Video: 30x30 World Record Challenge

This guy not only eats a 30x30 in under 15 minutes, but he proceeds to then finish his ice-cream sundae!

Prison Break Star Goes to In-N-Out

I can't wait for the new season of Prison Break to start up. But until then at least I can see Wentworth Miller visiting my favorite eatery.

Reported by Just Jared, WOW, and Waleg.

Fatburger vs. In-N-Out

Join the debate on LAist. Do the egg and bacon toppings put Fatburger over the top? Or does InO have them beat with their grilled onions, special sauce, and PRICE?

#1 Burger in Sactown

In-N-Out wins once again in the 2007 Subscribers' Choice Dining awards. The distant 2nd and 3rd spots were given to Red Robin and Squeeze Inn.

Quentin Tarantino and Bruce Willis on In-N-Out

Quentin Tarantino loves the double-double and has more naughty things to say about his love for them here. And Bruce Willis "doesn't eat fast food anymore, except from In-N-Out Burger."

Missed Exit in San Fran

Sometimes, when you're not ready for them and you're driving too fast, you notice the In-N-Out only after you've passed the exit.

"What I was prepared for was my first bite of an In N Out burger. As we were bombing up the highway the Boy suddenly goes “Ooh!” and points out the window. There it was, the mythical, magical, perfect burger. But alas, we were going too fast and missed the exit."

Read more here. They were able to find dungeness crab sandwiches which sound pretty good, but please, plan your In-N-Out stops ahead of time so this doesn't happen to you.

Cerritos College Gives Away In N' Out Burgers

The lucky students of Cerritos College got a special welcome back to school with the help of an In-N-Out Cookout Trailer and a good use of student body vending machine funds.

"With a Cerritos College ID with a current sticker, students received an In N' Out burger, chips, and a soda."

The Cerritos College Mission is "to serve the community by building futures through learning" -- and by serving In-N-Out Burgers.

Introducing the #2 BLENDED!!!

Check out this breakthrough video obtained from a YoungLife club event of the newest In-N-Out secret menu item. The winner downed a #2 Blended in a record 19 seconds!



Hey, at least they didn't blend an iPhone like this guy.

For those of you with A.D.D.:
- Blending starts at 45 seconds.
- Round 1 starts at 2 minutes 15 seconds.
- Round 2 starts at 3 minutes.
- Winner's ceremony starts at 3 minutes 40 seconds.
- (but you're missing out if you don't watch the whole thing)

Official Launch: In-N-Out Talk

Today is the official launch of In-N-Out Talk. The site has been in beta for a few months now and has already gained in popularity, now it's time to officially get the word out. We here at In-N-Out Talk believe that InO food is so good and InO culture is so cool that it deserves a fan site - and InO management is worthy of our valuable customer input.

This site is meant to be interactive and that doesn't work without your comments and submissions, so comment below and send us your pictures, videos, and InO stories to feature on In-N-Out Talk: innouttalk@gmail.com

Enjoy the experience. Read more about In-N-Out Talk here.

Paris Hilton gets In-N-Out Delivered

"Paris Hilton just can't resist that special sauce. She had In-N-Out burger cater her barbecue Saturday night, but a source tells us she had the delivery truck drive around the back. It's understandable: She was arrested at the fast-food joint, a bust which led to her DUI conviction."
Jump

(Carl's Jr. burger is pictured, but what she really likes is In-N-Out.)

Bay Area Vacation Review

"What we like is their menu -- it is so simple. They have only three, as I recall. There is the Cheeseburger and the Hamburger ... and then there is the Double-Double. Off hand, you would know what burger size you want. You know, in McD's, it's kind of confusing sometimes making the difference between a BigMac, Big Xtra, Quarter Pounders and what nots. See that menu above the cashier's head? Well, the menu is that simple. I like it."

"The burgers were great. Some of the best we had ever tried from a fast food place. They gave us our orders in a neatly stacked box of four ... just perfect for an obsessive-compulsive person like me. Well, almost perfect ... one piece of lettuce stuck out which was not a problem because I just need to push it in to make it perfect."

Check out Ben's full review with yummy pictures on Chow Times here.

Best Place to get a Date with Paris?: The In-N-Out Drive Thru of Course!

