In-N-Out's popular burger style started with a customer request decades ago
In‑N‑Out’s Hidden Gems: How a Simple Burger Joint Turned Custom Orders Into a Cultural Phenomenon
When most people think of In‑N‑Out Burger, they picture a no‑frills menu of basic burgers, fries and milkshakes served from the first drive‑thru in California. Yet beneath that straightforward exterior lies a roster of off‑menu items that have been eagerly sought after for more than six decades. The chain’s “Not‑So‑Secret Menu,” posted online as early as 2005, lists everything from the legendary Animal Style burger to the Flying Dutchman, a stack of meat and cheese that arrives without a bun or any condiments.
The story of the Animal Style begins in the early 1960s, when a customer watched an employee customizing a burger and asked for the same sandwich to be made for him. According to Denny Warnick, In‑N‑Out’s chief operating officer, the name was coined on the spot. “We began serving the Animal Style burger in the early 1960s when a customer watched one of our associates make his own customized burger and asked for one made the same way,” Warnick told Fox News Digital. “The name was created there on the spot. Over the years, many of the variations in preparation for our basic menu items were given names, usually by the customers who frequently ordered their burgers that way.”
The preparation details remain consistent with the chain’s philosophy of making each order exactly as the customer wishes. “Whether a ‘secret menu’ order or not, we still cook every burger fresh‑to‑order, exactly how the customer wants it,” Warnick added. The Animal Style itself is built around a burger of the eater’s choosing, layered with hand‑leafed lettuce, tomato, a mustard‑cooked beef patty, pickles, extra spread and grilled onions.
Beyond the Animal Style, In‑N‑Out’s clandestine lineup includes several other popular variations. The Double‑Meat stacks two patties, while the 3x3 and 4x4 bump the count to three and four patties respectively, each accompanied by matching slices of American cheese. The Grilled Cheese swaps the meat for two slices of cheese, and the Protein Style replaces the bun entirely with a lettuce wrap. The Flying Dutchman, created by former CEO Guy Snyder before his death in 1999, is essentially a double‑patty, double‑cheese assembly served naked—no bun, no condiments.
The origins of In‑N‑Out trace back to 1948, when founders Harry and Esther Snyder opened the first restaurant in a Los Angeles suburb. Their establishment was celebrated as California’s inaugural drive‑thru hamburger stand. By 1973, the chain had expanded to 13 locations, all within Los Angeles County. Today, more than 400 restaurants operate across ten states, still under the Snyder family’s private ownership.
For decades, these off‑menu options have been an open secret. The Los Angeles Times noted in 2004 that customers had known about ordering Animal Style “for years,” and a 2005 article encouraged diners to “relish the not‑so‑secret menu,” even hinting at hidden Bible verse references on wrappers and cups as a quirky pastime. The tradition of discovery continues on social media. A Redditor posted two years ago, “Got my burger Animal Style for the first time. It honestly was a game changer and is my new order. I don’t think I will ever go back.” Another replied from Los Angeles, “From LA. My parents have been going to In‑N‑Out long before I was born, and they just learned about Animal Style a month ago. I couldn’t believe my frickin ears.”
Warnick emphasizes that the chain’s approach to customization is rooted in its mission to keep customers happy. “We’re all about making our customers happy,” the company’s website explains, and that ethos is reflected in the way each special order is prepared.
Whether diners stumble upon a hidden gem by reading the website, following a friend’s tip, or simply wandering into a restaurant and asking for something different, In‑N‑Out’s off‑menu items remain a testament to the power of listening to customers. From the mustard‑cooked patties of the Animal Style to the bun‑free Protein Style, these orders illustrate how a simple request can evolve into a lasting tradition that spans generations and continues to attract new fans each year.