Burger Battle: West Coast Homer Votes In-N-Out
I got into L.A. a few days before Bryan did last week, and I confess that In-N-Out wasn’t the first place I headed. Since I flew into Long Beach, I swung by my old ‘hood and a fabulous dive called Casa Sanchez for some real, honest-to-God, why-doesn’t-this-exist-out-East Mexican food. What a relief to hear the person in line before me order cabeza tacos. What a delight to sip the first Orange Bang I’d had in four years. And how delish my chorizo con papas taco (a whole $1.20) and asada quesadilla were.
So I was a bit full heading into dinner, now soaking up some ocean breeze near my hotel at LAX. PJM’s Aaron Hanscom and I headed over to the In-N-Out to continue my journey through the myriad tastes of L.A. remembered but not duplicated anywhere across my new East Coast stomping ground. I didn’t even attempt the neapolitan shake — one of the In-N-Out code words (and yes, I did share some with Bryan, including the 4×4, before he and the Daves went) for the three flavors together — and didn’t finish my Double-Double animal style with animal-style fries (cheese, grilled onions, thousand island — like the burger). But as Patrick Poole noted in his pithy response to Bryan’s review, need one say more than “animal-style”?
Note the broken french fry hanging off the edge. The puppacita was sitting on the bench there, with the lovely view of planes landing at the Westchester/LAX location. Before I knew it, she had the fry sticking out of her mouth and tried to spirit it away. She’s never tried to steal a Five Guys fry, though that’s likely because I order the cajun ones just to get some flavor.
Which brings me to my impression of Five Guys. When you take a native Angeleno and transplant that SoCal denizen to the East Coast, it’s all about settling. There’s Baja Fresh and California Tortilla (misnomer) in lieu of real Mexican food, there’s a random gyro sandwich offered on a pizza menu in lieu of the fabulous Firehouse Greek restaurant in Tarzana. Instead of classic mom-and-pop joints like Pink’s or Johnnie’s Pastrami (which I also got to hit before leaving town), the D.C. metro area is dotted with your standard assemblage of Applebee’s and Cheesecake Factory.
And, of course, Five Guys, which is accorded the same saintly status out here as In-N-Out enjoys out West. Five Guys is good. Not much flavor to the burger, but juicy as Bryan says. A fair number of topping offerings, but maybe cheese choices or red onions would add a bit more flavor to the burger. There are free peanuts along with a warning sign asking you not to take them out of the restaurant. They also offer hot dogs with any toppings you choose. I find them especially handy during Lent as they make an interesting grilled cheese with your choice of toppings, like jalapeno and grilled onions, or a veggie sandwich (as does In-N-Out — and they have special sauce!). Bryan makes a great point on the extra portability of In-N-Out — if you’re road-tripping it, getting a burger with sauce and grilled onions won’t drip and also lets you savor the burger and bun flavors a bit more than if you’ve got topping overload.
Maybe I’m just being a homer. But it would be nice to get the same fiesta for one’s taste buds out here that you can get on the West Coast.
See Round 3 of Burger Battle: A Big Dog Goes Wild for Animal-Style at In-N-Out
Is it me or has In-N-Out burgers gotten saltier in the last few years? Since 5 Guys showed up, I stopped hitting the In-N-Out. 5 Guys, I can taste the meat but In-N-Out it’s just salt. And never liked In-N-Out fries. Like shoe-string potatoes they are. So I’d just get 2 Double Doubles.
Simply put: a 5 Guys burger isn’t the same burger as an In-N-Out burger. The 5 Guys burger is slimy and covered with toppings. The In-N-Out burger is cleaner and fresher, if that makes any sense.
When I’m craving a clean burger, In-N-Out is the only real option. 5 Guys, on the other hand, competes in the same space as Smash Burger and Carl’s Jr.
I’m with #2 Alphabet Soup. 5 Guys wasn’t bad the time we were there, but it wasn’t as good as In-N-Out. One other thing that no one else noted: you can get a Double-Double, fries, and a drink at In-N-Out, and you’re out the door, I think, for under $7. 5 Guys that was more like $9-10, depending on what toppings you chose for your burger. Since it doesn’t have that much flavor itself, the toppings are a serious temptation.
Added bonus for In-and-Out fans: the family that started and owned the franchises were strong Christians, conservative, and politically active.
Alas, the CEO died in an accident a few years ago and the family sold the business. I have no idea if In-and-Out remain right-wing hamburgers.
