The "In-N-Out" Experience

I can think of only one other restaurant besides In-N-Out Burgers that wows me every time I go there, Cafe Rio. In both cases it's not necessarily because of the food (but it obviously MUST be because of the food), but rather the crowd at the restaurant.

Rachel told me Thursday night she wanted to go to In-N-Out for dinner Friday; I said "OK!" (when would I ever refuse a burger?). So we had some errands to run out by Draper Friday night so we head out to the Draper restaurant. BIG mistake. I had heard that the lines weren't that bad but the second I pulled up I knew it was a no-go. The line for inside was out the door and the drive through was wrapped into the street and back about 50 cars. I told Rachel there is no way it was happening as Cannon would obviously not do well sitting in the cold for 15 minutes before even getting inside the door. We hit up Costco dinner with plans for In-N-Out another day.

So this morning we leave Cannon with Grandma and head over to Jordan Landing for some more Christmas shopping. It is barely past 10:30 in the morning as we pull up by In-N-Out. We can see that it's open because inside the tables are already full and the drive through already has a line. It is 10:30 in the morning on a Saturday! People are barely waking up at this hour and they're ready to shove a burger and fries down their gullet?

Let me preface by saying that not 5 minutes earlier I had stopped at a gas station and filled up a 32 oz. soda and eaten a giant cream-filled triangle donut (LOVE Dunford!), but we knew if we were going to eat In-N-Out anytime within the next six months or so, this was the opportunity! In we go at 10:45 am to a filled fast-food restaurant. The line wasn't very long but the seats were all filled. We ordered our food and enjoyed a great burger-brunch.

The thing that is so amazing about In-N-Out and Cafe Rio is I get the feeling every time I eat at one of these places that the only limit to their profits is "How fast can you flip a burger or make a burrito?" That is impressive. From open 'til close for who knows how long In-N-Out will have monster lines of people dying to have their burgers. I still remember my first time going to one in California and thinking "THIS is their menu? How do they do so well? Where's the bacon? Where's the pastrami? The chicken options?" etc. Well, they make good food and people respond to good food, especially hamburgers and burritos, the staples of the American diet (at least my diet).

I have previously claimed 5 Guys to be the best burger in the state of Utah. After this morning I want to restate my opinion a tad. While I still hold strong that 5 Guys is the absolute best burger I will concede that In-N-Out may be the best burger "for the money". It is certainly much cheaper as a double cheese combo is $5.50 where the same thing would probably net over $10 at 5 Guys. I also want to note that the Apollo/Crown/Whatever pastrami is still in my top-level pantheon of great burgers as well. There is just something about a great burger combo that puts you in a good mood, right? Count me happy for the day!