Double-double secret probation: How to order from In-N-Out's 'secret' menu (2024)

How do you order food from In-N-Out's secret menu? With confidence that's what. Here are some tips to get those yummy menu hacks like a pro.

Emily Teel,Jason HidalgoReno Gazette Journal

With In-N-Out Burger opening its latest location in The Biggest Little City, it might be time for a refresher course on its (shhhhh) "secret menu."

Think of it as double secret probation, except doubly tastier.

Animalstyle. Double meat. Grilled cheese. The Flying Dutchman.The secret concoctions at this popular California burger chain are as creative as they are irresistible to hardcore fans.

Related: New Reno In-N-Out officially opens at West End Commons near downtown

Yes, the menu at In-N-Out might seem simple at first glance. But like Platform 9 3/4 at London's King's Cross Station in Harry Potter, you can open yourself up to a whole new world ofseveral menu hacks by running in fearlessly.

For folks new to In-N-Out or longtime patrons who might need a quick review,this guide will teach you how to navigate the chain's secretmenu so you can experience why the burger destination has such a loyal following.

First, let's go over the basics.

What's on the standard In-N-Out menu?

In a world where the menus at many fast-food restaurants count into the double or even triple digits, the official In-N-Out menu iscomparatively brief.

Choose a hamburger or a cheeseburger, each of which comes with lettuce, tomato, raw onion and "spread," In-N-Out's proprietaryThousand Island dressing-like sauce, on a toasted bun.If you're really hungry, opt for aDouble-Double, essentially a double cheeseburger.

Besides the burgers are In-N-Out'sskin-on, square-cut fries. Slightly thicker than those at McDonald's and fried in sunflower oil to a light golden color, they're also controversial.Earlier this year the L.A. Times panned In-N-Out's as the worst of the bunch on their official fast-food french fry power ranking, calling them "bland, crumbly little matchsticks."

Like or loathe them, you can washthem down with drinks (sodas, milk, hot cocoa andcoffee) and strawberry, vanilla and chocolate milkshakes.

That's it. There's no breakfast menu, no salads, nochicken sandwichand no vegetarian sandwich options, at least until you scratch the surface of In-N-Out's not-so-secret menu.

In-N-Out's open secrets

The secrecyis all a pretense;in fact, the company explains six of the best-known menu "hacks" right on its own website.

Among these are the Double Meat (one burger, two patties), essentially aDouble Double, skip the cheese. Wanna go big? Order a 3x3, the Triple Triple, three beef patties and three slices of cheese.

Care to customize your meat-to-cheese ratio? Use the formula Meat x Cheese to yield your desired results. A Double Quad, for example, should yield two patties with four slices of cheese.

The multiplication factor maxes out at the 4x4, the Quad Quad which, you guessed it, is stacked with four patties and four slices of cheese.

Another not-so-secret menu hack endorsed by the chain represents a meat-free sandwich option: the Grilled Cheese. It's a burger bun with two slices of cheese, lettuce, tomato, spread and onions.

Avoiding carbs? Order your burger Protein Style and you'll get your burger sans bun, wrapped in lettuce instead.

By far the most beloved In-N-Out menu hackisAnimal Style. Order your Double Double (or your Grilled Cheese, Protein Style, etc.) Animal Style and the patty will be cooked in mustard and served with pickles, extra In-N-Out Spread and grilled onions, in addition to the standard toppings.

Animal Style fries are also an option, the paper boat fully loaded with melted American cheese, In-N-Out sauce and grilled onions. The Animal House guys would approve.

Beyond the In-N-Out endorsed 'secret'menu

Because once a secret menu itemis sanctioned, fans will push the limits of what's allowed. The following aren't included in In-N-Out's official "secret" menu, but are widely understood to be acceptable hacks.

Order a Veggie Burger and you'll get the Grilled Cheese, minus the cheese, a sandwich topped only withlettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, spread, mustard and ketchup.

Ask for anything withChopped Chilies and you'll find chopped pickled banana peppers, more tangy than spicy, added to your burger or fries. They're particularly good with Animal Style fries as the vinegar and mild spice punctuates the richness of the other toppings.

Another subtle topping swap is asking for Grilled Onions (chopped) or a Grilled Whole Onion (sliced), in place of the typical raw onion.

The wildcard of the bunch is theFlying Dutchman. Order it and you'll get a keto-friendly stack of two patties sandwiching two slices of American cheese.

There are also In-N-Out fry hacks. Tweak yours by asking for Fries Light for minimallyfried fries or Fries Well (as in well-done) to get them extra crispy. Ask forCheese Fries and you'll get Animal Style fries minus the onions and spread.

