8 Things You Might Not Know About In-N-Out
Updated: May 09, 2022
Hint: There are a few secret menu items you haven't heard about.
Founded in 1948, In-N-Out was California’s first drive-thru hamburger chain—famous for it’s short and sweet menu of savory eats. (Get our copycat recipes here.) And while there are now hundreds of drive-thrus across the West Coast, In-N-Out remains iconic as the first, and is synonymous with the California cool lifestyle, drawing tourists from all over the world to one of their 300+ locations. Besides the burgers, find out what else is drawing folks in.
A secret menu exists
Most In-N-Out fanatics know about ordering their burgers animal style (all the fixin’s plus a top-secret sauce). But you can also order your burgers 3×3 (three patties) or even a 4×4 with—you guessed it—four patties. That’s a lot! You can find more on the chain’s not quite secret menu here.
Check out more secret menu items from your favorite restaurants.
In-N-Out gear is available
You can show off your love for In-N-Out with everything from a classic t-shirt to a Swarovski crystal keychain. Maybe a gift for your favorite In-N-Out super fan?
Julia Child loved In-N-Out
Julia Child was a huge fan of the iconic chain. Yes, that’s right, one of the most revered chefs of all time was such a fan that she would carry a list of locations in her handbag, and apparently had her assistant bring her burgers in the hospital while recovering from knee surgery. Bon appétit!
One of our staffers lived like Julia Child for a week (sans In-N-Out)—check out what it was like!
The arrow has meaning
The arrow logo replaced the original in 1954, just six years after opening, and associates adopted the sayings, “The arrow points to pride” and “We all work under the same arrow.”
There are Bible verses everywhere
While they’re small and discreet, take a peek next time underneath your cup, on your burger wrapper and fry boats and even on the employee paychecks since the 1980s. The second-generation president Rich Snyder was a born-again evangelical Christian, and his legacy lives on through these Bible verses.
Associates, never employees
You’ll notice across the verbiage on their website and marketing information, that their employees are always referred to as Associates (usually capitalized as well). “At In-N-Out Burger we’ve been a family-owned business since 1948. Our Associates have always been part of our family, too,” their website reads.
Their Associates are paid well
When they say you’re treated as family, they mean it. Associates are compensated starting at least at $11 an hour, and managers salaries have been reported to be around $100,000 annually. It’s a no wonder they have the highest managerial retention rate among fast food restaurants!
The crossed palms are a symbol
In the movie It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, the characters are on the hunt to find buried treasure under crossed palms. Harry Snyder, In-N-Out’s founder rightfully felt that each restaurant is a treasure, so the palms mark the spot in an homage to one of his favorite movies.
Originally Published: July 18, 2018