After Rich Snyder was killed in a plane crash his brother Guy Jr took over the business. He in turn died a coup,e of years later from an accidental prescription over dose. The company is currently owned by Lyndsi Snyder and remains entirely in the hands of the Snyder family. No franchise stores.
I’ve never had an In-and-Out, and I’ve only had a Five Guys once. (I will have to check them out again, though.)
Still, I must put in a vote for Jake’s Wayback Burger, which is a Northeastern chain. I love them.
They also offer homemade chips, too, in addition to the fries.
Whataburger rules all. The double meat with cheese and jalapenos is the best hamburger made in the US. If you go by a Whataburger you will see an American flag in their window!
Another charm of In ‘n’ Out is the way they ask in the drive-thru line if you’re going to eat your fries in your car. If Yes, they put them in a little open boat for you; if No, they put them in a tidy little bag.
Don’t forget In-n-Out’s entertaining paper lap-shield for your rare in-car dining spillage.
Never been able to get into any of the burgers offered by fast food joints. No matter how many toppings are piled on, I just can’t gag those compressed gristle patties down.
When forced to eat at FF’s, it’s mostly during moves at the point when everything’s packed and gone but you’re still there, which usually happens a couple days at both ends. If I can’t find a Hardees, where I can go as long as needed on their cinnamon raisin biscuits and the hot ham and cheese, my fall-back is Mickey D’s for the fish sandwich and hot apple pie. I think the breakfasts there, such as they are, are their best menu items and that they should serve them all day long. But after a couple days of the McD routine, everything begins tasting the same and it feels like salt is literally oozing from my oral tissues, so I end up at a grocery store.
Regarding DC, the one food item available there I truly miss are the Utz potato chips. Beyond decadent. I also think the food at the restaurant next to the gift shop in the National Gallery is terrific. And their gelatos are out of this world. Brigitte, you’re probably not old enough to have been in LA when an outfit called, “Out of a Flower” was going strong, but for anyone who might have been familiar with theirs, the NG’s frozen treats are in that league.
Neither critic provided any beef tasting expertise other than burgers, so I have to be skeptical of the results.
I’ve experienced burgers from all four “coasts”, and In-N-Out are a top contender in flavor. My opinion is seconded by an Italian relative from Chicago whom never passes up the chance to get an In-N-Out when out west. My better half likes Five Guys, but, I think they are “juicy” because they have more fat than In-N-Out. I don’t think that juice is peanut oil.
One of my most memorable (but, not notable) burgers was from a place in Chicago that steams their burgers with onions. Very similar in taste to Five Guys, but if you don’t eat them fresh, they get a repulsive aroma. As juicy as Five Guys, though.
Many restaurants we go to will only cook a burger medium to well. They don’t trust their purveyors, I guess.
The bottom line for burgers, I believe, is that there are enough burger joints and options to satisfy the most discriminating burger aficionado, especially in large metropolitan areas.
When In-N-Out opens next to my local Five Guys, you’ll find me at In-N-Out, and my spouse at Five Guys. We’ll do rock, paper, scissors, for desert.
Those are some good burgers, Walter.
Yikes, Bridget!! How could I be so dumb to use the Bardot spelling for a woman whose face looks like a map of Ireland and mentions observing Lent.
Sorry about that!
That made me laugh out loud, MayberryLady!
East coast idiots don’t know from burgers.
Is this going to turn into something like the East Coast vs. West Coast rap wars?
All the good burgers were born in the L.A. area. They are usually (or at least used to be) pretty cheap for the quality you are getting.
I never got into the “gourmet burgers” that cost $15 for something that was so-so. Best burger I ever had was at a hamburger shack down in Westwood, which was right next to the “buck fifty” sandwich shop which loaded up their sandwiches with cucumber.
Also, if you go to L.A., you *must* eat and Pink’s.
I’ve found that most defense of In-N-Out is due more to parochialism than to the burgers themselves.
Don’t get me wrong, I love In-N-Out, but comparing them side-by-side with Five Guys shows similar ingredient quality paired with preparation that is inferior with the comparison. In-N-Out has come to overseason their burgers, and overcook them as well. You end up with a dry, salty piece of meat that is saved by the bun and toppings. Order one with just meat, cheese, and bun, and you will see what I mean. Five Guys, by contrast, excels where preparation is concerned. Just the right amount of seasoning, plus a properly hot flat top, equals a juicy burger with a well-seared exterior.