"I guess she really has turned over a new leaf: After hitting Les Deux with her sometime BFF Micheline (and former ANTM castoff), Paris took pity on some poor sap in the In N Out drive thru and rolled down her window to accept his phone number! And you all thought she'd done nothing for charity since getting out of jail!"

Check out the story and pics.

Seinfeld on Marketing

No Soup for You!

Like the soup ordering rules in the famous "Soup Nazi" Seinfeld skit, In-N-Out's secret menu creates a sense of belonging in the "in" crowd, according to this marketing blog. <-- following that link also lets you watch the show clip.

What's the 489th Combat Support Unit hungry for on return from Afghanistan?

In-N-Out of course. (this is a fan site)


"While overseas, the 489th Combat Support Unit based in San Bernardino provided logistical support for other units including NATO and the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, said Sgt. 1st Class Jeffery Ferrell, of Lompoc."
...
"Cook is looking forward to grabbing an In-N-Out burger and then spending a day with family and friends at Disneyland, he said.

Cook's wife, Joanna, said she is glad to have her husband home so that he can catch up on his honey-dos. But she also worries about him going back to his civilian job. Cook is a prison guard at Ironwood State Prison in Blythe.

"I'm more worried about him being a prison guard than being in Afghanistan," Joanna Cook said.

Jump

"Pay it Forward" Movement

Relive the Tuscon opening day hype and see the beginning of the In-N-Out "Pay it Forward" Movement with this humorous video:

The Perfect Order

If I ever get hungry enough, I think I'll try Rudy's favorite order:

- Triple Triple Animal Style
- Large Fries, Cooked Light, Animal Style
- Root Beer Float

Sounds pretty good. What's your favorite In-N-Out order?

In-N-Out Sets Sights on Copycats

If you're like many entrepreneurial In-N-Out fans out there, you've thought of opening your own In-N-Out-Style burger joint in one of the many states that doesn't have one yet. Now you may have to think again as In-N-Out begins striking back with its suit against Chadder's. In our earlier review of Chadder's we pointed out the many similarities that are obviously copied from In-N-Out: menu design, architecture, secret menu item choices -- just to name a few.

I'm sure Chadder's is in some legal trouble here (each individual complaint sounds petty, but the culmination of all the imitations is difficult to defend) -- at least they could have made their infringement a little less blatant like Fiamma Burger did in Washington.

All that being said, why bother? Why sue a small business in a location you don't compete in? I suppose it's to stop the bad behavior before it spreads, for that I don't blame them. InO has been close to opening Utah locations in the past, this is further insight into their (slow) expansion plans.

Also, I recommend reading Tim Schreiber's opposing viewpoint on his blog, from there you can even read the court documents! Exciting.

Update: Chadder's has already made some changes in response to the lawsuit. The Cattle Network provides a great rundown of the suit here. Here's a quote:

"Moreover, its court response said that after being sued Chadders underwent some changes, among other things painting railings blue and switching to blue aprons for employees. Chadders also contended that In-N-Out locations around the West had inconsistent exteriors.

The case is continuing, but on June 29 the judge issued a temporary restraining order barring Chadders' use of trademarked names of In-N-Out sandwiches, including the Animal Style, Double-Double and 3x3 burgers. Chadders' employees were instructed to tell customers asking for such items that they aren't available."

InO Knockoff in Washington

Another smart company is capitalizing on the simplicity of In-N-Out's time-tested menu in Bellingham, WA -- with a few changes just so it's not totally obvious. Fiamma Burger opens in just 47 days with an innovative promotion (see pic left). Jason Lee writes a great review for the Baron & Company Blog.

"Fiamma Burger, “Bellingham’s premier all-natural burger joint,” has a beautifully simple menu, similar to In-N-Out Burger’s menu, a virbant looking atmosphere and is positioned as a distinctively different burger choice to the competition just across the street (Bob’s Burger & Brew)."

First Experience

In-N-Out is yet again a California tourist's destination, right up there with Hollywood Boulevard.

"The next day we romped around San Diego all day, seeing the sites. It was my first time seeing the Pacific Ocean and I was inspired to attempt to conquer my fear of heights. I failed. But I also had my very first In-N-Out Burger, of which I approve."

Wanna write for In-N-Out Talk?

