For years of visiting the West Coast, I have heard I need to try In-N-Out burger. As soon as I was finally going to visit the East Coast (NYC), all I heard was I needed to try Shake Shack. Apparently, people are only fans of one or the other. In fact, there’s pretty much a war between these two institutes. So, within the past 6 months, I finally got a chance to try both of them.
Here are my honest thoughts. Sorry, not sorry, if you disagree.
*I ONLY ate the burger. No fries. No shakes. Burger alone. That’s all that matters in this fight.
In-N-Out Burger
Double (no cheese) animal style: $3.38
The price is incredible for a double burger with lots of veggies and that great house-made animal sauce with grilled onion pieces. It was pretty large. It was way better than any McDonald’s or Burger King or Sonic burger I’ve tried in our Arkansas parts.
However, it wasn’t very greasy or juicy, (no juices running down the arm) which I need if I’m going to branch out to a fast food burger. However, the last couple bites soaked up some good sauce and grease and were VERY good!
My last complaint would be the lettuce. I love a lot of lettuce on my burger, but not a big clump of the whitest iceburg possible. I ended up removing the lettuce and then I could finally taste the burger.
*This was a Dallas location.
Shake Shack Burger
Single Hamburger: $4.29
Here at Shake Shack, ordering a hamburger instead of a cheeseburger is an oddity. They clearly think you want NO toppings if you don’t want cheese and you must request all the toppings you want, that will be provided to on the side. So weird. Just make me a burger without the cheese, please!
Anyway, so I add my fresh veggies and their house sauce and dig in.
I’ll start by saying even a single patty here is much larger and beefier than the double at In-N-Out. It very much tasted like a David’s Burger from around our parts….which I love. It was extremely juicy, elbows had to be wiped clean afterwards. The lettuce was romaine and the perfect amount. All the veggies were crisp and fresh. The sauce was delicious, but I couldn’t tell a difference in either this sauce or In-N-Out’s animal sauce mixed in with the burgers.
Though, this burger is a whole dollar more expensive. And I have to put it together myself.
*This was a Manhattan location.
Final Decision
SHAKE SHACK!!!! No doubt. If you like David’s Burgers as opposed to other nation-wide typical chain burgers, you’d agree. While both are exceptional for fast food, I’d choose Shake Shack any day.
If you’ve tried both, what do you think?