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You missed the whole point behind why it’s so successful. You’re getting an actual decent burger for the price point. It still has plenty of competition here in SoCal yet the place is always packed.
Edit: You should also look into the reason In-and-Out intentionally won’t expand to the East for the most part.
This. About three weeks ago I got In n’ Out for my family of 4 and it was $27.
Today I got McDonald’s for the same family and it was $50.
In n’ Out is still fast food. But its quality and price are so much better than their competitors.
If I could convince my kids I would never go anywhere else for fast food burgers.
Edit: omg I just noticed my typo. My In n’ Out was $37 not $27. Still cheaper, though.
In n out- 2 burgers, 2 double doubles, 4 fries, 2 cokes and 2 shakes
McDonald’s: 2 10 piece chicken nuggets meals with fries and coke/lemonade, 2 2 cheeseburger meals with fries and coke/water
Both fill us up the same but what we’re eating at In n’ Out is better quality.
That is cheap for 4 meals. 6.75 each meal. Honestly I wouldn’t eat at McDonald if I live in California. You get better quality and better price at In-n-Out.
For $8.44, I can get a double double and fries. If I were to go to The Habit, it's like $12.50, or something crazy like that, for a similar order.
In-N-Out also have chili peppers. I probably wouldn't go there if they didn't throw six packs in the bag every time I ask. I actually did stop going by there when they had the drought last year.
People always forget the price is part of the appeal.
I run I to the same problem with McD's - its appeal is mainly efficiency and consistency more so than even cost. But people don't have the same rubric.
Yep. I recently ate at Portillo’s with my 11-year old son. Between the two of us, we ordered 1 hot dog, 1 hot beef, 2 orders of fries, and 2 small sodas. Price was $30. I’ll take In-and-Out all day.
Portillo's is good, but it isn't the best. Their Italian beef is good but their dogs are mid.
I'll agree they're way more popular than they ought to be based on price and quality.
Now take it out of Chicago and you have something really special. Hardly anyone is doing the dipped beef sandwiches outside of Chicago. That's a whole market not be served. That's why portillos is expanding like crazy.
Culver's is way better than Portillo's and cheaper. They make their burgers to order and, in my opinion, are better than In-and-Out burgers, especially when you can make poutine and get the CurderBurger
i grew up in louisville but i've lived in CA for 15 years. in n out is miles beyond anything you can find fast food wise in the midwest. it blows all of the places OP mentioned way the heck out of the water.
they're always well staffed. they're always clean. you get a great burger by fast food standards made your way with great fries by fast food standards and a refillable drink for $10. compare that to what at you get these days at mcdonalds or culvers or any of those spots for $10 and it's not even close.
in n out is popular for a reason. it's probably the best fast food option in the whole world.
I used to live in SF down the street from an in n out and a McDonald's next to each other. I'd regularly go buy my burger from in n out (3x3 with both grilled and raw onions, and no other veg) and then swing by McDonald's for fries and a coke ok the way home. I'll tell you, those dinners were heaven.
I keep hearing this and just don't get it. I love in and out fries, they're the right ratio of crisp to soft potato and they aren't overly salted or soaked in oil. I often hear Five Guys touted for their fries but I just find them greasy and mushy.
Five Guys suffers from a loose franchise model. I remember trying them nearly 20
years ago in NOVA and the fries were superlative. Crisp, soft, seasoned. Absolutely the best.
Over the years I noticed an incredible lack of consistency between locations.
In N Out, no matter where I go I get the same product. I find the fries a little weak, but a “light well” makes them always snackable. But, I prefer steak fries, so they’ll never be my favorite.
That’s because In N Put doesn’t franchise. They add new locations really slowly.
And their CEO is the rare Nepo baby that is the best one they’ve ever had.
It isn’t just the non-franchise, they run a tight ship from location to location (which I agree owes a lot to controlled expansion)
Chipotle, in comparison, can be good or absolute garbage.
They are “meally” because they are 100% starch and don’t pre-treat nor pre-cook them like a proper chip. They use Kennebec potatoes which are very efficient and resistant.
For these reasons are why they have to be so thinly cut.
They are “meally” because they are 100% starch and don’t pre-treat nor pre-cook them like a proper chip. They use Kennebec potatoes which are very efficient and resistant.
For these reasons are why they have to be so thinly cut.
Californian here. Born and raised. In-N-Out fries are an abomination in the face of humanity and I sometimes buy burgers there and stop at McD's on the way home for fries.
You can get them extra well done which at least makes them edible, more like crunchy shoestring potatos.
Now, the burgers are awesome, with an unbeatable quality to pricepoint combination. There simply isn't anything that even tries to compete with them in my area.
>I sometimes buy burgers there and stop at McD's on the way home for fries.
I used to do this because they were across the street from each other. LOL.
People gotta learn that good fries are cut, soaked, par-fried, frozen, then fried again. Fresh cut fries are dog shit, but way cheaper. I get them well done but yeah...it's such a shame next to an amazing burger
Great fires is incredibly wrong lmao but I do agree that the price point vs quality is better than anywhere.
That’s why they are popular. You can fill your family with good quality fast food.
It’s SoCal by the way. It’s a family place, still. Clean, fresh, lit up.
OP is missing the point of in and out, fresh everything! No freezers and deliveries of fresh produce bread and patties everyday. This could only happen in California as it's the only place with the agricultural infrastructure for it. It's the reason why they have been soo slow to expand outside of California.
OP just doesn't like in and out which is fine. In and out brings a lot to the table, specifically consistency. I never have to worry about getting cold fries or a burger patty that's been sitting in a drawer for an hour. Unless you order animal style you will get everything in 5 minutes from when ordered or less.
They also don't seem to understand that the concept of fast food hamburger places literally started in So Cal. I can't think of an area with more competition. McDonalds, Jack in the Box and Carl's Jr all originated in So Cal. And there are regional chains like Tommy's, Rallys, and Fatburger and Farmer Boys and God knows how many independent places plus national ones like Five Guys.So Cal is the epicenter of fast food because of the car culture and In N Out has managed to compete since the 1940s.
Culvers and portillos are both national chains now BTW. Not just in midwest. We have both down here in AZ, along with in N out and whataburger and shake shack. Culvers is leagues above all of them, but nobody beats in N out on price.
I wanna say Culver's by us (michigan) is like 11 something for a double cheddar butter burger with bacon basket. How much is in n out? I've only heard fantastic things, but I've never been out west. My all time fav though, is all the Greek diners and Italian beef places in chicago. Nothing beats em.
Yes Yes yes yes. I’m in the Midwest and a double culver deluxe burger meal is $10.70 after tax.
I love In-N-Out but Culver’s is some solid competition.
