I’ve never been so hyped to try a fast food burger and so subsequently disappointed. Yes, it has fresh ingredients but the overall taste is decidedly mediocre. To say nothing about the fries which bring down the whole experience.
Extremely cheap though and that’s worth several points in these times.
There's so much hype I can understand why someone would be let down after finally trying it. But, to me it's one of those things that you only fully appreciate when it's a go to staple. Between the freshness, the simple ingredients, the experience, the price, etc. Unless you really overdo it, it's fast food that doesn't make you feel like crap afterwards. Most fast food is depressing, in n out is just a good time.
To me an In-n-Out double cheeseburger, animal style, with whole grilled onions is basically the ideal version of what a fast food burger should be. Not expensive, fresh, and really satisfying hot out of the kitchen.
I just skip the mediocre In-n-Out fries and have two burgers instead.
Their fries suck ass. I've had In N Out several times in my life and I tried the fries twice - once regular, once animal style. The first was bad and the second was honestly disgusting. I ate them both at the restaurant, not at home. I can't imagine how much worse they'd taste after sitting for 20 minutes. The next time I went I just had a burger.
It's just cooking style. They aren't blanched/double fried. That will always taste better and it has nothing to do with the fries content which is just potato anyway. You can get more complex with mashed and then fried or cooking with things like duck fat. I suggest making duck fat potatoes at least once, super good.
I can make French fries at home with fresh potatoes and they taste leagues better. And I'm not some ace chef.
In N Out's fries are just terrible. They could and should change them, but they won't if people are fine with it and keep buying them. If I'm back in California I doubt I'll bother going back again but if I do it'll be for a burger only.
We'll have to disagree. I would rather eat any other chain's fries apart from Burger King's old ones (their new ones are better). I'd rather not eat In N Out's at all, they're that awful, even right after they're made.
double double whole grilled mustard fried chopped chilies extra toast
it’s just good food. and it happens to be cheap fast food by definition. I put aside my political and religious differences at least once a month to stuff my face
I was underwhelmed the first time I ever had it because how much hype surrounded it. Now that I live in Denver and we have them readily available it’s easily the best fast food burger. The fries are also fine. No complaints.
IMO, the appeal has always been fresh ingredients, good taste, convenient, and cheap. Like if you have a choice between McDonalds or In-N-Out, why would you ever go to McDonalds? That's why it got so popular here.
The first 3 times I tried it I thought it was mediocre. I was traveling to Cali for work for about a year. But then a switch flipped in my brain and I started to crave it. In a vacuum it’s a 6/10 burger. But to me it became a 9/10.
Here's where I think the hype comes from with In-N-Out. I lived in SoCal in the late '90s. And it was great because the only other chain burger joints were McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Jack in the Box, etc. You know, burger joints that weren't doing it fresh.
I left SoCal. I didn't get to eat In-N-Out for years. I tried it again when I was in Vegas and I was just like, meh. It was good but it wasn't as amazing as I remembered it.
But also realize that since the '90s, all these other "fresh" burger chains sprung up. So, what they were doing was no longer a unique experience. I think that took away a lot of the mystique of In-N-Out.
Exactly. It was cheap, fresh, convenient, tasty. When you had the choice between some generic fast food slop and In-N-Out, there was just no real reason to not opt for In-N-Out. It got super hyped online and people expected some mindblowing burger, but I think the point of why it got so popular was kind of lost.
I feel like that's where people really get the disappointment from. Their standard burger is fine but once you learn to order them any way you like then the magic really happens.
A double cheeseburger animal style with "whole grilled onions" from them is magnificent in my opinion.
Seen this happen a lot. They're the best for what they are, but it's still just a cheap fast food burger at the end of the day. I remember when they first came to San Antonio and there was like 2-hour long lines...and then people were complaining about it. Yeah, no shit. I don't think any burger is worth 2 hour wait, let alone a drive thru burger.
I love their fries though and will fight anyone over it. They're just fresh and delicious. And you can always order them well-done if you prefer them a little crispier.
288
u/aquatone61 10d ago
In and Out.