In & Out is a better-than-average burger and a good place to eat... but not a great burger despite what many say. Yes, it is much better than the standard chains, probably because In & Out continues to be completely family-owned, so their quality control remains excellent and consistent in all stores. There are no In & Out franchise locations. But for all of the fresh ingredients, their burgers still leave much to be desired.
First of all, the meat patties are nearly flavorless. I would expect much more flavor from a patty fried on a griddle. The true test of a meat patty is to try it without any condiments. In & Out patties fail that test. The condiments are good but, unless you really like Thousand Island dressing, be sure to ask for mustard or ketchup (sorry, but mayo is not even available), and pickles come only on request.
Their milkshakes are very good but their french fries are weak. Yes, the fries are all cut fresh, but that does not make for good fries. They are starchy and you can't cook them well enough to ever get them crispy. McDonald's fries are much better, I hate to say.
I still eat at In & Out when the other choices are limited, and I do think they are a good value. I just expect much more from a good company like this. My last complaint is about the slowness of service. While I appreciate that In & Out will not put a meat patty on the grill until a customer has placed an order, come on guys! When you see a line of 50 cars outside put some patties on the grill. It's not like they are there to just buy a soda pop! There is no reason why the drive-thru needs to be that slow. The burgers can still come off the grill just as fast and be served up fresh, just don't pre-cook them and set them aside.
"A Double-Double (two patties, two slices of cheese) with the works, including onions, and French fries. The under-$5 meal also includes a beverage."
Michael Stern
"In-N-Out is one of the happy products of the car culture that blossomed after World War II. There are nearly 200 throughout Southern California; and the Snyder Family that owns them keeps them ship-shape and dedicated to good fast food."
Michael Stern
"It was a menu like this that originally made McDonald's such a hit: just a few choices, and in this case, all excellent."
Michael Stern