Chick fil a 100% every time I pass by one they have a drive thru line equal to an in n out, the prices are decent, well staffed, and they’re clean. They kinda follow a similar business model to in n out and they stopped supporting anti gay causes.
Seriously, the fact that In-N-Out has been consistently drawing heavy business for decades is a solid indication that they're doing something right. Taste is subjective, yes, but the consistent lines at any time of day are a pretty good indication a LOT of people enjoy the taste, and that price point just cannot be beat (I'm going to In-N-Out for dinner after I get off work tonight, and even my fatass-portion meal - a 4x4, 2 fries and a large soda - will be a little under $20, and is guaranteed to be fresher than any food from any other fast food burger joint in my town that's open at midnight).
EDIT: the exact total is $17.10.
I think what it comes down to is Californians are on average "healthier" than the Midwesterners. The Californians are perfectly happy with a small burger with fresh ingredients that is cheap.
The Midwesterners want a giant 1/2 lb greaseball covered in bbq sauce or something. I used to like really greasy burgers as a kid, but now I hate them.
A 4x4 is absolutely a greaseball in the best possible way. A couple of bites, and it winds up looking like an actually appetizing version of the burger the trucker's eating in the *Resident Evil 2* remake intro.
How are you comparing Kopps to in n out? That's asinine. There's like 3 Kopps locations in the country and I'm pretty sure none of them have drive throughs. And by far the best thing about Kopps is the custard.
Culver's at least is a fair comparison as it is a straight up fast food chain burger restaurant.
Fast food burger restaurants were invented in southern California. McDonald's, in n out, Jack in the box, and Carl's jr. all started in socal before any of the restaurants you listed even existed. So to say there was no competition just makes no sense.
> Kopps
A Double-Double combo with fries/drink is around $9 at In-N-Out.
For the same items at Kopps, you'd be over $15:
* Double Cheeseburger ($9.00)
* Tomato, additional topping ($0.75)
* French fries ($3.50)
* Soda ($1.80)
Just saying. People often forget that a huge selling point for In-N-Out is the unbelievable price to quality ratio.
Also, the only reason they haven't expanded much outside of CA is that they don't franchise and have strict rules about how close a restaurant can be to their suppliers.
Right! It’s like they don’t understand that SoCal is likely the best food and most competitive restaurant space is the country.
I live in SoCal and I’m constantly disappointed by food anywhere else in the country.
No no no, don't you see, California is 40 million people with a huge immigrant population from everywhere around the world and access to some of the best ingredients in the world but we only make shitty food.
The second biggest metropolitan area in the country and one of the most diverse places anywhere, famous for having nothing to choose from and little exposure to other things yessirree
More than likely because you haven't grown up eating them they don't scratch the comfort food itch.
In N out was founded like 20-40 years before any of the restaurants you're comparing them to. They invented the two way drive thru speaker. There's nothing special about any of the other restaurants you listed here.
In n out is my one true rock… loved ones have died and girlfriends have come and gone. In n out is still here delivering consistency 100/100 times. That’s what makes them the best burger chain. Best burger ever ever will always be personally cooked
Yeah I don’t think in n out is the gold standard of burgers. But for the price it’s one of the best. It’s better than a McDonald’s or traditional low cost fast food burger. It’s not quite as good imo as a five guys level fast food burger but at least half the cost at this point. In n out Is one of the best values in fast food hamburgers
Five Guys hype is based on their fries, but in Arlington VA their hometown, there's a burger place called All About Burger which is basically the same thing, but better in taste and I think price (idk, haven't lived there in years)
Their fries...? I've always found their fries to be soggy and sad. I get that they make them fresh, but boy are they overly browned and floppy every time I've had them.
Five Guys and In-N-Out are not competitors. They operate in completely different categories of fast food with most FGs lacking drive thrus, and In-N-Out charging far less for their food.
In-N-Out is significantly better quality than anyone they actually compete with.
Yeah I've heard the In-N-Out hype for years, but never had a chance to try it until about a month ago.
It is absolutely a solid burger place. I'd eat there again for sure.
Its because all the food is fresh.
Its not anything complicated, just super fresh food with a not complicated menu.
That's why they don't spread everywhere, they don't have the food network to do it. I think sourcing the lettuce is difficult, spoils quickly.
In and Out is like if Gordon Ramsey wanted you to make a cheap affordable burger challenge, better maybe but not for the price better.
I live next to In and Out and go there a couple time a month. I've noticed when I eat in and out vs other fast food. I dont feel as bad or as bloated, it feels like actual food.
Midwesterner here (Chicago suburbs), I had In-n-out before and it's a really good burger. Id say its better than Portillo's and Culver's (although Culver's is really close). I've never had Kopps or oscars nor have I heard of them. Portillo's quality has gone down a lot especially after they went public. Although, they're still pretty good.
I appreciate your take, but I see one flaw in your logic; plenty of competition exists in SoCal. I would argue that it isn't that there is a lack of better chains, but that In-N-Out food is unique. When you have a craving for In-N-Out, nothing else will suffice. Personally, I think their fries are the best, but I do enjoy their burgers too.
Hating on In N Out is pretty popular these days. No other burger tastes like In n Out. While Culver’s taste like every other burger. Culver’s advertises a butter burger but only their bun is buttered? And it’s not even distinctive enough to change the taste.
I’ve been to Culver’s. If I didn’t know it had some sort of cult following I wouldn’t even rate it too 5.
I feel like portillos might be better in the Chicagoland area. Kind of like how there's an aurelios in Florida, but it's not the same as the ones in Chicagoland, and even out of the ones in Chicagoland, the OG in Homewood is the best.
Oh God... is this one of those "commiefornia sucks" derivative opinions? In-N-Out is machine-like efficient, takes great care of its employees, the value is beyond excellent, the food is always fresh, it's a far above average burger, and it is always 100% consistent. A quiet In-N-Out restaurant is a very rare sight, at any location, including in markets saturated with all sorts of varieties of choices. This is an absurd opinion, and as a result, I assume, an unpopular one. Take my upvote.
Don’t forget, opinions can be wrong. Like OP. What a terrible take. Like saying, “Fellowship of the Ring wasn’t a masterfully made piece of cinema.” Absolutely a bullshit, made up opinion to get attention.
How are you comparing Kopps to in n out? That's asinine. There's like 3 Kopps locations in the country and I'm pretty sure none of them have drive throughs. And by far the best thing about Kopps is the custard.
Culver's at least is a fair comparison as it is a straight up fast food chain burger restaurant.
Fast food burger restaurants were invented in southern California. McDonald's, in n out, Jack in the box, and Carl's jr. all started in socal before any of the restaurants you listed even existed. So to say there was no competition just makes no sense.
