Chapter 8: Burgers... East Coast vs. West Coast

Don't let the title fool you. I'm pretty sure that there really isn't much difference between burgers on the east coast vs. the west coast. But it's more fun to title things that way.

Rather, I do think that there is a difference between what people consider good on either side of this country.

I've heard so many good things about In-N-Out Burger. It seems to have a cult-like following on the west side. I had to figure out what the big deal was. So going to In-N-Out Burger at least once was a goal of my trip out west.

I did fulfill that goal twice. Once in Vegas, and once in San Francisco.

My official verdict on In-N-Out Burger... pretty darn good.

First thing I figured out is that you really have to order a double from them in order to get a significant amount of meat on the burger. In Vegas, I ordered a single burger. While it tasted pretty good, I figured out it didn't have as much meat on it that I thought it would. In the San Francisco In-N-Out near Fisherman's Wharf, I went for the double and was more satisfied.

I do give it up to them. They do make everything fresh. It's important to do that at a burger joint. They do take some pride in what they do. It's definitely 2 or 3 steps above any McDonalds out there. And toasting the bun helps the taste, even if there is less meat.

I can see why people would love it.

But there's a reason I only said "pretty darn good" instead of awesome, or incredible.

No, it wasn't the best burger I ever had.

This is a burger chain, and anytime there's a chain restaurant involved, I will always judge them more harshly than an individually owned joint.

Let's just say that if you put an In-N-Out Burger in front of me for free, and told me I could have that, or pay 5 bucks for a Bartley's burger from Harvard Square in Cambridge, MA, let's just say I'm going to shell out the 5 bucks for the better burger.

OK, who am I fooling? I'll find a way to eat both burgers.

Actually, if you want to compare chains, I'll walk away from an In-N-Out burger to get to a Five Guys burger. The Five Guys chain started in the DC area from what I am told, but they are taking the Northeast by storm. They might be the best burger joint in Philadelphia right now, which is saying a lot for a chain.

I might say that again, I'll find a way to eat both burgers, but in this case, a Five Guys burger is so satisfying, I don't need a second burger. They're that good.

Hell, my wife even loves Five Guys burgers... and she doesn't even eat a lot of red meat. She won't eat a steak. But put a Five Guys burger in front of her and she'll go nuts.

So don't get me wrong. Kudos to In-N-Out. It is a tasty burger.

But let's just say that if I get back to the west side of the U.S. and A. anytime soon, In-N-Out burger won't be a must-have this time. Though I wouldn't say no to one, I just won't go out of my way to get one.