For years, hearing about In-N-Out Burger and its glorious success in California has made me desirous of their legendary food. When the privately-owned chain opened its doors in Allen and Frisco, I, among a thousand others, flocked to get my own “Double-Double” during the opening week.
As I walked into the Allen location, I noticed every seat was taken, and as one person left, another person immediately took theat seat. Young children wore paper In-N-Out hats, and elderly couples sat and enjoyed the lively ambience. Indeed, there was diversity in the ages of people eating there, but in the menu, not so much. Where in other fast food joints hamburgers are among a plethora of culinary choices, In-N-Out offers only hamburgers.
In-N-Out sets itself apart from other fast food chains in that it uses no microwaves or freezers to preserve food; all food is prepared locally and cooked in the restaurant. From their fresh, never-frozen beef and real sponge dough to their hand-leafed lettuce and freshly diced fries, In-N-Out goes the extra mile when it comes to freshness.
I ordered an animal-style cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate shake. Animal-style refers to the secret spread they put on burgers and fries upon request. Anyone who likes Thousand Island dressing will like animal-style spread. Animal-style spread is also a part of the “secret menu,” which includes items such as a lettuce-wrapped burger, “well-done” fries, and a veggie burger which is served without a patty or cheese.
Waiting for my order, I noticed how friendly and mindful the staff was. Two or three staff members were constantly scanning the floor, sweeping up any bits of food or trash.
The first thing I noticed as I bit into the cheeseburger was the fluffiness of the bun and the tang of the animal-style sauce. The juicy patty wasn’t very thick, but I could still taste it through the lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and onions. The animal-style burger is supposedly composed of a mustard-cooked patty, but I didn’t notice any strong mustard taste. The veggies tasted fresh and crisp like they should and were applied generously on top of the beef.
Despite the fact that it was wrapped in paper in order to keep the grease off my hands, by the time I finished my burger the paper was soaking wet and my hands were anything but clean.
The fries were the biggest disappointment of my In-N-Out experience. Barely salted, they were quite firm for a French fry and barely had that tasty greasiness like other restaurants’ fries. The only advantage was that it was a very generous portion, so I had plenty to eat.
The chocolate shake was thicker than most shakes I’ve had. In-N-Out advertises that their shakes are made from real ice cream, a bonus considering that most chains use soft serve. I could have eaten it with a spoon, it was so thick.
Overall, I didn’t think In-N-Out provides anything extraordinary to the fast-food industry, but it is a nice diversion from mediocre establishments such as McDonalds. Messy and filling, In-N-Out will satisfy any burger-lover’s craving, but will not indulge them with a lavish dining experience.
Rating: 3.5/5
