This Is Why I Don’t Hate Your Food, California

In-N-Out is a true rarity — a beloved fast food joint that actually lives up to the hype

Two Double-Doubles Animal Style and Animal Style Fries from my last trip to In-N-Out in October. I promise I didn't eat both burgers... but I could have.

My time in Los Angeles was winding down.

I had spent the past five days gorging myself on tacos, watching the Yankees in the ALCS at Dodger bars (blissfully unaware of what horrors the World Series would hold), and making up for lost time with two of my best friends who live in Santa Monica. Now I was on my way to LAX. But before I hopped on my redeye and returned to the land of pizza, bagels, and cured meats (New Jersey) I had one more stop to make.

In-N-Out.

No fast food franchise is as ballyhooed as In-N-Out, the West Coast-based chain famous for “Animal Style” burgers, old-school carhop vibes, and speedy service from employees donning paper hats. The only thing Californians like to talk about more than their amazing weather and terrible traffic? In-N-Out. They speak of the place like it invented cheeseburgers, and the hype has spread across the country. It seems anyone who has made a trip out west has also made a trip to the drive-thru at In-N-Out to grab a double-double and a shake — and they won’t shut up about it.

That includes me. I won’t shut up about it because I absolutely love In-N-Out. And as someone who eats fast food for a living (who knew that could be a job?!), I’m here to say it lives up to the impossible hype.