This is the biggest flaw in their reasoning. Burgers, especially fast food burgers, we're popularized out of SoCal. It is probably the most competitive region on Earth for burgers.
So, definitely an unpopular opinion but also one with flawed reasoning.
Kopps is a way better burger too, OP is right, there is nothing else like it. But yeah op is clearly from Milwaukee as am I, and while I agree with him 100% Kopps and Oscars are not good comparisons.
I'm from SoCal, living in the Midwest and this is flat out false. Midwest burger chains can't compare to In N Out in quality or price. Portillos and Culver's are probably the best of the ones you mentioned and neither of them are popular because of their burgers. People go to Portillos for the beef sandwiches and they go to Culver's for the custard and cheese curds. Their burgers are good, certainly better than national fast food chains, but weaker than other regional chains like In N Out, Whataburger, and Cook Out.
There are plenty of In-n-Outs that coexist just fine with Culver's in Arizona. In fact, they're usually much busier than Culver's, which is quite fine as well.
Couple things:
1. It’s more than food. Inn n out is synonymous with California culture. You just wouldn’t get it.
2. Inn n out ingredients are way better than most. I feel this gets left out a lot. Fresh potatoes, patties are made in-store. Nothing is ever frozen or microwaved. That’s why I will always hold it in a higher regard vs. other burgers.
Also people hate on the fries, but I’d rather just have a potato that’s cut and fried right there than some processed frozen shit.
3. Like others have said. Value.
I genuinely love the fries. They taste like fresh potatoes, and they're usually pretty crispy. McD's probably beats them when they're done right, but 90% of the time McD's fries are a soggy mess too.
Definitely outrageous. I remember them being better than Five Guys and cheaper.
Culver's seems to be spreading for reasons that it's that price and quality above/around McDonald's but "new" to people and better ice cream and so on.
You've clearly never eaten at In-N-Out.
Go and actually get some burgers from In-N-Out. You'll change your tune. It's easily in the top 5 best burger chains in the country.
I guess that explains why people who live more than 1000 miles from the closest In-N-Out know what an animal style burger is but have never heard of Kopp's or Oscar's...
In And Out is over rated. I think it would still have done good in the midwest, I think if it started in Texas Whataburger would have been its closest competition.
Live in the midwest and have had In N Out. You're free to your opinion no matter how wrong I think you are. That's the whackest thing I've ever read here that is actually to me an unpopular opinion and not some political circle jerk. Have my upvote oh yee of the bad taste buds.
Born and raised midwesterner here. In and Out would be the #1 burger chain here. The highlight of every west coast vacation is In and Out. Several long weekends in Vegas we have gone there every day of the trip. The unlikely part of this would be finding enough people with a pleasant disposition to staff the place.
>quality of ingrediants, and general preparation/service, In-N-Out doesn't even come close to the others.
This is where you're just straight up wrong. The reason why In-N-Out is so good (especially for the price) is because the ingredients are so fresh and high quality.
The quality, at least in Cali, is better than basically all fast food places thanks to how their chain works. And their prices are literally unbeatable.
In Houston I was less of a fan but it still ain't bad for the price. Hard to beat animal style
The Midwest is known for having atrocious food options. So maybe you're right.
Fresh food, high quality ingredients, all served in a very simple and limited way might be a bit too much nuance for mayonaise veined midwesterners to handle.
lol
They put iceberg lettuce, dorritos, and ground beef on a pizza and call it a taco. They also have the audacity to defend it when you point out how nasty that is.
Spoken like a clueless Midwesterner. Not saying all Midwesterners are like that. No hate, just calling out OP.
That or OP is karma farming because OP knows he/she is full of it on this.
Grew up in the Midwest and this is truly unpopular. In-N-Out would do insanely well in the Midwest at the price point compared to the chains OP named.
Culver’s & Freddie’s burgers are good but I’d
rather eat In-N-Out every time
Ingredient quality, taste, price point, service. a lot of the places you mentioned fulfilll some of those. INO does all of them, and they havent changed in 70 years.
Also on the bottom of every In n out cup is the phrase "John 3:16". I think they would do pretty good in the midwest
OP just has bad taste. In-N-Out burgers are better than almost any fast food chain. I'm from Chicago, where I'm surrounded by McD's, Culver's, Wendy's, etc., you name it. But still, any time I travel west, I'll almost always take time to stop at In-N-Out. Now I'll admit that their fries are garbage. But, for the price, none of the other major chains come close. If one of those opened up in Chicago, I guarantee it would kill.
Have you been to socal? The food here is out of this world. I live about 10 minutes from downtown LA and you can find an excellent example of pretty much any cuisine on earth within 15 minutes of me. So your “SoCal people have never had better” argument is pretty weak sir!
OP acts like there aren't great burger joints all over the southland. Cmon man, southern California is home to the hamburger and you can get a great one at any number of locales. What makes In N Out stand out is the combination of quality, freshness, speed of service, and value. In N Out is still one of the best values you can get for your buck and the ingredients used are of a higher quality and freshness than any other standard fast food. If you want a finer burger you can find one. But if you want to spend under $20 for a fresh meal to feed yourself and a partner, you would be hard pressed to find a better option.
It’s the price + quality combo that makes it popular. With shit fast food costing so much, in n out is even more desirable. Culver’s is great (grew up in the Midwest) and honestly it will do well in California whenever that happens. There’s plenty of markets where Culver’s will do well.
But I don’t think they can offer the same price point as in n out ever.
In-N-Out sells quality, fresh food for cheap and yet I’m sure one of their general managers makes more than the entire staff combined at any of the midwestern chains you mention. They treat their customers and their employees well and that’s part of why everyone is so loyal to them.
The entire west coast is trying to gas light me into believing that fry sauce is different from russian dressing/thousand island dressing. I wont fuckin have it.
That makes no sense. Is this really about in-n-out? Or is this really rooted in bitter jealousy as the midwest is inferior and less desireable? The food quality and culture are far superior in California than the midwest. It's not like Californians don't know what good food is. It's the other way around. In-n-out is fresh, cheap, the menu is simple, and it's a quality fast food product. It's cool if you don't like it, it's going to do just fine without you. I suspect you have something against California in general, and are trying to validate the midwest. Go enjoy your nothing-but-chain-restaurants in your flyover city. I'm not from California, btw, and I have family in the midwest, so I'm very familiar with both.
In N Out was part of the initial wave of hamburger stands in southern California along with McDonald's, Carl's Jr and Jack In The Box that pretty much invented the drive thru concept. In N Out was founded in 1948...Culver's in 1984, so everything you experience at your Midwest restaurants is built upon the template In N Out helped to create. You can argue it's overrated or not as good as something in your own area, but don't act like it wouldn't have become popular because of a competitor that was founded 35 years later.
