In-N-Out Burger

Discussion in 'Cactus Cafe' started by Vol Horn 4 Life, Dec 28, 2014.

  1. Vol Horn 4 Life

    Vol Horn 4 Life Good Bye To All The Rest!

    Not sure if this is the right forum, but after much hype and lots of discussion I finally ate at In-N-Out and the verdict is........Eh!

    Atmosphere: I liked the 50's old classic burger joint feel. Paper hats, old ball caps white shirts, retro decor, etc.

    Menu: I also liked the simplicity of the menu with really just three choices. You want a burger so you go there and get a burger. Too many try to do too many things diluting their image.

    Food: This is where they lost me. I can get a better burger at 30 or more places in the Austin area. I really didn't like the "fresh" french fries. They were ok hot, but as they cooled down while eating they took on a weird crumbly texture.

    There were about 10 cars in the drive through line and a line out the door inside. Unless they were all there like me for the first time I really dont get the love affair. I might stop in if its convenient, I'm hungry and there's no line, but I'll never wait 20 min from parking to burger again for what I ate today.
     
  2. bevo barry

    bevo barry 500+ Posts

    Lived in SoCal for 20+ years before moving to Albuquerque. I never got all the fuss about I&O. They were OK, but I never drove out of my way to get one.
     
  3. BV Horn

    BV Horn 100+ Posts

    Lived out west for a few years and concur, ok, but not worth the hype.
     
  4. l00p

    l00p 10,000+ Posts

    I think it's good and have great memories of it from visiting family in LA growing up. But they are not great. I don't find any chain burger places great through and through. They all have strengths and weaknesses.

    In regards to their menu it's not a secret any longer about their secret or extra items on the menu. I have not ordered straight off the menu since my second time there. That secret list seems to grow and grow.
    The Link
    The Link
     
  5. DrRad

    DrRad 250+ Posts

    UT student from the early 60s. Went to Moore Burger a lot-near W 29th and Guadalupe if I recall correctly. Don't see it on Google maps, but hey, it's been 50 years.
     
  6. dillohorn

    dillohorn Guest

    Blakes Lot a Burger in New Mexico makes the best burgers and fries as far as I'm concerned. Most towns there have one.
     
  7. OldHippie

    OldHippie 2,500+ Posts


     
  8. Vol Horn 4 Life

    Vol Horn 4 Life Good Bye To All The Rest!

    Thanks for the links to the off menu items. Those look tasty, but the burger patties are so paper thin and tasteless I'm leary about going back in. Maybe one more time animal style with chopped peppers.
     
  9. l00p

    l00p 10,000+ Posts

    Yer more than welcome. I wonder if maybe you went expecting too much or something different and maybe let yourself down due to it being over hyped, which it is. It's ridiculous that people lined up for weeks, thirty, forty cars deep all day long to eat there when it opened. But they are not bad burgers and I enjoy them. I also enjoy Whataburger and others.

    Great call on Blake's. I love a place that offers NM Green Chile and other really cool items on their menu. I have never had a burger at Blake's without Green Chile. I don't know that I could. I still prefer smaller places such as Casino El Camino in Austin and Chris Madrid's or Chesters in San Antonio over chains.

    Happy eatin' in 2015, y'all.

    (fyi, Mighty Fine has a bit of a secret menu as well)

    They call it the locals menu. I don't think I have ever seen it posted in the location I have been to but it may be now. I swear their shake blended with lemonade is about the most refreshing shake I have ever had. It's ten dollar Vincent Vega worthy.

    Beast....................................................
    *Two 1/2 lb. patties. Add 4 slices of cheese ($2.00)
    1/4 lb. Beast...............................................
    *Two 1/4 lb. patties. Add 2 slices of cheese ($1.00)
    BLT.......................................................
    *Bacon, lettuce and tomato on a butter toasted bun.
    Cheese Fries.........................................
    *Crinkle-cut fries topped with melted cheese
    Chili Cheese Fries.................................
    *Crinkle-cut fries topped with chili and melted cheese
    Chili Cheese Dog..................................
    *Hot dog topped with chili and cheese
    Salad Sandwich...................................
    *Veggies and condiments on a butter toasted bun
    Frito Pie...............................................
    *Fritos topped with chili and cheese
    FOB......................................................
    *1/4 lb. patty flattened before cooking.
    *Add 1 slice of cheese ($0.50)
    Fry Burger............................................
    *Crinkle-cut fries and veggies on a butter toasted bun
    Lemonade Shake.................................
    *Hand-dipped vanilla ice cream blended with our
    original lemonade
     
  10. accuratehorn

    accuratehorn 10,000+ Posts

    Locals menu? What does one have to do to order off this "menu?" Tell them you know loop, so gimme the f'n frito pie? Possess knowledge of a secret handshake? Recite the alphabet backwards? Moonwalk to the counter?
     
  11. l00p

    l00p 10,000+ Posts

    Don't fall in your own bedroom is the first rule of Locals Club.
     
  12. Mr. Deez

    Mr. Deez Beer Prophet

    In-N-Out may be the most overrated eatery in the United States. People rave about it as though you'll never get a better hamburger anywhere, and that's just a crock.

    Here's the bottom line. The burger is good if you compare it to a burger from McDonald's, Wendy's, etc. Put it up against a decent Texas chain like Whataburger, Mighty Fine, or Storm's Hamburgers, and it's nothing special at all. Compared to the best burger places in Austin, it's friggin' horse meat. When I was living in Austin, TxStHorn and I sometimes went to Top Notch (on Burnet) for lunch, and it would blow In-N-Out out of the water.

    And the fries are **** - some of the worst I've ever had in a restaurant. Yes, they're freshly cut, which should make them good. However, they come out soggy rather than crispy. I'm not sure why, but somebody in there doesn't know how to make french fries. If your fries are soggy, then it doesn't matter how fresh they are. They suck ***.
     
  13. l00p

    l00p 10,000+ Posts

    There are dozens of locally owned places in LA or whatever town there is an In and Out that blows the doors off of them too. Whataburger is meh as well compared to Mighty Fine, Casino El Camino and others in Austin. I think we all agree that chains just don't hold up to the smaller local places.

    I do not find any large chain to be great, merely good at best.
     
  14. Texanne

    Texanne 5,000+ Posts

    I still don't get the love for Whataburger. The meat is so salty, I can feel myself shrivel as I eat it.

    Whataburger is good if you like a little meat with your salt.
     
  15. LongJohn

    LongJohn 100+ Posts

    Interesting comment about the fries. I've only been to the one in Austin once and thought I just got a bad batch of previously frozen and not fully cooked fries because the texture was so peculiar. Won't go back...too many good places in Austin to get a burger. And I REALLY don't understand the crowds there.
     

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