My experience with In-and Out Burgers is that every food item I have tried is inferior in texture, taste and temperature to an average McDonalds offering.
When I can, I patronize local burger joints (shout out here for Chop House Burger in Arlington TX), but when my only choice is a chain operation, Ill be found at a Whataburger (when in Texas) or a Five Guys Burgers and Fries when in exile.
Theres a small local chain operation in the DFW area - just three location I think, called Bottlecap Alley Icehouse Grill that if franchised nationwide would displace ALL the competition. Absolutely.
I agree. When I lived in So Cal everybody said you gotta try InO. The fries were burnt almost beyond recogniton, The burgers were average at best and I went to several different ones thinking maybe I went to a bad one....they were ALL bad.