Why we'll wait for In-N-Out - but no one else

https://nypost.com/2026/02/21/us-news/inside-in-n-outs-cult-following-in-
la/

The drive-thru line at In-N-Out on Venice Boulevard in Culver City curls 
through the lot and toward the street — engines idling, brake lights 
glowing, no one peeling off.

No one seems tempted to bail. For many Angelenos, the delay isn’t a deal-
breaker. It’s part of the tradition.

“Since I was a kid,” said Devante, 26, of Culver City, recalling how long 
he’s been coming to this location. “I think most [of it] is probably 
nostalgic… that’s probably the first burger I really remember, and then on 
top of that… it’s delicious. I love it. It’s good prices, too.”

On an average Friday afternoon, customers at the busy outpost needed to 
wait for at least 20 minutes a Double-Double and Animal Style fries. It 
wasn’t even lunchtime.

But they are fine with it because of the burgers are consistently fresh, 
good value, and consistent given there’s a limited menu.

The service is also considered top notch and comes with a distinctly 
Southern California identity that competitors haven’t been able to 
replicate.

Industry drive-thru benchmarking shows what “normal” looks like at major 
chains.

A 2025 mystery-shopper study put the average fast-food drive-thru order at 
5 minutes and 35 seconds, with McDonald’s at 6:03 and Chick-fil-A at 7:07.

In other words, the Culver City queue isn’t the typical fast-food baseline 
— and that’s exactly what makes it stand out.

“It’s always what I expect,” Devante said. “Always what you expect.”

That reliability runs throughout the brand’s appeal.

Despite the constant lines, In-N-Out’s footprint in Los Angeles is far 
smaller than its biggest rival.

The chain operates 85 locations across the LA area, compared with more 
than 300 McDonald’s restaurants in Los Angeles County.

Yet the smaller chain routinely outperforms competitors in customer 
loyalty.

A Nation’s Restaurant News survey ranked In-N-Out No. 1 in “True Loyalty,” 
with 63% of customers saying they chose it because of the brand itself 
rather than convenience, with 70% rating its service “best in class.”

The devotion isn’t just local.

Yelp’s 2025 rankings named In-N-Out America’s favorite burger chain based 
on more than 120,000 reviews — ahead of national heavyweights.

The chain consistently scores at or near the top in surveys measuring 
freshness, taste and food quality. Angelenos seem to confirm the data.

Ulises España, 26, of Los Angeles, said he’s been eating In-N-Out “since I 
was like six years old” and now goes “maybe twice a week.”

“It’s a simple burger that you can get for relatively good price, and I 
think that’s what keeps me coming back over here,” España said.

He said competitors’ burgers are ”too small for the prices the charge” and 
says In-N-Out has the ”best bang for your buck.”

That value claim has a real number behind it. Local reporting pegged a 
Double-Double meal — burger, fries and a drink — at $10.45 before tax in 
California, and $11.44 after tax in Los Angeles County.

A classic Big Mac Meal comes in at $12.38 after tax, but can cost up to 
$14, depending on the location.

Even with California’s higher-cost environment, In-N-Out’s price point 
stays close enough to fast-food norms to keep the “worth it” math working 
for loyal customers.

Would España ever walk away?

“There’s no reason for me to switch it up or not come here.”

Kristen Lawson, 20, of Inglewood, said she’s been eating there “since I 
was born… so I was raised on In-N-Out”. Her entire family are fans.

“I’m loyal to In-N-Out because it’s more of a healthier option and… I like 
the quality of the food better than other places,” she said, also pointing 
out the chain was “reasonably priced.”

For Sheena, who was also visiting the Culver City restaurant, the draw is 
straightforward.

“I like the ingredients are simple on my burger,” she said.

“I just like lettuce, tomato and onion… I always get the animal style 
fries. So that’s just been my go-to order.”

”This is like our family spot. The price is good… you get fries and a 
drink and a burger. So we’re not looking for anything more.”

That restraint — a tight menu, familiar flavors, modest pricing — 
underpins the chain’s staying power.

Ravi Sawhney, founder and CEO of RKS Design and a Southern California 
native, said the company’s pull stretches beyond what’s inside the 
wrapper.

“It is definitely a California cultural experience,” Sawhney said.

The brand also sells a tightly controlled production model. The company’s 
own store messaging emphasizes “only the freshest ingredients,” and says 
it uses no heat lamps, freezers or microwaves — choices that make the 
operation feel more “made to order,” but also keep production disciplined.

That same control has helped shape the chain’s limited footprint and 
consistency.

Industry reporting has described a distribution approach built around 
keeping restaurants within a day’s drive of production so food can move 
quickly and stay fresh.

Sawhney argued the brand’s business model taps into car culture and 
nostalgia that national rivals can’t duplicate.

“You get a bit of that nostalgic car culture,” he said, recalling cruising 
Van Nuys Boulevard in his youth. Standing in queue becomes part of the 
ritual.

“You basically are put on what I call a micro-hero’s journey.”

Unlike McDonald’s, which he described as focused on “consistency and 
speed,” In-N-Out delivers something more layered.

The extended queue only sharpens that contrast.

“It takes longer to get a burger, shake, and fries from In-N-Out than it 
does from McDonald’s,” he said. “And the quality is definitely better.”

The streamlined offerings reinforce the message, he added.

“They’ve got a limited menu, which conveys that we just do these things 
and we do them well, and we perfected them, and we do them consistently.”

To him, the moment feels intimate.

“It almost feels like your mom made it for you and your friends,” Sawhney 
said. “There’s a lot going on within that burger.”

While the chain doesn’t publicly break out local sales, national estimates 
show it generating outsized revenue for its size.

Privately held In-N-Out generated an estimated $1.8 billion in sales in 
2022 and roughly $2.1 billion in 2023, despite operating only about 400 
locations nationwide.

The company has deliberately limited expansion to eight states and refuses 
to franchise or go public — a controlled, family-owned model that analysts 
say has helped preserve its cult status.

Back in Culver City, the cars inch ahead.

Devante said only one thing could shake his devotion.

“Only if I found out like some crazy ingredient was in there… that would 
take me out,” he said. “Yeah, no.”

Until then, the vehicles will keep stacking up — and the faithful will 
keep waiting.


-- 
November 5, 2024 - Congratulations President Donald Trump.  We look 
forward to America being great again.

We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that 
stupid people won't be offended.

Every day is an IQ test. Some pass, some, not so much.

Thank you for cleaning up the disasters of the 2008-2017, 2020-2024 Obama 
/ Biden / Harris fiascos, President Trump.

Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the 
The World According To Garp.  Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood 
queer liberal democrat donors.