McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's. Many hamburger stores in the U.S. have made their way to Japan. On the other hand, there are some burger stores that do not have a presence in Japan at this time. These include Arctic Circle, Jack in the Box, and In-N-Out Burger.

Of these, In-N-Out Burger is the one that I personally hope will make its way to Japan. It is the most delicious and authentic burger store in California.


However, hamburger stores are a typical example of fast food. What does "real" mean in the context of fast food? Isn't this something you are curious about?

If you are, you should check it out. We visited an In-n-Out Burger restaurant in California and ate a hamburger. Yes, indeed, this burger is the real deal.

The parking lot is full, and there is a long line at the drive-thru.

I arrived at the In-n-Out Burger store a little after 12:00 pm, the peak lunch time. I was completely late. The parking lot was full and there was not a single space available. There was no room for my car in the drive-through line either, as the last car in the line was almost overflowing onto the street.

I killed some time and returned a little before 2:00 p.m. This time, I found a space. This time, I was able to find a space. But as usual, there was still a line at the drive-through, and the line extending from the counter inside the restaurant to the outside of the restaurant. In-and-out burgers" are very popular.



Enjoying the "Real Taste

It takes about 30 minutes to wait in line. After 30 minutes of waiting in line, we enter the restaurant and place our order. The menu is very simple. There are only three types of burgers: a hamburger, a cheeseburger, and a double double, which is a double portion of meat and cheese. You can also order french fries or a shake.


How do the burgers taste? The bread, meat, vegetables (lettuce, tomato, onion), and cheese all have a "real" texture and taste. The packaging and tray are fast food, but the taste is anything but fast food.


Above all, the french fries won me over.


When eating french fries at fast food restaurants in the U.S., one often tastes only artificially added "beef extract" instead of the taste of potatoes. That is delicious in its own way, but I can't help but think, "How can you put beef flavor on potatoes?" I can't help but think, "What's the point of putting beef flavor on potatoes?

However, the french fries here do not taste of beef or oil, but of potatoes.

What is the secret of the taste?

Why do both the burgers and fries taste so authentic? The reason is that there are no freezers, microwaves, or heating lamps in the kitchen.

In a typical burger store, beef patties and fries are made in a factory, frozen, and delivered to the store. A "freezer" or "microwave oven" is necessary to store and thaw them. In addition, some menu items, including french fries, are made in advance, and "heating lamps" are needed to keep them warm.

But when food is frozen, defrosted, or left to be prepared, it inevitably loses its flavor. In-and-Out Burger does not want to use frozen ingredients.

At In-n-Out Burger, patties are never frozen. The same goes for french fries. Potatoes are peeled, cut, and fried in special equipment at each location. The fries are never leftovers and are served freshly fried.


Vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, and onions are also purchased from nearby farms. This is what makes In-n-Out Burger's taste so authentic.

The staff works hard.

There is one more thing that makes In-n-Out Burger special. The staff works very hard.

Part-time staff at fast food restaurants in the U.S. are known for their low salaries. However, the hourly wage at In-n-Out Burger starts at $10.50 ( approx. 1,070 yen), which is the lowest hourly wage in the U.S. for fast food restaurants. This is an exceptional hourly wage for a U.S. fast food restaurant. Because of this, the staff is highly motivated, their movements are crisp, and everyone works hard. There are few mistakes on the menu, which is common in fast food restaurants, and the place is relatively clean.


Store locations are increasing in the U.S.

The number of In-n-Out Burger restaurants in the U.S. is increasing, thanks to the high quality of the burgers and fries and the highly motivated staff, and as of December 2013, there were more than 290 In-n-Out Burger restaurants in the United States. As of December 2013, there were more than 290 In-and-Out Burger locations in the U.S., making it much easier to locate a restaurant.

Will "In-n-Out Burger," so well received in the U.S., be accepted in Japan? I am certain that it will be a hit. In-and-Out Burgers features "high quality" burgers and fries that are never frozen, and a "hardworking" staff. High quality" and "diligence" are both elements that the Japanese love. How can they not be a hit?

Shakes are the real deal, too!

The concept of "In-n-Out Burger" is to recreate the "good old American" burger store in the modern age. Even the uniforms worn by the staff, which at first glance look a bit old-fashioned in design, are inspired by the image of old America.

In the "good old U.S.A.," the drink that comes with the burger is not a Coke, but a "shake. So, if you have a chance to eat at In-n-Out Burger, I recommend you to choose a shake. It will make the people around you think, "This guy knows what he is doing. A "burger" and a "shake" is a pretty heavy combination, though. By the way, the shakes are real, and each one is made by "shaking" solid ice cream in the restaurant.