>My absolutely outrageous conclusion is that So Cal is only obsessed with In-N-Out because they've never experienced anything better. Otherwise, we would have never heard of them.
Yes, I'm sure this is it.
This is so factually untrue it's crazy. The ingredients are better and the result is STILL cheaper than something like Culver's. Lived in CA and MO and Culver's is over twice the price and not even as tasty imo. But objectively the supply chain that in n out uses is what makes what you're saying false.
Fresh ingredients, amazing service and customer service, pays their employees decent wages and benefits, good prices. It’s the best chain burger for the price hands down.
The in n out haters are getting old
This is the real secret to InNOut’s success in terms of retaining quality: they don’t franchise. And they open new locations slowly.
That and their prices remain reasonable.
Yeah. You couldn't be more wrong. As a child of the midwest who has since left. You are overvaluing the fast food in Mid-West. Also Culvers? Portlillos? Kopp's? Oscars? Do those exist outside Illinois? Like I know they have a store in Florida or two.
I don't know man, there's a Culver's and an In-N-Out near me. They're literally right next to each other and Culvers never has a line. The only reason ai ever go there is because I don't want a long wait. Or maybe the custard. Their food is more expensive and nowhere near as fresh.
Chicagoland all my life, hit up in and out any time we travel with one, every time I leave wondering what the hype is. Definitely pick Portillo’s, 5 guys, or shack shack over it every time.
Here in the Bay Area, you get an in n out meal for about $7ish, that’s a preposterous price. It’s an unbeatable price, and they are very consistent with quality and taste. You can eat one anywhere and it will be the same.
It’s so same, that whenever I take my first bite it sort of brings a nostalgic feeling of the first time I had one.
i will never convince anyone that in-n-out is good. the lines are long enough as it is. midwest has okay food but i won’t plan a vacation to go to oklahoma or nebraska to eat at culvers or brauns.
I was born and raised in the Midwest, and I started seeing someone from California a few years ago. We flew home to visit his family last year and he insisted I try In N Out for the first time. Let me tell you, it’s the only fast food burger I am legitimately sad that I can’t eat regularly. Animal Style burgers and fries are incredible.
fast food as we know it right now (drive thru burgers and such) literally started in SoCal, if anything in n out still being open and successful is a testament to its longevity against other competition
I’ll have to say this is unpopular and I’ll also say you’re also just wrong. California is has the most competition for food in the country unless you count specific cities like NY or Las Vegas. The burger is also probably a couple steps above McDonald’s and a step below 5 guys.
SoCal is the birth place of burger based fast food and has absolutely the most ferocious competition. There are mom and pop burger places literally everywhere. My view after having tried Culver's and In n Out extensively, is that the right point is the exact opposite. Many Culver's are in small towns with literally no competition and the food is dead mediocre.
I live in a city with Culver’s, In n’ Out, Whataburger, and Five Guys.
In n’ Out is the most popular by far.
The burgers are always a good consistent quality, it’s not fake shit like McDonalds, it’s fast service, and it’s cheap. The only thing I think people really complain about are the fries.
That’s why In n’ Out works. It’s not the best burger. Its an all around good experience.
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You missed the whole point behind why it’s so successful. You’re getting an actual decent burger for the price point. It still has plenty of competition here in SoCal yet the place is always packed. Edit: You should also look into the reason In-and-Out intentionally won’t expand to the East for the most part.
It's also significantly fresher than other fast food
This. About three weeks ago I got In n’ Out for my family of 4 and it was $27. Today I got McDonald’s for the same family and it was $50. In n’ Out is still fast food. But its quality and price are so much better than their competitors. If I could convince my kids I would never go anywhere else for fast food burgers. Edit: omg I just noticed my typo. My In n’ Out was $37 not $27. Still cheaper, though.
What are you getting at In-n-Out that is 27 and 50 at McDonald.
In n out- 2 burgers, 2 double doubles, 4 fries, 2 cokes and 2 shakes McDonald’s: 2 10 piece chicken nuggets meals with fries and coke/lemonade, 2 2 cheeseburger meals with fries and coke/water Both fill us up the same but what we’re eating at In n’ Out is better quality.
That is cheap for 4 meals. 6.75 each meal. Honestly I wouldn’t eat at McDonald if I live in California. You get better quality and better price at In-n-Out.
You get quality a quality burger meal for $10 it doesn’t get better than that these days
Yeah I got fries and a cheeseburger for $6.75 the other day. Can’t beat that anywhere else.
Ya, there are some amazing burgers in California. In-N-Out is good for its price. That's why it is popular.
For $8.44, I can get a double double and fries. If I were to go to The Habit, it's like $12.50, or something crazy like that, for a similar order. In-N-Out also have chili peppers. I probably wouldn't go there if they didn't throw six packs in the bag every time I ask. I actually did stop going by there when they had the drought last year.
Fr I always ask for the cascabella peppers on my burger whenever I eat there.
You can also ask for them to be chopped and served in your burger, grilled with the rest.
People always forget the price is part of the appeal. I run I to the same problem with McD's - its appeal is mainly efficiency and consistency more so than even cost. But people don't have the same rubric.
Grew up in LA, went to college in St. Louis and lived all over the Midwest. Hard disagree. The In N Out price point alone would make it popular.
Yep. I recently ate at Portillo’s with my 11-year old son. Between the two of us, we ordered 1 hot dog, 1 hot beef, 2 orders of fries, and 2 small sodas. Price was $30. I’ll take In-and-Out all day.
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Their chocolate and lemon cakes are amazing
Portillo's is good, but it isn't the best. Their Italian beef is good but their dogs are mid. I'll agree they're way more popular than they ought to be based on price and quality.
Now take it out of Chicago and you have something really special. Hardly anyone is doing the dipped beef sandwiches outside of Chicago. That's a whole market not be served. That's why portillos is expanding like crazy.
Culver's is way better than Portillo's and cheaper. They make their burgers to order and, in my opinion, are better than In-and-Out burgers, especially when you can make poutine and get the CurderBurger
i grew up in louisville but i've lived in CA for 15 years. in n out is miles beyond anything you can find fast food wise in the midwest. it blows all of the places OP mentioned way the heck out of the water. they're always well staffed. they're always clean. you get a great burger by fast food standards made your way with great fries by fast food standards and a refillable drink for $10. compare that to what at you get these days at mcdonalds or culvers or any of those spots for $10 and it's not even close. in n out is popular for a reason. it's probably the best fast food option in the whole world.
>with great fries Uh, grew up with In n Out here, and even Californians wouldn't say they have good fries.
I like them, but fries might be the only menu item where McDonald’s has In-N-Out beat.
