I've had it "animal style" (fried mustard, grilled onions, extra sauce, extra pickles) and have asked for chopped chilis before. Their chilis are inconsistent, though; sometimes they're just right, and sometimes they're so spicy, they'll take a layer of tongue off with them.

Curse you consumerist, I had In-N-Out last year when I went to blizzcon, and we don't have any here on the east coast.

I hate you, now I want it, and I want it now.

Never tried any scret menu items from IN-N-OUT, but I would love to again. Just need someone to pay for the airplane ticket to CA and other things.

I have tried a double double (<3<3<3<3), and got some extra sauce to dip my fries in.

what the hell is fried mustard?

Sweet. I'll try this at lunch today.

/I live 10 minutes from an In-n-Out. Work five minutes from another, and there are two others along the route. And I don't live in LA!

@mrafternoon: A retired colonel after a night on the peace pipe.

Overrated. 5 guys is way better.

@mrafternoon: The burger meat is mixed with mustard before it's cooked.

@Koinu: Depending on where on the East Coast you are, check for 5 Guys locations. I've only ever had 5 Guys but heard its 'like In-N-Out', though some say better or worse!

At Ruby Tuesday onion straws used to be an available side item. They still are, but you have to know to ask for them.

At Noodles & Company many restaurants have replaced the "House Marinara" (Penne w/ Marinara Sauce) with Spaghetti and Meatballs. However, they will still make you the house marinara if you request it by name.

Moved from California 9 years ago and In-N-Out is just about the only thing I miss. Great burgers, the best fries in the world, and their customer service can't be beat. Just call with the tiniest complaint and you'll see.

5 Guys is a decent substitute for those of us on the East Coast, but not as consistent in my experience and costs about twice as much.

@zigziggityzoo: Ooooo, that sounds almost as good as my kimchi burgers.

@Sepp_TB: Five guys is NOTHING like In-n-out.

@tsume:

5 Guys is awesome...had it while I was on vacation in Florida. I ate my whole burger and couldn't stop eating the fries...I was so full I couldn't eat dinner.

The closest one to me is in Fort Worth, TX...so I already know where I am going next time I am down that way.

i loved the chilis blue cheese burger but they pulled it off the menu, so now i order the chedder bacon burger sub blue cheese and i ask for a side of blue cheese dressing. exactly the same burger as before.

Side story: i was at a chillis in houston,tx where i asked for my custom burger. shortly after ordering a group sat at the table next to where i was sitting, i overheard one of the customers asking for the blue cheese burger, to which the waiter said "sorry we stopped making it". Funny thing it was the same waiter that took my order and i even made a comment on the burger being the same as the cheddar except with bluecheese.

@Sepp_TB: 5 Guys is great, but nothing like in-n-out.

There are several here, and I'm from VA, so I know all about it :P.

But, Yea, I had it once, and now I want it again!

In-N-Out burger is the best damn burger I've ever had, and every time I think of it I get super pissed that I live in PA. Thanks for the monday morning kick-in-the-crotch, consumerist.

In-N-Out's burgers are tasty (Animal style... yummy!) but their fries: Yech! They haven't gotten the memo that the secret to quality fresh-cut fries is to rinse after cutting to get rid of the exterior starch and to fry twice. In-N-Out's taste too much like starch sticks cooked in oil, and not enough like fried potatoes.

Five Guys (an East coast chain) does fresh-cut fries right.

SirWired

Being on the east coast now, all I can say is I miss In N Out...

@CaffiendCA: I really think you should get enough for every one then.

@sirwired:

Agreed. Great burgers, mediocre fries.

I recently went to Ruby Tuesday's and noticed they've removed the Colossal Burger from their menu. The manager had one made for me anyway and said you could probably get it at any location if I just ask.

@Koinu: Yeah, we loved it when we lived in Vegas, but they don't have them in Austin (and sorry Austin folks, P Terry's is okay but NOT In-N-Out), and every time they get mentioned I weep. Or when we see someone driving with one of their bumper stickers. *le sigh*

Attention In-N-Out: if you open a store in Austin, you will be swamped daily with drooling customers.

And while I'm at it: Trader Joe's, we want you here too. Badly.

@zigziggityzoo: That sounds amazing! I wonder if I can get them to freeze some double doubles and ship them to me.

@mrafternoon: I thought it was mustard on the bun before its toasted... the patties seem the same to me when I get animal style.

@KTK1990: If you like the dipping sauce on your fries, get "animal fries" next time. They slather the fries with grilled onions and burger sauce. You're welcome.

I'm a big fan of the double-double animal style, fries well.

For the carb-conscious, there's "protein style", which is your burger wrapped in some big leafs of lettuce. I tried this once, and it was quite good, since In-n-Out uses the best lettuce you'll find in a fast food joint.

@JediJohn82: They're building a brand new one in the city I'm moving to. I got so excited when I read that news that I spilled my coffee.

