Double-double secret probation: How to order from In-N-Out's 'secret' menu (2024)

With In-N-Out Burger opening its latest location in The Biggest Little City, it might be time for a refresher course on its (shhhhh) "secret menu."

Think of it as double secret probation, except doubly tastier.

Animalstyle. Double meat. Grilled cheese. The Flying Dutchman.The secret concoctions at this popular California burger chain are as creative as they are irresistible to hardcore fans.

Related:New Reno In-N-Out officially opens at West End Commons near downtown

Yes, the menu at In-N-Out might seem simple at first glance. But like Platform 9 3/4 at London's King's Cross Station in Harry Potter, you can open yourself up to a whole new world ofseveral menu hacks by running in fearlessly.

For folks new to In-N-Out or longtime patrons who might need a quick review,this guide will teach you how to navigate the chain's secretmenu so you can experience why the burger destination has such a loyal following.

First, let's go over the basics.

What's on the standard In-N-Out menu?

In a world where the menus at many fast-food restaurants count into the double or even triple digits, the official In-N-Out menu iscomparatively brief.

Choose a hamburger or a cheeseburger, each of which comes with lettuce, tomato, raw onion and "spread," In-N-Out's proprietaryThousand Island dressing-like sauce, on a toasted bun.If you're really hungry, opt for aDouble-Double, essentially a double cheeseburger.

Besides the burgers are In-N-Out'sskin-on, square-cut fries. Slightly thicker than those at McDonald's and fried in sunflower oil to a light golden color, they're also controversial.Earlier this year the L.A. Times panned In-N-Out's as the worst of the bunch on their official fast-food french fry power ranking, calling them "bland, crumbly little matchsticks."

Like or loathe them, you can washthem down with drinks (sodas, milk, hot cocoa andcoffee) and strawberry, vanilla and chocolate milkshakes.

That's it. There's no breakfast menu, no salads, nochicken sandwichand no vegetarian sandwich options, at least until you scratch the surface of In-N-Out's not-so-secret menu.

In-N-Out's open secrets

The secrecyis all a pretense;in fact, the company explains six of the best-known menu "hacks" right on its own website.

Among these are the Double Meat (one burger, two patties), essentially aDouble Double, skip the cheese. Wanna go big? Order a 3x3, the Triple Triple, three beef patties and three slices of cheese.

Care to customize your meat-to-cheese ratio? Use the formula Meat x Cheese to yield your desired results. A Double Quad, for example, should yield two patties with four slices of cheese.

The multiplication factor maxes out at the 4x4, the Quad Quad which, you guessed it, is stacked with four patties and four slices of cheese.

Another not-so-secret menu hack endorsed by the chain represents a meat-free sandwich option: the Grilled Cheese. It's a burger bun with two slices of cheese, lettuce, tomato, spread and onions.

Avoiding carbs? Order your burger Protein Style and you'll get your burger sans bun, wrapped in lettuce instead.

By far the most beloved In-N-Out menu hackisAnimal Style. Order your Double Double (or your Grilled Cheese, Protein Style, etc.) Animal Style and the patty will be cooked in mustard and served with pickles, extra In-N-Out Spread and grilled onions, in addition to the standard toppings.

Animal Style fries are also an option, the paper boat fully loaded with melted American cheese, In-N-Out sauce and grilled onions. The Animal House guys would approve.

Beyond the In-N-Out endorsed 'secret'menu

Because once a secret menu itemis sanctioned, fans will push the limits of what's allowed. The following aren't included in In-N-Out's official "secret" menu, but are widely understood to be acceptable hacks.

Order a Veggie Burger and you'll get the Grilled Cheese, minus the cheese, a sandwich topped only withlettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, spread, mustard and ketchup.

Ask for anything withChopped Chilies and you'll find chopped pickled banana peppers, more tangy than spicy, added to your burger or fries. They're particularly good with Animal Style fries as the vinegar and mild spice punctuates the richness of the other toppings.

Another subtle topping swap is asking for Grilled Onions (chopped) or a Grilled Whole Onion (sliced), in place of the typical raw onion.

The wildcard of the bunch is theFlying Dutchman. Order it and you'll get a keto-friendly stack of two patties sandwiching two slices of American cheese.

There are also In-N-Out fry hacks. Tweak yours by asking for Fries Light for minimallyfried fries or Fries Well (as in well-done) to get them extra crispy. Ask forCheese Fries and you'll get Animal Style fries minus the onions and spread.

Rounding out the secret menu arebeverage hacks. Order a root beer with some vanilla shake added in for aDIYRoot Beer Float.

Order a Black and White Shake and you'll get a cup filled with half chocolate and half vanilla. It stands to reason that one could also order a Chocolate Strawberry shake or a Strawberry Vanilla shake, too.

The big boss of the bunch: order a Neapolitan Shake and you'll get all three flavors in one cup for your swirling pleasure.

Beyond these nameable hacks, you can also specify things like salt level on fries and burgers, extra toppings, packets of In-N-Out spread on the side and more. The menu at In-N-Out might be simple, but because of hacks like these, you might just be able to make it through the drive-through with an entirely custom burger experience in the bag.