In-N-Out
Burger: "Quality You Can Taste"
by
Brian
Vance,
Outpost Staff
When Harry and Esther Snyder opened a hamburger drive-thru in Southern California in 1948 they had no idea they were creating the beginnings of a hamburger empire.
Photo
by
Brian Vance
The Snyders named their drive-thru In-N-Out
Burger, and operated
their store under a simple philosophy: Give customers the
freshest, highest quality foods you can buy and provide them
with friendly service in a sparkling clean
environment.
An In-N-Out drive-thru sign directing customers
to the drive-up window at the In-N-Out in Sherman
Oaks, Calif.
In-N-Out burger has now grown to over 140 stores in California and Nevada, and soon Arizona, but there are no franchises. Every In-N-Out is owned and operated by the Snyder family, who have no plans to go public with their company.
"It is simply the best tasting burger money can buy, and it is cheap too." Joan Cooper of Lancaster, Calif. said Cooper frequents her local In-N-Out at least once a week.
Photo
by
Brian Vance
The secret behind In-N-Out's success is the quality of
their food. All of their ingredients are fresh. There are no
freezers or microwaves in any of the In-N-Out restaurants.
All burgers are made to order. Customers may observe the
fries being made from hand-diced, fresh, whole potatoes, and
the milkshakes are made from real ice cream.
The In-N-Out in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
The Underground In-N-Out
Although times have changed one thing at In-N-Out has remained the same. Their simple menu of burgers, fries, and drinks is the same as it was over 50 years ago.
In-N-Out burgers can be ordered "animal style." This is not on the menu, and is learned about by word of mouth. The patty is spread with mustard and then grilled. Instead of sliced onions, sautÈed onions along with pickles are added. When you order, there is a button on their register that prints out "animal style" on your receipt.
Burgers can also be ordered with as many meat patties and cheese slices as one wishes. A three patty burger is ordered as a 3 by 3, a four patty burger, a 4 by 4. You are only limited by the size of your mouth. There is actually a whole list of secret In-N-Out terminology, for special orders, which do not appear on the menu.
"You are not a true Californian until you have had a 4 by 4," said Mike Tinley of Mammoth, Calif.
Photo
by
Brian Vance
Tinley spent five years away from home in London and
couldn't wait to get back California to eat an In-N-Out
Burger.
Mike Tinley of Mammoth, Calif.
"I have waited forever to taste this," Tinley said. "It was a long wait, but well worth it."
Tinley brought back six of his London friends to the United States and made sure they didn't go back to London until they tasted an In-N-Out.
Photo
by
Brian Vance
"We are not really big on burgers in London, but this is
really good for a burger," said Noah Grant of London.
A freeway billboard on Interstate 14 near the
In-N-Out in Lancaster, Calif.
Forget about your college degree, go work for In-N-Out Burger.
In-N-Out has over 7,000 employees with a starting wage of $8 an hour. Yes, that is correct, they pay their burger flippers, potato fryers, table wipers, and floor sweepers $8 an hour. This includes paid vacations, free meals and a 401K plan, plus full-time employees receive medical benefits.
The average In-N-Out store manager earns over $80,000 a year. Many of In-N-Out's store managers started as hourly employees and worked their way up through the ranks. In 1984 In-N-Out opened the In-N-Out University, to teach new managers the In-N-Out philosophy.
Is your mouth watering?
If you want to try In-N-Out Burger for yourself you have to drive 100 miles west of Reno on Interstate 80 to the In-N-Out in Auburn, Calif. Travel west on Interstate 80 until you reach Auburn. Take the Grass Valley Hwy (Hwy 49) exit. The In-N-Out is at the bottom of the off-ramp. This is the closest store to Reno, but if you have a $850 to burn you can call the In-N-Out headquarters and rent one of their cookout trailers. These units are capable of serving the same fresh In-N-Out burgers, available at the restaurants, out of a catering truck at almost any location in California, southern Nevada, and northern Nevada, including Reno.
Photo
by
Brian Vance
F.Y.I. A few tidbits
A customer ordering at the walk-up window at
the In-N-Out in North Hollywood, Calif.
Every few weeks, In-N-Out uses its cookout trailers to feed the homeless.
- In-N-Out has an annual gathering of all their employees, held every summer. It is a free party with lots of food, including all the burgers you can eat. The party includes carnival rides, entertainment, music, and prizes.
- If a store has loses its power, a cookout trailer can be deployed.
- In-N-Out has its own butchers and their meat has been given a four star rating by the USDA.
- About once a month a Quality, Friendliness, and Cleanliness (QFC) inspector travels to each store to conduct a surprise check.
Posted
April 1, 2000
Copyright 2000
Nevada Outpost
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