In-N-Out Secret Menu Items
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In-N-Out Burger is a Southern California fast food staple best known for its simple menu, long lines, and high-quality customer service. You might have also heard about the not-so-secret “secret menu” that gives the consumer a lot more options when they order. This is not just to customize their burger, but also the fries and even the shakes. For a newcomer, though, this can be at best a tad confusing and at worst intimidating.
That’s why we’ve put together this list of some of the best In-N-Out secrets that you have to try the next time you pull up to the drive-thru.
Chopped Chilis
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Looking for a little heat on your burger? In-N-Out doesn’t typically provide any kind of hot sauce, but that doesn’t mean you can’t spice things up.
If you ask to add “chopped chilis” you’ll get some delicious chopped peppers added directly to your burger patty while it cooks. You can also ask for peppers on the side, either chopped or whole. The peppers themselves resemble pepperoncini, though whatever In-N-Out is using is typically far spicier. There have also been occasions where certain locations have served the much tamer Banana pepper, which has significantly less heat, but offers a much different textural experience.
Protein Style, Flying Dutchman
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Believe it or not, In-N-Out’s “Protein Style” burger option predates the low-carb Atkins diet craze of the early 2000s by about 30 years. For people looking for a lighter meal, this secret menu item will produce a hamburger that swaps out the bun for a crisp lettuce wrap.
If you want to go even simpler still, the “flying Dutchman” is the order for you. Their version of the KFC Double Down, you get two slices of American cheese sandwiched between two beef patties and that’s that.
Recently, the “onion-wrapped flying dutchman” has gone semi-viral on TikTok (it’s the dutchman wrapped with two whole grilled onions), though admittedly, this author has never actually seen one in real life so order with caution.
Animal Style
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If you’ve heard anything about In-N-Out’s not-so-secret “secret menu” you’re probably already aware of the restaurant’s signature offering. Order a burger “Animal Style” and you’ll get an all-beef patty cooked in mustard for a bit of extra tang and topped with lettuce, tomato, pickle, extra spread, and grilled onions. A little more mess for a whole lot more flavor.
You can order Animal Style on any burger, no matter how big they get (more on this later), and even on your fries. In that scenario, you get spread, grilled onions, and melted American cheese. Not the ideal order if you are in your car or on the go, but worth trying at least once.
French Fries
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Despite In-N-Out’s reputation as a Southern California fast food institution, even a die-hard fan might tell you that while the burgers are amazing, the fries just aren’t very good (these people are wrong, by the way).
If you do have some issues with the fries, know that you have some secret options to get these Kennebec potatoes cooked more closely to your preferred specifications. Want a fry that’s bendy and still tastes like a potato? Get your next order cooked “light.” Prefer something crunchy and almost brown? Ask for “well done” or even “extra well done” if you like to live dangerously.
If you’re still not feeling them, just get some “cheese fries” and they’ll melt a slice or two of American cheese right on top for you. Don’t forget a fork.
Onions Onions Onions
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Here’s where you can get in the weeds. Onions can be ordered in one of two cuts, either sliced or chopped. From there, there are three more options to set your head spinning. Typically the onions are placed on the burger as it cooks. If you simply say “with onion” this is what you’ll get. Alternatively, you can also request them raw (chopped or sliced) which gives you a crisp, cold white onion, or grilled which will get them some time straight on the griddle.
All told, this gives you six different flavor and texture variations. In this author’s opinion, you can’t go wrong with adding a whole grilled onion to your burger. But to each their own.
Neapolitan Shake
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In addition to slinging fresh-cut french fries and made-to-order hamburgers, In-N-Out offers a trio of shakes made from 100% real ice cream. And unlike certain other fast food chains, the machine is rarely broken. But what is one to do if you get to the counter and realize that you couldn’t possibly choose between Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry? Order Neapolitan, of course.
All three flavors are in one green and white palm tree cup. Certainly not for everyone, but if you wake up and choose chaos, it’s worth trying at least once.
Of course, if you’re looking for something a bit more traditional, but still off the menu, you could also order a root beer float.
Grilled Cheese
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At first glance, In-N-Out doesn’t appear to have much to offer our vegetarian friends. Admittedly, outside of the French fries cooked in 100% sunflower oil, there isn’t that much.
However, if you do find yourself looking for a meatless option, feel free to confidently order the “Grilled Cheese” which will score you two slices of melted American cheese and all the typical burger fixings (minus the meat patty) between a lightly toasted bun.
For vegans, your best bet is a hamburger with no burger. Just make sure to avoid their signature spread since it is effectively a dressed-up mayonnaise. Not ideal, but as of 2024, In-N-Out has yet to announce any kind of alternative meat options.
3×3, 4×4 (MxC)
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What to do if you pull up to the In-N-Out drive-thru but worry that a standard Double Double just won’t get the job done? Go bigger, of course. The 3×3 and 4×4 do exactly what they exude — 3 or 4 meat patties and slices of American cheese, respectively.
Legend has it that you used to be able to order any size MxC burger. However, limits were put in place many years ago after a couple of jokers decided to order a 100×100. This is why we can’t have nice things.
However, if you ask nicely and the kitchen isn’t too busy, you might get an amenable manager who will accommodate you up to a 10×10.
