Why doesn't Houston have an In-N-Out Yet?! I deserve it. (Dallas: price, moving to)

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by slo1318

You can have them adjust the fries. Try ordering them "light" or "well done" see if you like them better.


On your other point, based on their proximities in California, Houston is not to far unless there plan is to build another facility first for more regional expansion along the gulf.

I'm surprised that they did not build their facility in Houston to serve both the I-35 corridor and the Gulf Coast in the future. Probably poor planning by the company management and their consultants. Should have hired geographers instead!

But then I got disgusted when I ate at the Kingman, AZ location on my last road trip 6 years ago. The inside was a little pink, like medium in doneness. Got them to cook it again. Same thing happened when I ate in the Daly City location on that same trip. Yuck! Must be some Western thing to undercook the ground beef!

But within the past 5 years, the burger market has become cutthroat. Not just for chains expanding into Houston/Texas, but local startups that became successful. I learned about Bernies when the University Center at UH was being rehabbed and they came in everyday to serve lunch (and sometimes dinner) to hungry college students and some professors/university staff. I was surprised that they were serving lunch for a few Saturdays at Ooh La La, 5 minutes around the corner from my house in Cinco Ranch/Katy. "Why would they come all the way to Katy from the Inner Loop?", I thought.

Now they just opened a permanent location in La Centerra, between Zöe's and Grimaldi's (which also opened soon after). They only have one other restaurant in Bellaire (city). Just wondering why they chose my humble home of Katy over all the other Houston suburbs!

Ironically Elevation Burger is currently building their second location in TEXAS and will open soon in Seven Meadows/Katy, also 5 minutes away from my house in another direction. The Smashburger (one of 3 in the Katy area) is in the strip mall across the freeway.

Looks like an oversaturated market right now!

[Gunion Powder]

In-N-Out prob wants to be the star player in every market they enter. They can't do that in Houston.

I don't mind a little pink on the inside, though.

[JJG]

Houston has Carl Jr.s... Which is much better than In N Out.

[slo1318]

Originally Posted by JJG

Houston has Carl Jr.s... Which is much better than In N Out.

Uh, no. Carls is more in line with Whataburger. Both a step down from In N Out.

[slo1318]

Originally Posted by Gunion Powder

In-N-Out prob wants to be the star player in every market they enter. They can't do that in Houston.

I don't mind a little pink on the inside, though.

All big cities are over saturated right now, In N Out doesnt necessarily want to take over, but they are strategic in location and all of the locations do very well.

[TexasHorseLady]

I tried In N Out, as did my husband, to be fair and to find out what the cult was about and give them a chance. The burger was mediocre (for both him and for me, so it wasn't a matter of hitting them at a bad time), not seemingly fresher than any other burger I've had except maybe McDonald's, and the fries were so bad that I ate two or three and threw the rest away - which if you know me is unthinkable, I'll eat my own fries and find myself poaching my husband's!

I did notice when the one opened up near us, there were lines and lines at the beginning, and when I went after they'd been open a few months I was the second car in line with only one behind me, and since I shop near there I've seen that that's pretty common.

The servers were nice, but nice will only take you so far.

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by slo1318

All big cities are over saturated right now, In N Out doesnt necessarily want to take over, but they are strategic in location and all of the locations do very well.

You're saying that all cities have the same concentration of great burger restaurants as Houston?

How did the other Texas cities get INO while the company itself has said there are no current plans to enter Southeast Texas? What is the strategy behind that?

[JJG]

Originally Posted by slo1318

Uh, no. Carls is more in line with Whataburger. Both a step down from In N Out.

Yeah... no.

[slo1318]

Originally Posted by Gunion Powder

You're saying that all cities have the same concentration of great burger restaurants as Houston?

How did the other Texas cities get INO while the company itself has said there are no current plans to enter Southeast Texas? What is the strategy behind that?

Sure, I dont think Houston would be any different than Dallas. LA is really the epicenter of the Burger. IN N Out is a staple in So Cal because of their freshness, quality, consistency. They just do things better. Often times I will compare them to ChicFila. They operate very similarly.

InNOut is a private company and they have their own strategy, they dont franchise so they do expansion slowly in their own time. They could easily be nationwide if they wanted to...

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by JJG

Yeah... no.

I'd have to admit I agree with slo. I've never been a regular customer at any of these establishments, but I would give INO the edge on taste alone. Carls Jr is altogether forgettable, and Whataburger simply never impressed me. There are several Texas brands that I loyally patronize, but WB never earned my allegiance.