In N Out: Why?

The last year of college started an obsession I still haven't kicked.  When I bite into a juicy grilled cheese from In N Out... mmmmm.  Delicious.  If you don't live in CA or the US (or the few states that have a location or two), you may have only heard about it.  It's a fast food restaurant, but the only reason it fits into that category is because you can drive thru and you get your food fast.  

It is one of my all time favorite places to eat.  I am so passionate about it that yesterday, while TL and I were in line, we started talking about all the reasons we love it so much.  

It has a very simple menu.  Fries, cheeseburger, hamburger, soda, milkshake.  But here's the thing... neither TL nor myself eat red meat.  So, how is this our favorite place?  Simple.  We order a grilled cheese with one slice of cheese (their cheeseburgers usually come with two), grilled onions, tomato, lettuce, special sauce, and the bun.  (On healthier days, I skip the cheese)

I can't believe I am publicly admitting this, but... I usually eat here at least once a week.  Sometimes twice, and I have been known to make tri-weekly appearances there.

Here's why:

It's cheap.  That grilled cheese only sets me back about 2 bucks and usually I don't get fries, but those are cheap too!

The people who work there are friendly!  In N Out has not been franchised and I hope their owners never do.  They have a quality of work there... good, clean, happy people who care about their work.  I know someone who used to work there and she said they were actually paid decently and had a yearly work party.  You never see their workers talking on a cell phone in the corner or goofing off.

They know that putting a restaurant on every corner isn't going to sell them more food.  The business aspect of In N Out is one of the smartest I have seen.  They only put restaurants near freeway exits, they only have one restaurant in a city... and only the lucky cities get 'em.  (Side note: when we were moving, we timed the distance to the nearest one because I wanted to make sure it was close.  Isn't that sad?)

The lunch and dinner lines to eat here can be dauntingly long... but they move fast and are efficient.  In all the times (god knows how many times I have eaten there) they have never messed up my order.  

Their PR people are genius.  They don't have commercials or radio ads.  Their main form of marketing is billboards letting you know a restaurant is coming up (thank goodness for those) and word of mouth.

And a big reason I love that place:  local, fresh, delicious ingredients.  You can taste the difference between a burger here and one from McDs.  

Also, that veggie burger is only going to set you back about 300-400 calories. The burgers aren't bad, either!  And... it fills you up!

Goodness, all this thinking about it is sparking my craving.  I can't believe that after all these years, I haven't gotten sick of it.

{both of these pics are from before I started having the tomato & grilled onion - it was just spread, lettuce, a piece of cheese & the bun.}

I guess I should side note that I don't work for In N Out and have no ties to it at all.  But maybe I should.

If I could do a giveaway and send this to someone outside of CA, I would.  I wish I could share it with everyone.  But... I am not sure how it would taste if it took a few days to send it! ;)

So, if you ever make it to CA or one of the few states that have a location... you have to try it!

And... if you eat here, what's your fave?

[In N Out rant over]

for now.

;)