11 Ordering Mistakes You Might Be Making At In-N-Out
In-N-Out Burger has been a West Coast staple for over 75 years, serving freshly-made burgers, french fries, and milkshakes since 1948. The fast food chain even pioneered what was at the time a truly revolutionary concept, the two-way speaker box, which evolved into what we know today as the drive-thru. But while the technology behind In-N-Out's mode of operations has grown over the years, one thing has remained more or less the same, its simple menu.
Do not fall for the trap of thinking that ordering lunch at In-N-Out is easy, given the menu's size. With so many combinations possible on the Not So Secret Menu, it's surprising how well the employees handle taking and making so many variations of orders.
As a customer, you may feel prone to making errors simply by not knowing the menu backward and forward, but have no fear. We know a thing or two about the menu, and we can help guide you to finding your perfect In-N-Out burger style the next time you visit. No matter what you do, do not fall for these common but avoidable mistakes.
1. Taking its menu at face value
As we mentioned, the menu at In-N-Out Burger is deceptively small. At first glance, it would appear that the only items you can order are hamburgers, french fries, and a drink. And while those three items are the core components of what makes In-N-Out so popular, there is far more to the menu than what meets the eye.
In-N-Out is known by its fans for what you do not see on the menu. The Not So Secret Menu is filled with different customizations and unique ways to enjoy your food. In-N-Out is fully aware that its secret menu is perhaps one of the worst-kept secrets in the fast food industry. Suddenly, one hamburger can be prepared in a dozen or more ways, from adding more patties to swapping the bun for a lettuce wrap. And we have not even gotten to discussing its beloved Animal Style fries, which, despite being so well known, aren't listed on the regular menu.
This is why the first mistake you can make at an In-N-Out is taking its menu at face value. If you think that your only choices are what is written out in front of you, then you are missing out on an entire world of options that could make you fall in love with the burger chain even more.
2. Not ordering your fries crispy
There are a lot of ways to customize your order at In-N-Out, especially when it comes to how you like your hamburger. But what you may not realize is that you can even modify your side order of french fries, too. You may be thinking of the fan-favorite Animal Style fries, which come topped with In-N-Out's burger spread, a slice of melted cheese, and chopped grilled onions. But beyond that, there is another way to customize your fries that you should absolutely never skip again if you like them extra crunchy.
As it turns out, you can ask for your french fries to come crispy. Usually, when you order a serving of fast food french fries, they could vary in doneness from a range of squishier to crispier. If you prefer your spuds to fall on the latter end of that spectrum, just ask. There is an option in the computer system specifically for ordering crispy fries. If you fall into the camp of In-N-Out customers who actually do not prefer its french fries when compared to other fast food brands, try them extra crispy, and you may never want to order your In-N-Out fries any other way again.
3. Not being specific enough when ordering your burger
From its earliest years, the burger chain has aimed at providing a seamless dining experience. In fact, you could say that it strives for its customers to literally come in and out with a tasty meal and without much hassle. These days, the list of customizations is longer than the regular menu itself, so it is important to do your research before visiting your closest In-N-Out.
Knowing exactly what it is that you want is crucial because the staff at In-N-Out have reported on customers being too general or vague when ordering. One employee shared on Reddit some of the intricacies that are involved when ordering your burger and how a customer who is too vague might make the ordering process more complicated than it needs to be. For example, they mention that "a Double Double with no cheese is called a 'Double Meat,'" and if "you say 'give me a protein style,' we will still need the kind of burger you would like to make protein style."
The team member also mentions that while it sounds streamlined to just ask for a burger with everything on it, this can also trip up the ordering process. Take a few moments to study the menu and research different customization options.
4. Asking for a burger larger than a 4x4
In-N-Out's menu is reminiscent of a true burger joint, but only because it's stayed the same since it first opened. If you love hamburgers, then there is probably a menu item for you that is calling your name. If you really love burgers, then there are ways to maximize the amount of meat you get in a single order.
On the regular menu, you can order a single, which comes with one patty, or a Double-Double, which comes with two patties. If you are really ambitious, there are a couple of meatier options on the secret menu, including the 3x3 and 4x4 (or Quad Quad). As you can imagine, those burgers come with three or four patties and three or four slices of cheese. Once upon a time, the burgers could be even bigger than that, but these days you would be mistaken for ordering a burger larger than a 4x4.
As one employee shared on Reddit, 4x4 burgers are already plenty difficult to wrap, so anything bigger than that would be nearly impossible. So, do not make the mistake of asking for a 5x5 or larger because you will be immediately prompted to come up with a backup plan.
5. Not ordering for your dog
If you have pets, they are probably extensions of your family and accompany you everywhere you go. It is more likely than not that you have gone on a coffee run or a quick pit stop in a drive-thru with your dog in tow, and the restaurants know this. That is why fast food chains have gotten in on the four-legged market by offering pet-friendly treats, like the Puppuccinos at Starbucks or the Doggie Bagels from Einstein Bros. After all, if we want to swing by our favorite fast food chain for a pick-me-up, shouldn't our furry friend enjoy something, too?