Rounding out the secret menu arebeverage hacks. Order a root beer with some vanilla shake added in for aDIYRoot Beer Float.

Order a Black and White Shake and you'll get a cup filled with half chocolate and half vanilla. It stands to reason that one could also order a Chocolate Strawberry shake or a Strawberry Vanilla shake, too.

The big boss of the bunch: order a Neapolitan Shake and you'll get all three flavors in one cup for your swirling pleasure.

Beyond these nameable hacks, you can also specify things like salt level on fries and burgers, extra toppings, packets of In-N-Out spread on the side and more. The menu at In-N-Out might be simple, but because of hacks like these, you might just be able to make it through the drive-through with an entirely custom burger experience in the bag.

Double-double secret probation: How to order from In-N-Out's 'secret' menu (2024)

FAQs

What does a double-double have from In-N-Out? ›

The Double-Double usually comes with two beef patties, two slices of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, and spread, but animal-style is slightly different. However, it doesn't affect the price.

How do you pronounce 3x3 In-N-Out? ›

The "3×3" (pronounced 3-by-3), the "4×4", or variations of "m" and "c", refer to a burger with a varied amount of meat patties ("m") and slices of cheese ("c"). For example,a burger with six meat patties and three slices of cheese is a "6×3".

What is a secret menu order? ›

Secret menus, also called hidden menus, are dishes or recipes that a restaurant can make, but has decided not to advertise, in order to build intrigue and allow customers to feel like they're in the know.

What is the answer to the secret menu item? ›

To clear the Medali Gym Test, you need to order the Secret Menu item from the waiter in the Treasure Eater restaurant. The order is as follows: Grilled Rice Balls, Medium, Fire Blast, and Lemon.

What is gorilla style at In-N-Out? ›

Monkey/Gorilla Style: any burger with animal fries in the middle – most stores will not make this combination. Onion Bun: whole grilled onions on either side of your burger instead of a bun.

What's in a double double? ›

The Tim Horton's Double Double is a hot coffee with two shots of cream and two packs of sugar and is now a huge part of Canadian culture! For some inexplicable reason, Canada really loves Tim Hortons. Some people think that it's because Tim Hortons feels like home. No matter where you go in Canada, you'll find one.

How unhealthy is In-N-Out? ›

"In-N-Out Burger's menu is simple—burgers, French fries, and milkshakes. There are no vegetable, salad, or meatless options on the basic menu (excluding fries). These types of foods are very low in filling fiber and rich in calories, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar, so they should be consumed less frequently.

What is a flying Dutchman at In-N-Out? ›

meat and cheese fest. It goes by the name of the "Flying Dutchman," and it's the ultimate Atkin's-friendly menu item. Two slices of cheese melted between two burger patties. No hippie vegetables, no wimpy buns, just pure protein and fat.

How do you pronounce ɜː? ›

How to Produce /ɜ/? To produce it, stretch out your lips and make them unrounded, then make a long /ɜ/ sound. As you can see in the picture, when producing the /ɜ/ sound, the mouth is open like when saying /e/ but it is not as rounded as when producing the /a/ sound.

How do you pronounce 8 4 N? ›

8°4'N is pronounced as Eight Degrees Four Minutes North.

One degree of latitude equivalents roughly 364,000 feet (69 miles), one minute corresponds to 6,068 feet (1.15 miles), and one-second equivalents 101 feet. The entire part of the measure of an angle in decimal degrees is the whole number of degrees.

How do I ask for a secret menu item? ›

Just ask, but do it politely.

When it doubt, don't be afraid to simply inquire about the secret menu or specific secret item. The worst thing that will happen is you won't be able to order that thing and will just have to get something else instead.

What is hidden menu called? ›

A menu hack (also called a secret menu) is a non-standard method of ordering food, usually at fast-food or fast casual restaurants, that offers a different result than what is explicitly stated on a menu.

What are roadkill fries at In-N-Out? ›

You have to try in N out secret menu item, roadkill, which is fries. animal style, with a Flying Dutchman crushed on top. Start by cooking up your fries, then add in a whole bunch of cheese. Toss in the broiler for a couple minutes.

What's a flying Dutchman at In-N-Out? ›

For those unfamiliar, a Flying Dutchman consists of a hamburger with grilled onions in place of the bun. The burger is also topped with American cheese and a sauce made from mayo, ketchup and relish (similar to the one on this burger).

What is on animal style at in and out? ›

Grilled onions cooked down in the collected meat juices on the hot griddle can be added to any sandwich, and come standard if you ask for your burger or fries Animal Style. An Animal Style burger also includes extra Thousand Island spread, mustard grilled patties, and extra pickles.

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