Do you love In-N-Out and want to write about it? Have you been to In-N-Out and have an interesting story, video, or pictures to share? Well, here's your chance:

In-N-Out Talk is looking for good contributors to this blog. The requirements are simple and there are two ways you can be involved:

1. One-time post:
- All you need to do is email in your post to innouttalk@gmail.com, with associated pictures and link to video if applicable, and we'll add it to the site (assuming it's approved).

2. Official Author:
- Email one post to innouttalk@gmail.com, with associated pictures and link to video if applicable.
- Include in your email your commitment to posting 3 times per month.
- Then we will send you the invite to have access to authoring posts directly to this blog.

InO Knockoff in Utah

In-N-Out better get a move on in their expansion to Utah--Chadder's is beating them to the punch and doing what many of us fans dream of doing... copying In-N-Out's proven business plan and menu in locations that In-N-Out hasn't ventured yet. Tim Schreiber wrote a great review of Chadder's on his blog.

Gift Card Balance Online

In-N-Out added a feature on their website where you can view your gift card account balance. Cool. I've never had an In-N-Out gift card, nor do I ever see myself worrying enough about the balance that I would check it online, but I guess this may be good for those who generally carry less than $5 cash and no credit or ATM card--then it would save you from having to ask your date to chip in.

Still Long Lines in Tuscon

Karyn Zoldan writes a thorough In-N-Out review here.

You Eating a Burger

Dave, Natalie, and Heather:


Patty and Sharon:


Send in your picture to innouttalk@gmail.com and I'll add it!

Mayor of Clovis Boasts of New Location

Clovis' new mayor, Bob Whalen, mentions In-N-Out's plans for a new location in Clovis, CA in his "State of the City" address:

"Whalen also discussed new businesses in Clovis. Best Buy is coming to the Target shopping center on Willow and Herndon avenues, a 16-screen theater opened in the Sierra Vista Mall as part of a 110,000-square-foot expansion and the "Golden Triangle" near Herndon and Clovis avenues is slated to get a hotel, offices and an In-N-Out." jump

Major League Pitcher Sites In-N-Out as Driving Force Behind Impressive Performance

James "Animal Style" Shields said that an In-N-Out Burger contributed to his outstanding pitching performance against the A's a couple weeks ago (struck out 9 A's and allowed only 1 run in 8 innings).

"I had [an In-N-Out Burger]," Shields told MLB.com. "I'm a Cali' boy, got to have it animal style. See not many people around the country know about animal style right now -- you just grill the onions. Got to have it animal style."

May is National Burger Month

Check out this 1998 article from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association that says, "One-third of all Americans have eaten a hamburger or some form of ground beef in the past 24 hours."

5.4 billion hamburgers served in 1997. And supposedly now, 10 years later, Americans eat an average of 3 hamburgers per week, which multiplied by the 300 million population equals 46.8 billion hamburgers in 2007.

Best Burger Joint

San Diego State University students have rated In-N-Out the best burger joint in the state. But I'm not sure how much credence to give this poll... they rated Pacific Beach one of the top 3 surf spots in San Diego.

Winner: In-N-Out
2nd: Hodad's
3rd: Fatburger

Double-Double Secret Recipe

The secret's out. Well, not really, but here's some good instructions on how to make your own Double-Double at home!

East Coast Review

Another raving review from the other coast. Marcy has many great points about what makes In-N-Out burgers special. Do you agree with her take on the "secret"?:

"So what's the secret? The onion. When you order an In-N-Out burger, always get it with onion when the counter person asks. It's not the harsh-tasting yellow onion you might expect, but a thick slice of crunchy, faintly sweet white onion. If you cook, you know that there is a huge difference between different types of onions. White onions are the mildest and the best choice in raw preparations like guacamole. It's the white onion's delicate, sweet taste that sets the In-N-Out burger apart."

Can it be replicated on the East Coast?:
"Will we ever be able to replicate In-N-Out's magic here in New York? Unfortunately, even with the exact combination of ingredients, it's unlikely that we'd ever reach the same caliber of California freshness."

Lawsuit Filed

"the nation's retailers are coming under legal assault for printing too much payment-card information on customer receipts."

"As of Dec. 4, retailers are prohibited from printing more than the last five digits of a credit-card or debit-card account number on receipts that are handed to customers. The receipts also can't include the account's expiration date."

