Chances are that if you've ever been to In-N-Out Burger, you were sold after your first bite
— that toasted sponge bread, the fresh-never-frozen patty, the grilled onions, the secret sauce
— it's the antithesis of most drive-thru burgers.
It's no surprise that the chain that has long been heralded the "it" fast food restaurant
since its opening in 1948, has managed to gain a cult following that other burger joints
could only wish to achieve.
Though there's plenty of talk of the chain's not-so-secret menu, there might be a few unknown
tidbits that even the biggest aficionados don't know about their beloved burger spot.
We're digging into some surprising In-N-Out Burger facts, but be warned, you might get
a little hungry…
"Why are people so devoted to this?"
"You sound like someone who's never had an In-N-Out burger?"
How to really "animal-style"
We all know the "animal style" french fry menu hack by now — with all that melty cheese,
grilled onions, and special sauce.
But there's a way to avoid the imminent soggy potato pile.
A former In-N-Out manager, known by the alias "Kathy," told Thrillist,
"If you're going to eat Animal fries, the best thing to do is to order them 'fry well'
because the fries will hold their shape.
They won't get soft and mushy under all the sauce, especially if you take your time eating
them."
Now that's a useful hack.
"There are several sacred things in this world that you don't ever mess with.
One of them happens to be another man's fries."
The secret secret menu
Any In-N-Out fan knows all about the usual not-so-secret menu items by now.
But there are a few lesser-known menu hacks that still fly under the radar.
According to a Redditor at the helm of In-N-Out AMA, you can order a "mustard-fried patty,"
which happens…
"When the cooks add mustard to the meat while it's grilling and add pickles to the bottom
bun."
Only like meat and cheese?
That's a "Flying Dutchman," which is just two patties with cheese melted between them.
Nothing else.
Can't decide what flavor shake to get?
Go Neapolitan with all three flavors in one cup!
Special deals for law enforcement
In a revealing AMA, a Redditor claiming to be an In-N-Out Burger associate shed some
light on the employee freebie situation, saying,
"Associates get a free meal every shift.
We can order anything up to the size of a double double.
However, we can't order animal fries or shakes unless we pay for them ourselves.
We also can't give discounts to friends or families."
The commenter went on to explain who does get a discount, saying,
"The only discount we do give out is a police officer discount.
[...] We only give police officers discounts if they're in uniform, too.
Otherwise, no discount.
This is because seeing an officer in uniform in the restaurant makes customers feel safer
apparently."
Maybe that's why the Hamburglar hangs around a different burger joint.
"Mmm.
Cheeseburgers?"
New on the menu
In-N-Out's famously simple menu hasn't changed in about 15 years.
So fans were excited to see the addition of hot cocoa in January 2018 — though the drink
isn't exactly "new."
According to The Orange County Register, In-N-Out president Lynsi Snyder said in a statement,
"This is actually the return of hot cocoa.
My grandparents, Harry and Esther Snyder, served it for many years beginning in the
'50s.
I'm not sure how it fell off the menu but it's part of our culture and something special
for kids, and I'm happy that we're bringing it back."
The 8-ounce cup is made with Ghirardelli cocoa powder and topped with mini marshmallows.
And it's back for good at all locations.
Secret messages
If you've ever looked under your In-N-Out cup, you might have spied what looks like
a Bible verse.
And, spoiler alert: It is a Bible verse.
"Behold his mighty hands!"
The soda cups cite John 3:16, the milkshake cups mention Proverbs 3:5, and even the burger
wrappers and fry trays sport a verse.
"Mm-hmm!
This is a tasty burger."
The company's founding family, including now-president Lynsi Snyder, are known for their strong religious
beliefs.
People reports that the burger heiress' faith saved her life, saying,
"I really value the love and good times I had with my dad but even that can't compare
completely to the love that God has for me.
God got me back up after all of these failures and he can lift me up and see me go forward
and I know that he can be glorified."
She even also has two tattoos citing Bible verses, but not the ones on In-N-Out's packaging.
"At the end of the day, I'm lookin' to the big guy upstairs to what he would want too."
Famous chefs are loving it
There's a reason In-N-Out has a cult following: It's good food.
Paris Hilton even got a DUI, trying to satisfy a craving in 2006.
"I was really hungry and I wanted to have an In-N-Out burger."
But you might be surprised which legendary chefs are also down to Double-Double.
