In-N-Out double hamburger with grilled onions, cheeseburger with raw onions and fries. That was our order and the cost was $11 and change.
Yesterday, my husband had the day off. We ran errands, I got my hair done, shopped at Trader Joe’s and finished the day at In-N-Out, an iconic hamburger stand that began in California in 1948 by husband and wife Harry and Esther Snyder.
If you’re not from California, or don’t live in the west, you might not know about In-N-Out. I’ll give some of the highlights.
What makes In-N-Out so good?
Fresh ingredients, quality and simplicity. It’s been family owned and operated from the beginning. They’ve never once wanted to franchise or sell out, because they don’t want to sacrifice quality.
This is the wrapper my cheeseburger came in. It sums up why their food tastes so good.
As for their employees, the Snyders have treated them like family from day one. Company policy is to promote from within. Many of their restaurant managers earn more than six figures per year. The average worker at this hamburger fast food chain makes $20 an hour with a $2,000 annual bonus.
I first went to an In-N-Out burger with my husband when we were first married. It was in Loma Linda, Calif. and it had drive-throughs on both sides, no dining room, but some outside tables. We sat outside and ate. Eventually, we got one near Palm Springs in 1988. It was In-N-Out’s 50th restaurant.
Today there are 415 restaurants in eight states: California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Colorado and Idaho. Here’s a LINK to In-N-Out History.
There’s always a line at In-N-Out. It doesn’t matter the time.
Here’s the regular menu. Talk about simplicity:
There’s a Secret (not so secret) Menu that isn’t posted. One of the most popular items I notice being ordered whenever I’m at In-N-Out is Fries, Animal Style.
After Harry Snyder passed away, running the business went to one of two sons. When that son died in a tragic airplane crash, the other son took over. Then when he died, the business went back to Esther. Eventually granddaughter Lynsi took over and she runs the family business today.
Here’s the theme song for In-N-Out:
Have you been to In-N-Out? If so what do you order?
What’s your favorite burger restaurant?
I noticed Revelation 3:20 on the wrapper for the first time. I looked it up:
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
I’ve never eaten there but I love the history, the family story, the simplicity. 🥰
I do love how they treat their employees, how the menu and recipes are so simple, fresh and delicious. It’s part of Southern California’s history and tradition. I remember my husband’s boss being transferred to Wall Street around 20 years ago. His office shipped him a Double Double!
🥰😉🥰
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Never eaten at one but people talk about them with high praise. The closest ones are far south in WA. Just north of the Oregon border. Plus I don’t really eat beef anymore, although yours looks really good…and the prices are amazing! Literally unheard of for that huge type of burger.
Maybe they’ll expand closer to you someday. You can always order the grilled cheese without beef off the “secret menu.” I talked to my kids last night and they had gone to In-N-Out in the Bay Area. They said it their one eating out treat they can afford.
I know Seattle feels really left out and I think there are petitions circling to bring one to the South/Central Sound. I would totally order a full burger but need to have someone else to share with once I’ve had a few bites. That would be enough just to say I tasted one! 🙂
I hope you get a chance to have a bite. They did expand to Colorado, so you can ask your kids if they have one nearby. I was thrilled to find In-N-Out in Arizona. But we don’t have one near us, because we’re out in the wild 😊 When we venture downtown, it’s a treat.
Good to know about the CO option, thanks. I’ll check with them when I visit next time and see if it’s close by.
Let me know what they say! Writing about this makes me want to go back to In-N-Out, but I’ll have to wait until I have something else to do downtown Scottsdale.
Sounds like a great place Elizabeth
It’s a Southern California icon. It’s interesting to drive by a row of fast food restaurants. There’s a huge line of cars at In-N-Out, the others have empty parking lots.
That just shows how good they are
Absolutely!
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We have 3 In-N-Out burgers, I was so excited that first day as I have never had one. Since I live at a cross roads we have all the “best” regional burger joints. The overall best burger in my opinion goes to 5 Guys (outta NOVA), In-N-Out is second. We also have Whataberger (TX) they are horrible, McDonalds death burgers are better. There was a CO chain that was exceptional but Covid did them in.
I’ve never had Whataburger but we do have Five Guys. In-N-Out wins first place for me. I’m sure it’s 40 years I’ve enjoyed them, plus the California lore. I’m used to the flavor, crunch of the bun, crisp lettuce, etc. Five Guys was great, but after 40 years of In-N-Out comes in second place. Also, the price difference is big between the two. It’s amazing what we get used to. Another example is Mexican food. In So Cal, there’s a certain style and flavor and we haven’t found it in Arizona.
5 Guys is an expensive visit. For two I usually drop $40 which includes a milkshake. My only visit to Whataburger was bad. I was served stone cold shoe leather on a bun – since my wife ordered a different burger and the same result, as captain Lee would say (Below Deck), once is an accident, twice is a problem (or something like that).
Wow. I will avoid Whataburger for sure! After enjoying In-N-Out meals for under $10 for decades, you can imagine our faces when a meal for two was $40 at 5 Guys. In-N-Out raised their prices for the first time in years, but when we skip drinks or shakes, it’s $11. We like water, but the occasional chocolate shake.
In-N-Out burgers are very small compared to 5 Guys. If we hit them for lunch we don’t eat dinner.
That’s true. The burgers at 5 Guys are thick, while In-N-Out are thin patties.
