14 In-N-Out Secret Menu Orders Indiana Locals Swear By (Even Without A Single Location)
The state of Indiana might be about as far from California as a cornfield is from the Pacific, but that has not stopped Hoosiers from becoming In-N-Out superfans. Every road trip west turns into a pilgrimage, and locals return home clutching secret menu knowledge like treasure.
I have watched friends plan entire vacations around a single stop in Vegas just to order Animal Style. The hype is real, and the orders are legendary.
Here are the fourteen secret menu picks that Indiana folks swear by, tested on highways and memorized for the next adventure.
1. Animal Style Burger
Say it proud and watch the magic happen at the counter. Your patty gets mustard-cooked right on the grill, layered with grilled onions, extra spread, and pickles tucked under hand-leafed lettuce and tomato.
This is the move that transforms a solid cheeseburger into a cult memory. Hoosiers who have tasted it once spend months dreaming about that tangy, caramelized flavor profile.
I ordered one on my first California trip and understood immediately why people tattoo the logo on their ankles. The char, the sweetness, the sauce – it all clicks.
2. Protein Style
All the flavor, none of the bun means your burger arrives wrapped in crisp lettuce so the char and sauce take center stage. Road-trip friendly and surprisingly tidy, this order keeps your hands clean while you navigate the interstate.
Indiana folks who count macros or just want a lighter bite swear by this hack. You still get that signature taste without the carb crash halfway through Nebraska.
It is proof that sometimes less is genuinely more delicious.
3. 3×3 Triple-Triple
Three patties, three slices of cheese, stacked like a midnight dare you will actually keep. Order it when the drive has been long and the stories even longer.
This beast towers over your tray and demands respect. Hoosiers returning from Vegas or Phoenix treat this like a rite of passage, snapping photos before the first bite.
I tackled one after a fourteen-hour haul and felt like a champion. Your jaw gets a workout, but your taste buds throw a parade.
4. 4×4 Quad-Quad
Four patties, four cheeses, the tall tale that is actually on the menu if you know to ask. Bring an appetite and a napkin plan because this thing does not play around.
Indiana road warriors order it as a victory lap after crossing state lines. It is messy, glorious, and probably too much for one person, but nobody ever regrets the attempt.
Split it with a buddy or go solo and earn bragging rights for the rest of the year.
5. Double-Meat No Cheese
Two patties, classic build, pure beef-forward bite that skips the melt but doubles down on the char. Perfect if you crave that smoky, grilled flavor without dairy getting in the way.
Hoosiers who are lactose-intolerant or just want the beef to shine order this every single time. It is straightforward, honest, and hits harder than you expect.
No frills, no fuss, just two juicy patties doing what they do best.
6. Grilled Cheese
No meat, two slices of American, with lettuce, tomato, spread, and optional onions make this the diner-style comfort order hiding in a burger joint. It is the move that surprises vegetarians and wins over skeptics.
I watched an Indiana friend order this in Phoenix and she swore it tasted better than half the veggie burgers back home. The toasted bun and tangy spread carry the whole thing.
Simple, satisfying, and proof that you do not need beef to win.
7. Flying Dutchman
No bun, no frills means two patties and two slices of cheese fused together like a smoky, melty secret handshake. It is a piece of company lore for a reason and a favorite among keto Hoosiers.
This order looks strange on the tray but tastes like pure indulgence. You pick it up with your fingers and savor every protein-packed bite.
It is minimalist magic that turns heads and starts conversations at every table nearby.
8. Animal Style Fries
A hot pile crowned with melted cheese, grilled onions, and spread turns fries into a meal that eats like a late-night victory. Indiana folks order these and suddenly forget they ever planned to share.
I grabbed a tray in LA and barely made it back to my rental car before devouring half. The crispy fries soak up the sauce while the onions add sweetness and depth.
Order them well-done if you want extra crunch under all that glorious topping chaos.
9. Well-Done Fries
Ask for extra-crisp and watch the kitchen work a little longer to deliver fries that shatter with every bite. Hoosier road-warriors swear the crunch makes all the difference, especially when you are eating in the car.
Regular fries can be on the softer side, but well-done fries hold up to dipping, stacking, and long highway stretches. They stay hot and crunchy longer than the standard cut.
It is a small tweak that elevates the entire side game.
10. Cheese Fries
Sometimes simplicity wins, and fries plus melted cheese is all you need when the drive has been long and the hunger is real. Eaten fast before the last stories fade, this order is pure comfort.
Hoosiers love it because it delivers without overthinking. No grilled onions, no spread, just that salty-creamy combo that never gets old.
Order a side and watch it disappear faster than you thought possible.
11. Add-Ons That Sing: Chopped Chilies and Pickles
Two tiny tweaks that change the whole bite mean chopped chilies for heat and pickles for pop. Add them to burgers or even atop fries and watch your order go from good to unforgettable.
Indiana folks who crave a kick always ask for chilies, while pickle lovers double down on the tangy crunch. I tried both on a Double-Double in Arizona and could not believe the flavor boost.
Free upgrades that pack serious punch and personality into every mouthful.
12. Grilled Onions or Fresh
You can ask how you want them, freshly sliced or grilled until sweet and jammy. It is the difference between good and unforgettable, and Hoosiers know to specify every single time.
Grilled onions bring caramelized sweetness that melts into the patty, while fresh onions add sharp, crisp bite. I prefer grilled on Animal Style and fresh on a classic cheeseburger.
Customize your order and discover which camp you belong to on your next trip west.
13. Neapolitan Shake
All three shake flavors – chocolate, vanilla, strawberry – in one cup is the road-trip truce when nobody can agree. Indiana travelers order this to keep the peace and end up loving the nostalgic swirl.
It tastes like childhood summers and diner counters, thick enough to need a spoon but smooth enough to sip. I grabbed one in Nevada and it lasted me through two state lines.
Sweet, creamy, and the perfect way to cool down after a desert drive.
14. Arnold Palmer Tea Plus Lemonade
Not a nickname so much as a wink means iced tea with pink lemonade from their fountain list. Sunshine in a cup when you have been chasing the horizon all day, this drink is refreshing and perfectly balanced.
Hoosiers order it to cut through the richness of Animal Style everything. It is bright, tangy, and just sweet enough to keep you awake for the last stretch home.
Ask for half and half and enjoy the best non-shake option on the secret menu.