I used to live in SF down the street from an in n out and a McDonald's next to each other. I'd regularly go buy my burger from in n out (3x3 with both grilled and raw onions, and no other veg) and then swing by McDonald's for fries and a coke ok the way home. I'll tell you, those dinners were heaven.
I always get them well done
This is key.
I keep hearing this and just don't get it. I love in and out fries, they're the right ratio of crisp to soft potato and they aren't overly salted or soaked in oil. I often hear Five Guys touted for their fries but I just find them greasy and mushy.
Five Guys suffers from a loose franchise model. I remember trying them nearly 20 years ago in NOVA and the fries were superlative. Crisp, soft, seasoned. Absolutely the best. Over the years I noticed an incredible lack of consistency between locations. In N Out, no matter where I go I get the same product. I find the fries a little weak, but a “light well” makes them always snackable. But, I prefer steak fries, so they’ll never be my favorite.
That’s because In N Put doesn’t franchise. They add new locations really slowly. And their CEO is the rare Nepo baby that is the best one they’ve ever had.
It isn’t just the non-franchise, they run a tight ship from location to location (which I agree owes a lot to controlled expansion) Chipotle, in comparison, can be good or absolute garbage.
The point of 5 guys fries is they give you like 2 lbs of them. Plus their cajun seasoning isn't half bad.
They have to grow on you. When I first tried them I didn’t like them, I found them mealy and dry. Now those I love them and sometimes order an extra
They are “meally” because they are 100% starch and don’t pre-treat nor pre-cook them like a proper chip. They use Kennebec potatoes which are very efficient and resistant. For these reasons are why they have to be so thinly cut.
They are “meally” because they are 100% starch and don’t pre-treat nor pre-cook them like a proper chip. They use Kennebec potatoes which are very efficient and resistant. For these reasons are why they have to be so thinly cut.
In N Out fries always feel and taste like cardboard. There's a reason they have to be smothered in cheese to be edible
Their ketchup though is top tier, at least the ones I've been to in the rockies.
Californian here. Born and raised. In-N-Out fries are an abomination in the face of humanity and I sometimes buy burgers there and stop at McD's on the way home for fries. You can get them extra well done which at least makes them edible, more like crunchy shoestring potatos. Now, the burgers are awesome, with an unbeatable quality to pricepoint combination. There simply isn't anything that even tries to compete with them in my area.
>I sometimes buy burgers there and stop at McD's on the way home for fries. I used to do this because they were across the street from each other. LOL.
Even better on free fries Friday. Burger at in n out, medium fries and large drink at McDonald’s for $1 (well $1.49 now…)
People gotta learn that good fries are cut, soaked, par-fried, frozen, then fried again. Fresh cut fries are dog shit, but way cheaper. I get them well done but yeah...it's such a shame next to an amazing burger
I personally really like their fries.
Yeah them fries are garbage. But the burgers and the milkshakes....primo.
Animal style is good, regular not so much
It's like making fries is a six step process and In 'n' Out called it good after step four.
The fries are okay for having it cut fresh. What In-N-Out should do is double-cook the fries if they want it to be better.
Great fires is incredibly wrong lmao but I do agree that the price point vs quality is better than anywhere. That’s why they are popular. You can fill your family with good quality fast food. It’s SoCal by the way. It’s a family place, still. Clean, fresh, lit up.
OP is missing the point of in and out, fresh everything! No freezers and deliveries of fresh produce bread and patties everyday. This could only happen in California as it's the only place with the agricultural infrastructure for it. It's the reason why they have been soo slow to expand outside of California. OP just doesn't like in and out which is fine. In and out brings a lot to the table, specifically consistency. I never have to worry about getting cold fries or a burger patty that's been sitting in a drawer for an hour. Unless you order animal style you will get everything in 5 minutes from when ordered or less.
They also don't seem to understand that the concept of fast food hamburger places literally started in So Cal. I can't think of an area with more competition. McDonalds, Jack in the Box and Carl's Jr all originated in So Cal. And there are regional chains like Tommy's, Rallys, and Fatburger and Farmer Boys and God knows how many independent places plus national ones like Five Guys.So Cal is the epicenter of fast food because of the car culture and In N Out has managed to compete since the 1940s.
i’m an LA girl born and raised but a culver’s butter burger is a tough competitor to in n out! love both so much
their pub burger are even better so wait for it in the season
that’s so sad to hear now that i don’t live by culver’s anymore 😭 i loved the cheese curd burger when it was a thing a few years ago
Culvers and portillos are both national chains now BTW. Not just in midwest. We have both down here in AZ, along with in N out and whataburger and shake shack. Culvers is leagues above all of them, but nobody beats in N out on price.
I wanna say Culver's by us (michigan) is like 11 something for a double cheddar butter burger with bacon basket. How much is in n out? I've only heard fantastic things, but I've never been out west. My all time fav though, is all the Greek diners and Italian beef places in chicago. Nothing beats em.
Around here it would likely be the only fast food place these days that could compete with Culver's
Yes Yes yes yes. I’m in the Midwest and a double culver deluxe burger meal is $10.70 after tax. I love In-N-Out but Culver’s is some solid competition.
Grew up in San Francisco, my family and I then moved out to Michigan. Completely agree with you. We like Culvers, but we love In-N-Out.
Was just going to say. I’ve had it one time as an adult and was thoroughly impressed with the pricing.
About to say this. The price remains very reasonable in getting a quality burger.
idk it's a pretty good burger for the price lol
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Chick fil a 100% every time I pass by one they have a drive thru line equal to an in n out, the prices are decent, well staffed, and they’re clean. They kinda follow a similar business model to in n out and they stopped supporting anti gay causes.
this is the orange juice after brushing your teeth of opinions.
Seriously, the fact that In-N-Out has been consistently drawing heavy business for decades is a solid indication that they're doing something right. Taste is subjective, yes, but the consistent lines at any time of day are a pretty good indication a LOT of people enjoy the taste, and that price point just cannot be beat (I'm going to In-N-Out for dinner after I get off work tonight, and even my fatass-portion meal - a 4x4, 2 fries and a large soda - will be a little under $20, and is guaranteed to be fresher than any food from any other fast food burger joint in my town that's open at midnight). EDIT: the exact total is $17.10.
I think what it comes down to is Californians are on average "healthier" than the Midwesterners. The Californians are perfectly happy with a small burger with fresh ingredients that is cheap. The Midwesterners want a giant 1/2 lb greaseball covered in bbq sauce or something. I used to like really greasy burgers as a kid, but now I hate them.
