7 California In-N-Out Orders That Don’t Live Up To The Hype & 7 That Always Hit The Spot
As a California native, I’ve made more In-N-Out pilgrimages than I’d ever dare to admit, and each visit has only deepened my appreciation for this legendary burger chain.
Few fast-food spots inspire such loyalty—or spark as many heated debates—about what belongs on your tray. The real magic often lies beyond the regular menu, hidden within the chain’s famous “secret” offerings that locals swear by.
After years of taste-testing (a tough job, I promise), I’ve put together what I consider the definitive guide. Some of these so-called legendary hacks fall flat, while others absolutely live up to their cult following.
1. Flying Dutchman: Protein Overload Without The Fun
The Flying Dutchman leaves me wondering why I bothered every single time. Two beef patties hugging a slice of cheese – that’s literally it. No bun, no veggies, no sauce.
The first bite tricks you with its savory promise, but by the third, you’re left with greasy fingers and the sad realization that burgers need their supporting cast. Without the fresh crunch of lettuce or the tang of spread, it’s just a bland protein hockey puck.
My cousin swears by this for his keto diet, but honestly, life’s too short for bunless burgers. Save yourself the disappointment and order something that doesn’t feel like punishment.
2. Protein Style: Lettuce Wraps That Leave You Hungry
Protein Style sounded brilliant during my short-lived low-carb phase. The concept? Replace that fluffy bun with crisp lettuce leaves. The reality? A soggy, falling-apart mess that had me eyeing everyone else’s proper burgers.
The lettuce simply can’t contain all those juicy toppings. One enthusiastic bite sends tomato slices sliding onto your lap and sauce dripping down your arms. I’ve never felt more betrayed by vegetables in my life.
My favorite memory? Watching my health-conscious friend struggle to maintain dignity while chasing escaped burger contents around her tray. Skip this disappointment unless you enjoy wearing your lunch.
3. Grilled Cheese: The Burger’s Forgotten Cousin
I ordered the secret menu Grilled Cheese during a vegetarian experiment, expecting some magical creation. What arrived was just a regular burger, minus the meat. Same bun, same toppings, same price – significantly less satisfaction.
The cheese barely registers without the savory patty to complement it. You’re essentially paying full price for a burger’s supporting actors with no star of the show. My vegetarian friend who recommended it couldn’t look me in the eye afterward.
The worst part? That hollow feeling as you watch everyone else bite into proper burgers. If you’re vegetarian, you’re better off visiting somewhere with dedicated meat-free options that don’t feel like an afterthought.
4. Extra-Toasted Burger: Charred Disappointment
Extra-toasted sounded like a flavor upgrade – who doesn’t love golden-brown toast? Unfortunately, In-N-Out takes “extra” too literally. The bun arrives looking like it survived a house fire, with a bitter charcoal taste that overwhelms everything else.
My mouth still remembers that acrid first bite. The burnt flavor hijacks the entire experience, making the fresh ingredients and perfect patty completely irrelevant. Even slathering it with extra spread couldn’t save this carbonized disaster.
My brother insists it adds “complexity” to the flavor profile. I think he’s just too stubborn to admit he made a terrible recommendation. Trust me, the standard toasting is already perfection – don’t fix what isn’t broken.
5. Fries Well Done: Crispy Turned Crunchy Catastrophe
Fries Well Done seemed like the solution to In-N-Out’s notoriously soft fries. The promise of extra crispiness had me salivating until I actually tried them. These aren’t crispy – they’re practically potato jerky.
The extended fry time transforms them into golden toothpicks that could double as weapons. The first bite shatters like glass, followed by a weirdly hollow center. My dental hygienist probably sensed a disturbance in the force when I crunched into these.
Last summer, my friend’s toddler started crying after trying one. Smart kid – he recognized a potato tragedy when he tasted it. Stick with regular fries or go Animal Style if you want to enhance the standard offering.
6. Cold Cheese: The Experiment Nobody Asked For
Cold cheese on a hot burger sounds like something invented during a late-night dare. The concept? Adding unmelted cheese to your burger for… reasons? The execution? Exactly as awkward as it sounds.
The cold slice sits stubbornly on top of your patty, refusing to integrate with the rest of your meal. Each bite delivers a temperature confusion that your taste buds never signed up for. The cheese remains stiff and waxy while everything else is warm and yielding.
My roommate swears this creates a “texture contrast.” I think it’s just a way to make perfectly good food unnecessarily complicated. Some culinary experiments deserve to be forgotten – this is definitely one of them.
7. Mustard-Grilled Patty: Tangy Turned Overwhelming
Mustard-grilled sounded like a flavor boost – adding mustard directly to the patty while it cooks. My taste buds were not prepared for the mustard assault that followed. The sharp tang completely hijacks the burger experience, bulldozing over every other flavor.
The first bite hits you with a mustard wallop that makes your eyes water. By bite three, your taste buds have surrendered to the yellow condiment overlord. The beautiful beef flavor that makes In-N-Out special? Completely buried under a mustard avalanche.