"This is Julia Child.
Bon appetit."
First We Feast reported that Julia Child was such a fan, she carried a list of store locations
around with her, and even sent an assistant out on a burger run while she was in the hospital.
Napa Valley chef and restaurateur Thomas Keller certainly knows how to party, once tweeting,
"Celebrated The French Laundry's anniversary with what else?
In-N-Out burgers!"
He also told the site,
"My first experience at In-N-Out Burger inspired me to do a hamburger restaurant.
I've had it in the back of my mind for sixteen years but I haven't gotten around to it.
It's kind of a secret fantasy."
And the notoriously cranky Gordon Ramsay also approves.
"The last burger I had was In-N-Out burger."
He told Eater,
"People think Americans are obese and burgers are bad for them—they are delicious.
In-N-Out burgers were extraordinary.
I was so bad, I sat in the restaurant, had my double cheeseburger then minutes later
I drove back round and got the same thing again to take away."
And even the food world's saltiest critic, Anthony Bourdain, digs In-N-Out, telling Eater
that that it's his favorite place to eat in L.A.
Managers make bank
Considering a career change?
You might want to think about In-N-Out.
"He lives on North Hollywood on Radford, near the In-N-Out Burger."
"No, the In-N-Out Burger's on Camrose."
"Near the In-N-Out Burger."
"Those are good burgers."
"Shut the f--- up, Donnie."
The California Sun reported that the burger chain's managers make more than $160,000 per
year on average, not to mention paid vacations, health insurance, vision and dental, and 401(k)
plans.
VP of operations, Denny Warnick, explained in a statement that the company's founders
wanted employees to focus on quality service, saying,
"Paying their associates well was just one way to help maintain that focus, and those
beliefs remain firmly in place with us today."
The company even sends their new managers to In-N-Out University - yes, it's a real
thing!
And the fast food restaurant also promotes internal advancement, giving associates the
opportunity to climb the ladder even without a college degree.
As of March 2018, your future in burgers starts at $13 per hour.
High-end swag
If you're really, really into In-N-Out, a regular ol' T-shirt just might not cut it.
Maybe you're looking for something with a little more pizzazz?
Well, look no further than Vault Forty Eight — the curated merch section of their shop,
offering, quote, "a collection of unique items fit for the most avid In-N-Out Burger fan."
It is a treasure trove of fancy swag.
We're talking about Swarovski crystal keychains plated in rose gold and emblazoned with the
palm tree logo.
And a $125 jewelry box for all your In-N-Out bling, also encrusted in crystals and featuring
those famous palm trees.
OK.
There are a lot of palm tree logos — but hey, hard core fans gotta represent.
The heiress to the burger fortune
"It's about the quality, the friendliness and the cleanliness.
We keep it simple."
She's called the burger heiress.
At just 35, she inherited the company and instantly became a billionaire.
But In-N-Out president Lynsi Snyder is notoriously private, and tends to stay out of the limelight.
"We don't wanna be in the spotlight.
We don't want a bunch of attention.
We wanna do what we do best, and that's serve some good burgers to our customers."
But over the years, she's provided a little glimpse into her personal life.
"I felt more alone than ever… more of a piece of trash than ever."
Snyder said that her father's passing (due to an overdose of painkillers) caused her
to "fill the huge void" with men, drugs, and alcohol.
She ultimately turned to God, saying,
"I realized, that I'm gonna follow in the footsteps of my father in that I'm gonna meet
an early death if I do not get right with God."
After three failed marriages, she met her current husband, Sean Ellingson.
Together with Ellingson, the mom of four channeled her faith and formed the Army of Love ministry,
who provide resources and referrals for those in need.
But she already had a family history of taking care of people…
"My heart is totally connected to this company because of my family.
And the fact that they're not here, you know, I have a strong tie to keep this the way they
would want it."
So what does she do to unwind?
This burger maven drag races.
"You can catch America's youngest female billionaire racing a car at as much as 170 miles an hour."
She told Orange Coast Magazine,
"I'm a lot like my dad, a little bit of a daredevil.
I like an adrenaline rush.
My dad took me to the racetrack for the first time when I was 2 or 3.
[...] Anything with a motor, that was in my blood."
Ok, fast cars aaaaaand maybe just a little bit of that special sauce.
"In-N-Out.
In-N-Out!
That's what a hamburger's all about."
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