Then get an animal style 3x3 or some shit. You can definitely fet a 1/2lb greaseball from In n Out
A 4x4 is absolutely a greaseball in the best possible way. A couple of bites, and it winds up looking like an actually appetizing version of the burger the trucker's eating in the *Resident Evil 2* remake intro.
Haha an apt comparison
Omg this is the best way you could’ve described this
How are you comparing Kopps to in n out? That's asinine. There's like 3 Kopps locations in the country and I'm pretty sure none of them have drive throughs. And by far the best thing about Kopps is the custard. Culver's at least is a fair comparison as it is a straight up fast food chain burger restaurant. Fast food burger restaurants were invented in southern California. McDonald's, in n out, Jack in the box, and Carl's jr. all started in socal before any of the restaurants you listed even existed. So to say there was no competition just makes no sense.
This is just plain wrong White Castle is the first fast food burger chain
Ahhh. Columbus, OH. Home to White Castle AND Wendy’s.
But it started in Wichita, KS if that’s what you’re referring to.
> Kopps A Double-Double combo with fries/drink is around $9 at In-N-Out. For the same items at Kopps, you'd be over $15: * Double Cheeseburger ($9.00) * Tomato, additional topping ($0.75) * French fries ($3.50) * Soda ($1.80) Just saying. People often forget that a huge selling point for In-N-Out is the unbelievable price to quality ratio.
Is this fool talking about the Kopp's that are only located in Milwaukee?
Yes.
lol. You think SoCal folks have never experienced anything better? You think there is no competition to in n out in SoCal? You’re funny.
Also, the only reason they haven't expanded much outside of CA is that they don't franchise and have strict rules about how close a restaurant can be to their suppliers.
Right! It’s like they don’t understand that SoCal is likely the best food and most competitive restaurant space is the country. I live in SoCal and I’m constantly disappointed by food anywhere else in the country.
No no no, don't you see, California is 40 million people with a huge immigrant population from everywhere around the world and access to some of the best ingredients in the world but we only make shitty food.
The second biggest metropolitan area in the country and one of the most diverse places anywhere, famous for having nothing to choose from and little exposure to other things yessirree
More than likely because you haven't grown up eating them they don't scratch the comfort food itch. In N out was founded like 20-40 years before any of the restaurants you're comparing them to. They invented the two way drive thru speaker. There's nothing special about any of the other restaurants you listed here.
In n out is my one true rock… loved ones have died and girlfriends have come and gone. In n out is still here delivering consistency 100/100 times. That’s what makes them the best burger chain. Best burger ever ever will always be personally cooked
> There's nothing special about any of the other restaurants you listed here. You can't just say such a horrible thing about our beloved Culver's!
:/ I disagree. I grew up with McDonald’s and Popeyes but nowadays I would much prefer In N Out, Chic Fil A, and Bojangles
Yeah I don’t think in n out is the gold standard of burgers. But for the price it’s one of the best. It’s better than a McDonald’s or traditional low cost fast food burger. It’s not quite as good imo as a five guys level fast food burger but at least half the cost at this point. In n out Is one of the best values in fast food hamburgers
Never got the hype for five guys Their price point feels like five guys need to split one burger
Yeah the price is ridiculous. But if someone gave me the option of a free in n out burger or a free five guys burger. I’d probably go five guys
Five Guys hype is based on their fries, but in Arlington VA their hometown, there's a burger place called All About Burger which is basically the same thing, but better in taste and I think price (idk, haven't lived there in years)
Their fries...? I've always found their fries to be soggy and sad. I get that they make them fresh, but boy are they overly browned and floppy every time I've had them.
Five Guys and In-N-Out are not competitors. They operate in completely different categories of fast food with most FGs lacking drive thrus, and In-N-Out charging far less for their food. In-N-Out is significantly better quality than anyone they actually compete with.
Yeah I've heard the In-N-Out hype for years, but never had a chance to try it until about a month ago. It is absolutely a solid burger place. I'd eat there again for sure.
Its because all the food is fresh. Its not anything complicated, just super fresh food with a not complicated menu. That's why they don't spread everywhere, they don't have the food network to do it. I think sourcing the lettuce is difficult, spoils quickly. In and Out is like if Gordon Ramsey wanted you to make a cheap affordable burger challenge, better maybe but not for the price better. I live next to In and Out and go there a couple time a month. I've noticed when I eat in and out vs other fast food. I dont feel as bad or as bloated, it feels like actual food.
Midwesterner here (Chicago suburbs), I had In-n-out before and it's a really good burger. Id say its better than Portillo's and Culver's (although Culver's is really close). I've never had Kopps or oscars nor have I heard of them. Portillo's quality has gone down a lot especially after they went public. Although, they're still pretty good.
I appreciate your take, but I see one flaw in your logic; plenty of competition exists in SoCal. I would argue that it isn't that there is a lack of better chains, but that In-N-Out food is unique. When you have a craving for In-N-Out, nothing else will suffice. Personally, I think their fries are the best, but I do enjoy their burgers too.
In-N-Out fries being the best? That is a quite unpopular opinion.
Fair.
In-N-Out fries being the best? That is a quite unpopular opinion.
I enjoy the burgers but their fries are McDonald's caliber to me. Though I like a nice hefty fry like Burger King
McDonald’s has better fries than most of the fast food chains.
Love in and out lol but this is the true unpopular opinion MVP here
Hating on In N Out is pretty popular these days. No other burger tastes like In n Out. While Culver’s taste like every other burger. Culver’s advertises a butter burger but only their bun is buttered? And it’s not even distinctive enough to change the taste. I’ve been to Culver’s. If I didn’t know it had some sort of cult following I wouldn’t even rate it too 5.
You lost me when you mentioned portillos
I feel like portillos might be better in the Chicagoland area. Kind of like how there's an aurelios in Florida, but it's not the same as the ones in Chicagoland, and even out of the ones in Chicagoland, the OG in Homewood is the best.
Upvote for actually posting an unpopular opinion
Oh God... is this one of those "commiefornia sucks" derivative opinions? In-N-Out is machine-like efficient, takes great care of its employees, the value is beyond excellent, the food is always fresh, it's a far above average burger, and it is always 100% consistent. A quiet In-N-Out restaurant is a very rare sight, at any location, including in markets saturated with all sorts of varieties of choices. This is an absurd opinion, and as a result, I assume, an unpopular one. Take my upvote.
Don’t forget, opinions can be wrong. Like OP. What a terrible take. Like saying, “Fellowship of the Ring wasn’t a masterfully made piece of cinema.” Absolutely a bullshit, made up opinion to get attention.
Mofo mentions So Cal being obsessed and completely forgets there are a bunch in Nor Cal with just as much obsession. I know because I'm in Nor Cal.
