Whataburger versus In-N-Out

[Nessism1]

In-N-Out is a good honest burger for the price. It is not the best burger I've ever had, nothing close to restaurant that charges 50% more like The Counter locally, or even Five Guys.

Some say Habit is better but they charge like $6-8 instead and their lettuce is not as crisp and tomato not as fresh.

I enjoy In N Out and lunch there all the time, but it is a fast food burger still, not a gourmet burger place.

I'll take In-N-Out over Five Guys or Habbit.

Boutique burgers will always win the day, over chains. There is a "Burger City Grill" in my area, and it puts all those to shame. It's a good bit more expensive, though.

 

[Hirev]

Whataburger is good but only been to 2 in Texas when on the road. None near me. The best drive in chain to me is Raising Cane's chicken fingers. They do a good job.

 

[Nessism1]

 

[Propflux01]

Whattaburgers burgers are good, fries are somewhat tasteless.

 

[Carmudgeon]

In-N-Out is a good honest burger for the price. It is not the best burger I've ever had, nothing close to restaurant that charges 50% more like The Counter locally, or even Five Guys. However, for the price likr $4-6 a burger that's never frozen, with seared bun, fresh lettuce and tomato, it is probably the best burger you can get for that price around here. Some say Habit is better but they charge like $6-8 instead and their lettuce is not as crisp and tomato not as fresh.

I enjoy In N Out and lunch there all the time, but it is a fast food burger still, not a gourmet burger place.

This.

As well as not franchised (which limits their geographic coverage), pays a decent wage to their employees, and cooked to order.

I'll take In-N-Out over Five Guys or Habbit.

Boutique burgers will always win the day, over chains. There is a "Burger City Grill" in my area, and it puts all those to shame. It's a good bit more expensive, though.

Habit is ok, but lacking enough compelling reason to make it a habit, for me at least. Five Guys was novel when they first appeared, but the same. Are they still wrapping their burgers in foil and turning the buns into mush by the time you eat them? Cannot stand limp, mushy buns.

 

[RDY4WAR]

I prefer Whataburger. That could be recency bias though. It's been nearly 20 years since I last had In-N-Out. I last had Whataburger 4 days ago.

 

[KCJeep]

Almost scary what you can find on YT, I never even looked.

 

[KCJeep]

Nostalgia will often play a role. It does for me. In-N-Out is what I grew up on. Then 15 years ago I moved to somewhere that doesn't have them. So every time I visit a location that has one, I stop by and it's amazing. I might have one or two In-N-Out burgers a year, and when I do, I'm in heaven. My go-to order:
Single cheeseburger Animal Style (or a Double-Single, Animal Style if I'm really hungry)
Fries well done, Animal Style

Their secret menu contributes to the culture and those who know it, love it.

There are Whataburgers in a 50 mile radius of where I live, but I haven't had one yet. I'm very open to trying one, just haven't had the opportunity yet. A good burger is a good burger.

What on earth is animal style? Raw?

 

[reemoeMO]

What on earth is animal style? Raw?

For burgers, it means adding mustard-cooked patties, pickles, grilled onions, and extra spread (similar to Thousand Island dressing). For fries, it involves adding melted cheese, grilled onions, and spread to the fries.

 

[KCJeep]

For burgers, it means adding mustard-cooked patties, pickles, grilled onions, and extra spread (similar to Thousand Island dressing). For fries, it involves adding melted cheese, grilled onions, and spread to the fries.

Sign me up for animal style!

 

[Drifter]

Whataburger hands down.
P Terrys crushes In & Out in my book. Woe to anyone who tries their chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, my family cant get enough.

I will vote P Terrys too. And yes their cookies are great. Then Whatabuger and In n Out

 

[KS-Ryan]

In-N-Out. Grew up in southern California. I've got t-shirts from CA, CO, UT, and ID. I can only hope and dream that they'll come here one day. Double double, spread and tomato only, animal style fries, no onions, and a large neapolitan shake.

 

[Chris142]

Call me an idiot, but I've been a Fuddrucker's fan for decades.

We were very bummed when Fuddruckers discontinued restaurants in California.

That place was one of the best.

I don't know what the deal is with In-n-out is.the fries are fresh made and ok.The burgers are small and bland.... No seasoning

 

[PandaBear]

This.

As well as not franchised (which limits their geographic coverage), pays a decent wage to their employees, and cooked to order.



Habit is ok, but lacking enough compelling reason to make it a habit, for me at least. Five Guys was novel when they first appeared, but the same. Are they still wrapping their burgers in foil and turning the buns into mush by the time you eat them? Cannot stand limp, mushy buns.

In N Out only open where they can get their beef fresh enough without freezing, and do enough business so they can continue to cook burger without letting them sit around. Without those their qualities would go down, smart for them not to franchise or expand too fast.

 

[clinebarger]

We were very bummed when Fuddruckers discontinued restaurants in California.

We used to have a couple here, Better than any fast food burger!

Haven't been to Whataburger in 6 months after my burger tasted like cardboard. In & out is okay but their drive thru suck!....Like driving through a miniature golf coarse.

Griff's Hamburgers are better than both.

 

[Urshurak776]

I grew up with a Whataburger down the street from me and right across from my high school. San Antonio, TX. Has a lot of memories. Live in South Carolina now and they're building a Whataburger about a mile from my neighborhood. Looking forward to it. Never had In and out.

 

[raaizin]

Where did you have Whataburger? Texas?

yes

 

[ChrisMU]

I have access to In-N-Out as well as Whataburger and Culver’s in my area. While I like Whataburger’s all-time favorites (patty melt and “special” burgers), the regular burgers aren’t anything special to me. If I want a burger with traditional toppings, I’d be more inclined to get Culver’s or In-N-Out. I would also say P. Terry’s, but for some reason their fries are always limp and very oil-soaked (even by typical fast food standards). Oh, the Whataburger spicy ketchup is great on fries and more.

 

[KCJeep]

Next time I'm at Whataburger I'll try a patty then.

 

[y_p_w]

Just learned In N Out is moving corporate headquarters to Tennessee. What's interesting is their menu compared to the original McDonalds menu. Coincidence? We find the food better than the big franchises can't comment on Whataburger.

Not exactly. Corporate headquarters is currently in Irvine, but they're moving to Baldwin Park where corporate headquarters was before. Baldwin Park also had the first In-N-Out location. They're calling their new digs in Tennessee their "Eastern territory office".

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/22/in-n-out-billionaire-ceo-were-not-moving-hq-out-of-california.html​

Lynsi Snyder, the billionaire owner and president of California-based burger chain In-N-Out Burger, says her company isn’t moving its corporate headquarters to Tennessee — it’s merely opening a new office there.​

​

“We’re not moving In-N-Out Burger’s corporate headquarters,” Snyder, 43, said on Monday. “We’re not leaving California, or leaving our roots behind. Each one of our locations is here to stay.”​

This might be a little bit of damage control on the part of the CEO. Quite a few customers are talking about boycotting In-N-Out. The comments are mostly derisive. Lyndsi Snyder could have quietly moved to Tennessee and nobody would have really cared, but she had to badmouth California on the way out.