Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Whenever the conversation of the “best fast food” restaurant comes up, I can never seem to get through it without someone proclaiming their love for In-N-Out.  Everywhere I turn, people just can’t seem to mention burgers without also mentioning In-N-Out. It’s downright infuriating. 

In-N-Out is a burger chain exclusively on the West Coast and in some parts of the Southwestern United States. The fast food joint is known for having some of the busiest drive-thru’s in the country, despite the extremely simple menu. Many regard it as the gold standard for fast food. 

On a recent trip to California, I finally decided to see what all the hype was about.

Double-Double

The Double-Double is the flagship burger at In-N-Out. The delicacy consists of two beef patties, two slices of cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, optional onions, and secret sauce, which is essentially a thousand island dressing. 

And it was honestly amazing. 

It’s a deceptively simple burger, as there are no fancy ingredients or anything gimmicky. However, the real star of the show is how perfectly proportioned each ingredient is to one another. The ratio of meat to cheese to sauce and toppings is well balanced, and you can taste every individual component without anything being too overpowering or dominant. 

The burger meat itself is fresh and flavorful, and the cheese does not give off the plastic-like taste that is often found in other fast food restaurant cheese. The lettuce and tomato are crisp and refreshing, and the sauce is tangy and cuts through the meat. I will note that while I do enjoy the onion addition, many who don’t like onion as much may find it overpowering.

Surprisingly, I found that the best aspect of the burger was the bun. In-n-Out toasts their buns quite skillfully, so your teeth sink in like butter until you get a lovely crunch, right before you taste the rush of flavors from the inside. 

Fries (Regular and Animal Style)

If you have ever tried a pringle, you are probably familiar with that slightly chalky flavor. You know it’s trying to be a potato, but it just seems to have a weird aftertaste that makes you question if it’s real potato or not. This flavor is similar to the taste of In-N-Out fries. 

First of all, the fries are very under-salted- almost to the point where I’m not sure if there even is any salt on them. While they may be crispy, the lack of flavor is compounded by the fact that they are incredibly dry. The potato on the inside is in no way fluffy or pillowy, but is instead more grainy and mealy. If you served those fries in the Townsend cafeteria, I doubt many Harrisites would be able to notice a significant difference from the usual fare.

Sure, the animal style fries from the not-so-secret-menu is somewhat better, but the fries are essentially just vessels for sauce. All one is able to taste is cheese, grilled onions, and the “animal” sauce, while any potato flavor that was once there is now non-existent. 

I would expect that because the fries are cut fresh in every location, they would resemble those of the chain Five Guys, which also cuts their own fries. Nevertheless, the dish doesn’t seem to have that salty, buttery, addictive flavor the ones at Five Guys has. Considering that french fry meals dominate half of the restaurant’s menu, In-N-Out needs to improve their game.

Shakes

The vanilla milkshake is a fine way to finish a meal at In-n-Out. The beverage’s thick and creamy consistency and vanilla flavor is pleasant as well. Although the drink is not as potent and mind-blowing as the shakes at Shake Shack, it is definitely better than some of the other fast food shakes available, like those at McDonalds. It’s also on the cheaper side of shakes, as it is priced at just $2.75.

The Price

In-N-Out definitely deserves a lot of credit for its fair pricing. 

My whole meal (a double-double hamburger, both styles of fries, and a milkshake was just $9.70. In comparison, a Big Mac meal at McDonalds in the city can set you back around $11. At Shake Shack a full meal with a double shack burger, fries and a shake can cost even $20. 

Many people try to compare Shake Shack to In-N-Out, but there is an issue with this. Shake Shack does have a slightly better burger, with its thicker patties and amazing smashed, griddled taste. The fries do taste better, and the milkshakes have more flavor. In spite of all this, however, it’s also double the price.      

In-N-Out is best to be compared to other mainstream giants like McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendy’s. All of these chains have a bigger focus on speed, efficiency and price. And against those options, it goes without question that I would take In-N-Out every day of the week. 

I think Neil deGrasse Tyson put it best when questioned on the subject during his Hot Ones interview; “In-N-Out is a fast food joint that makes a really good burger, whereas Shake Shack is a gourmet chef making a fast food burger. That’s the difference.”

Although In-n-Out does have a few weaknesses in its flavor profile, it is clear that the overall price does make the restaurant chain a worthwhile choice.