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.