Posted on 04/20/2021 12:53:19 PM PDT by mylife
Takeout contributor Danny Palumbo recently wrote about how the fries at beloved West coast burger chain In-N-Out are very bad. Those are his words, not mine. These are now my words, not his: The fries at In-N-Out are bad. I still eat them, though, usually animal-style (mostly out of novelty, and yes, I know, I know, the fries get weird when the cheese starts cooling off, but I’m well aware of what I’m getting into).
I get the obsession with In-N-Out. The burgers are awesome, and I love my Double-Doubles, animal-style. If I’m in an area that has an In-N-Out, I’ll stop bye, It’s a solid place. But there are great burger places a lot closer to home, too, and I started to wonder: does the Midwest have a spiritual analogue to In-N-Out, something we can only get here, and which is special to us in the same way as Californians embrace In-N-Out? After doing some soul-searching I came to a conclusion. The answer is yes: We’ve got Culver’s.
Now, people often feel the need to compare In-N-Out with Shake Shack. This seems like an unnecessary, played-out, coastal ego war. Shake Shack is great too, but it’s brutally expensive. At the location nearest to me, a double Shackburger, fries, and shake, plus tax, costs around $20. Bye!
By the numbers, Culver’s has the bigger spread, by a long shot. In-N-Out currently has 358 locations in 7 states. Culver’s website indicates 796 locations (as of April 2021) in 25 states, The two states with the most Culver’s locations by far are Wisconsin (where it was founded) with 142 outlets and Illinois with 122. There are four lucky states that get to enjoy both In-N-Out and Culver’s: Utah, Arizona, Texas, and Colorado, for those who want to do a side-by-side comparison.
(Excerpt) Read more at thetakeout.com ...
Culver’s is overrated
Up until probably five or six years back, I used to go to Fuddruckers because they served a real steak sandwich. It was a real piece of thin steak on one of their toasted buns...and a good price. I used to go there about once a month to get one, then they just stopped serving them. No reason.
Haven’t gone there since. Dang it.
Now, all I have to see is the name “Fuddruckers” and “Idiocracy” just flies into my mind...:)
Have had both, Culver’s is better. The one by us had never made a bad burger (dry or greasy) nor limp fries. And I love their walleye sandwich.
“Carls Jr.....F You, I’m Eating!”
Too bad those who expressed an opinion here did not give full disclosure if they lived where one or the other brand were predominant or if they were already all-in with a particular brand before trying the other.
No, don’t think Culver’s is better than In-n-Out.. but all we have around here are Culver’s
Yep. Best Burgers on the world. But Fries are a big disappointment. I never have understood Culver’s appeal though. I’ll take in n out any day.
I used to love Fuddruckers Bleu Cheese burger, and it was always a fun place. Ever since they took away all the vintage decorations and themed booths (our family always would sit in “the Beatles Booth”), I haven’t been back.
Oh, the environment is great. similar to Freddy’s and Steakburger.
I like the what you call burnt (darkly seared) smash burgers. How you got a smooshed bun I dont get since they do a clamshell.
Maybe you sat on it? :-)
I prefer Steak & Shake. Those are squished and come in a paper wrapper.
The biggest plus for In-n-Out is that they do use very fresh ingredients. However, the result is as bland as water. There is zero flavor.
Terrys has the half lb Bubba burger that comes in the brown paper sack with the stains that indicate “freshness”
I hear ya. I remember well how good even the frozen fries used to taste when the big fast-food joints fried in beef tallow. But, at the same time, it does irk me when I hear constant gripes about in-n-out fries which are about as basis fresh french fries as you’re going to find at ANY large fast-food chain other than maybe Five Guys (which uses peanut oil and perhaps doesn’t peel?). I simply reject the idea that “real fries” are equivalent to the chemically-flavored, frozen, soy-oil-fried potatoes serves at McD, BK and their ilk.
Freddy’s burgers are too smashed. Good onion rings. The patty melt from Freddy’s uses the same smashed burgers but they’re better on that.
I’ve been to In-N-Out a few times and wasn’t impressed. If i ever go back i’ll ask for well-done fries.
The one time I’ve been to Culvers was a disaster. The bun was such low quakity that it was mashed paper thin by the time i had finished.
Smashburger is my favorite of the burger chains for the burger. 5 Guys for the fries.
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