My dad, a mustard enthusiast, ordered this on three consecutive visits before admitting it was “a bit much.” Coming from a man who puts mustard on pizza, that’s saying something. Some modifications should remain theoretical.
8. Animal Style Burger: The Crown Jewel Of Secret Menu Fame
Animal Style transforms an already great burger into something transcendent. The grilled onions caramelized to sweet perfection, extra spread adding creamy tang, and that magical mustard-grilled patty create flavor fireworks with every bite.
My first Animal Style experience happened during a beach trip after high school graduation. That perfect combination of flavors – savory, sweet, tangy, and rich – imprinted on my memory alongside ocean waves and summer freedom.
The pickle chips add bright acidity that cuts through the richness, creating perfect balance. When friends visit from out of state, this is what I insist they order. It’s not just a burger; it’s the California experience in handheld form.
9. Animal Style Fries: Potato Paradise Worth The Mess
Animal Style Fries turn an ordinary side into the main event. Those freshly-cut potatoes smothered in melted cheese, special sauce, and grilled onions create a fork-required masterpiece that ruins regular fries forever.
The key is eating them immediately – that magical window when the cheese is perfectly melty and the fries still have some structural integrity. I’ve witnessed grown adults racing to their tables to catch this fleeting moment of perfection.
My sister and I once ordered these to share and ended up in a silent fork battle, each trying to claim more than our fair portion. No words were exchanged, just strategic stabbing maneuvers and narrowed eyes. Some foods are too good for sharing etiquette.
10. Neapolitan Shake: Three-Flavor Symphony In A Cup
The Neapolitan shake combines chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry in a drinkable version of the classic ice cream. Unlike most places that simply layer the flavors, In-N-Out blends them into a unified pink-brown swirl that tastes like childhood nostalgia.
During one summer road trip along Highway 1, this shake saved my sanity in standstill traffic. The perfect balance of flavors – none overpowering the others – created a momentary escape from the California gridlock.
Pro tip: it’s thick enough for spoon territory but still drawable through a straw with moderate effort. My nephew calls it the “everything good shake” and throws a small tantrum if we suggest any other flavor. Smart kid – he already recognizes perfection.
11. Fries Light: The Perfectly Golden Alternative
Fries Light – the unsung hero for those who find In-N-Out’s regular fries too soft and Well Done too crunchy. These golden beauties spend less time in the fryer, resulting in a potato that’s tender-crisp with an almost creamy interior.
I discovered this option accidentally when a new employee misheard my order. That happy mistake revealed my perfect fry – slightly undercooked in the best possible way, showcasing the fresh-cut potato flavor without any hint of greasiness.
My fry-obsessed uncle scoffed until I made him try one. His silent wide-eyed stare followed by “order me these next time” told me everything. Sometimes the best menu hacks are the subtlest ones that respect the original ingredients.
12. Lemon-Up: The Refreshing Secret Weapon
Lemon-Up might be the most underrated secret menu item – pink lemonade and 7-Up combined into the ultimate burger accompaniment. The result is carbonated magic that cuts through richness with bright citrus notes and just-right sweetness.
During a scorching August afternoon in Palm Springs, this fizzy creation saved me from heat-induced misery. The combination cleanses your palate between bites better than any standard soda, making each mouthful of burger taste like the first.
My teenage niece now refuses to order anything else, calling it “sparkly sunshine in a cup.” She’s not wrong. When the temperature climbs above 80, skip the shake and give this refreshing alternative a try. Your overheated taste buds will thank you.
13. Half-and-Half Shake: Customized Creamy Perfection
Half-and-Half shakes solve the eternal dilemma of choosing just one flavor. My go-to combination – chocolate and vanilla – creates a perfect balance between rich cocoa depth and classic vanilla sweetness that regular chocolate shakes never quite achieve.
The beauty lies in customization. Strawberry-vanilla creates a lighter, fruity experience, while chocolate-strawberry delivers something akin to chocolate-covered berries in drinkable form. Each combination creates an entirely different shake experience.
My best friend and I have a tradition of ordering opposite combinations and sharing sips to compare. After fifteen years, we still debate whether chocolate-vanilla or strawberry-vanilla deserves the crown. Some friendships are built on these important disagreements.
14. 3×3 or 4×4 Burger: The Hunger Destroyer
The 3×3 (three patties, three cheese slices) hits that sweet spot between regular Double-Double and the jaw-unhinging 4×4. The perfect patty-to-bun ratio satisfies serious hunger without requiring snake-like jaw dislocation.
After helping my brother move apartments, we rewarded ourselves with 3×3s. That perfectly balanced tower of beef and cheese restored our will to live and our ability to speak in complete sentences. The additional layers create a meat symphony that the standard offerings can’t match.
For truly heroic appetites, the 4×4 awaits – though I’ve only conquered this mountain twice. My teenage nephew devours these regularly, proving that youth is indeed wasted on the young and their magical metabolisms.