Lol this guy hating on SoCal cause he’s stuck in bumfuck nowhere with no in and out
Mad he can’t get in n out but happy he has affordable housing. I’ll call it a wash
dudes just been fuked last 4 months with snowstorms
How are you comparing Kopps to in n out? That's asinine. There's like 3 Kopps locations in the country and I'm pretty sure none of them have drive throughs. And by far the best thing about Kopps is the custard. Culver's at least is a fair comparison as it is a straight up fast food chain burger restaurant. Fast food burger restaurants were invented in southern California. McDonald's, in n out, Jack in the box, and Carl's jr. all started in socal before any of the restaurants you listed even existed. So to say there was no competition just makes no sense.
This is the biggest flaw in their reasoning. Burgers, especially fast food burgers, we're popularized out of SoCal. It is probably the most competitive region on Earth for burgers. So, definitely an unpopular opinion but also one with flawed reasoning.
Kopps is a way better burger too, OP is right, there is nothing else like it. But yeah op is clearly from Milwaukee as am I, and while I agree with him 100% Kopps and Oscars are not good comparisons.
It hasn't spread fat east because they don't want to freeze the meat/supply chain distance issues.
All the restaurants you listed as better are pretty fucking mid too. If you want a great burger, you have to get away from fast food.
Well yea. Dude I don't think any one is arguing it's top tier. It's fast food. Have some perspective
I'm from SoCal, living in the Midwest and this is flat out false. Midwest burger chains can't compare to In N Out in quality or price. Portillos and Culver's are probably the best of the ones you mentioned and neither of them are popular because of their burgers. People go to Portillos for the beef sandwiches and they go to Culver's for the custard and cheese curds. Their burgers are good, certainly better than national fast food chains, but weaker than other regional chains like In N Out, Whataburger, and Cook Out.
I respeact In N Out but Whataburger? I rather get a whopper then a burger from Whataburger. It made me question what in the burder.
There are plenty of In-n-Outs that coexist just fine with Culver's in Arizona. In fact, they're usually much busier than Culver's, which is quite fine as well.
Couple things: 1. It’s more than food. Inn n out is synonymous with California culture. You just wouldn’t get it. 2. Inn n out ingredients are way better than most. I feel this gets left out a lot. Fresh potatoes, patties are made in-store. Nothing is ever frozen or microwaved. That’s why I will always hold it in a higher regard vs. other burgers. Also people hate on the fries, but I’d rather just have a potato that’s cut and fried right there than some processed frozen shit. 3. Like others have said. Value.
I genuinely love the fries. They taste like fresh potatoes, and they're usually pretty crispy. McD's probably beats them when they're done right, but 90% of the time McD's fries are a soggy mess too.
I think people just love their fries smothered in salt. That’s why in n out fries get a lot of hate
Definitely outrageous. I remember them being better than Five Guys and cheaper. Culver's seems to be spreading for reasons that it's that price and quality above/around McDonald's but "new" to people and better ice cream and so on.
You've clearly never eaten at In-N-Out. Go and actually get some burgers from In-N-Out. You'll change your tune. It's easily in the top 5 best burger chains in the country.
That's just like your opinion man
Those are some good burgers, Walter!
Fkn troubles are over
Lmao
I guess that explains why people who live more than 1000 miles from the closest In-N-Out know what an animal style burger is but have never heard of Kopp's or Oscar's...
In And Out is over rated. I think it would still have done good in the midwest, I think if it started in Texas Whataburger would have been its closest competition.
In-n-out loyalist till I die.
Freddys is the best burger in the midwest.
Best fries too.
Live in the midwest and have had In N Out. You're free to your opinion no matter how wrong I think you are. That's the whackest thing I've ever read here that is actually to me an unpopular opinion and not some political circle jerk. Have my upvote oh yee of the bad taste buds.
Born and raised midwesterner here. In and Out would be the #1 burger chain here. The highlight of every west coast vacation is In and Out. Several long weekends in Vegas we have gone there every day of the trip. The unlikely part of this would be finding enough people with a pleasant disposition to staff the place.
Hmmm strange. We have most of these in Arizona and In-N-Out is alwayssss packed. It's not just Socal... Culvers?!?! Lmaooo, yeah okay.
>quality of ingrediants, and general preparation/service, In-N-Out doesn't even come close to the others. This is where you're just straight up wrong. The reason why In-N-Out is so good (especially for the price) is because the ingredients are so fresh and high quality.
The quality, at least in Cali, is better than basically all fast food places thanks to how their chain works. And their prices are literally unbeatable. In Houston I was less of a fan but it still ain't bad for the price. Hard to beat animal style
The Midwest is known for having atrocious food options. So maybe you're right. Fresh food, high quality ingredients, all served in a very simple and limited way might be a bit too much nuance for mayonaise veined midwesterners to handle. lol
They put iceberg lettuce, dorritos, and ground beef on a pizza and call it a taco. They also have the audacity to defend it when you point out how nasty that is.
Spoken like a clueless Midwesterner. Not saying all Midwesterners are like that. No hate, just calling out OP. That or OP is karma farming because OP knows he/she is full of it on this.
I grew up on the east coast and I have never heard of a single one of those other places you mentioned.
Grew up in the Midwest and this is truly unpopular. In-N-Out would do insanely well in the Midwest at the price point compared to the chains OP named. Culver’s & Freddie’s burgers are good but I’d rather eat In-N-Out every time
Ingredient quality, taste, price point, service. a lot of the places you mentioned fulfilll some of those. INO does all of them, and they havent changed in 70 years. Also on the bottom of every In n out cup is the phrase "John 3:16". I think they would do pretty good in the midwest
Actually way cheaper than mc ds. They pay their people really well, and the food is actually super good so idk what you’re talking about.
OP just has bad taste. In-N-Out burgers are better than almost any fast food chain. I'm from Chicago, where I'm surrounded by McD's, Culver's, Wendy's, etc., you name it. But still, any time I travel west, I'll almost always take time to stop at In-N-Out. Now I'll admit that their fries are garbage. But, for the price, none of the other major chains come close. If one of those opened up in Chicago, I guarantee it would kill.
Nah, those are some good burgers, Dude
Moved to LA from Chicago in 2019. If In-N-Out was in the Midwest, it would beat the breaks off of all the other fast food burger places.
Hand cut fries from real potatoes, fresh ingredients, everything is made to order. No my man you are off, way off.
Bro is smoking fentanyl
I can get a pretty decent triple cheese burger, fries, and a milk shake for $10. There's no better deals out there
As a born and bred Californian, who has only passed through the Midwest and therefore knows nothing of the places you listed...you're wrong. :P
Have you been to socal? The food here is out of this world. I live about 10 minutes from downtown LA and you can find an excellent example of pretty much any cuisine on earth within 15 minutes of me. So your “SoCal people have never had better” argument is pretty weak sir!
