In-N-Out vs. Shake Shack: Who Actually Has the Better Burger?

In the fast food industry, burgers are one of America’s top food choices. Each of us has a particular chain restaurant that we feel really stands out above the rest. How does a burger from a fast food restaurant meet all of the requirements to make the best burger? Well, the best burgers are usually made with top-quality beef, fresh tomatoes, lettuce, onions, a fluffy bun, and the perfect right sauce. In-N-Out and Shake Shack are both renowned for their delicious burgers; however, it all boils down to your personal preference. Join us as we explore their menu and evaluate customers' taste tests and experiences to uncover the verdict. In-N-Out vs. Shake Shack: Who actually has the better burger?

First, In-N-Out has a very basic menu that features the Double-Double, Cheeseburger, and Hamburger. The not-so-secret menu features favorites such as the Double Meat, 3X3, 4X4, Grilled Cheese, Animal Style, and Protein Style, where you can choose whether you want your burger on a bun or wrapped in lettuce. 

Next, Shake Shack's menu is more diverse and offers approximately 16 different burgers, including beef, chicken, and veggie. They also serve their specialty crinkle-cut fries, shakes, frozen custard, flat-top hotdogs, and an array of beverages.

In-N-Out is well renowned for its pledge to always use fresh, high-quality ingredients.

Pros

• They never use frozen patties.
• Fresh vegetables are always used.

Cons

• Some customers have said that the overall taste of the burger is not satisfying and the sauce doesn’t taste great.

Like In-N-Out, Shake Shack is well known for using high-quality Angus beef and then smashing it to perfection.

Pros

• The patty is bigger; it’s juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
• Some customers prefer the minimal spices used, which are only salt and pepper, which they say enhance the flavor of the beef.

Cons

• Everyone has different flavor profiles, and some would prefer a tad bit of extra spices added to the patty.
• When ordering a double patty or more, the fat ratio tastes overwhelming with other ingredients, which can make you feel uncomfortable and sick.

As previously mentioned, In-N-Out serves basic hamburgers: the Double Double, Cheeseburger, and Hamburger. However, sometimes you just want a burger with a few more ingredients.

Pros

• Many people enjoy the standard burger with 1 or 2 patties, lettuce, onions, cheese, and tomato. Others enjoy a more simple burger with less garnish, and it's not oily.

Cons

• Some customers find the sauce bland and describe it as a simple Thousand Island dressing. Customers would be happier with another two or three alternative sauces.
• In-N-Out likes to keep their burgers basic; however, adding bacon and eggs to the list of toppings would enhance the menu and ultimately result in more sales.

As mentioned earlier, Shake Shack has a diverse menu, with about 16 different burgers with toppings.

Pros

• Shake Shack burgers include eggs and bacon. Who doesn’t love eggs and bacon? For those who don’t eat meat, that’s ok because Shake Shack offers veggie burgers too.
• More flavors: Yes!! White truffle, avocado, and shroom. Ah!! And let’s not forget the chicken burgers. I’m getting hungry!

Cons

• It was my first time traveling to America, and while Shake Shack burgers seemed to be the hit, I have to say I was very disappointed. I wanted to try the Truffle Double Burger; it looked delicious, and I’d never eaten truffles. Sigh!! It was swimming in oil. The bottom part of my bun was soaked; I couldn’t eat it. I really was disappointed; the top part tasted fine, but I couldn't get over how much oil was swimming in the takeaway tub.
• Other reviewers have also mentioned that burgers with two patties or more tend to be way too oily. This is where personal preference comes in.

In-N-Out is generally cheaper than Shake Shack. This is probably because they have a limited menu, and as we all know, it can be quite pricey to get takeout, especially when taking the family. For a family of four, you can get a whole meal and a shake for under $20.

Pros

• In-N-Out is affordable if you’re looking for a quick lunch or midnight snack. They are also open on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. For those who have a sensitive palate, In-N-Out is a great place to grab a meal at an affordable price.

Cons

• Some may feel disappointed that there are no options to add extra toppings or switch sauces.

Shake Shack has some really toothsome items on their menu. Logically speaking, if you’re seeking more than a regular burger, you’ll obviously pay more. The White Truffle Burger is $12.59. I would advise a single patty because, in my experience, double patties may contain too much oil. Although everyone has their own preference. However, if you prefer chicken, Shake Shack Chicken Shack is superb and only costs $9.89.

There is no doubt that In-N-Out burgers contain fewer calories than Shake Shack. While In-N-Out has fewer burger options on the menu, let's take a look at the calorie intake of the popular standard Double Double. Keep in mind the 4X4 will obviously have more calories.

• Double Double: features two meat patties, two cheese slices, crispy lettuce, onion, tomatoes, and In-N-Out’s famous spread. This burger contains 670 calories and costs $5.15.

Shake Shacks The Double Shack Burger contains more calories than the Double Double from In-N-Out.

Double Shack Burger: It includes two Angus beef patties, with double cheese, lettuce, tomato, and their specialty Shack Sauce. One burger will cost $12.49. Furthermore, this burger contains 760 calories.

Each In-N-Out restaurant has various reviews on customer experiences. I guess it all depends on where the branch is located and how friendly the staff are.

Pros

• Some locations have superior customer service, and the staff is friendly, with affordable prices.

Cons

• A few areas tend to be less maintained, and customers feel unsatisfied when arriving for a midnight snack.

As mentioned previously, each chain restaurant can either satisfy their customers or not. However, each has their own preference.

Pros

• Most customers welcome the friendly hospitality that they receive at Shake Shack chain restaurants.

• With added toppings and a diverse range of burger choices, customers can enjoy a variety of flavors and toppings to satisfy their needs.

Cons

• Some customers are not happy with the price of burgers and think that it’s overpriced for the size. However, one should keep in mind that each branch is different, although they should keep up to the quality and standards to which the company abides.

Pros

• Customers enjoy the music and appreciate that the sound is not blasting in their ears while enjoying their meal.
• Some branches allow customers to play their Spotify soundtracks as long as the soundtrack is appropriate.

Cons

• When busy customers feel that they have waited too long for their food and the restaurants feel overcrowded with no space to sit.

In-N-Out has a limited menu; however, their prices are affordable. I would like to try Shake Shack again, and this time have a single patty so I don’t have that bloated sick feeling. I would love to hear in the comments what your thoughts are. In-N-Out vs. Shake Shack: who actually makes the better burger?