Spring break is nearly upon us, which means flights abroad and road trips galore. While on vacation, you might be searching for popular restaurants and best bites. But for those traveling on the West Coast for the first time, perhaps you have one restaurant chain on your mind: In-N-Out.
In-N-Out is the staple Californian road trip meal. You simply can’t go on a road trip without making a pit stop there. Usually located directly off of highways, In-N-Outs are perfectly positioned for easy access while on the road.
In-N-Out’s menu is inexpensive and no-frills, with very few items on display — but this doesn’t necessarily mean that their menu isn’t complex. Behind the surface it is, at least. With an extensive secret menu and seven different ways to order your fries (none of which is shown on the menu), there are many tips and secrets as to how to enhance your In-N-Out experience. For the first time visitors, here are the best In-N-Out hacks to get the ultimate California experience.
Customize your onions.
When ordering a burger, make sure to add in onions as an extra for no cost. While you can order grilled onions (diced), onions (raw diced), or whole onions (raw) — your best bet is to ask for grilled whole onions. You will get an entire layer of soft and nicely charred onions in your burger, adding another layer of delicious flavor to an already yummy vessel.
Add pickles to your burger.
This is for the pickle lovers out there. When ordering your burger, ask for pickles as an extra. In-N-Out’s pickle slices are very light dill pickles that add a subtle acidity to your burger. As a bonus, they’re also huge.
Bulk up on protein.
There are endless ways to add protein to your In-N-Out burger. Cut out the carbs by ordering your burger protein-style, which replaces the bun for a lettuce wrap. Add more meat and cheese by ordering a Double-Double as opposed to a regular cheeseburger, which has two patties and two slices of cheese. You can also exponentially increase the amount of protein your burger has by ordering a 4×4. Or perhaps you are just craving a burger patty, in which case you’d order a Flying Dutchman — and receive a single lump of meat.
Try a range of fry types.
Let’s face it, In-N-Out isn’t particularly known for their fries. Despite being sliced and fried right in front of your face, In-N-Out’s fries always turn out slightly limp and soggy. But not if you customize them. You can actually order fries with seven degrees of frying: extra light, light, slightly light, regular, light well, well, and extra well. Ranging from the least time in the deep fryer to the most, you can get your fries even soggier, or crisp them up nicely. Light well is probably the most popular, as it makes regular fries less soggy without turning them into a chip.
(Milk)shake it up.
In-N-Out offers three milkshake flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. If you’re looking for a more interesting milkshake, combine these flavors to enhance it. Chocolate vanilla, strawberry vanilla, chocolate strawberry — or make a Neapolitan milkshake by combining all three! In-N-Out milkshakes are icy, creamy, and smooth, perfect for dipping fries in or sipping slowly during a long drive.
Ask for spread when you receive your food.
This is a must. In-N-Out’s spread is a condiment similar to Cane’s sauce, but with pickle chunks and a bit more spunk. When your order number is called and you go to pick up food at the counter, ask for two packets of spread. Pour it over your fries or slather it on your burger for a creamy, tangy, and savory addition that you can’t miss.
Request a sticker pack and hat!
To really get the full In-N-Out experience during your first visit, you need to emulate what it feels like to be a Californian kid going to In-N-Out with their family on a road trip. This means sticker packs and paper hats. Create an In-N-Out scene with stickers, and transform into an employee with one of In-N-Out’s iconic hats. There you go: now you’re a true Californian.