Honestly, I’ve seen the doughnut burger thing a lot, but this video is so well shot and edited that it brought a greasy tear to even these jaded eyes.
In this short, the doughnut burger is transformed from curious monstrosity to thing of beauty.
Thanks to writers and producers Christopher F. Smith and Jeremiah Birnbaum of San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking for making that and sharing it with the world.
Washington Redskins quarterback Colt Brennan really loves In-N-Out. Washington Post sports editor Dan Steinberg described him as "the only player I know of who, when he found out a team employee was going to California, asked her to pass along his best to In-N-Out Burger." [Tip 'o the hat to: Tim M.]
Today is the 60th anniversary of the legendary In-N-Out Burger. As we posted about earlier this month, the rumors about a special price rollback today are false. Repeat: The In-N-Out rumors are a hoax! So don't be bum-rushin' the place for dinner tonight.
Photograph from Markus 941 on Flickr
October 22 is In-N-Out's 60th anniversary, and there's been an email making the rounds talking about price rollbacks at the legendary California-based chain. But something sounded "off" about this offer. Sure enough. In-N-Out's site says:
You may be aware of a rumor about our menu prices being lowered for our anniversary on October 22nd. This rumor is untrue.
We’ve always tried to keep our prices as low as possible in order to give our customers the greatest value. One of the ways we accomplish this is by not discounting and our anniversary is no exception. We’re sorry if this rumor has caused any confusion.
Although I live in New York City I spend quite a bit of time in Los Angeles, which gives me the chance to explore all that the City of Angels has to offer in the way of hamburgers. And that is an awful lot. As a friend who lives in L.A. stated, "NYC has pizza; we have burgers." Indeed, the proliferation of burger spots across the L.A. landscape is heartening for any lover of America's favorite sandwich. I have recently reported on the Apple Pan, Pie N Burger and Fred 62, so here is a quick roundup of some other burgers that I have tried in L.A.
There is surely no burger more synonymous with the Southern California style than the venerable and ubiquitous In-N-Out Burger chain. If I fly into Burbank, the Sunset Boulevard location is usually my first stop from the airport. While most people go for doubles, I prefer the simplicity of the single. I have also recently discovered Animal Style fries (topped with cheese, spread, and grilled onions), which make for an interesting diversion from the standard. If you have never eaten at In-N-Out, it should be your first stop in L.A.; if you have been there, it probably already is. 7009 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood CA 90028 (map; numerous other locations); 800-786-1000; in-n-out.com
If it's Tuesday, it must be time for another review from Nick Solares. Nick is also the publisher of Beef Aficionado, his blog that explores beef beyond burgerdom.
1850 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90027 (at Russell Avenue; map); 323-667 0062; fred62.com
The Short Order: The Jucy Lucy here is not modeled on the famous cheese-stuffed burger at Matt's Bar in Minneapolis but on the burgers at In-N-Out. The Jucy Lucy here, though, is like an In-N-Out burger on steroids. And tastes even better
Want Fries with That? They come with, but if they didn't, you could skip them. They're not as crisp or flavorful as they need to be
Price: $9.63 for the Jucy Lucy
Fred 62 is named after its owners, both named Fred, both born in, you guessed it, 1962. Back in 1997, designer Fred Sutherland and chef Fred Eric collaborated to create what they call a "retro-kitsch diner" in the burgeoning Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angles. There is a distinct possibility that such ambitions can result in a trite, tiresome, and contrived restaurant that focuses too much on the kitsch and not enough on the food. Fortunately Fred 62 avoids most of the culinary pitfalls and turns out some inventive twists on classic diner fare.
The decor is an interesting mix of traditional diner trappings (a long counter divides the room, replete with classic soda fountains), along with a cheeky, low-brow slant (the servers all have racing stripes to match those of the leather booths that resemble cars seats). The building is painted in shades of green, orange, and yellow, giving it a rather gaudy and cartoonish look. Like I said, low-brow. Aesthetic misgivings aside, I was here to eat what the menu modestly bills, as "the worlds greatest hamburger sandwich."
I won't keep you in suspense. I don't think it is the world's greatest hamburger, but it is nonetheless very good—certainly one of the best burgers I have had in L.A. The burger in question is called the Jucy Lucy, but it is nothing like the one that has been reported on here at AHT extensively, which is actually filled with cheese before cooking. Fred 62's Jucy Lucy might not be filled with cheese, but it does at least live up to its name.
I called. It's actually In-N-Out Deli. No secret location here in Brick, New Jersey, or in Ozone Park, Queens.
"People think Americans are obese and burgers are bad for them—they are delicious.
"In-N-Out burgers were extraordinary. I was so bad, I sat in the restaurant, had my double cheeseburger then minutes later I drove back round and got the same thing again to take away."