This sounds odd as he**, but the DC area has two of the best burger places/chains in the US. I am from Montana where we have serious burger bbq’s, lived in Palm Desert where I liked the relatively nearby In n Out, but 5 guys is a tastier burger, better mouth feel, beefier and just more fun to eat. In N Out is good, but 5 guys is better. And if you want to go luxe, Rays Hell Burger is a monster! But for normal, fast food type burgers, 5 guys is the best chain burger there is, that I have eaten. Never had a Whataburger and am dieing to try one.
5 Guys and In-n-Out are almost apples and oranges. That said, I’ve never had a craving for 5 Guys, but I hit up In n Out whenever I have the chance.
Don’t get your hopes up with Whataburger. It’s a last resort for me. Their breakfast is downright bad, the burgers are ok – but just ok.
I’m loving all the comments, but I’m surprised that no one has mentioned Dairy Queen! Their burgers are cooked on a brazier, at least they used to be. For drive through fast food chains, I feel like DQ demolishes east coast chains. Its more savory than In n Out, but lacks the freshness of their bread, lettuce, tomato, etc. It also comes smooshed in foil and compact like In n Out – good for eating in the car. Try a burger at DQ and ask them to put some hot dog chili on it… oh my!!!
1. Red Robin
2. Whattaburger
3. 5 Guys
4. In n Out
But – if I’m in LA, I’m skipping the burger and heading to Tito’s Tacos. MMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. . .
If you’re in San Diego heading south toward the border. Tacos El Gordo serves up little miracles just like those across the border. Mmmmmmmmmm…….
Five Guys is the biggest disappointment since Hope and Change. All hype.
No mention of Tommy’s? You might as well go visit the Vatican and make no mention of the Pope.
Tried this last week: Big Daddy’s Fire Grill in Pasadena, CA.
I’ve been eating burgers since there was just one Carl’s Jr. and it was in back of the Carl’s restaurant in Anaheim on Harbor Blvd. Back when they were massive, gooey and delicious.
I’ve been enjoying In-N-Out since the Seventies. double-double’s, 3×3′s, 4×4′s, protein-style-mustard only’s, you name it. The wife always orders animal style fries. I still like them.
Then, I went to Big Daddys’s.
Big Daddy’s is next to an In-N-Out.
Big Daddy’s had a bigger crowd.
It’s a unique, hole-in-the-wall type place on the outside, kitschy on the inside, but the burgers are wood-fire broiled and simply awesome.
In-N-Out is now Number 2 on my list.
Sorry, guys.
http://www.bigdaddysfiregrill.com/
The shakes are made with Thrifty’s Ice Cream (I read the containers). They use Ghirardelli chocolate sauce. Their vanilla shakes have a drizzle of chocolate in them like a sundae. The fries are better than In-N-Out, too.
The burgers are simply the best I’ve ever had. Better than the buffalo burgers in Big Bear, for goodness’ sakes.
In the OC, the place for burgers, dogs and especially great chili is Jerry’s Wood-Fired Grill at the corner of Beach and Imperial (roughly) in front of the Wal-Mart. Custom-built dogs, using their own homemade sausages, links, etc. The oldest daughter digs the Jalapeno Dog. Best chili this side of Pinks.
Pinks is the place our team at work often has gone to celebrate completion of a project phase. Perfect place to go, then zip a couple of blocks away to Op-Amp books. A lunchtime geek heaven.
Red Robin dropped on my list ever since they took french onion soup off the menu (how could they?! you have to start out with that before your burger!)
Haven’t tried Five Guys. Opinions here vary all over the map from the folks who have been there. There’s one down the street from where I work, so I’ll get around to it.
G-Burger in La Habra is out of this world along with Slaters 50/50. As far as In N Out goes, I prefer it much better than Five Guys. Five guys only cooks their burgers Well Done. No meat lover in their right mind would ever eat any good piece of meat well done.
As Anthony Bourdain said once oh so eloquently… “If you ever find yourself in any kind of steak house and they won’t let you order cooked the way you want it other than well done… stand up and walk out of that restaurant immediately!”
That’s how I feel about five guys. At In N Out I tell them to take it off the grill at “3:20″ which makes it very juicy and medium with just a little pink in the middle just like the way I order my steaks.
Anyone that tells me that I have to have my food the way they think I should have it deserved to gets cuffed upside the head. 5 Guys wins, as I’ve never had any 5 Guys fanatic tell me that I have to try their burger any one way. *Every* In-N-Out fanatic has told me to try Animal Style. They can go choke on that Mayo crap.
And as for Anthony Bourdain, he has no credibility to talk about customization, as he’s one of those ‘Nobody should ever put ketchup on on hot dogs’ twits.