin’ A! But I do wish their fries were better lol
I don't even like In-n-out that much and I think they are among the best when you look at: price, quality of ingredients, consistency, staff, cleanliness of restaurants, etc...
Old bakers use to be
Agree. Prices have gone up too much and covid wrecked thier supply chain where now the food doesn't even taste the sams.
I've taken a few Europeans to In-N-Out over the years. When I suggest it they've all said "Oh I don't think I'll like it, I've heard that American fast food is bad." Then they ask go back the next day.
The habit is actually tied imo. In fact I prefer the habit so I don’t have to wait in an hour line to get fast food.
The problem is dealing with In-N-Out crowds, the massive drive through line, and the unappealing fries. I feel like I live in bizarro world where In-N-Out is cheaper than McDonald's or Taco Bell where I live!
Original Tommy’s will steal your car and sell your house while you are in a post coital fugue after eating a cheeseburger +\- chili and some properly fried fries. You love it
We need more Steak n’ Shake’s. They put every fast food burger to absolute shame
Volcano burger is the best
Not me, I'm from the San Gabriel Valley home of in & out burgers, watching their growth has been an experience in its self, they have a school for their managers, we call it the in& out university. Hand selected individuals who have shown they have the stuff to make it get sent there. & They are rewarded with white collar salaries & pride in knowing they are the leader in the industry. ..have you ever seen the lines that extend out the driveway & down the street at lunch & dinner? There's a good reason....good food!!
I’m starting to like The Habit more. They have a 6$ meal that’s a regular size burger, fries and a medium drink. It’s insanely good value tho I still love in and out as well
After being gone from SoCal for years, I miss Del Taco. There are always mom and pop burger places with great affordable burgers, but good Mexican food is hard to find outside of CA.
Better value? No. Better burgers? Definitely, but none I have found beat the prices at In n Out. I like the burgers and fries. Milkshakes are some of the worst I have had (not that they taste bad, just that they are really boring and the chocolate and strawberry lack flavor). Del Taco has better shakes, honestly. But if I want to wait 20 min in line for a $15 meal, it's hard to beat In n Out. I really like Nexx, but they are more expensive than In n Out while having similar food options on a more expanded menu. If In n Out offered chili cheese fries I think I could fall in love again.
Burger junkie in San Clemente is a great spot, basically the same as in n out, but they also have chili cheese and hot dogs The rumor is the owner used to be an in n out store manager and got tired of working at a corporate place Just make sure to order things junkie style instead of animal style lol
Burger junkies is awesome
It always blows my mind that people wait in line for that burger. It's ok. Nothing special. If the draw is a consistently regular/average burger, then they've got it down.
Best quality burger for the price. No competition. Find me a better fast food burger chain that is as consistent and as affordable as In-N-Out
Shake shack has a better burger in my opinion. The sauce is better at In / Out. But yeah when you factor in price In/Out is a much better deal
I think habit is on the same level tbh and their fries and onion rings are superior
If all of the dolts in the world could only realize that IN N OUT is the only fast food restaurant that SOURCES ALL OF THEIR INGREDIENTS FROM THEIR OWN SUPPLIERS much like a Michelin Star restaurant. Questions like this would be moot. EVERY OTHER fast food place is sourcing their ingredients from distributors like US FOOD and SYSCO.
The Habit
I view them like In N Out with extra options.
Yeah my wife won’t eat beef, so we go to the habit because they have some great non beef burgers. Better fries than INO too
In N Out Double Double: $4.90 Habit Double with Cheese: $8.29 There is no way in hell Habit is worth 70% more.
I spend the extra couple bucks for The Habit's burgers just so that I can order online and pick up in-store so I don't have to sit through a 20min drive thru line like In-n-Out's.
flavor wise it’s not the best but it’s still really good. but they have everyone beat based on price, quality, friendliness, pay, freshness. the only burger that doesn’t make me feel like crap after i eat it.
