In-N-Out Fever, Idaho Edition

[K Frame]

True. I always order from the Deals menu. Around here, they usually offer two McDoubles for $3.99. I customize them to leave off the cheese, onions, and mustard, and add extra pickles.

Every once in awhile I'll go to McCrapple's and get their breakfast sammiches. The chicken & biscuit is... decent. Not great, but decent.

The McCrapple's app makes getting two a good deal because you can get 2 for 1.

[K Frame]

The thinner fries must be a lot cheaper.  I love thick cut fries, but almost no one sells them.  Most fast food fries are terrible these days.  Could be my tastes changed, but I think it is more than that.

There was a local mom&pop burger joint near work about 10 years ago that had great burgers and very thick steak fries that melted in your mouth (with the occasional greasy twice fried one).  They closed down unfortunately. 

I'm not sure that shoestrings are cheaper, but cost could be a factor. I think it's a case of a combination of factors, including getting the most out of each potato as well as processing time both at the plant as well as at the restaurant.

This is an interesting look at how McD's makes fries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfZLWEAiixo

I had no idea that they cannonized the potatoes.

[K Frame]

Well, you can be certain that *I* don't think that. 

Your teeth are safe, good Sir!

[Nick1911]

I've been to in-and-out when traveling.  I don't get it.  It's a fairly standard flat little patty on a normal bun.  To me, unremarkable.

[BobR]

I had no idea that they cannonized the potatoes.

Ah yes, Saint McFry. Patron Saint of grubs and other underground creatures.

When I worked at McD about 55 years ago we made our fries in house. Big bags of potatoes, a huge drum they were dumped into to get peeled and then the the slicer. We would do a 50 pound bag of potatoes as needed, sometimes several a day.

bob

[Perd Hapley]

I'm not sure that shoestrings are cheaper, but cost could be a factor. I think it's a case of a combination of factors, including getting the most out of each potato as well as processing time both at the plant as well as at the restaurant.

This is an interesting look at how McD's makes fries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfZLWEAiixo

I had no idea that they cannonized the potatoes.

I assume a big factor is making it easier and faster to cook each fry uniformly and to the desired texture. Then again, I'm no cook, so that's just a guess.

[K Frame]

I assume a big factor is making it easier and faster to cook each fry uniformly and to the desired texture. Then again, I'm no cook, so that's just a guess.

That's a big factor for any restaurant or even home cook. If you buy a bag of fries or tater tots at the store, they're all going to be the same size. Length will vary with fries, but thickness will be very regular.

[WLJ]

Shoestring fries are a PITA to eat and lack any real potato flavor having just mainly the flavor of the oil they were fried in.

[Ben]

Well, the one here opened today, and (of course it's on every news site) the news reported that they paved FOUR surrounding lots to allow for "car stacking" to keep the main drag from being overwhelmed. The location is right on probably the already most congested road in the state. Apparently some people got in line last night. 

[Ben]

And yikes - they brought in 200 employees just to help with traffic for the first few days.

In-N-Out said it’s bringing in 200 “All Stars” just to help with traffic, according to a previous Statesman story, and has come up with a labyrinthine plan to wind vehicles through the parking lots at The Village and stage and stack cars in unused dirt lots before cars get to that promised land of the In-N-Out drive-thru window.

Read more at: https://www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/from-the-opinion-editor/article282930093.html#storylink=cpy

[WLJ]

We just had our first Jack in the Box open up here. What's APS's opinion of them?
I always like to wait 2-3 months to let the new staff settle in any time a new place opens.

[BobR]

We just had our first Jack in the Box open up here. What's APS's opinion of them?
I always like to wait 2-3 months to let the new staff settle in any time a new place opens.

I used to eat at Jack in the Box back in the late 70's. It was the only place open near where I lived in San Diego at 2am or later. At that time I thought it was pretty good, of course I was probably impaired, I had 24 or so bars withing walking distance of my place and it was on the way home so I walked through the drive thru a lot. Now days the only fast food place we hit is Arby's and that is rare. For me most fast food burgers are pretty much the same.

bob

[Ben]

I haven't been in years, but I remember Jack in the Box being pretty good. I think I usually got a couple of jumbo jacks and curly fries.

