photo credit: tom.arthur

Life in Southern California is romanticized far outside of California itself. People all throughout the United States, especially those who have snowy, frigid winters, would love to escape to a part of the country that offers agreeable weather, beach life, and beautiful people. Things are much simpler lounging by the beach, enjoying exotic drinks and watching people go by. One of the most iconic fixtures of this Southern California way of life is the In-N-Out Burger fast food restaurant chain, whose logo is known throughout the country. The In-N-Out Burger T-shirt, depicting a typical scene at the restaurant with a backdrop of lush palm trees drenched with sun, is sold all throughout the United States. Partially because of the T-shirt, and partially because of its long-standing popularity in Southern California due to its legendary status with Californians, In-N-Out Burger has become a national sensation and is an important tourist stop for visitors to the state.

The first In-N-Out Burger location was opened on October 22, 1948 by Harry Snyder and his wife Esther Snyder at the northwest corner of what is now I-10 and Francisquito Avenue in the Los Angeles suburb of Baldwin Park, California. According to the company, the Snyders has a plan which is still in use today, which was essentially to provide the freshest, highest quality food you can find in a clean environment. Three years later, a second In-N-Out Burger was opened in the San Gabriel Valley, and up until the 1970s, In-N-Out Burger remained a relatively small chain of restaurants. When Harry Snyder died in 1976, there were only 18 restaurants in existence, a small number compared to what would come. Following his father’s death, Rich Snyder became the president of In-N-Out Burger at the young age of 26 years old. He and his brother, Guy, had begun working at the ground floor of In-N-Out Burger at an early age, and under their guidance, the restaurant chain grew rapidly over the next twenty years.

By the early 1990s, there were over 90 restaurants in existence, but tragedy struck when Rich Snyder and four other passengers died in a plane crash on approach to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California. Upon his brother’s death, Guy Snyder took it upon himself to become the next president of the company. Under his guidance, the restaurant chain expanded even more rapidly, eventually making its way into Northern California and even into Nevada, the first non-California In-N-Out Burger opening in Las Vegas. In 1999, Guy Snyder passed away at a young age due to an overdose of the painkiller Vicodin, leaving behind an expansion of almost 40 restaurants in his six-year span as president of the company. Esther Snyder took over the presidency from her son, continuing the chain’s expansion into Las Vegas and Arizona, with stores in these two locations becoming immensely popular. Following Esther’s death in 2006, vice president of operations Mark Taylor took over as president of the company, with Lynsi Martinez, Esther’s granddaughter, set to eventually control the company in 12 years.

photo credit: justj0000lie

Although there has been plenty of heartache in the restaurant’s ownership history, there is also plenty of excellent food to be enjoyed at In-N-Out Burger. In the same vein as many other drive-thru restaurant chains throughout the country, In-N-Out Burgers are very similar in appearance, with a large eating area and a drive-thru section around the restaurant. Those who want to enjoy the food at the restaurant can opt to either order inside and sit at one of the booths or tables or drive-thru and eat the food at home (or in the car, as many people who cannot resist the temptation of the French fries will tell you). As far as In-N-Out burger’s menu, the selection of food is rather limited in comparison to other fast food restaurants. You can choose from a hamburger, a cheeseburger, or a “Double-Double” which consists of double meat and double cheese. French fries, fountain drinks, and three flavors of milkshakes are available as well. Hamburgers come with lettuce, tomatoes, with or without onions, which can be fresh or grilled, and a sauce, which is called “spread”.

Of course, such a limited menu would probably not draw as much attention as In-N-Out Burger has attracted over the years. There is, in addition to the standard menu, a whole secret menu that is available at each and every In-N-Out Burger. This secret menu contains variations of the meals that can already be ordered off the standard menu, but rather than being a secret that is passed between family and close friends, the “secret” menu is available on the company’s website. Such variations on the standard menu include the 3×3, which is similar to the “Double Double” but with three patties and three slices of cheese, and the 4×4, which is similar to the 3×3 but with four of each. Other secret menu items include the neopolitan shake, which is a mix of the three flavors of milkshakes, flying Dutchmen, which are patties and cheese without the buns. Other secret menu items include the grilled cheese sandwich, the Extra Everything sandwich, the addition of chopped chili peppers, packages of In-N-Out Burger’s sauce, called spread, and veggie burgers for the vegetarian burger lovers.

The signature colors of In-N-Out Burger are white, red, and yellow. White is used for the exterior of the buildings and for the basic employees’ uniforms, red for the building’s roof and the employees’ aprons and hats, and yellow for the decorative band on the roof and the iconic zigzag on the logo. Although most of the newer restaurants have an indoor style of serving food, the first In-N-Out Burgers did not give patrons the options to eat indoors. Instead, there were two lanes with the kitchen in between them, and those who wanted to eat would park their cars under one of two metal awnings, order the food, and then either eat it in the car or in an outdoor area with tables and benches. This image of In-N-Out Burger is used on much artwork and merchandising, often portraying classic cars like Mustangs parked in the In-N-Out Burger at sunset. Palm trees are a common theme at most In-N-Out restaurants, a design motif featured on the inside and the outside of the restaurant, if possible.

All in all, In-N-Out Burger is a Southern California staple restaurant that has made its way throughout several parts of the country. Those who grew up in Southern California but moved out of the area often long to return and taste some of the delicious burgers, while those who visit Southern California inevitably find themselves feasting at an In-N-Out Burger. Although the plain, standard menu that is on display at the In-N-Out Burgers is not extensive at all, with the addition of the secret menu, there are plenty of meals that are suited for everyone, from vegetarians to those who hate veggies. A dedicated fan base spreads positive reviews of In-N-Out Burger through word of mouth and also through the internet, creating a buzz about the restaurant that extends far beyond its actual domain in Southern California. If you ever get the chance, you are well-advised to eat at In-N-Out Burger.