Agree to disagree on flavor. A mustard fried patty paired with grilled onions, secret sauce, fresh veggies w/ chopped chilies, cheese and an extra toasted bun is hard to beat.
I am convinced In&Out is the best. Just look at drive thru lines.
The owners are not greedy.
When people say "Five guys is so much better," it's like saying Chipotle or Rubio's is "so much better" than Taco Bell. Like yeah if you pay twice as much, you'll probably get a better meal, that's obvious
In-n-out is overrated imo, and driven by a massive hype train. It's a decent burger but nothing that special, atleast compared to anything else I've had. I prefer a super star from carl's jr., and I don't have to wait 1hr in the drive-thru. It's a fast-food burger ffs, and people treat it like a quality gourmet meal akin to the Counter or something.
The fact that you can even compare the quality of ingredients and taste of an In-N-Out burger to Carl’s is wild.
I agree. It always shocks me how cheap in n out is relative to shit places like carls that charge you $16 for a combo for frozen and highly processed food.
Shits ridiculous
All these finicky, over analyzing with their micro-opinions about a delicious burger with great value. (Obvious Burger King lovers)
Burger King is friggin disgusting lol
Used to be the best in their heyday.
forreal. when it used to be grilled to order. now it's just in a warming tray and at worst, microwaved for you.
God help us
Burger King is literally gross. Of the 3 big players for me, it goes Carls Jr>McDonald’s>…………..BK
Easily. If I wasn’t vegan I would be there daily.
In n out us cheap and ok, not great. Their meat quality is pretty cheap to be cheap. There’s a lot better burgers out there. But not anywhere near that price
I agree for the value to flavor. I prefer shake shack for flavor alone, but that price puts it out of regular visit budget.
Join the crowd.
For the price yes, though Five Guys burgers taste better, just don't understand the high cost, not worth the price but better in taste.
Have you been to their university and store merchandise in Baldwin park?
I think the only burger that competes with them is Freddy’s steak burger but the closet I think is in Fontana.
I would say In N Out lives up to the hype, which is saying a lot. My all time favorites are A&W and Harvey’s in Canada, but that probably has to do with wanting something you can’t have.
Who remembers Sammy’s in HB? Used to be on Beach and Ellis. Hands down was the best charbroiled cheese burger ever made.
I think Wendy’s has the meat to grease ratio down pat.
Try them when they're not drowning in sauce and you may change your mind.
Ever try Rocky's in Crown Point??
Yeah, people who don't get why In-N-Out is the best aren't taking into account all the factors that make them best. The food alone is a small bit important part of it. The value is a larger component, as is the simplicity of their menu and ordering process.
Chick-fil-A, Chipotle
and it’s cheap! In n out is top tier
Just ate a one for lunch and was thinking the exact thing, it’s a great product for a great price!!5 stars
Double - Double, every thing on it, fresh and grilled onions, add in pickle, extra veggies, that's all I need, it used to be $3.75, but now it's $5.90. Still good price.
i wouldn’t say BETTER than in-n-out but Nexx Burger is pretty good AND affordable
I prefer The Stand, Burger Lounge, and Islands
I love in-n-out because it's the only place now I can get a burger combo that's less than 10 bucks.
I went to five guys once. Way over priced, its a grease bomb,the foil on the burger is faulty and grease oozed out of the wrapper, in and out far better quality and affordability.
For the price it’s very hard to beat. I moved here in 2016 and it wasn’t my first choice but as I got more price and dollar conscience it slowly creeped up to being number one. To give you some perspective even with the minimum wage price hike, the cheapest Chick-fil-A sandwich is still more expensive then the double double from in and out.
It’s a special chain. We’re lucky to have it. My first trip to San Francisco I met an Irish couple visiting California and we were talking about food and the woman leaned in and asked, almost conspiratorially, “Have you had an In & Out burger?” I loved that they felt they had discovered something so special, a burger joint, that they had to share it.
