SF 2k8, Day Two: Dinner – In-n-Out

It’s no secret that I am not a fan of In-n-Out.  However, sometimes necessity is what it is, and after catching a Sunday evening showing of Ghost Town (wait for DVD if you must; it’s not Ricky Gervais’s best work, though he’s got some great quips in this movie, and the mushiness of the overall plot isn’t what you’d expect from the trailers), I discovered that not only was I about to fall flat on my face asleep, I was starving.  In-n-Out was practically right there, and it was just the lesser of all the evils (McDonald’s, Applebee’s, or some weird taco joint that was clearly a chain – do people in California actually eat chain Mexican??? – apparently…). 

I heard recently that you can get not just your burger “animal style” but your fries, too.  I really don’t like InO’s fries, so I decided, what the heck, why not, maybe that’ll improve the taste. 

Specifically made for animal style fries (so the outside of the box said), there was special packaging for my fries since I asked for them to go.  (Well, I asked for my order to go, but it was prepared as an eat-in order, so he had to re-package the whole thing.)  Honestly, this actually made the fries worse; somehow, it emphasized the chalkiness of the fries.  I’ve heard that the taste of the crumbly fries is an acquired taste; I don’t think I want to acquire that taste.  Yuck.  And I LOVE cheese fries, or fries covered in sauce, hello.

I grudgingly admit that this was, by far, the best InO burger I’ve had, to date.  This isn’t saying much, really – just that out of the 4 or more times that I’ve been here now, this was the freshest and tastiest burger to come from InO.  There was ample sauce, the lettuce was fresh, and the burger was juicy. 

Obligatory “autopsy” shot.  You’d think I’d say something about all the toppings with the small amount of meat, but the more burgers I’m eating (and seriously, if you are what you eat, lately I AM A BURGER!), the more I realize I like the patty to be less than monstrous, and more mouth-sized (for my mouth, which is big figuratively, is actually pretty small literally).  I treated this more as a sandwich, anyway, so the toppings are totally free to compete with the meat – though not overwhelm. 

So, best burger ever?  Not by a long shot.  Best InO burger so far?  Yes, for me, anyway. 

Yvo says: The true test for me has always been: Would I return?  For me, the response here is: If they always were guaranteed to taste the way that one did (I am positive that the singing fool above making my burger had a hand in why it tasted so good; he was making each burger slowly and with great care and taking forever), absolutely.  I wouldn’t bother with fries though – did you know that making them animal style nearly DOUBLES the cost of the fries???  (They take your receipt when you claim your order, so I don’t have exact prices.)  My meal – the above plus a root beer – cost me just under $10!  What the heck?!  Otherwise… good luck.  It remains an “If other people I’m with really want to go, I will go, but it’s not something I’ll seek out.” 
meh… meh meh

SF 2k8, previously:
Bi-Rite Creamery
King of Thai Noodle House
House of Prime Rib
Ghirardelli Square