There is an In-N-Out under construction from minutes from where I work. Currently the nearest one is 3 hours away (and the only reason I'm willing to visit my in-laws). I drive past the under construction restaurant every day and sigh wistfully. Don't they know how badly we've wanted In-N-Out in Utah County? They should do an "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" thing and build it in a week.

I live in Iowa, where there are no In-N-Out burgers. I just wanted to say "secret menu items" are really, really awesome.

I'd be pretty surprised if this turns out to be true. Unless some company policies have changed, there's no regional menus at In N Out, so all of them have the same stuff. And there's no yellow peppers in any of their food, so they'd only have them around for this secret menu item?

Grilled cheese animal style, french fries animal style, and a Neapolitan milkshake. I don't eat for days afterward and I lose a few years of life, but it's SO.WORTH.IT!

Damn you, Consumerist! That's my meal! Time for a road trip to CA!

Haven't tried this one yet but ran across a site that mentioned a "Monkey Style" burger, apparently it's an animal style burger with fries on it. Sounds good to me, might get one this weekend just to check it out.

My usual order "Double-double animal style, one protein style cheeseburger with onions", then share my wife's fries.

@ludwigk: I wish I had known about the secret menu back when I lived in CA. I didn't go very often, but I was always disappointed in the al dente fries.

do i dare say it?

im sick of in n out, SICK. had my gut busting fill and cant stand it anymore.

but since im in LA, ill pour some secret sauce for you outta towners and even enjoy a double double for you today.

:P

My father-in-law had one with the spicy chilis on it last time we went. He liked it, and I'll be trying it next time I go.

The way to get the fries to an edible state is to ask for them to be "Well Done". It takes the starchiness out of them.

A 3X3 Animal Style with Fries and a pink lemonade is full of win and artery clogging goodness.

@tsume: Respectfully, that is false.

Bertucci's used to sell a pizza called the Pollo Match. It was chicken + barbecue sauce with tomatoes and onions. A couple of years ago it stopped being listed in the menus and I was extremely disappointed because it was my favorite pizza there. So one time I asked the server about it and was told that it was pulled from the menu because they don't always have the barbecue sauce that is needed to make it, but that if you ask for it by name, the kitchen can still make it as long as they've got stock.

@ludwigk:

I actually got that once, didnt like it too much.

/me is from San Diego but moved to the East coast a long time ago and miss my In-N-Out

If you're like me (Which I understand, more than likely, you aren't.) and you like the Cajun Chicken Pasta but can't eat the chicken because it is SOOOO hot and you don't really want it anyway you can order like I do:

Guiltless Pasta: only alfredo, parm, and blos spice

It gives you the same pasta the same way without the chicken (well, and tomatos because I don't like them but if you do they will put them on if you ask for it.) It costs less than the cajun chicken pasta as well, so woo!

I was told this by a lovely waitress named Leah that used to work in a Houston Chilis. She noticed that I never ate the chicken and then told me how to order it without! She was great but she moved out of state a couple of years ago : ( My husband and I still miss her when we go there.

PS. Sorry for the rambley mood today.

@sirwired:

If you order the In-N-Out fries "well done" (another secret menu item) they give them some extra time in the fryer and it makes them more enjoyable. Of course, the real way to go is well done, animal style fries. Just don't plan on moving much after animal fries and a Double-Double.

I've lived on both coasts and love both In-N-Out Burger and 5 Guys. If held at gunpoint I'd have to say In-N-Out burger (animal style please) is better than 5 Guys, but the fries at 5 Guys are way better (thank you peanut oil for being awesome). Also, In-N-Out shakes dominate.

Of course In-N-Out's intrigue-factor brings them up a notch. Check out the book ([tinyurl.com]) In-N-Out: Behind the Counter

It seems that "double double animal style, fries well" is a common order with alot of people I know. I remember in high school we would order 4x4's all the time but I also couldnt gain a pound. Fries animal style are for special occasions and I recently saw a description for "road kill fries" A chopped up burger patty and ketchup over the fries. Must try that next time!

@spincast: I'm a big fan of fries Lightly Well at In-N-Out. Only had 'em a few times, though, thanks to spending 2 weeks in CA.

You can get a bagel and cream cheese at McDonald's. They give you a packet of plain Philly and they toast the bagel (and sometimes put butter on it - probably hella fattening but oh so good). Sometimes I just want a little extra cream cheese and if you ask, they'll charge you like 30 cents for it but they'll give you another one. Great for hangovers!

@tbone13: Blasphemy!

@sirwired: I love Five Guys' fries. They're fried perfection. I also love their cajun style fries. Mmmmmm.

@Koinu: Out of curiosity, do they still print the bible verses on their wrappers/cups, etc? I always thought that was kind of funny.

For those of you doubting this: [www.snopes.com]