Quoth the Ramsay. [via The Eater]
New reliever Matt Wise almost didn't sign with the Mets because they train in Florida and play in New York—in other words, nowhere near his beloved In-N-Out Burger. "I'm serious. I love 'em that much," Wise told the Post's Bart Hubbuch. Wise is from Southern California and grew up on the popular West Coast chain's famous "double-double" cheeseburgers, which have been known to prompt 1,000-mile roundtrips by some crazed fans just to get them.
Well, a good substitute might be The Shake Shack. It's probably a little pricier than In-N-Out, but if a ball player can't afford the difference ...
This link deserved a post of its own. Blogger CoreyH found the above tidbit in his copy of Departures magazine.
Los Angeles burger haven In-N-Out is rumored to be planning a New York debut, but burgers have already taken the city by storm.
Where those rumors surfaced, AHT doesn't know, but this would be insane. In-N-Out could build a warehouse-sized location in New York City and it still would be packed.
Good question: Why are New Yorkers continually getting shafted when it comes to enjoying the best Goddamn burgers in the world? And according to Larry at blog thisiswhatwedonow.com, the "best Goddamn burgers" are Whataburger and In-N-Out.
The nearest Whataburger: 13880 US Highway 19 S, Thomasville GA 31792; 229-551-9377. The nearest In-N-Out: As the crow flies, it would be in Tucson, Arizona, but as a human flies, via a jet, it's in Phoenix, about 21.2 miles from Sky Harbor Int'l Airport: 21001 North Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix AZ 85050
At a time when almost every area of New York City has a name, Charles Isherwood whines about his as-yet-unnamed neighborhood in the New York Times. In detailing food options just north of Madison Square Park, he's got a take on—of course—the Shake Shack.
The Shake Shack, as it is famously and whimsically called, has now become an urban attraction of such renown that you could probably raise, slaughter and cook your own cow in the time it takes to get a burger and fries there. The last time I visited, I was offered one of those plastic gizmos that look like stun guns and was told it would throb when my order was ready. I stared disconsolately at it for 30 minutes before it made a peep, by which time I was nearly ready to give up.
Like many Brown Zoners, my feelings for the Shake Shack have progressed from enthusiasm and pride to distant affection and veiled dislike. I resent that it has relegated my adored Madison Square Park to being a backdrop to a fry joint.
The Shake Shack; southeast corner of Madison Square Park, 23rd Street and Madison Avenue
I missed this last week, but apparently The Artist Formerly Known as Prince Who Is Once Again Known as Prince had Pop Burgers served at a performance in the oh-so-tony Hamptons on Friday. Also from the same "We Hear ..." item in the New York Post was an aside that Pop Burger, the mini-burger burger joint in Chelsea, will be opening a location at Fifth Avenue and 58th Street in September. Seems like a gratuitous mention to me. Pop Burger; 58-60 Ninth Avenue, New York NY 10011; 212-414-8686
Oh, the stars. They too love the burgers. Who'd have thought "the Queen" (Helen Mirren) was up for a bit of the ol' In-N-Out? In what seems to be a Hollywood tradition, a stand providing the famous California treat was set up at the back of the Vanity Fair Oscar party.
Last year, we blogged a photo of Beck eating a burger at the VF party.
All of our celebrity burger coverage [The AHT Archives]
Helen Mirren Is Cool [What Would Tyler Durden Do; via AHT reader Peter S.]
Though we at A Hamburger Today think that In-N-Out is great but often overrated, we think some students at the University of Arizona need to spend some time at burger college. When discussing the possibility of an In-N-Out replacing an on-campus McDonald's whose contract is up, here's what a couple said:
"I think Sonic should be there, or Burger King," said James Roberts, a molecular and cellular biology sophomore. "Any place that serves better fries." ..."Wendy's is a lot healthier, and you can have a salad instead of fries," said Melissa Revelle, a physics and astronomy junior. "Sonic is also better because it has a better variety and quality."
How can you describe a frozen patty (Sonic) as being of "better quality" than a fresh-not-frozen In-N-Out patty? Ai yah!
Don't hold breath for In-N-Out Burger [Arizona Daily Wildcat]
LURE FISHBAR
Address: 142 Mercer Street (at Prince Street); SoHo, New York City [map]
Getting There: R/W trains to Prince Street Station; one block west of B'way
Phone: 212-431-7676
Short Order: A great In-N-Out–inspired burger from an unexpected place. Make sure to order the "Lure Burger"—not the regular cheeseburger
Want Fries With That? If they didn't come with the burger already, I'd recommend passing on them. OK but not great.
Cost: $14; cash and cards are accepted payment
A Catch: It's counterintuitive to order a burger at a seafood restaurant, but this one rewards stubborn landlubbers with a boatload of briny deliciousness.
