June Restaurant of the Month #2 - In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out Burger I've had so many opportunities to travel to the west (ahem, best) coast for the past couple of years.  But each time I go, and each time I return home, my friends (especially Mike Roberts) asks in astonishment why I never dined at an In-N-Out Burger.  Most of you who know me, know that I'm not a fast food type of girl. Chipotle is as fast as I'll go. I honestly don't think I've had taco bell in over 10 years and the only time I go to McDonald's is after a late night out with my roommate Caitlin. Something about 2 am McFlurries and $1 Caramel sundaes just makes you so happy!  But, again, when it comes to fast food, it's not my first choice. However, I just had to give In-N-Out Burger a try. After the previous night at Phil's BBQ, Casee and I planned to grab lunch and spend the day at Pacific Beach.  She took me to the In-N-Out Burger in Pacific Beach and I was actually very excited for some of their fast food - my friends have told me amazing things about this burger joint, so I was ready. 

A few things about In-N-Out that surprised me and made me like it 10 times more. 1) As you walk up to the restaurant, they open the door for you and greet like you're a special celebrity or something. Try watching McDonald's do that.  2) In-N-Out Burger is a christian-based company. They had bible scriptures written on the bottom of their cups and fry dishes.  As a fellow Christian myself, I was in awe to see that.  A company that sticks to their "roots" and isn't afraid to be vocal about their belief in God is cool in my book.  Also, you never know when someone might see that scripture and get a little boost.  When I ordered a milkshake and took a look at the bottom of the cup, I had to smile.  The bible verse was Proverbs 3:5 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." This is one of my favorites and was just a friendly reminder to always trust in him. 3) Their milkshakes are made with real ice cream and nothing more - so original and so delicious.

My friend, Mike, adequately prepared me with what I should order as a first-timer with In-N-Out. He said, "Keep it simple, Marissa. Order a Double-Double with Fries and a Shake." Guess I had to go with that! I can always count on Mike - he's a solid friend in my life - and whether it's a ride to the metro, learning a new app on the Droid, or helping me choose the best fast food, he's always there. The In-N-Out menu consists of three burger types: hamburger, cheeseburger, and a "Double Double" (double meat and double cheese). The hamburgers come with lettuce, tomato, with or without onions (you can get them fresh or grilled), and a Thousand Island dressing called " the spread".  For those of you who live in CA, you know that it's a federal mandate to put the amount of calories for each meal or side dish on a menu. This is both a good and bad thing.... do I really want to know that my lunch at In-N-Out is over 1000 calories? Yeah, I'd rather not, but at least it prepares me to know how much exercising I need to do. When I placed my order the staff was great and very accommodating to the fact that I was a first time customer. $9 later and I was about to bite into what apparently is the best fast food burger along the West Coast.

Ladies and Gentlemen, that burger was delicious. It was oozing with this amazing sauce and the hamburger patties were cooked to perfection; they did not taste like "Fast-food" burgers, but more like one you could cook on the grill at home. It definitely was quality you can taste; they were quite delicious and fresh. Just like my experience at Phil's BBQ, eating an In-N-Out Burger is a total experience -- you enjoy every bite as the sauce drips on your fingers, leaving you wanting just one more.  The fries were great too, they were the smaller size fries and had just the right amount of salt (at least for me!).  And, finally, the milkshake.... Again, I'm a big fan of ice cream and milk shakes, although I don't eat them often. This milkshake was awesome because it was pure ice cream, no other fake ingredients or added sugar. I went with a solid chocolate, but you are able to mix flavors if you so choose. It was just pure, great ice cream melted to a perfect blend for drinking a shake. It was a great finale to my fast food dining experience.

I had to wear the welcome hat!! 

All in all, I was really glad that I caved in and gave up counting calories for day and tried the infamous In-N-Out Burger. I think it's important to eat this type of food in small doses, but every once in a while, it's nice to throw the diet out the window and enjoy a burger and fries. Also, who knew that while eating lunch, I'd get my daily dose of Jesus at the same time?! It's a win-win! I will definitely be back to this place while I venture out West, and I'll look forward to being greeted with a smile as I proudly order a double-double!