In-n-Out

Posted by Edmund in Fast Food, Los Angeles, Restaurants | Comments Off

In-n-Out

Fast Food Burger
$3 for the classic Double Double. $6 for the whole combo.

Various locations throughout the West

I went to the one at:
119 S. BRAND BLVD.
GLENDALE, CA 91204

All right, so if you live anywhere in California, you know about Inn n’ Out. We grow up on it, and we swear by it. It is, without a doubt, the West Coast’s claim to fame as far as burgers are concerned. I can’t even remember how many people I know who have visited California only once and still to this day talk to me about how good Inn n’ Out was. And that’s why, as a Californian, I’ve got to review this place. And you Californians out there probably aren’t going to like what I have to say.

First off, I’m not going to deny that this is a solid burger joint. Inn n’ Out restaurants tend to be very clean, with the white, polished, old-school diner feel. The food is, likewise, cooked the all-natural way. You can see how fresh everything is. The fries, for example, are actually made fresh—what a novel concept, right? Inn n’ out actually takes whole potatoes and shreds them right in front of you, then fries them and gives them to you fresh. The veggies are all crisp and fresh, and even the beef tastes like it wasn’t preserved artificially like in other fast food joints. Still, the burger’s just a plain burger. The fact that Inn n’ Out only has one real option for burgers is also a double-edged sword—on the one hand, they’re confident in their guns, but on the other, they can do a lot less with the burger, since they’re just going for a solid, clean burger that everyone’s going to like.

When I went, I ordered the Double Double, as usual. Two meat patties, with two slices of cheese, onions, lettuce, tomato, and thousand island sauce. Like I said, the vegetables are all fresh and taste cold and crisp. The cheese on the burger is also great—two slices melted perfectly so that it’s gooey and oozing all over the burger. The meat also tastes natural, and the sauce goes very well. It actually tastes less fatty/cloying than mayo and is more enjoyable. Still, the burger has a greasy feel to it that I find all too reminiscent of most fast food places. In that sense, it still tastes like a normal fast food burger, and the toppings on it don’t make it anything special to set it apart from other fast food places, in my opinion. To be fair, though, the burger has MASSIVE value—$3 for a Double Double. You’re really not going to find a cheaper burger with that much quality.

As for the fries and the milkshake—what I consider the two other essential components of any good burger meal—they’re also just solid, old-school style good but with no frills and nothing too fantastic. The fries are honestly a bit of a disappointment. Though they are fresh beyond belief, they really just taste like fresh potatoes and salt. Very little is added so that the thin crispness, while okay, is just plain. If you want real fries from a fast food joint, I’d check out Oinkster’s Belgian fries.

The milkshake I can’t complain much about in all honesty. It was milky, rich, and actually tasted like chocolate ice cream. Burger joints always have really good milkshakes, and Inn n’ Out’s would be classed as one of the better ones, with good flavor and creaminess.

Overall, Inn n’ Out is a solid burger joint, just not the Holy Grail of Burgers as so many have hailed it. Not only that, but it’s just about the best value for a true fast food joint you’re going to find—$6 for a double double, fries, and a medium drink. For that fact, and the fact that Inn n’ Out is practically a state landmark, I have no problems recommending it.

Taste: 2.5/5.0
Value: 4.5/5.0. Way cheaper than what you’d pay even at most fast food places.
Verdict, for the burger and for the food in general: 3.0/5.0