384652 Sun Mar 25 00:03:29 -0700 2007 21 32 Chains 0 2418440 Thank you to whoever noted this on the Off Menu Menu discussion awhile back. I have never liked the fries there because they were undercooked for my taste. We went last week while visiting Arizona and ordered them well done. Such an improvement. Sun Mar 25 00:03:29 -0700 2007 16602 lisaf 1 2420286 I agree about their fries, but why don't they do this as a rule? IMHO, their fries bite... not the sign of a true burger joint - great fries and great burgers go hand-in-hand... Sun Mar 25 20:14:01 -0700 2007 2418440 64003 bulavinaka 2 2424273 But some of us like our fries a little on the soggy or undercooked side. I don't like my fries well done, so these are great for me. I love when I go with a friend to a burger joint and they like the crispy and I like the soggy, makes for good time for all. Tue Mar 27 00:09:23 -0700 2007 2420286 77080 justagthing 3 2424594 I agree - while I like well-done fries, my wife doesn't. She likes them softer, and for her, In-N-Out fries are great. The thing is, since In-N-Out will honor a request to make their fries well done, why are people complaining? All you gotta do is ask. That's like if I complain about them putting raw onions in my burger and how I can't stand that - they are very happy to grill the onions if you ask them, so I've got no reason to complain about that. Tue Mar 27 06:50:49 -0700 2007 2424273 10764 monkuboy 4 2424614 couldn't agree with you more Tue Mar 27 07:03:32 -0700 2007 2424594 77080 justagthing 1 2421308 Try "extra" well done. So so good. I really don't think In n' Out is worried about how they make the fries. Every time I go there (any time, day or night) the place is packed and the drive thru is ridiculous. They're doing something right. Mon Mar 26 08:55:24 -0700 2007 2418440 76226 Oh Robin 2 2424027 Believe me - you are right in saying that they aren't worried about it. As long as gangloads of people sit there and slog down those limp oily potatoes, corporate doesn't need to change a thing. I think it's not so much that they're doing something right in the sense that they have created a superior set of products, but I believe it is more of a herd mentality. LA is a burger town, and I personally feel that there are alot of places that offer better burgers, and much much better fries. I don't see why In-N-Out offers "suck" fries as a rule, and then one has to be in on the off-menu gig and order them to be half-decent. As I've mentioned in other posts, they need to take a class in, "Fries 101." IMHO, a great burger experience must include a great side of fries. I don't know if you've ever tried a place off the 405 at National called, "The Habit." Everything there is far superior to anything that In-N-Out has. Yes they are more expensive, but the quality is far superior and the greater expense is only marginal. I will still eat at In-N-Out, but that's usually when my choices are limited because of time or location constraints. But when I'm jonesing for a great burger and fries, I will seek them out elsewhere. Mon Mar 26 21:21:47 -0700 2007 2421308 64003 bulavinaka 3 2424093 Wow, a kudo for Hamburger Habit. I haven't been to the National and Sepulveda place in well over a decade. Yep, about the same time they recorded that ad that has been appearing ever since on cable television -- they must have signed some sort of contract for eternal latenight play. About the same time they were mentioned on KABC radio, and they still display that "best burger" blurb. The thing I remember about them, and their partner restaurant across from the Pavilions on the BevHills/WeHo border, is their ordering system where they mark the order right on the little cardboard plate. I remember everything as being a bit better than ok, but a bit expensive for what you got. What does a burger or combo go for these days? Should I order the fries well done, as I prefer at most places? Mon Mar 26 21:59:27 -0700 2007 2424027 10855 nosh 4 2424133 Off the top of my head, I usually get the burger with the works - just under $5. The larger order of fries is about $2.50 or a little more, and the chocolate shake is about the same. That comes out to about $10 and I'm set for the day. I know that you can get something similar at In-N-Out for less, but to me, the difference in price is reflective of the difference in quality. The fries usually come with a nice golden-brown finish already, but you may want to take a peak at what their standard fries look like and go from there. I personally think they're just right. Mon Mar 26 22:18:19 -0700 2007 2424093 64003 bulavinaka 5 2426064 I like Hamburger Habit a lot. But the cost is about $10 at Hamburger Habit compared to $5.65 (including tax) for a Double-Double combo (with unlimited soft-drink refills) at In-N-Out. That's an enormous difference in price - especially if you multiply it by taking your family - and I don't agree that there is a correlative difference in quality. As for the well-done In-N-Out fries: My issue with special-ordering them is not about their quality. It's that I find In-N-Out eat-in orders already take upwards of 10 minutes to receive. I