Burger King Versus In-and-Out Burger

Burger King is well known across America as a basic fast-food burger joint where you can get it your way. It's a fairly typical place with a variety of specialty choices, combo meals, kids meals, and burgers of all sizes.

In California, one of the most popular chains is the In-and-Out Burger chain. The menu is simple: burgers, fries, milkshakes, and soda. You can get fancy and add cheese or grilled onions but that's about it. For those in the know, you can order off their "secret menu" which includes a low-carb option which is a cheeseburger wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun and a grilled cheese sandwich for the kids.

Burger King is nearby, fast, and fairly inexpensive. I always order the same thing: a Whopper with cheese and French fries. In-and-Out Burger is further away, usually packed because it's so popular, and about the same price. I always order the Double Double with raw onions and French fries. The Double Double is double meat, double cheese.

Burger King's patty is larger than In-and-Out Burger's patty so the double meat patties equal to about the same sized meal. If I'm craving a cheeseburger, it's usually the flavor of In-and-Out Burger I'm after but I'll often settle for Burger King because its closer and the burger usually satisfies my craving.

The quality of the food is far superior at In-and-Out Burger with their fresh ingredients put together on the premises. While the cooks at Burger King resort to their freezer and empty boxes of pre-cut fries into the fryer, the cooks at In-and-Out Burger use fresh ingredients and cut them on site. You can watch them as they place whole potatoes into a neat little gizmo that slices off perfect sticks of French fries complete with the skin on.

I'm a drive-through type of girl so you'll rarely see me inside any of the local burger joints. Burger King's drive-through is usually fast, the menu board is clear, easy to see, and well placed. The employees aren't terribly enthusiastic about their jobs but they are usually pleasant enough. Today's Burger King order-taker was pretty lame with his monotone voice clearly telling me he didn't care if I had it my way or not. Surprisingly, he got my order right though he did try to give me a Coke I didn't order.

The drive-through at In-and-Out Burger is a different story. It's always packed but they are able to process cars efficiently. For one, they usually have an employee outside greeting the cars. He has a handheld device that transmits your order electronically to the kitchen where they prepare your food on demand. He also has a small, easy-to-read menu hanging off the portable device so you can make a decision even if you are far from the menu board. These order-takers, reminiscent of the carhops of the past, are always helpful and friendly. In fact, all In-and-Out Burger employees I've come across have been a delight. It must be a terrific place to work because the culture there shows.

At Burger King, ketchup is never offered. If you want a measly little pack of ketchup, you have to remember to ask. This isn't usually a big deal for me because I usually take the food to my home where I typically have a bottle in the refrigerator. In-and-Out Burger always asks.

Clearly, In-and-Out Burger comes out the winner in this head-to-head battle of the cheeseburgers.