Deseret News | Cult following nothing new for In-N-Out

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Cult following nothing new for In-N-Out

David O | 12:56 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

In N Out Burger is incredibly better than Wendy's or McDonald's. Their meat is fresh, it tastes better not being frozen. The buns are toasted and contain NO preservatives. The lettuce, tomatoes, onions potatoes are cut on site, not frozen. Their employees are courteous and call you Sir and M'am. They pay their employees higher than the rest of the industry. They also give free stickers to your children.

I hope they can build one in northern Utah very soon. I have been to their locations in California and Nevada and have never been disappointed.

Cameron | 2:55 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

In-N-Out restaurants are very popular with other members of my Orange County, California family; however, I still prefer the taste of a freshly made Whopper from Burger King.

Eddie | 5:54 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

My family goes nuts over In n Out, however, I found that In n Out does not refer to drive through. The first and last time I waited in line at a Vegas restaurant, I read the paper and a couple of chapters of a paperback. The burger was very good, but at the time, I wasn't in the mood to give the whole experience a good rating.

Comments continue below

SpySmiley | 7:18 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Yawn.

Serious?!...Really!? | 8:31 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

The food isn't bad...but is it really that good? I sit down after waiting an hour to get my food...expect some explosion of flavor like my worshiping friends make me believe...and nope...just a pretty good tasting hamburger. I either have lost my ability to distinguish great food or its just like everything other hamburger albeit the fries are always soggy. I guess that is the price you pay for fresh...soggy. Even the buns get soggy. Fresh and soggy or...well preserved and perfect. Go Wendy's!:)

Paul B. | 9:10 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Nice article and an interesting topic to cover - I've enjoyed your writing for years. But the folks in WASHINGTON CITY, who have worked for years to get In-N-Out Burger to come to their city, might not enjoy the article as much. That's because the new In-N-Out Burger isn't in St. George, it's in Washington City, a community of 20,000 + who recently adopted the marketing slogan "Washington City - Where Dixie Begins!" after years of being overlooked and lumped in with poorly planned St. George!

MUCH better than most | 9:58 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Sure, it's not "fast" -- but "fast" isn't better. A too-greasy, too-salty Whopper? Nah.
A pale grey, steamed Wendy's? Nah?
A tasteless McDonald's
Who else has to create a NEW burger named "Big & TASTY?)

If you want quality food, it's worth a bit of a wait.

But how come we can't get Jimmy John's (GREAT sandwiches!), El Pollo Loco (best chicken), Papadeaux, and In-N-Out in Northern Davis County?

Anonymous | 10:45 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

In n Out is DISGUSTING. Their fries are the equivalent of eating cardboard. You can tell an easily manipulated consumer by how extatic they get over asking for a special 'secret' burger.

Good marketing work In n Out. There is a sucker born every minute.

Anonymous | 11:05 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

All the In N Out haters can just go to your mass chains and fill yourselves up with preservatives and fake chemically produced "shakes". Even at the busiest locations in San Diego and Las Vegas, I have never had to wait more than 10 minutes. The fried are that way because they are not chemically altered. If you like chemicals then go to Mcdonalds with their imported meat from countries that use crazy antibiotics and pesticides. ENJOY!

RE: Paul B. | 11:10 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Learn to read, dude. He mentions right in the article that it's actually in Washington City.

I'm a sucker: | 11:13 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

For good food. If you don't like fresh, never frozen food, go back to your regular fast food chain outlet and get a patty that's been cooked somewhere else, frozen, and kept in a warm steam tray all day long until they slap it a soggy bun for you.

Animal style rules!

Anonymous | 1:24 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

In-n-Out is okay but give Five Guys a try! Love the fresh meat, handcut fries! Five Guys is to the East Coast as In -n-Out is to California and you don't have to drive to St. George. My all-time favorite though is Hires....yum.

Anonymous | 7:07 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Sorry Lee but McDonalds wasn't started in California.. it was in Illinois.

And personally, I'd rather eat a hot dog at the ballpark than wait in line at In n Out.

Roger | 11:46 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Also there is a not-so-secret religious testament on most of In'N'Out's paper products--check the bottom of the cup and some of the food wrappers. Just one of the things, like the funny car racing sponsorship in their past, that make the chain unique. They pay their employees nearly double minimum wage, insist that they be presentable, and spend lots of time cleaning their stores.

Anyone who was had a dry (no sauce) protein-style burger, animal style with fries, extra well, no salt, washed down with a Neapolitan shake, can tell you there is nothing like it anywhere on this planet. For the adventurous try a yellow hot pepper--they have them under the counter, just ask.