We were skeptical when Eater columnist William Tigertt first trumpeted Lure Fishbar's burger as "the best burger downtown":
For my money, the best burger south of 14th Street is the Lure Burger at Lure Fishbar in SoHo. Basically, the Lure Burger is a well-executed restaurant interpretation of an In-N-Out burger. It’s pre-assembled with ketchup, mustard, pickles, shredded lettuce, and special sauce. The lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles are thinly sliced. It’s on a brioche, cut in half, and topped off with two thick cut onion rings hanging from bamboo toothpicks. It comes with classic thin-cut French fries with a trio of catsup, mustard, and mayo dipping sauces. It’s well-seasoned, fresh ground chuck, and unbelievably good. Myself and entire crew of guys from the restaurant walk across town and have it at least once a week.
First: A great burger from a seafood restaurant? Enough said.
Second: In-N-Out? I mean, come on. You can stop making comparisons to the vaunted Cali fast-food burger joint once the word brioche enters the picture and the price goes north of five bucks.
But ... but ...
From the mailbag ...
Dear AHT:As a burger aficionado, I managed to find your site. However I was appalled at the restaurants given so much attention.
First and foremost, In-N-out, is a good fast-food burger for California. In Texas it tastes like a jock strap. I've eaten there in San Diego and Vegas and can definitely confirm that they produce the most grossly over-rated product of all time. I love going to Texas, Houston specifically, because of small chain they have there: Beck's Prime.
I guarantee you Beck's makes better burgers than most of the restaurants you have listed, much less the fast food nonsense like In-n-out.
I don't give a damn where you grew up, I don't have a specific hometown myself. In-n-out is a joke. I mention Beck's as a MUCH better fast food place, but when you get into sit-down the contest is over. God, I'd rather eat at Appeleby's or some crap that freaking In-N-Out.
A little bitta the ol' In-N-Out for you, Paris? ...
Celebrity Paris Hilton was arrested in Hollywood early on Thursday for suspected drunk driving, but she said the incident had been blown out of proportion and that she may have been speeding to get a late-night burger...."I had one margarita (and) was starving because I had not eaten all day," she said. "Maybe I was speeding a little bit and I got pulled over. I was just really hungry and I wanted to have an In-N-Out Burger."
Shouldn't she have been speeding to get a Carl's Jr.? ...
Arrested Paris Hilton says just wanted a burger [Yahoo! News; via Bill and Jason]
From an op-ed piece in the Los Angeles Times:
The great taste hasn't changed, but the mystique that inspired our carnivorous cross-valley quests sure has. The earlier, spartan drive-throughs, which once kept us at arm's length, a sheet of glass sealing off the inner sanctum where clean-cut workers frenetically packed the grill with meat patties, has given way to brightly lighted indoor seating no different from the national fast-food chains. The fabled secret menu, for years passed around solely by word of mouth, giving those of us in the know an easy way to separate the true In-N-Out fan — and true Southern Californian — from the wannabes … well, the Web ended all that.How can we preserve that vanishing sense of wonder while giving proper respect to the important role In-N-Out has played in postwar SoCal culture? An idea came to me a few months back while driving on the 10 Freeway, when I glimpsed a well-worn yellow-arrow sign, bearing a quaint pre-digital clock....
[In-N-Out No. 1] has been closed and gated off since 2004, replaced by a much snazzier restaurant just on the other side of the freeway at the same Francisquito Avenue exit. Next door stands the two-story "In-N-Out University" managerial training center and company store, selling such items as ski caps and beach towels emblazoned with the chain's name.
Company honchos have told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that they plan to preserve the building, and there was even talk of a museum, but I envision something more — a full-blown In-N-Out shrine.
Enshrine This Burger [Los Angeles Times]
Joe's Best Burger Double Cheeseburger vs. In-N-Out Double Double, blogged to AHT from the Flickr photostream of Slice
Went to Joe's Best Burger in Flushing, Queens, NYC, a couple weeks ago to compare its double cheeseburger to In-N-Out's Double Double. New York City-based Joe's has been compared favorably to the California-based chain, with people saying it comes pretty close to the INO formula. Both taste great and are as fresh as you can get for fast-food burgers. But In-N-Out is a little meatier, as seen above. You can get a better idea of the differences and similarities here:
Joe's Best Burger Double Cheeseburger
In-N-Out Double Double
Relax. In-N-Out isn't going to change with the death of cofounder Esther Snyder. From the Los Angeles Times:
The new head of In-N-Out Burgers said Monday that the venerable restaurant chain would remain in family hands and stay true to its time-tested strategy — a simple menu and slow but steady growth — after the death of company matriarch Esther L. Snyder...."The general perception in the industry is that it's under-developed — that there could be a lot more of them," said Randall Hiatt, president of Costa Mesa-based consulting firm Fessel International.