If you pull up to the drive-thru window at In-N-Out with your dog, do not make the mistake of forgetting to order something for them. In fact, there are multiple options to choose from on In-N-Out's dog menu, including the Pup Patty. This is a simple, unsalted burger patty with no toppings or added ingredients. You can also order the Flying Dutchman, which is a burger patty in between two slices of cheese. Just make sure you consult with your vet before feeding your pet any cheese.
6. Using the wrong menu vernacular
In-N-Out has developed a bit of a cult following over the years, especially on the West Coast. If you are traveling from anywhere else in the world, then dining at an In-N-Out almost feels like some rite of passage. No matter how close or far away you live, when people mention terms like Animal Style or Double-Double, most people will recognize them as In-N-Out menu items.
With such a specific vernacular, it's pretty important that you get the terminology right before ordering. Using the wrong phrases will not necessarily get you the wrong food, but it may take an extra bit of time for you to explain what it is you actually want to order.
For example, there are multiple ways to have your onions prepared at In-N-Out. And the secret sauce is not sauce, it is actually called a spread. If you want two meat patties and no cheese, you should ask for a Double Meat, but if you do want cheese, ask for a Double-Double. Confused yet? It's alright. Ultimately, it all comes down to how you want to customize your order. But if you are just getting a simple hamburger or cheeseburger, you will not have to perform any sort of verbal gymnastics to get one.
7. Assuming lettuce-wrapped burgers are the only low-carb option
You will most likely not be frequenting In-N-Out if you are seeking health-minded meal options as the focus of your diet. While many people love a good cheeseburger, it is a fairly carb-heavy meal that is perhaps enjoyed best in moderation. Even if you are seeking more low-carb options, you can still visit In-N-Out, which has a number of different choices.
You may have heard of its Protein Style burger on the Not So Secret Menu, which is essentially a lettuce-wrapped burger instead of a traditional bun. For more veggie-forward options, try ordering the Tomato Wrap. It has essentially the same insides as a Double-Double, but instead of the lettuce bun, In-N-Out uses two tomato slices as the bun. One Redditor called it "the weirdest In-N-Out secret menu item out there," and we might have to agree with them on this one. However, it should be noted that any innovative way to enjoy your favorite hamburger while lowering the number of carbs is a good idea.
8. Not realizing there are secret milkshake options
Like most burger joints, In-N-Out serves a variety of soft drinks and a few novelty beverage options. If you want something a little heartier, In-N-Out also serves milkshakes made with real ice cream. The milkshake flavors are straightforward and include vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.
Like the food menu at In-N-Out, if you want to customize your milkshake, you can open the door to a much wider array of options. The secret milkshake menu options include a makeshift root beer float, which you can construct by ordering a vanilla milkshake and adding root beer. Other options include the Black and White milkshake, a shake filled halfway with chocolate and the other half with vanilla. There is also the Neapolitan milkshake, which layers all three flavors in your cup. If that tickles your fancy, you can try layering them in different orders each time you visit to see which combination you like most.
9. Ordering secret menu items that don't exist
In-N-Out's Not So Secret Menu has grown so much over the years that it's hard to imagine there are customization options no one has thought of yet. There are many different ways to combine various ingredients in your order, and most of them have special names.
Believe it or not, there are menu items that are not legitimate orders, even though people have tried to order them in the past. Or, perhaps they were real at one point but have since been removed. At one time, there was a trend going around where someone would try to order a burger monkey-style. That's a hamburger or cheeseburger, topped with french fries and Animal Style sauce. Sounds like a lot, right?
That level of mess is exactly why In-N-Out actually will not fulfill an order of monkey-style burgers. However, you can easily fashion yourself a monkey-style burger by ordering all the right ingredients and constructing it yourself. But do not expect the In-N-Out staff to do it for you.
10. Only ordering your onions one way
In-N-Out is aware that onions can be a pretty divisive topping on a hamburger, which is why it's the one ingredient that employees tend to ask if you want to have included or not. For those who are averse to onions, it is easy to have them removed. If you are a fan of onions, not only can they be included, but you'll be pleased to know that there are multiple ways to enjoy them in your burger.
In short, you can order your onions raw or grilled, and from there, you can choose to have them served as whole rings or chopped. You can even be like one Redditor who chose "all of the above" when asked if they want onions on their hamburger.
Chef Alvin Cailan loves to order onions on his In-N-Out burger. He orders a 3x3 burger with no lettuce or tomatoes and adds both raw and grilled onions. Then he tops the burger with chiles, transforming it into something entirely different than what's on In-N-Out's regular menu.
11. Not ordering peppers on your burger
If you like a little heat with your hamburger, you may have wondered if there was some way to make your In-N-Out order spicy. Do not make the mistake of thinking there is nothing you can do other than bring your burger home and add some spice there. It turns out In-N-Out has an entire secret stash of peppers that you can add to your order. All you have to do is ask.
Specifically, In-N-Out offers cascabella peppers, which fall at around the same level of spice as a jalapeño pepper. Depending on your local In-N-Out, you might have some difficulty finding them due to a shortage. In lieu of the cascabella peppers, some locations have swapped in banana pepper rings instead — which have received some mixed reviews. Still, if this is the first time you're hearing that these peppers exist at In-N-Out, it might be worth trying as an added ingredient to your go-to burger order.
Static Media owns and operates Daily Meal and Tasting Table.