In-N-Out

During my first weekend off, I headed south to the Sonoran Desert of Arizona.  On my way through Phoenix, I stopped at an In-N-Out Burger, a popular fast-food joint that sells juicy burgers, hand-cut fries, and classic milkshakes.  A young man probably in high school took my order at the cash register, and he seemed genuinely pleased to be there.  He was wearing a white uniform, paper hat, and a red apron fastened with a giant safety pin.  The employees get paid twelve dollars per hour and receive benefits, so this is nothing like working at McDonald’s.

I ordered a double-double (two burger patties with cheese, lettuce, and an onion), fries, and a chocolate shake.  Nearly every time I drive through the Southwest I stop at an In-N-Out, and usually it is packed, no matter the time.  The fast-food joint is extremely popular because the food is incredibly inexpensive (my meal cost eight dollars) and the ingredients are actually fresh, a rarity among competitors.  The chain, which is comprised of over 300 stores, is family owned, and Lynsi Snyder, the president, refuses to franchise or expand eastward.  But there are valid reasons for the company’s exclusivity. 

You can find a McDonald’s or Wendy’s in nearly every major town in America, but In-N-Out’s limited availability makes it a must-stop when you find one. Each time I see the golden arrow from the highway, I get excited.  The restaurants are only available in six states:  California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Texas.   In-N-Out has distribution companies in California and Texas, and each store must lie within a day’s drive to ensure the meat stays at a safe temperature, as the burgers are never frozen.  Each store has no freezer or microwave, and each meal is built in an assembly line fashion to deal with the high demand. 

A friend from California introduced me to In-N-Out, and after my first experience in Sacramento I have been hooked, but apparently there is a secret menu I wasn’t aware of.  One day while I was waiting for my order, I heard a woman order fries animal style and her burger protein-style.  A quick google search reveals that animal style fries are covered in melted cheese, grilled onions, and a secret sauce.  Protein-style is a bun-less burger encased in a lettuce wrap.  The fact that there is an exclusive club within an exclusive chain suggests that In-N-Out is no ordinary fast-food joint, but part of the cultural fabric that is the western United States.