Doctors and nutritionists tell me that if you must eat fast food then go to In'N'Out and order a dry protein-style burger or two(they know at the counter), and skip the 700 calorie shake. Tastes good and is good. Give In'N'Out a try and be sure and pick up one of the low priced colorful tee shirts (under nine bucks) that complete wardrobe accessorizing for many of us each Thanksgiving.

Plus, help keep a non-franchised, privately-owned family business in business--not many are left out there.

Fan Club Members | 5:58 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Count us as more In'M'Out devotees.
When on a trip to San Francisco from another In'N'Out-free state, we were faced with all sorts of city-by-the-bay food choices: seafood, crab, sourdough bread, even Ghirardelli chocolate--but In'N'Out won!

A franchise in most places would RAKE IT IN!!

in and out lover | 6:55 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

man some haters on this board. BTW Mc donalds DID start in San Bernardino bcause I lived not to far from there. Does anbody know what happened to that burger stand in American Fork that was sued by In and Out?

Biker100 | 10:24 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

I'll take Crown Burger over everyone else, anyday.

plumloco | 12:33 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

We all wish there were In N Out locations in Connecticut. Wow... 2x2, 4x4, and lettuce wraps!

WhatEver | 2:03 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

I wonder if anyone has ever taken off the big bun, the piece of lettuce, all of the sauce and just tasted the meat patty. I did. Razor thin and not very impressive. Seems they add all of the toppings to hide the mediocre tasting meat. Also, the name In 'N' Out is a joke. It is In and "wait." That is why you see mostly teenagers there. I don't know anyone who has that much time to eat there. Let's face it, In 'N" Out must have a great marketing team because you NEVER read about how unhealthy their limited menu is for you and your family. No salads. No fruit. No yogurt. No options. Only fried food and grilled meat drenched in secret sauce you can down with a coke or shake chaser. No wonder they don't want to share their financials. They are making a killer profit. Ever notice how no one that looks like the president-elect works there? Coincidence. No wonder they are going into Utah. All other fast food restaurants take a beating by the food police while In 'N' Out gets a free ride. It's bull.

Michael Rodrigues | 2:39 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008

WhatEver,

In-n-Out's nutritional information is available on-site upon request. They have the freshest, highest quality foods, but with a very limited and simple menu.

They have never claimed to be the "healthiest" choice, but simply the freshest and best quality money can buy when it comes to their ingredients. Even their meat is top of the line shoulder chuck. In-n-Out's meat commissary is frequently used by the USDA as an example of how a meat plant should be run.

If you want yogurt and "options," go to McDonalds or some other crappy place. In-n-Out was also the only restaurant given praise in "Fast Food Nation." The patties aren't the biggest, but why are you complaining about patty size when you prefer yogurt and "healthier" options?

And if you would venture outside of the Washington City location, you would see plenty of diverse employees working at In-n-Out's in every state. From my research INO does more for the communities they are in than almost any other place... do your research before you cry foul.

Marc Mushkin | 1:46 p.m. Dec. 8, 2008

Critics need to relax a bit. In 'n' Out serves an undeniably high quality (that's a documentable fact, not an opinion) product that may or may not appeal to you (opinions differ), depending on whether you like thinner patties or a limited menu, etc. And their employees do, in fact, look different from the usual fast food workers quite simply because the company pays so much more, meaning they appeal to neighborhood kids instead of just bussed-in desperate immigrant workers (sorry, but that's a fact too). Now, if you like burgers cooked ahead of time (so you don't have to wait) from frozen (in most cases) patties that then sit in a "PHU" (Product Handling Unit) until they're soggy and have globules of fat forming on the surface, served with pre-cut processed onions, and pre-cut processed lettuce, etc. ... then by all means head off to the big chains. If, on the other hand, you like fresh ground beef cooked to-order (taking a little time - get over it!) and then served on a fresh (not previously frozen) bun with fresh vegetable toppings, etc., then In 'n' Out's your place. Or not. It's up to you.

burgerhistorian | 2:27 p.m. Dec. 8, 2008

The Anonymous critic that plugs Five Guys has got to be on the five guys payroll. Five Guys is nothing like in-n-out. 5guys cost twice as much and is comparable to wendys or jackinthe box in quality. For what you pay, which is about 1/2 of what 5guys costs, in-n-out is way superior. Don't drink the 5 guys cool aid. Besides ripping off in-n-out decor, 5guys is nothing like in-n-out.

Also for the other Anonymous poster, McDonald's was started in California. Ray Crock opened the first units in Illinois under his agreement with the McDonald brothers (who started the original McDonald's in San Bernardino CA).

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