What to Order (and What to Skip) at Houston’s First In-N-Out Burger Location

The long wait is over, California expats: In-N-Out Burger will officially begin slinging its cheeseburgers and Animal-style fries in the Houston area tomorrow.

The chain’s much-anticipated first local outpost is set to open its doors at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 22, per a Facebook post from the Grid in Stafford, the development that is home to the In-N-Out outpost. As previously reported by Eater, In-N-Out Burger announced that it would make its debut before the end of 2020, and they’ve officially made good on that promise.

Now that In-N-Out is here, it’s time to take a look at what the chain actually offers. The menu is pretty simple — just burgers, fries, and shakes — but things get weird with the chain’s “secret menu.” Take a look at this highly opinionated guide below for an idea of what to order — and what to skip — at In-N-Out Burger.

Order: A Double-Double, protein-style

Order a double cheeseburger “protein-style” at In-N-Out and be rewarded with a juicy burger without the added bulk of a bun. Stick with us here — forgoing the bun at In-N-Out burger is actually a solid option, because the lettuce is crisp and provides a nice crunchy contrast to all that rich, burger-y goodness. And considering how many people are following the keto diet right now, it’s an option that everyone should be aware of.

Skip: A Double-Double, animal-style

Boasting mustard-grilled patties, caramelized onions, and a heap of veggies, the “Animal-style” burger is a giant mess that’s a real pain to eat in the car. There’s no denying that it’s delicious, but after a few moments all those toppings make the bun mushy. Besides...there’s a better option!

Order: Fries, animal-style

The real move at In-N-Out in terms of their Animal-style offering is to get all those delicious toppings on an order of the restaurant’s crispy fries. In-N-Out fries can be a little bit bland, and the addition of grilled onions and the chain’s signature “spread” (a mayo-based sauce that’s a lot like thousand island dressing) is a real improvement.

Skip: The milkshakes

Though they’re not terrible if a creamy treat is in order, diners are much better off in skipping the bland, basic shakes at In-N-Out and heading for dessert elsewhere.

Order: The grilled cheese

A solid option for vegetarians and those in search of a light(er) lunch, the grilled cheese sandwich at In-N-Out Burger is basically a burger without the patties — it’s served on a butter bun and loaded with spread and veggies. Definitely ask for grilled onions.