expect a special order that requires freshly made-from-scratch fries will slow things down even more dramatically. That may be more of a wait than I can tolerate - especially since I think their standard fries, while not outstanding, are adequate as is. Tue Mar 27 12:51:12 -0700 2007 2424133 16564 Arthur 6 2426414 They wouldn't start them from scratch. They would just keep the fries that were already in the fryer in there longer. Tue Mar 27 14:20:55 -0700 2007 2426064 76226 Oh Robin 7 2426422 Also, my theory on their fries is that they are part of only about 5% of restaurants (fast food to fine dining) that uses fresh potatoes and not frozen. You'd probably be surprised to find out that even the poshest places use frozen. Could In n' Out stand to improve their method? (ie a pre-fry then a shock fry upon ordering) Probably. But as stated above, ain't gonna happen. They're making $ hand over fist. Tue Mar 27 14:23:24 -0700 2007 2426414 76226 Oh Robin 8 2428883 You hit it on the head, Oh Robin. Frozen fries make for better fries. Wed Mar 28 10:35:29 -0700 2007 2426422 11583 ipsedixit 7 2427328 Oh Robin, are you sure they don't start from scratch? If not, they will then be making an entire batch of well-done fries, not just a single order, and that may not be what the next customers want. That could result in customer complaints. In either case, my original point remains: Ordering well-done fries adds some amount of extra time to an already lengthy wait. Tue Mar 27 19:03:14 -0700 2007 2426414 16564 Arthur 6 2427613 I enjoy a great burger experience occasionally. With that said, I know I'm not going to get it at In-N-Out. IMHO, they are an okay burger experience. I am willing to pay the marginal difference (to me at least) for Hamburger Habit. When I go, I do take my family - four total - so it's not a bank-buster, and my kids really enjoy the whole deal there, with the playing cards, the decor, and the folks who are always really nice to my kids. And I do feel the quality there is much better when you consider the cheese, fries, the shakes, the sandwiches, and some of their other drinks. Maybe I'm being subjective because I personally find In-N-out to be very overrated, but I just don't think they can compare well to Hamburger Habit. Tue Mar 27 21:00:55 -0700 2007 2426064 64003 bulavinaka 7 2427905 bulavinaka, as I said above, I like Hamburger Habit a lot, and when the mood strikes I eagerly devour the food there without complaint. But this is a thread on the Chains board focused on In-N-Out, so let's keep it real: With all due respect, while it may not be a bank-buster to you, by no standard is a nearly 2-1 difference in prices ever "marginal." And for many of us who assess our Chowhound experiences at least in part by the quest for value (i.e., bang for the buck), I think it's fair to say that the $5.65 In-N-Out package generally ranks a lot higher thant the $10 one at Hamburger Habit. Keep in mind that I'm not claiming In-N-Out makes the best burgers/fries in town. I'm just saying that IMHO they're pretty damn good and unquestionably one helluva amazing deal. Wed Mar 28 00:27:03 -0700 2007 2427613 16564 Arthur 8 2430953 I understand that this is about In-N-Out. Not to bicker, but the point of bringing up The Habit was to point out a burger place that knows how to make edible fries - compare and contrast - and I contend that In-N-Out's fries aren't edible - not worth any price - and that a burger experience without a decent side of fries is not worth my time. In my eyes, they are not mutually exclusive experiences. Wed Mar 28 21:43:15 -0700 2007 2427905 64003 bulavinaka 7 2428887 I was disappointed by Hamburger Habit. I was drawn in by the aforementioned KABC banner, but found their burgers, chili, and fries to be on the level of a Johnny Rocket's. That said, though, I definitely had higher expectations than if I had walked into a place like In n Out, if only because I know In n Out is fast food and Habit had that banner going for it. I'd say the main thing In n Out has going for it is that it's all over the place and usually better than other fast food chains at the same price level. Wed Mar 28 10:36:08 -0700 2007 2427613 76461 MeAndroo 4 2424618 I think you're referring to Hamburger Hamlet, NOT Hamburger Habit. Two completely different animals. Tue Mar 27 07:04:54 -0700 2007 2424093 10885 OneJayneDoe 5 2426127 Nope, the place being discussed is unquestionably Hamburger Habit. As stated, it's on National and Sepulveda, and it touts the above-mentioned KABC blurb. Tue Mar 27 13:03:19 -0700 2007 2424618 16564 Arthur 1 2428805 I too love In N Out fries very well done...so much so that I think it's better than any other chain fries (save McD's!). Wed Mar 28 10:15:58 -0700 2007 2418440 12873 OCAnn 2 2429375 I like the texture of McD fries, but when you taste them side-by-side with In-N-Out, I find that In-N-Out tastes much more like a potato. McD fries have less of a potato taste and sometimes also have a rather stale, old taste to them. I would rather have my In-N-Out fries well done but I don't mind the regular ones at all. Wed Mar 28 12:27:20 -0700 2007 2428805 10764 monkuboy