"We firmly believe Congress did not intend to allow these class-action lawyers to claim hundreds of millions of dollars in damages when no one has actually suffered any monetary harm," Arnold Wensinger, general counsel for Irvine, Calif.-based In-N-Out Burger, said in a statement.

full story

I don't see any problem with In-N-Out quickly complying with this - Franchise companies like Wendy's will have a little more trouble.

Two Kitchens in Tucson

In-N-Out brought in a trailer to help reduce wait times! Good thinking and way to show the customers you care. The trailer concept isn't a new thing for In-N-Out, but it's usually used for parties -- I wonder if this practice will become commonplace for popular In-N-Out openings... Those 3-hour wait times for the first couple days were rough.

Tucson AZ opens today!

That's 206 open stores and counting...

This article even mentions us: "the chain has a cult following that includes some celebrities."

"Within minutes of the Midtown restaurant's early opening at about 9 a.m., a line had formed at the front door. By noon, more than 100 people were waiting outside and the drive-thru line was at least 100 vehicles deep, threaded throughout the El Con Mall parking lot." Jump

Legend of the 100x100

It's true and it happened Halloween weekend, 2004. 1 double-double with 98 extra patties & cheese. Cost = $97.66

Read the full story and see more pictures straight from the source on Will's blog. His post has generated comments for over a year now. Thanks Will and friends for your contribution to the In-N-Out mystique.

Gen Y Prefers Simplicity

Outlaw Consulting recently determined that the trendsetters of Generation Y (ages 21 - 27) prefer simplicity and stripped-down honesty in companies, their products, and the organization of their offerings. This survey confirms yet again that In-N-Out is doing things right:

1. Apple
2. Trader Joe's
3. Jet Blue
4. In-N-Out Burger
5. Ben & Jerry's

See the entire list of 15 "most trusted brands" and read the full article here.

Submit Your Pics

We want to hear your In-N-Out stories and see you enjoying the In-N-Out experience.

Email your pics and stories to us here: innouttalk@gmail.com to have them featured on In-N-Out Talk.

Bible Verses

I noticed an article on Snopes today asking if the markings on In-N-Out cups and burger wrappers are Bible citations. The article certainly isn't overly interesting, but what is interesting is that there are plenty of people out there who don't recognize a Bible verse when they see one.

John 3:16, Proverbs 3:5, Nahum 1:7. Even if you don't believe the Biblical texts you know where to look when you see those citations... right?

Maybe we should start teaching the Bible in school again (carefully of course), as David Van Biema points out in his recent TIME article. "And Shakespeare would almost surely have agreed. According to one estimate, he alludes to Scripture some 1,300 times."

The Bible is always the best selling book year after year, yet how many of us actually read it? How can we fully understand our culture and literature without a good understanding of the Bible? If you don't currently have a good grasp of Biblical themes and stories, I encourage you to pick up a copy (or dust off the one you have on your shelf), or at least get the cliff's notes, so next time you glance at a Bible verse on the bottom of your In-N-Out milkshake cup, you'll know the context - and even be able to look it up when you get home.

Past the 200 Mark

Did you know In-N-Out currently has 209* locations in California, Nevada, and Arizona?

1948 - 1976 = 18
1976 - 1993 = 93
1993 - 2007 = 209

Slow and steady wins the race. More detail to come on the history behind these expansions.

*4 currently under construction.

About In-N-Out Talk

Hi, I love In-N-Out.

Quality. Simplicity. Value. Values. Joy. Cleanliness. Efficiency.... All good things that make InO great.

I live within a mile of 2 In-N-Out locations and work next to another one. I eat there all the time; my favorite order is #2. My wife and I make a stop at In-N-Out on all of our cross-California road trips (my favorite off I-5 stops are Kettleman City and Newhall). And now that my wife's pregnant, she's craving it all the more.

Considering all the devoted In-N-Out fans out there, I was surprised in a recent 2-minute surf through the internet that there were no dedicated In-N-Out blogs. I think there should be a place on the internet for the In-N-Out faithful to discuss the goings on of this wonderful family business that's got it goin' on.

And so, this is my first post on my humble attempt at creating a forum for In-N-Out devotees. We'll keep up on latest news, talk about the folklore, the 'secret menus', the happy employees, -whatever we please. Even speak out to the In-N-Out executives if we see anything going awry; my bet is business will be positively impacted by our insightful comments.

Enjoy.