In-N-Out Fever Hits North Texas - But Will The Hype Last?

That's the question that your favorite blogger had set out to answer today. And there probably won't be an overnight answer to said hype, but you will get one regarding how my meal tasted if you read this a little further.

Nearly three years ago, another burger chain became a phenomenon when it made inroads in my fair burg. The name of that place is Krystal, which specializes in the small thin burgers served on what looks like dinner rolls a la White Castle. It's practically White Castle with pickles. Anyhow, the hype lasted a few months with two Dallas-area locations and so many people waiting in lines extending to the outside of the building. Fast forward to today, and where are they now? Gone. Now, granted, they did build three other D/FW locations since and those are still around, but the area's first two Krystal stores bit the dust due to waning sales.

That said, on to another phenomenon, and that's the California-based In-N-Out Burger, which, just last week, opened their first two Texas locations right here near Dallas. I ventured out to Frisco today to give it a try. The lines, both in the drive-thru and the standaround, were very long. I chose to stand in line in the hot sun, and by the time I'd gotten inside to make my order, my wait was 45 minutes. After another 15 minutes of waiting for my order, I got it in my hand and took the exhibits out to my vehicle for a taste test. Or should that be a test taste, but I digress.

Well, I ate nearly every bite of two Double Doubles and an order of French fries, along with the washing down using a medium Coca-Cola. During the proceedings, that famed spread that In-N-Out uses for their burgers was so thin that it dripped all over the place every time I lifted the burger, with futile attempts to stop it with the wrapping. The steering wheel. My shirt. The underside of my extended paper towel (Don't me ask me how or why.). The famed suddenly became infamous. So, I was resigned to having a couple of stains on my shirt that I was wearing a portion of my Double-double to church this evening. It'll be a date with the dry cleaners in a couple of days, but that's not important now. You're reading this wondering how those burgers and taters tasted.

Here's how it went: I did eat nearly every bite of the elements, which means I liked it okay. It wasn't bad, by any means, but I won't be in a hurry to do my second visit, either. The In-N-Out "Double Double" is worth a try if you are a burger connoisseur, which I am. In the final tally, it's no better than any other national chain or any of the local chains. One lesson was learned, however: Never eat an In-N-Out Double Double in your car. This writer will be back, but I can also understand the curiosity behind the hype. Three years from now?? Who knows? Maybe the locations they plan on building will actually stay open for business, but the hype, like my shirt stains, will likely disappear.