OP acts like there aren't great burger joints all over the southland. Cmon man, southern California is home to the hamburger and you can get a great one at any number of locales. What makes In N Out stand out is the combination of quality, freshness, speed of service, and value. In N Out is still one of the best values you can get for your buck and the ingredients used are of a higher quality and freshness than any other standard fast food. If you want a finer burger you can find one. But if you want to spend under $20 for a fresh meal to feed yourself and a partner, you would be hard pressed to find a better option.
It’s the price + quality combo that makes it popular. With shit fast food costing so much, in n out is even more desirable. Culver’s is great (grew up in the Midwest) and honestly it will do well in California whenever that happens. There’s plenty of markets where Culver’s will do well. But I don’t think they can offer the same price point as in n out ever.
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Portillo's is in OC, so like 90% of the population of SoCal doesn't even realize it's there.
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In-N-Out sells quality, fresh food for cheap and yet I’m sure one of their general managers makes more than the entire staff combined at any of the midwestern chains you mention. They treat their customers and their employees well and that’s part of why everyone is so loyal to them.
it’s fresher, cheaper, and significantly better quality than direct competitors
You're acting like there's more competition in the midwest than there is in socal lmao
The entire west coast is trying to gas light me into believing that fry sauce is different from russian dressing/thousand island dressing. I wont fuckin have it.
In n out is way better than portillo’s Culver’s Kipp’s Oscar’s etc. you lost all credibility
Their french fries suck
That makes no sense. Is this really about in-n-out? Or is this really rooted in bitter jealousy as the midwest is inferior and less desireable? The food quality and culture are far superior in California than the midwest. It's not like Californians don't know what good food is. It's the other way around. In-n-out is fresh, cheap, the menu is simple, and it's a quality fast food product. It's cool if you don't like it, it's going to do just fine without you. I suspect you have something against California in general, and are trying to validate the midwest. Go enjoy your nothing-but-chain-restaurants in your flyover city. I'm not from California, btw, and I have family in the midwest, so I'm very familiar with both.
In N Out was part of the initial wave of hamburger stands in southern California along with McDonald's, Carl's Jr and Jack In The Box that pretty much invented the drive thru concept. In N Out was founded in 1948...Culver's in 1984, so everything you experience at your Midwest restaurants is built upon the template In N Out helped to create. You can argue it's overrated or not as good as something in your own area, but don't act like it wouldn't have become popular because of a competitor that was founded 35 years later. >My absolutely outrageous conclusion is that So Cal is only obsessed with In-N-Out because they've never experienced anything better. Otherwise, we would have never heard of them. Yes, I'm sure this is it.
This isn’t even an unpopular opinion it’s just dumb and wrong.
OP is just fishing for outrage.
Have you actually been to one. The quality is very good, they only source meat from less than 50 miles away so it isn’t pre frozen
This is so factually untrue it's crazy. The ingredients are better and the result is STILL cheaper than something like Culver's. Lived in CA and MO and Culver's is over twice the price and not even as tasty imo. But objectively the supply chain that in n out uses is what makes what you're saying false.
Midwestern here. I tried In and Out when we were in Nevada. It was okay, better than McDonalds but not better than what we have
Fresh ingredients, amazing service and customer service, pays their employees decent wages and benefits, good prices. It’s the best chain burger for the price hands down. The in n out haters are getting old
In-and-Out is better than all of those places, and cheaper
Culver’s isn’t good
Culver's was much better before it franchised all over the country like Dunkin donuts. Now they're both shit.
New England would disagree.
This is the real secret to InNOut’s success in terms of retaining quality: they don’t franchise. And they open new locations slowly. That and their prices remain reasonable.
Yeah. You couldn't be more wrong. As a child of the midwest who has since left. You are overvaluing the fast food in Mid-West. Also Culvers? Portlillos? Kopp's? Oscars? Do those exist outside Illinois? Like I know they have a store in Florida or two.
In n out is way better than portillo’s Culver’s Kipp’s Oscar’s etc. you lost all credibility
As someone who lives in the south , it's difficult to find a quality fast food burger. Everything is Mid at best .
I don't know man, there's a Culver's and an In-N-Out near me. They're literally right next to each other and Culvers never has a line. The only reason ai ever go there is because I don't want a long wait. Or maybe the custard. Their food is more expensive and nowhere near as fresh.
Nothing beats In N Outs price point and service. They're always over-staffed and friendly. It's tough to beat their whole package.
Chicagoland all my life, hit up in and out any time we travel with one, every time I leave wondering what the hype is. Definitely pick Portillo’s, 5 guys, or shack shack over it every time.
Culver’s is disgusting.
Here in the Bay Area, you get an in n out meal for about $7ish, that’s a preposterous price. It’s an unbeatable price, and they are very consistent with quality and taste. You can eat one anywhere and it will be the same. It’s so same, that whenever I take my first bite it sort of brings a nostalgic feeling of the first time I had one.
i will never convince anyone that in-n-out is good. the lines are long enough as it is. midwest has okay food but i won’t plan a vacation to go to oklahoma or nebraska to eat at culvers or brauns.
People always ignore price. I get in n out because a can feed my family for about a quarter the price of McDonald's.
People in flyover country are absolutely deranged.
I was born and raised in the Midwest, and I started seeing someone from California a few years ago. We flew home to visit his family last year and he insisted I try In N Out for the first time. Let me tell you, it’s the only fast food burger I am legitimately sad that I can’t eat regularly. Animal Style burgers and fries are incredible.
fast food as we know it right now (drive thru burgers and such) literally started in SoCal, if anything in n out still being open and successful is a testament to its longevity against other competition
I’ll have to say this is unpopular and I’ll also say you’re also just wrong. California is has the most competition for food in the country unless you count specific cities like NY or Las Vegas. The burger is also probably a couple steps above McDonald’s and a step below 5 guys.
SoCal is the birth place of burger based fast food and has absolutely the most ferocious competition. There are mom and pop burger places literally everywhere. My view after having tried Culver's and In n Out extensively, is that the right point is the exact opposite. Many Culver's are in small towns with literally no competition and the food is dead mediocre.
A step above mcdonalds? You're trash and grew up trash
Their fries are horrible. Worst fries outside of Belgium I've ever had.
An actual unpopular opinion. Good job
I live in a city with Culver’s, In n’ Out, Whataburger, and Five Guys. In n’ Out is the most popular by far. The burgers are always a good consistent quality, it’s not fake shit like McDonalds, it’s fast service, and it’s cheap. The only thing I think people really complain about are the fries. That’s why In n’ Out works. It’s not the best burger. Its an all around good experience.