Anyone else think In-N-Out is incredibly overrated? (Riverside: moving to, best)

[EclecticEars]

In-N-Out's burgers...AWESOME!

In-N-Out's fries...I've had better tasting fries at McDonald's and Burger King. However, I appreciate the fact that INO's fries are not prepackaged, deep frozen and just deep fried, but rather from sliced-on-site potatoes.

[ExNooYawk]

What? WHAT?! In-n-Out burgers OVERRATED? NO WAY!

Picture this: Hungry folks arriving on a late--night flight from Oregon to AZ. Driving in the dark wilderness, hoping for a sign of food. Any sign of food. An oasis to a water-deprived camel. What do we see but... A sign for "In-n-Out" burgers. We leave the freeway. Drive to said location. Give thanks to the god of fast food. Avail ourselves of the best food west of the Mississippi. Heck, how about west of the UK?
There is a god. His name is 'In-n-Out'.

Skid marks in the road may still be visible from when DH made the, uh, 'sharp' turn off the freeway to get to the destination in question.
Okay, fine.
You are dying of thirst. Literally dying. You'd settle for a mud puddle. You'd settle for a swamp. What do you see, but... A sign for In - n - Out burger? I mean, we're talking Niagra Falls to a water-deprived individual.
My knees still hurt from hitting the ground to give thanks.
Seriously.

[worldlyman]

Originally Posted by Lumerian Feast

I apologize in advance for the sacrilege.

When I told people I was moving here, many of them said "Oh! You HAVE to go to In-N-Out!" When I tell people that I now live here, In-N-Out is one of the first things they mention. And of course, whenever you drive by, there is a line snaking out of the parking lot into the street. There's an article in today's LA Times referring to In-N-Out as "perfection."

So I went, hoping for this amazing experience. And I got:

A cheeseburger that basically tastes like a McDonald's cheeseburger.

Fries that, while I appreciate they're made from real potatoes, were dry and unremarkable.

A Coke that was fine.

I know, sometimes a restaurant can have an off day. So I went back to the In-N-Out in my neighborhood several times. And I went to several different locations in other parts of town. I really wanted to give it a chance. But I had pretty much the same experience every time. I think I'm done trying.

I know, I know: In-N-Out is homegrown. They butcher and deliver their own meat, bake their own buns, slice their own fries. They apparently pay their employees a very good wage and have generous incentives for top managers. That's great. They sound like a good corporation.

But the food itself? Eh. For fast food, frankly, I prefer Wendy's or Burger King.

I know that many here will find this appalling. I'm sorry. I'm just wondering if there are others out there who don't understand the In-N-Out worship.

I lived in SoCal for 5 years. They actually think that's a burger out there.

It's fine fast food novelty, I guess. I only went like 5 times my whole time there. Average of once a year. Actually preferred Johnny Rockets.

Texas Burger in the small Texas towns is way better too. Fresh and big...it's quite better tasting. But they are not in Dallas or Houston.

Whataburger is not quite the same quality but I love that big mustard style. So filling and huge, you don't even need fries with a Whataburger with cheese.

Beck's Prime in Houston. As far as a real burger drive through or stop, that place destroys In N Out. Pricey, but when you're out to eat a food that you shouldn't really eat regularly, that's the place to go.

Everyone's got different tastes.

[DewDropInn]

Had one today. Cheeseburger, no tomato, no onions, fries, Coke.

I have to say that one of the best things about In-N-Out is the "help" is so friendly and efficient. Drive thru is quick. They've got you're order taken before you are at the speaker.

Fries aren't fabulous but the whole "experience" is, to me, positive. Price is right too.

[Jonotastic]

Best fast food chain!!!

[Dub D]

Is In-N-Out overrated compared to some other places in the US? Maybe

In SoCal? Heck no

Their burgers are awesome. I will say the fries can be crappy but when you go there, you must eat the fries before the burger or it will not be hot.

Compared to Carls Jr and Jack in the Box, similiar prices. Sure MCD and BK are cheaper but thats if you get the weaker items on the menu.

I always get Animal style burger. Getting animal fries is a massive wastes of money. My buddy use to work for In-n-Out, managers love when people get animal fries. Charge an extra $1.50 or so for the sauce you can get for free if you ask, cheese and onions. Its like $1.30 in profit.

I also think there soda taste fresher as well. I know from the same buddy they clean the hell out of the place every night. I really doubt any other fast food chain does that.

I will say I perfer Checkers in Orlando over In-N-Out in taste but In-N-Out is good.

If you want to hate on fast food, hate on Sonics and Bakers. I have no clue why people enjoy those places other than trying something different.

[MIKEETC]

Originally Posted by Dub D

Is In-N-Out overrated compared to some other places in the US? Maybe

...

I also think there soda taste fresher as well. I know from the same buddy they clean the hell out of the place every night. I really doubt any other fast food chain does that.

...

I will second this. When I worked for INO, the last shift would clean at night before leaving - everything was cleaned and there was no evidence of any food anywhere (except where it belonged). In the morning an employee, with only this assignment, would come in at around 4am and clean the store again - inside and out.

[ranai]

I think to even begin to understand, you'd have to be raised in so cal when they were so small that there were only a handful of them around. They were not in every community back then, so when you traveled thru the areas that did, you had to stop for this rare burger that u just couldn't get where you lived on a whim. It was a rare treat. So you had to have one cause who knew when you'd be in the area again. Then they slowly ventured out and as they became more available you were so stoked to get one anytime you wanted you did. It is truly a California thing. I now live in AZ and the closest one sadly is 91 aching miles away in Tucson. But when we head out there that is the one place we stop and eat because now just like growing up in cali, who knows when we'll be able to have another. Also you mentioned you went to several and got the same thing every time. this is why people love them you always know what your gonna get. Unlike the burger chains out there who don't care if you get your burger hot or if the fries they serve you have been under the warmer too long. And someone else said the burgers were too rare in the miiddle, In n Out makes your burger to order all you need to do is tell your server you want it well done otherwise they assume medium is how you take it.

Originally Posted by Lumerian Feast

I apologize in advance for the sacrilege.

When I told people I was moving here, many of them said "Oh! You HAVE to go to In-N-Out!" When I tell people that I now live here, In-N-Out is one of the first things they mention. And of course, whenever you drive by, there is a line snaking out of the parking lot into the street. There's an article in today's LA Times referring to In-N-Out as "perfection."

So I went, hoping for this amazing experience. And I got:

A cheeseburger that basically tastes like a McDonald's cheeseburger.

Fries that, while I appreciate they're made from real potatoes, were dry and unremarkable.

A Coke that was fine.

I know, sometimes a restaurant can have an off day. So I went back to the In-N-Out in my neighborhood several times. And I went to several different locations in other parts of town. I really wanted to give it a chance. But I had pretty much the same experience every time. I think I'm done trying.

I know, I know: In-N-Out is homegrown. They butcher and deliver their own meat, bake their own buns, slice their own fries. They apparently pay their employees a very good wage and have generous incentives for top managers. That's great. They sound like a good corporation.

But the food itself? Eh. For fast food, frankly, I prefer Wendy's or Burger King.

I know that many here will find this appalling. I'm sorry. I'm just wondering if there are others out there who don't understand the In-N-Out worship.

[vmeyerw]

overrated for sure ! its ok i like sonic better ...

[Dub D]

Sonic's suck. They are just starting to put some up in my area after nearly a decade of commericals. Had to drive like 30 miles to get Sonic's. The two locations closest to me (Anaheim and new one in Duarte) are in crappy spots too. If I want to eat in my car, I will go home and eat.