- Calling In-N-Out’s signature Double-Double
just a fast food burger is like calling MJ
just a basketball player,
or Bohemian Rhapsody just some song.
Over the past half century
In-N-Out has become the golden standard
for all fast food restaurants in America.
And unlike a certain company with those golden arches,
they value simplicity, tradition, and customer loyalty
more than world domination.
But why does the wildly successful company
refuse to expand their menu,
or build locations in the eastern half of our country?
How did In-N-Out develop their Not So Secret Menu?
And why does In-N-Out just seem to taste better
according to millions of cult-like fans?
In the mid 1940s, Harry Snyder,
a World War II veteran living just outside of Seattle
meets Esther Johnson, a former nurse for the US Navy.
By October of 1948,
Esther Johnson is now Esther Snyder
and the newlyweds move to Southern California
where they open the first In-N-Out Burger in Baldwin Park.
Inside the restaurant, Harry cooks the burgers
while Esther handles the books,
and occasionally peels potatoes.
Later that year, Harry creates a two-way ordering system
that allows customers to order from inside their cars.
The restaurant didn't have space for carhops,
but still needed to live up to the In-N-Out name.
So they basically perfect the modern drive-thru. Nice!
In the 1950s In-N-Out's reputation in Southern California
is steadily growing as they open several new locations.
It's here where the Snyder’s set the template
for how In-N-Out would operate.
The Snyder's hated debt,
so they would only open a new location
when the previous one was completely paid off.
Very Tom Nook of them.
Snyder would wake up every day at dawn
to handpick every ingredient they serve.
And it became essential that all locations
were within a one day drive of a warehouse
to make sure nothing was ever frozen.
They also keep their menu super simple
to focus on what they do best.
And the only thing they value more than fresh ingredients
is retaining employees.
Right now, managers at In-N-Out make six figures annually
and the company has a dedicated In-N-Out university
for training.
Plus, I hear the keggers are totally kickass dude.
By the 1970s, inspired by Snyder's favorite movie
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World,
two crossed palm trees are planted in front of many locations.
And palm tree iconography is added to the logo.
It's also around this time
their secret menu begins to take shape.
According to fast food legend,
local surfers referred to as “animals” by employees
because of their Spicoli-esque behavior,
like their burgers mustard-grilled
with extra special sauce, pickles, and caramelized onions.
This became known as Animal Style
and was added to an unlisted menu
that also includes Protein Style.
In 1976, Harry Snyder passes away,
but the business, now up to around 20 restaurants
throughout SoCal, stays in the family.
In 1987, Harry's son Rich, a born-again Christian,
starts printing Bible verses on cups and wrappers.
So basically going to In-N-Out on a Sunday
technically counts as church.
In 1992, in a move that is essentially
a reverse Oregon Trail, In-N-Out heads eastward
and opens their first location across California state lines
in Las Vegas, Nevada.
But the company refuses to go public.
Mega investor Warren Buffett himself was even rebuked
when he tried to get in on the business.
In 2005, someone orders a 100x100 burger
and In-N-Out decides to cup the patty limit
at 4x4.
Probably for the best.
2006, Paris Hilton gets a DUI after an intoxicated drive
to an In-N-Out location,
but is hardly the only celebrity
who loves their Double-Double.
Julia Child would keep a map of locations in her purse,
Anthony Bourdain called In-N-Out
his favorite restaurant in LA,
and it becomes a post award show staple
for tipsy celebrities
looking to line their famous toned stomachs.
In the 2010s, after Esther Snyder passes away,
her granddaughter Lynsi takes over the business,
becoming one of the youngest female billionaires
in the world.
In 2018, in a rare move
hot cocoa is added to the menu,
and you can now find locations in Oregon and Texas. Yee-haw!
In 2019, the story of a wayward In-N-Out burger
found on the streets of New York goes viral,
but unfortunately wasn't a sign of things to come.
Someone just dropped a burger they brought from California,
you'd think they'd be more careful with that.
In 2020, In-N-Out opens a location in Colorado,
where hungry customers line up for 14 hours
to get their fix.
But to be fair, at least some of them
were probably very stoned.
In 2021, the Daily Paws TikTok account
features a secret dog-centric menu,
including the aptly named Pup Patty.
Talk about Animal Style! Anyway,
we salute you In-N-Out for sticking with simplicity,
paying your managers well,
and providing sites like Thrillist
with a seemingly endless amount of content.
You might not exist east of Colorado,
but at least us New Yorkers
can order an In-N-Out charm bracelet, golf balls,
or this very tasteful Double-Double rose gold pen,
which is almost as good, I guess?
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