The Battle of the Coasts: In-N-Out vs Shake Shack

It’s the classic debate: West Coast vs East Coast, California vs New York, and In-N-Out vs Shake Shack. There has been a lot of beef between these two fast food joints for who takes the crown for best burger in America. I had the opportunity within the past year to try both of these two burger chain heavyweights and the following analysis is my two cents about them.

I first had In-N-Out Burger, established in 1948 by Harry Snyder in Baldwin Park, California, when I was on vacation over the summer. During this trip, I was able to experience all the hype surrounding the infamous In-N-Out. I ordered the signature Double-Double Animal style burger, fries with extra Animal Style sauce on the side, and a Neapolitan shake (off the not so secret secret menu. You can thank me later). The location I was at was very busy (the line went out the door), but we got our food in amount ten to fifteen minutes. First off, the burger looked amazing. It was piled high with two beef patties, cheese and all the usual toppings for a burger. In my opinion, similarly to its appearance it also tasted amazing. The patties were juicy and the fresh lettuce and pickles added a nice crunch. Most importantly, the signature Animal Style sauce added a kick that brought all these rich flavors together. However, compared to the explosive burgers, I found the fries to be only so-so. Unfortunately, they were kind of cold and not as crunchy as I would have liked them to be. Luckily, having the extra Animal Style sauce on the side made up for it. The Neopolitan shake was a winner in my book. I was a combination of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream mixed together. It was so thick and creamy that I recommend you ditch the straw and just use a spoon to make the experience easier and more enjoyable. Overall, the meal was great and at a reasonable price with it costing only around $10.

Shake Shack started from a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park in Manhattan, NY back in 2001. The first permanent kiosk opened in 2004 in the park it originated from. Since then, it has turned into a very successful chain across the East Coast. The Shake Shack I visited was in Herald Square, 34th Street, NYC. At around 12:30 pm, there was already a decent line but it moved pretty quickly. After perusing the menu, I ordered the double SmokeShack burger, fries, and a chocolate peppermint shake (this is a seasonal shake). This entire order came out to about $18 dollars. With a buzzer in hand, my friends and I tried to find a seat in the packed restaurant. After about 10 minutes, I picked up my tray of food and it looked simple yet mouth-watering. The SmokeShack had two cheese burgers topped with applewood smoked bacon, chopped cherry peppers and ShackSauce. The burgers were cooked medium, and the patties were extremely juicy. The bacon added a nice crunch and the peppers came off as a sweet and sour tang on the tongue. As shown in the photo below, the crinkle fries had a nice crisp exterior and a soft interior while the chocolate peppermint shake was creamy and minty (I would have gone back for another but I controlled myself). Although the meal was on the pricier side, it was a very filling meal that kept me full almost all day while exploring NYC.

After having the honor of tasting both of these amazing burger joints, I believe they definitely lived up to the hype that surrounded them. However, what sets these places apart from one another are their unique styles of menu. While In-N-Out sticks to the basics, consisting of only basic hamburger and cheeseburgers (you can add up to 4 patties if you are hungry enough), classic fries, and three simple vanilla: chocolate and strawberry shakes, Shake Shack offers a much more diverse options. Although In-N-Out’s menu concept is very simple, they execute it perfectly (why change something if it ain’t broke?) and consistently keeps the price low. Shake Shack, on the other hand, offers everything from traditional burgers and hotdogs to breakfast sandwiches, a wide selection of frozen custard, floats, shakes, and even a variety of beer and wine. While all of this is to satisfy your own hunger, Shake Shack also offers treats for your furry, four-legged friend. In my opinion, I found Shake Shack to be slightly better than In-n-Out. Don’t get me wrong, In-N-Out is an amazing burger joint, and you will still catch me eating at one, but I like the variety Shake Shack offers and their unique flavors. Now that you’ve heard what I’ve had to say, go out there and try these two amazing burger joint and let me know what you think.