[RocketMan]

We just had our first Jack in the Box open up here. What's APS's opinion of them?
I always like to wait 2-3 months to let the new staff settle in any time a new place opens.

Years ago (1980s) when I lived in Phoenix I would stop off some nights at Jack in the Box and get their Swiss Jack burger, fries and a Coke.  Basically a hamburger in Swiss bread with Swiss cheese, IIRC.  It was pretty good.  This was after midnight on my way home from work.
We've got one just down the hill from us in Hickory.  I stopped there a few times right after I moved here and they were uniformly meh.

[Ben]

The estimated wait time for a meal by drive-thru at In-N-Out’s new Meridian location was, by noon Tuesday, up to 8 hours long.

[K Frame]

For those of you who remember the Drew Carey show and his interplay with Mimi, one of the funniest things I ever saw in that show, or ever, was when Drew walked up to her, looked her in the face, and ordered a hamburger, fries, and milkshake.

I almost fell off my chair I was laughing so hard.

[Perd Hapley]

We just had our first Jack in the Box open up here. What's APS's opinion of them?
I always like to wait 2-3 months to let the new staff settle in any time a new place opens.

Wouldn't really recommend them, but they're OK if you just want a fast food burger. I can't predict if you'll like the tacos, which are a bit different from what most people would expect. Also, and I don't know if they have them at all locations, but the ones here serve egg rolls, of all things.

[Doggy Daddy]

Also, and I don't know if they have them at all locations, but the ones here serve egg rolls, of all things.

The egg rolls are not bad at all, and I do like their chicken teriyaki bowls.

[RocketMan]

Wouldn't really recommend them, but they're OK if you just want a fast food burger. I can't predict if you'll like the tacos, which are a bit different from what most people would expect. Also, and I don't know if they have them at all locations, but the ones here serve egg rolls, of all things.

Years ago when I first moved to Hickory, I tried the tacos at the JitB just down the hill from our house.  They were terrible.  Not really tacos.  Lots of filler in the meat.  Almost as though it was something pre-mixed and squirted out of a tube into the shell.

[Angel Eyes]

And yikes - they brought in 200 employees just to help with traffic for the first few days.

Didn't help.  8-hour wait according to this guy:  https://twitter.com/Dexerto/status/1735193376423653694

[Ben]

Didn't help.  8-hour wait according to this guy:  https://twitter.com/Dexerto/status/1735193376423653694

Heh. I had to make the trip to the Albertsons Flagship today for stuff my regular grocery stores don't have. It's across the street from the In-N-Out. I got there at 0945, and did a quick estimate of cars in line (they open at 1030) and got to 120, though I know there were more. There were all kinds of flaggers in yellow vests out there organizing car queues for cars just to get in the regular line. Yeah, it's gonna be a while before I eat there for the first time.

I understand the walk-in lines were only an hour, but apparently the fans want the drive-thru experience. Newbies.

[WLJ]

8 hours?

Oh piss boy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQltwDoyM5s

[dogmush]

We just had our first Jack in the Box open up here. What's APS's opinion of them?
I always like to wait 2-3 months to let the new staff settle in any time a new place opens.

I used to hit the one in Oxnard when I was out that way.  They are pretty good, for fast food burgers.  I liked the sourdough burger and the breakfast buritto.

[K Frame]

Roy Rogers, when they were still a relatively common fast food joint, had GREAT sour dough.

They still have sour dough bread and rolls on the menu, but there aren't any really convenient to me anymore since I stopped making the regular trip to Pennsylvania. There was one about half way that was a good stopping point to get something to eat and get gas at one of the stations.

[BobR]

Roy Rogers, when they were still a relatively common fast food joint,

Man, that is a blast from the past. We had one of those in the town I did most of my youth in, long before the Arby's opened up. I may have actually worked there for a while.

So, it sounds like if you are going to the Idaho In-N-Out you better pack a lunch! 


bob