Lynsi Snyder is expanding the family-run California chain as far east as Tennessee. But as for the East Coast? “I’m probably saying never.”
In-N-Out isn’t your typical burger joint, and it insists expanding its footprint won’t change that.
For nearly eight decades, the West Coast restaurant chain has remained a private, family-owned company that has cultivated fiercely loyal customers and a quirky identity despite being located in just a handful of states. But recently it’s been on a growing spree that will soon extend as far east as Tennessee.
Since Lynsi Snyder took over as the California-based company’s president in 2010, its size has nearly doubled, from 230 stores in four states to 402 in eight. In-N-Out Burger is opening in Washington, its ninth state, with New Mexico and Tennessee to follow.
Snyder said she’s still cautious about expanding too far or too fast and remains focused on keeping prices lower than competitors’. Even before taking the reins, she said she “felt such an obligation to look out for our customer. When everyone else was taking these jumps, we weren’t.”
She runs it “animal style!”
– Sorry, I just had to.
How is it not typical? I was deeply underwhelmed the one time I went there.
I’m with you. People love this place, but the half dozen times I’ve been there, it’s been thoroughly mediocre. It’s not bad, but it’s not this amazing pinnacle of burgers either. And I truly don’t understand why people are in love with “animal style,” aka make my burger as messy as possible.
Its a cheap burger joint, I think the confusion is caused by a mix-up of expectations.
I was in SLC a few weeks ago and got a double-double combo for under 10$. I feel like there are very few places left that even offer something that could be viewed as a meal for that price. Plus they treat their employees well and their locations Ive been to are very clean.
Are they prefect, no, but we put them on a pedestal because they are how a crappy fast food joint should be run.
What you said makes sense and I completely understand why this would make them popular. They should be applauded for their cleanliness and good treatment of their employees. Those are great! However what I don’t get is why people act like their burgers are top tier when they’re clearly not.
They are absolutely top tier in their category (fast food and cheap). You can’t compare them to a $20 monster burger.
They absolutely aren’t. I’m not comparing them to some $20 burger. I’m comparing them to other fast food burgers, and in that comparison, they’re decidedly average.
Do you honestly think a jack in the box or McDonald’s burger is better?
I admit I am biased. When I was a kid they were only in Southern California and we would always get them when visiting family down there. I 100% have some nostalgia bias. But objectively they have high quality ingredients and are prepared well to your liking. A lot of people complain about the fries (you can order them light well or well), but fries made from potatoes rather than some abomination invented in a lab are a selling point in my book.
Are McDonald’s burgers better? No. Are Wendy’s? Yes. I haven’t had Jack in the Box in almost 10 years (none in my area), so I can’t compare them directly.
Their fries seem like their burgers to me: good, but not remarkable. They’re certainly better than BK fries and the current Wendy’s fries (the old Wendy’s fries were better).
I’m not sure what you mean about the lab thing, though. The vast majority of the fries I’ve had have just been sliced and fried potatoes.
Well, obviously tastes differ, but I have yet to see any traditional fast food restaurant have anywhere near the lines and demand that In&Out has. More often then not, the lines are too much and I’ve often given up and gone to other spots when the lines are insane.
Call it hype, but I really think that they are leaps and bounds better than any other chain fast food places.
Show me you’ve never been to a Culver’s.
Yea, it’s nothing impressive. I think it’s popular because it’s “popular”. Nothing impressive, but consistently average. Though I’ve also heard it’s much better the closer to the original locations you get, so who knows.
