Now, a little personal factoid about myself, I'm a food lover. Like, I'm one of those people who would make a road trip halfway across the country just to try something new. I'm just happy I have a pretty good metabolism or else I'd be 400 pounds ordering pizza through a door I could no longer fit through. Seriously, when I go somewhere new, the first thing I do is start looking up online food reviews of the local foodplaces.

 

But one thing that I've consistently learned from eating, is that, in essence, a burger is a burger. They don't vary or differ a bunch, just small details that tend to separate them out along personal preference. That's why I see the whole "gourmet burger" movement as a complete fail. In the end, you could chop up kobe beef, load on some white truffles, and drop a 200 dollar price tag and there are still going to be people that prefer McDonald's.

 

So I've always been skeptical of the hype surrounding In N Out. I dated a girl who yapped about it nonstop, and I have a friend from California who thinks that they cook the end all burger. Seriously, people in Texas were waiting FIVE HOURS in front of the Frisco location, a lady arriving 5 days early and staying at a hotel just to get double cheeseburger. There was,on average, a two-three hour wait to get your burger the first several days of its operation.

 

So, skepticism aside, I made the hour and a half trek from my place to Frisco to give it a shot. I took my Cali buddy who looked as though he was about to lose his virginity to Megan Fox on a bed made of bacon, and as time went on, I got less and less enthusiastic about the whole trip. Finally we get there, we wait about ten minutes or so in line, and then place our order.

 

Now to their defense, it was the best service I've ever gotten in a fast food joint. Servers were almost cultishly cheery, the cook team was running like crazy, and everyone seemed to have a really professional work demeanor. The food made it out almost crazy fast, which was great because I was starving.

 

My opinion-? No big deal. I'd rate their burgers better than McDonald's, maybe slightly better than Burger King, but not as good as Whataburger. Nowhere near what you'd get at Red Robin or Fuddruckers, but I didn't really expect that either.

 

My biggest issue was the fries. I ordered regular fries and also animal style, which is basically just fries with melted cheese, bacon, and thousand island. But any way you dress them, they're awful. No saltiness, no crunch, just a kind of mushy bland stick. And seriously...the thousand island is disgusting, and this place is in love with it.

 

So hopefully I've started a flame war for those of you that took the time to read this. I'd love to hear some rabid In N Out fans explain to me why this place has garnered the near religious hype that you see with it. Otherwise, just drop your favorite burger place.

 

TL; DR - In N Out is overrated, give me your favorite burger joint. 

 

That's actually next on my list. There's one in Fort Worth, not very far from me.

 

ammolord wrote: Reading this tells me I need to go to Fuddruckers and Sonic also soon. I love both of em.

 

Never had an in and out.

 

but, when the rankings came out and 5 guys won nationally, and we have a couple here in town, I figured I would try it out.

 

NOT impressed. very expensive to eat in a lousy atmosphere with a burger that is just... Ok.

 

Fries... Ok as well, nothing amazing about them.

 

Best fries I have ever had... Penn Station, and VERY consistant, always good. (club with provolone instead of swiss and no mayo is unreal btw)

 

I love Red Robin as well, their burgers/fries are very good.

 

Best "topped" fries. Longhorn steakhouse, their chili cheese fries are unbelievable, about a gazillion calories, but still, bets chili cheese fries EVER.

 

I still yearn for this place that I used to go to in NC called Fat Daddy's. We used to sneak out of school and drive over there for lunch almost everyday. They had a $5.00 student special that was a big cheese burger (with a toasted and buttered sweet bun) large fries, and large drink deal that was by far the best burger I've ever eaten. Huge toppers bar (like fuddruckers) and big screen TV's. Course that was over 20 years ago, so no clue if they are still around and still good.

 

 

I've never been to an In-N-Out, but they do have a good reputation, if not a slightly hyped one. 

Oh, and Jimmy Johns, while maybe not the best overall sub sandwich, easily has the best bread you can get at a sub shop. This is either chain or non-chain, I don't think I've been to a sub shop with better bread than JJs. 

 

If you haven't had Firehouse subs, you haven't had a real sub yet... The new york steamer crazy good. Firehouse Hero sub is also amazing. The hook and ladder... mmm.

 

This, pretty much. Some charcoal and hamburger meat and I'll blow away any chain.

 

Free Enterprise wrote: Firehouse Hero sub is also amazing.

 

I can get into Firehouse. Probably my favorite sub place, though the one they put in Burleson is right across form a Charlie's, so I never make it. Say what you want about Charlie's, but their bacon, cheese, and ranch french fries along with a mushroom cheese steak is top notch.

 

 

I've never come across a Sonic's or Red Robin yet.  All the Hot 'n Now (Rotten Cow) places have dried up and blown away before I had a chance to try them, not that I was in any hurry to do so...

The only advantage SnS has is that it is open 24 hours. After last call it's one of the only burgers you can get, apart from McDonald's. 

Also hard to beat on http://news.change.org/stories/yes-chick-fil-a-says-we-explicitly-do-not-like-same-sex-couples - hating the ol' gays.  

 

Chick fil a is by far the best tasting out there. Their new "spicy" chicken nuggets or strips are the best I have ever had.

 

The service is also by far better than any other "fast" food places. The employees clearly enjoy working there, and their focus is serving customers. The stores are always spotless, the food always hot, and the drinks are in cups that hold the cold all day...

 

To hate them for having designing their business around Christian principles is antithesis of tolerance...

bravecoward wrote: i've never been to steak and shake sober

FreeEnterprise wrote: To hate them for having designing their business around Christian principles is antithesis of tolerance...

I would fashion this to be an incorrect statement. I'm not saying that they're not allowed to donate money to anti-gay organizations, or to structure their personally owned charitable organizations to be anti-gay. 

They're a private organization, they're absolutely allowed to do that if they want.

However, I'm also free to not spend money with them, and I'm also free to distribute information to others showing them as donating heavily to anti-gay causes, so that they too can vote with their wallets. 

I'm confused as to how this is intolerance. If anything this is quintessential free market. 

 

 

But, none are in Ohio... :(

Oh man I totally read that wrong. Mea culpa. 

Yeah, for some reason I've been underwhelmed with my Sonics experiences. The food always seems not quite hot enough for me. 

Now, when it comes to dessert, they've got some good choices. 

 

Locally, we have KewPee with is decent. Nothing really gourmet about it. Supposedly what Dave Thomas fashioned Wendys after.

Also, a relatively decent chain coney/chili dog.