In N Out in LA

I finally completed another foodie milestone - by eating at In N Out. What looks like another burger chain is actually a California institution with legions of fans who swear by their burgers. The company's dedication to fresh ingredients is reflected in the fact that they do not freeze their meat patties or produce that goes into their burgers.

I walked into the brightly colored red and yellow fast food restaurant in Los Angeles. I was connecting onward to my long flight back home, and I looked up In N Out on Google Maps, and there it was - within walking distance of my airport hotel. Turned out to be a great idea because the aircraft landing at LAX fly right overhead which makes for a great experience - especially in our post-9/11 world where you can no longer approach airstrips to watch flights take-off and land.

In N Out itself was no different from the usual McDonald's and Burger Kings outlets, other than the fact that their employees seem to be happier and actually sported a smile when serving you.

I ordered a single-single burger animal style. Now here's the cool stuff: While they keep their menu simple with only few items on it: Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Double-Double and French Fries, there is an extensive hidden menu for those in the know.

Check out Badmouth's blog for the most definitive list of hidden items you can order here. What you definitely need to try is their burgers done 'animal style'. The other must-have item on the hidden menu is the Neopolitan shake.


Who would have thought you can have so much fun with less than $10 spent on the experience? And the food is probably fresher and healthier than the usual chain burgers.