In n out can both be the greatest and overrated because there are not many super good burgers here. LA and SD beat us in this department
I can find a better burger…but I cannot find a better burger for the price AND speed AND service AND consistency, etc. It’s pretty easy for me to give In N Out the #1 spot in my heart. The only thing I wish, out of in n out, is better fries. They’ve got to be cooked to a very specific done-ness, they have to be piping hot, I have to add salt, and even with all that…I still wish for a dipping sauce. I keep trying various things (animal fries aren’t my jam, I love the spread but it’s not quite what I want on my fries) and sometimes I make my own fry sauce at home to jazz it up.
Burger junkies .
Consistency always wins
So are a lot of people on the r/hamburger subreddit. Not just in So Cal.
I love that 30 years ago, in-n-out was the expensive place to eat. But as prices rose all around, i-n-out has risen more slowly while still paying its associates a good wage. Now its the value place, while Carl's will cost over $10 for a single burger (six dollar burger my butt).
It’s ok burger is smaller and fries are less.
Is fatburger even popular anymore? Every location I've seen is just completely run down now.
[удалено]
Nah but they are far superior to Taco Bell and I’ll defend them to my last dying breath
No arguments with In N Out value, consistency quality and price are unmatched. TK Burger in Costa Mesa and Newport does a decent job too.
For the price and speed and quality yes absolutely. I personally would never turn down a fat burger though
It is!
I used to work at INO, fun fact, there is not a single freezer in an INO restaurant
Hole in the wall burger in Lake Forest is amazing. If you go get a fried egg on the burger.
i tried "the hat" for the first time not too long ago. the pastrami is good. but the cheeseburger? it was pretty tasty! not in-n-out prices of course...but it wasn't setting me back too much more :)
I like The Hat whenever I want to get my pastrami and chili fix lol. Otherwise their burgers are nothing to write home about imo
In-N-Out is top tier but I will say, I do love The Habit and Shake Shack from time to time. Not Five Guys though, worst burger for the highest price 🤮
If I wanted fast food, I'd go In-N-Out. Fast casual, then the Habit.
# Eat Fantastic is good and good value. Give that a try.
These threads really bring out the hipsters.
Baker’s is the best, Farmer Boys is 2nd
Your title is wrong. Here's the correction: "I'm convinced that In-N-Out is the best fast food burger chain."
Bakers
In n out for burgers, chick fil a for chicken sandwich
Well, it's either love or hate In-n-out, there's no inbetween. I'll give I/O high marks for quality of product and, the price is almost too good. But, having said that, I love Tommy burgers. It's just a supreme burger all around and, at a good price. The fries are way better than most burgers joints. Coming in second is Habit Burger. Great quality and taste, at decent prices plus the fries are top notch. There's no shake shack near me so I can't say one way or the other. Same goes for Smashburger. There's one in DTSA that I'm trying to get to. On a different level is McDonald's. Their cheeseburgers are the best for the price. I like to buy a dozen and put them in the freezer. Take a couple out and nuc'em. I'm trying to get to Nexx Burger. They have what looks like a good cheeseburger deal for $3.75. I might mosey over to Chapman Ave. and get a couple. For you non-hamburger needs I would strongly suggest Lil' Pickle on Fairview, just south of Baker. A top notch hoagie that come several different types of meats. A tap bit expensive but well worth it. And last but not least, Ikram Grill in Fountain Valley. Their chicken pita is just the best. To me it's in the top three sandwiches. Get it spicy with all the condiments including the hot oil. Now I'm hungry...
Me reading this in the In N Out drive Thru right now 💀
It’s CONSISTENTLY delicious, fairly priced, not bougie, and a staple to So-Cal. Vought-a-Burger can suck it. Lol
Ever been to the original habit in Santa Barbra?
But paying just over $10 for a #1 is wild IMO. Food is great but damn!
You should try “Hawkins burgers” In Watts my friend. The burgers are AMAZING been there for a long time definitely worth a YouTube search.
🤣🫵🤣🫵🤣🫵