When in Vegas…I think I get some sort of cheeseburger…
That’s what I like best, In-N-Out’s cheeseburger. My son called, not knowing we had been to In-N-Out. He said they (with our DIL and daughter) went last night and he now orders a triple burger! He said it’s the only place they can eat out for under $20.
😉
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I went there once on a business trip. Good food, great service, very busy. One thing I remember is two employees manning the french fry chopper the whole lunch rush. French fries from fresh potatoes!
Thanks for commenting. You gave a perfect description of what it’s like at In-N-Out. Busy with fresh food! When we lived in Palm Springs, the drive through line serpentined through the parking lot, out onto the street. It was scary being on the street, because the freeway exited a few yards away. I was sure I’d get hit.
Did you know there are Bible verse references hiding out on most of their wrappers? Look at the underside of your cup next time… on the edge. ;). The In-N-Out in the town where I grew up was run by a family I went to school with. The parents managed it and the kids all worked there. The lines were always long, but also full of people we knew, so it was fun. When we moved to Hawaii, we didn’t have one and I got out of the habit of eating there. I appreciate what they stand for, but when I crave a burger and fries, or a shake, I’d rather get them somewhere else.
I never noticed the Bible verse references in 40 years! I wonder how many people do? How fun that a family-owned restaurant was run by another family, including kids. I liked to go to the one by Palm Springs during COVID, but the drive through was so ridiculously long. Most places were closed then.
I am sure they are delicious, but man, I have a tough time paying $11 for a chain burger and fries.
It is delicious. It was $11 total for the two of us. Also the quality is so much better than Carl’s, McDonalds, etc. Unfortunately, it’s now double or more than that at most fast food restaurants.
You’re killing me EA. Looks amazing. You’re making me hungry . . . But I’ve never had one. I definitely need to try one. I’ll purchase my airplane tickets today!!! Ha, ha.
It’s worth it! Don’t you have a son who goes to college in California? If so, you can have him mail you one.😅
$11? That is amazing! I love this incredible highlight you’ve done of a business that is doing something well — and has for decades! Awesome!
Thank you! In-N-Out is a part of living in Southern California. It’s historic, iconic and cool 😎. Add to that successful and delicious. The granddaughter who runs it now, is in her 40s and took over in her 20s! As of November 2024 their annual revenue was $5 billion.
Robert and I had our wedding reception there! It was so fun!
I was going to ask if I could post a photo of you two from your wedding day at In-N-Out 💕 But, I wasn’t sure you and Robert would agree.
The best hamburger I ever had Thee Burger Spot in Tampa, wow! You can get a hamburger with just about anything including on a krispy kreme doughnut or topped with creamy peanut butter, bacon and chees. A simple burger with cheese is 7.75. It was featured on a few shows, easy to miss and an okay neighborhood. It is a good place.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-area-restaurant-has-one-of-most-outrageous-burgers-in-us-list-shows/2849774/
That sounds like fun. It sounds like something Guy Fieri would feature on his Triple D show. I love going to In-N-Out because of it’s so iconic. Also the prices. The cheeseburger is $3.50.
Wow, there is talk of In-N-Out coming here!! I believe he did feature it! The burgers are so original. Only locals know of it. I did not know of the place until a few years ago when I happened upon it by chance.
I hope you get an In-N-Out because it’s an affordable, tasty meal. We love Guy Fieri’s show. When we visit a new area, we look up if there are any restaurants he’s featured.
Ah, I’m missing In-N-Out now! Used to go there when my kids were young. They aren’t in the Midwest. Thanks for the history, I didn’t know they started in 1948 or that they had a theme song. I wish they would come here… Thanks for the smile.
Even writing this, I wanted to go back to In-N-Out for another cheeseburger. I’m glad you got to enjoy In-N-Out with your kids. I didn’t know all the history but started looking at photos when we ate there yesterday. Then I looked up their history online and got more details.
We would sometime go to one in Oregon, so longer ago I hardly remember. I like the story of the company and that it is still family owned.
It is unusual for a chain like that to remain family owned. I don’t know of many others.
Ha, I recognized your tray immediately! We have a lot of In-N-Outs where we live but we don’t eat there very often. But, we do fancy them on road trips and, you are right: rain or shine, there is always a line! We each order a regular hamburger (no cheese, please), and share fries and a drink. I always appreciate the food quality and the friendliness of the staff.
I am with you on the food quality and friendly staff. We don’t eat there often either. When we do, it’s a treat!
The story behind the company is really inspiring. I’m craving a Double-Double with grilled onions now. What’s your go-to order?
Yes, the company’s story is so good. My go-to order is a cheese burger with raw onions and share fries with my husband, or whoever is with me.
I LOVE IN-AN-OUT! I wish they would come to the Midwest. The last time I had one was in 2018 in California. 😔
I love In-N-Out too and I’ve lived in California for more than 30 years and Arizona for four. We have them in both states, but it’s never often enough.
I think I’ve had one before, while in California. They are not even relatively close to Florida. 🙂 What a rarity to have lunch for $11!
Isn’t that great? Especially lunch for two. One of the bloggers here is from Florida and said she heard they may be coming to Florida…
Californian here and my favorite in California is the In & Out in Upland. I lived in the area. Now that I’m in Texas, the McKinney In & Out is hamburger happiness.
My husband grew up in Rialto which is by Upland. We’re in Arizona now and so thrilled In-n-Out is only 30 minutes away. Glad you have one in Texas!