The trick, Hiatt said, is to achieve that growth without losing the In-N-Out mystique.
"Because of the way they have restricted growth, it still has that cult kind of buzz," he said. "Like Krispy Kreme had but lost when you started to see them at every gas station."
Loss of In-N-Out Founder Won't Change Menu Plan [Los Angeles Times]
Sad news in the burger world:
Esther Snyder, who with her late husband Harry co-founded In-N-Out Burger in Baldwin Park in 1948 and popularized the drive-through window for the fast-food industry, has died. She was 86.
Snyder, who had succeeded her husband and two sons as head of the family business, died Friday, according to an announcement from the company. Neither the cause nor the place of death was announced.
She was an inspiration for all the associates at In-N-Out and for all the people in the community whose lives she touched over the years," Lynsi Martinez, her granddaughter and sole heir, said in a statement.
Esther Snyder, 86; Co-Founded the In-N-Out Burger Chain [Los Angeles Times]
photograph from the Orange County Register
A commenter to the most recent AHT post on In-N-Out lamented, "I can't claim to be an In-n-Out expert, but I've been led to believe that the burgers used to be even better when they could cook them medium-rare. After bad burgers made some people sick somewhere else (Jack in the Box?), they mandated that all burgers be cooked to a less juicy medium-well."
But someone claiming to be an In-N-Out associate commented back: "Just so you know, you can get your meat cooked to order. Just specify to the order taker that you want your burger either med-rare or rare, and they'll be happy to cook it for you. We have the safest meat in the nation at the cleanest facillity in the nation....no joke. Eat w/o worries. :) "
Good to know! Add THAT to the "secret menu."
IN-N-OUT BURGER
Location Visited: 333 Jefferson St., San Francisco CA 94133 [map]. Here are other locations
Website: In-N-Out.com
Getting There: Why not take a cable car? (Ding ding!) May I suggest the Powell-Hyde line?
The Short Order: Not the best burger I've ever had, but it is the ideal fast-food burger. Check out the not-so-secret secret menu
You Want Fries With That? Sure they're fresh-cut and what not, but so what? I didn't think they were all they were cracked up to be. I'd still take an order of perfectly done Mickey D's if given the choice. Maybe I should have ordered them animal style?
Double Double, blogged to AHT from the Flickr photostream of Slice
I just got back from my journey to San Francisco, a trip that afforded me my first opportunity to eat at an In-N-Out Burger. Some of you may be scandalized that the editor and publisher of A Hamburger Today had never had a Double Double before. Yeah, yeah, yeah: I'd never been to California prior to this trip, OK?
Having never been to San Francisco before, I did the requisite tourist stuff -- Alcatraz, Pier 39, a cable-car ride. Said cable-car ride stopped, conveniently, near Fisherman's Wharf, where there's an In-N-Out. (I love it when a plan comes together.)
The Fisherman's Wharf location was pretty much everything I'd heard an In-N-Out to be: clean, fast, and staffed with friendly workers.
The burger? Pretty much everything I'd heard it to be, too: fresh, never-frozen beef; crisp, fresh produce; well built. The double-patty, double-cheese variation hit the bun-to-beef ratio on the head. The bun was toasted perfectly -- a nice contrast of crunch and softness in and of itself. Easily the best burger from a fast food chain I've ever had.
Was it the best burger I've ever had? Mmmm, no. But it is exactly what a fast food burger should be, and it's a shame that the McDonald brothers' sandwiches, and not In-N-Out's, became California's burger ambassadors to the world.
Click through for an In-N-Out photo gallery ...
AOL Cityguide has done it again. In late March, the good folks there brought you the best burgers in New York. Now they've compiled the "15 Burgers to Try Before You Die" (hmm ... strange echo of Alan Richman's piece in GQ last year, "The 20 Hamburgers You Must Eat Before You Die.") Without further ado, they are ...
15 Burgers to Try Before You Die [AOL Cityguide]
The 20 Hamburgers You Must Eat Before You Die [GQ]
Family-owned-and-operated In-N-Out Burger, known for its careful attention to customer service and high-quality ingredients, may be at the center of a battle for its soul:
In-N-Out co-trustee Richard Boyd recently filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging that Lynsi Martinez, the 23-year-old sole heir to the family business, and other corporate executives are trying to accelerate her takeover of the company (which will not fully come into her possession for a dozen more years), install top management and quickly expand the reach of In-N-Out beyond its 202 locations in Arizona, California and Nevada—and possibly force out 86-year-old company matriarch Esther L. Snyder, her grandmother.
The New York–based editors of AHT would LOVE to see In-N-Out head east, but if it comes at the expense of ruining everything that makes the place special, we'd rather resign ourselves to going without.
Thanks to Foodite for the tip, via Mike in NYC.
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