In and Out vs White Castle

Two different relatively small family owned chains, two different coasts,two different styles...somehow though these two places remind me of one another. While WC does not have the freshness of IAO ,what they do have is great tasting unique lil burger,their own buns& a tight distrubution network for quality control, along with some decent sides and a fun and distinctive atmosphere.

IAO also has a fun atmosphere, a great and unique burger product,their own buns and tight distribution- I like them both.

I am partial to WC, only because I seem to encounter them more. I enjoy both.

Sober, my choice would be In N Out. 2 Double-doubles and a Lemonade
Not-Sober, 6 or more Sliders from WC, with a coke.

2 of QFan's absolute favs!!! See my post earlier today on "How Far Have You Driven To Get A Meal."

QFan
Bonita Springs, FL

InO for me although neither are close enough for me to enjoy.

quote:

Originally posted by Al-The Mayor-Bowen


Sober, my choice would be In N Out. 2 Double-doubles and a Lemonade
Not-Sober, 6 or more Sliders from WC, with a coke.

Very good, my choices as well!

Wiite Castle. Why? Because I'm surrounded by IAO, and I like the concept of those little oniony greasebombs sliding down my gullet.

Even as a native Ohioan I confess I have eaten at more In-N-Out restaurants (2) than White Castles (0, oh my!). Then again, I don't care for onions, on which the patties at White Castle are prepared.

You can't really taste the onions. There are just enough of them and overcooked on there as a lubricant so the burgers slide down easier.
I love them by the way.

in the light of day IAO, but like a vampire when the sun sets and it gets to that bewitching hour; i gotta have a slider.

I cannot figure out why White Castle has never moved into Florida. Maybe it is too far away from the places that make their products? I love White Castle! You get such value..YOu eat these wonderful little burgers and then you enjoy their taste for hours and hours after. Does anyone have a Maalox?

No comparison at all. In-n-Out has freshly prepared burgers made from good beef with fresh, abundant toppings, along with amazing hand cut fries. White Castle serves thin, fatty squares on wet buns alongside frozen fries. People certainly like both of them, but it's clear (to me anyway) that one serves actual quality food, the other just serves fast food.

quote:

Originally posted by Baah Ben

I cannot figure out why White Castle has never moved into Florida. Maybe it is too far away from the places that make their products? I love White Castle! You get such value..YOu eat these wonderful little burgers and then you enjoy their taste for hours and hours after. Does anyone have a Maalox?

Back in the early/mid 60''s White Castle opened a few outlets in FL--mostly in the Miami area. Seems there was a family member of the original owners who wanted to retire down there and have something to do. They didn't do all that well and in light of WC''s traditional conservative expansion philosophy (they are closely held and finance all their capital growth internally) they eventually closed the handful of units in S Florida. I believe they may have turned into "Royal" Castles for a short period of time which then eventually went the way of Burger Chef, Biff Burger and a lot of the other early FF burger chains.

QFan
Bonita Springs, FL

never had an In&Out, living on the east Coast...but White Castles are great....where can you eat 6-7 burgers and not feel like a pig and where can you sort of eat the same meal...over again,hours later,sort of a two for one sale!!

I wish I knew how many times this has been discussed on this forum. In my opinion, it is all about taste.

Personally I like both. It all depends on where I am at.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Sundancer7, I guess after 9619 posts you've heard it all. But seriously, which is best? White Castle or In and Out?

JUST KIDDING!

quote:

Originally posted by Baah Ben

Sundancer7, I guess after 9619 posts you've heard it all. But seriously, which is best? White Castle or In and Out?

JUST KIDDING!

Best is like beauty. It is all in the eyes of the beholder.

I personally like In and out because it use to sponser a very fast car in our series of NHRA and they have very good burgers but White Castle is good after a tough night of imbibing.

It all depends where you are and what time of the day.

I like them both.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

never ate at IAO but had plenty WC.
does IAO have little square 4 bite burgers?
if they don't, how can you compare them?

Good question. For us wast coast burger eaters, what is the IAO experience like? I have no idea what their burgers are like: Real? McDonald's type? White Castle type? Other? Prices?Other menu items?

They're like In and Out. Fresh and real. Can't tell you the prices as I don't pay attention to them. The menu is burgers, fries, drinks and shakes. That's it. The burgers come in a variety of styles that aren't on the menu. Do a search for "In-N-Out secret menu" for those variations.

EDIT: My standard order is a 3x1 Animal Style, fries animal style and a neopolitan shake.

Thanks for the info.

Although White Castle hasn't formally penetrated Florida yet, more and more local eateries are offering Sliders on their appetizers

By the way, tomorrow (10/22/08) is In-N-Out Burger's 60th anniversary. Contrary to popular rumors they're not "rolling back" the prices, but it's a heck of a good excuse to go grab a "Double Double" or two (not that I need an excuse).

But does in-N-out burger have Surf and Turf on their menu like white castle does? The other question is which one's food goes in and out faster?

Ha.....

Native Californian here giving a nod to the Castle! To me In-N-Out (how one gets "IAO" out of that I'm not sure) is a very nice, fresh, well made if not life-altering burger. White Castle is unapologetically about scarfing down, whether at 3 AM after an alcoholiday, or 3PM after going all "Cheech And Chong." To me at least; White Castle is just more debauched fun somehow.

Those White Castle thingies are quite tasty, but I'd hardly call them a burger. Comparing them to In-N-Out (or Five Guys) is kinda like comparing those mini-Swedish meatball appetizers to a decent steak.

I've had exactly one In & Out burger and I think I ate at White Castle twice while in the Midwest (I was definitely there at least once). They're nothing alike, but I'd be thrilled if either one opened a franchise here in East Podunk, PA.

quote:

Originally posted by MetroplexJim

Those White Castle thingies are quite tasty, but I'd hardly call them a burger. Comparing them to In-N-Out (or Five Guys) is kinda like comparing those mini-Swedish meatball appetizers to a decent steak.

I agree, White castle and others similar are a sandwich. I personally do not consider them a burger. They are a tasty sandwich but not while I call a burger.

I am not sure where they are placed but my guess is a slider. They hit the spot on occasion though.

Paul E. Smith
knoxville, TN