Re-In-N-Out

Straight after I read your missive this morning, I fired up Twitter and caught Mashable Tweeting this:
Five Guys Burgers Get Extra Delicious in This Songify Remix
http://mashable.com/2012/08/17/songify-five-guys/

Brian O'Neal

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Worth watching...

Five Guys Auto-Tune - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcJFdCmN98s&sns=em

Toby Blumenthal

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I worked at In-N-Out when I was 18 and at 21 I left because I caught the music bug so I started interning. I had that burger for almost 3 years every fucking day and I still eat there to this day, just last week in fact where the line at the Hollywood location was PACKED at 2pm. Quality was and seems to still be everything to them. I hope they never go public and turn into Groupon/Netflix/Zynga/Facebook etc.. They might have changed a few things, but nothing the normal customer would ever notice, other then the prices. I think a #1 was $4.75 when I was there in the late '90's and now it's $2 more.

If I had stayed there, I might have my own store (#1 manager, they have 4 at each location) making 6 figures. SIX!!! Now after making $30k a year in the music business this past decade, I've been laid off and can't find a job to save my life.

P.S. I've had Shake Shack once when I was in NY, and it was pretty damn amazing. One of the best burgers I've ever had, maybe top 5 next to Kuma's Corner in Chicago and Father's Office here in LA.

P.P.S. Five Guys sucks.

P.P.P.S. In-N-Out fries suck because they're 100% REAL. Open potato sack, peel them in the back, soak in water, cut them, spin to dry, drop in fryer. Yes McDonald's fries are good but I don't even want to know what they do because it can't be good.

Please don't use my name if you happen to use this.

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In and Out lost me.. it has not been great in 10 years. I have down the bottom of my hill near Universal city. It WAS a family biz? I used to love it..

BEST burger on Vent Blvd? Boneyard Bistro. I hit it once a year as it is a vice indeed. haha and I have given up all the bad ones..
Kobe beef and FRESH.
Ever had a chili dog DONUT? Bite size.. it is packed most of the time and the guys will NOT let you substitute BUT the burgers vary and its a nice hang too. Vent blvd bewteen Fulton and Woodman on North side of the street, Sherman Oaks.

We should go when I get back. My treat..

I am in Europe havin fun. A little toasted from the road. I have not stopped since Jan 1st.
4 different tours + recorded a new solo record while I was at home 'off' that I gotta mix before the short USA Toto run mid Sept then back to G3 in Mexico.. next year more of it ALL and happy as hell but miss my kids like crazy..
'Cadillac problems' sir. haha

Keep the faith and the rave on
Yer pal
Luke

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I love In-N-Out's burgers - fresh, juicy, made-to-order. The fries are good, too with one caveat: you have to eat them quickly. They don't last very long, at most ten minutes, and then they become kind of dry and brittle. I would never have them as takeout, because by the time you got home they'd be no good.

Calvin Trillin famously wrote that each person's favorite burger is the one they grew up with. That's certainly true for me. The cheeseburger at Rob Roy's in Snyder, NY was my gold standard. (Alas, it's no longer there). I tried Trillin's favorite burger at Winstead's in Kansas City, and it was very good indeed. It's chief rival, Steak 'n Shake in St. Louis (and elsewhere) is the same type of burger and also very good.

Last year I had to go to Las Vegas for the Latin Grammys, and I was delighted to find that they had a Steak 'n Shake, although it was nestled into one of the sleazier casinos out at the edge of town. I went anyway, and I was rewarded with a great burger. If you get to try it, I recommend the double cheeseburger (the patties are thin) with mustard and pickles. And by the way, the onion rings are superior, although not as good as the fresh-made ones at Ted's Hot Dogs in Buffalo.

Junk food forever!

Best,
John Boylan

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Within a week of moving to LA from NY in 93, a neighbor told me about In-N-Out. One Week! I didn't know about Pinks for nearly a year. The writer of the fabulous book Fast Food Nation, who laments about the terrible state of food at the typical joints, talks about In-N-Out like he's got stock in the place (he doesn't, of course).

I took every visiting friend and family member there for my 16 years in town. Everyone satified. Yes, you wait for your food, yes you might have trouble getting a seat, but you are dead-on about the vibe, the service and the food. Who knew burgers, fries and a shake could be this gratifying (don't laugh, but I'm not a shake guy...never had it at In-N-Out).

When I proposed to my wife in 09, we celebrated by going to In-N-Out. Before you label me as a cheap date, know that it was HER IDEA...and she hates fast food.

When we packed up and trucked out to Florida to open our little music school, we stopped at the eastern-most In-N-Out we could (Arizona or New Mexico somewhere). We've heard rumblings about them opening a new distribution center in Texas. Could it possibly reach South Florida? Fingers are crossed.

Thanks for making me hungry, you bastard!

Christopher Maloney

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I did a semester abroad in Hong Kong, a full 7 months. First place I ate when I returned was at In-N-Out, the one right next to LAX. Did my undergrad at LMU, which is right down the street from that In-N-Out, ate their multiple times a week and going without for 7 months was rough.

I've never even tried Five Guys, there's no reason to.

Adam Romero

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Great column- but you left out a key ingredient. Or two.

They pay their employees better than ANY food joint. Managers make $75-100K. Employees are about 15-25 dollars an hour. That shows in everything they do.

And unlike the Chic-Fil-A "in your face" religion, In-N-Out is run by a family of Christians who hold genuine Christian values of sharing, treating all with respect, and equality. Under their drinks along the ridge of the cups look for the lettering "John 3-16". It's on every palm tree lined cup.

They are the real deal.

Laura Wilkinson Sinton

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Recovering from significant surgery here on a hot night in northridge, and loved reading about what has long been a family fave for us- and when I would come off the road sometimes Abe and I would hit that In n out by lax, we know it well.
Also in my low carb life, protein style is fabulous too.
Hmmm, now I wanna get out of bed and go to in n out.
Btw, surgery a drag, especially reaction to morphine-- that stuff nearly did me in-- hard to believe some folks elect to use it recreationally- but all good news on the health front, and will be back on action soon

Wendy Waldman

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Bob...if you like a little born again christian prostylizing with your mediocre burger, (check out the bottom of their cold drink cups), then In-n-Out is the place for you.

But, if you really want a burger with real beef taste, and well done fries that'll absolutely knock your socks off, then you MUST drive to Westwood on Pico, one block east of Westwood Blvd. and go to THE APPLE PAN. You may have to wait for a seat at the counter, but it's all worth it. THE APPLE PAN, in that same spot since 1947. The best.

Richard Kimball

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I love five guys. I think best burger in the country. So right about employees and also dumpy. Especially in NYC.

Jason Hirschhorn

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Damn. Now I gotta go try to find an In-N-Out that's still open. I can't read about that place without having a huge double-double craving. Thanks a lot,
Bob.

Robert Cairns

p.s. I've never seen an In-N-Out employee in less than a terrific mood. Smiling...happy...friendly. I think it's because they supposedly get really good health insurance.

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You are just calling for a quarrel. Five Guys is King in Vegas. The other day my son said "Dad, I dig a hamburger place that cranks Dio. I don't know if it is better than the spread at In-N-Out but this place is solid."

Kurt C. Lambeth

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Please keep me anonymous if you post...

I work in national media sales in San Francisco. The media buying business is run on the backs of 20 something media planners who work long hours with average pay at best (for college grads that is). However, given the power these buyers have controlling huge spends and deciding which mags, tv shows, stations, sites, networks etc get their clients' ad revenue, they get the big time entertainment perks. Concerts, sporting events, spas, lunches, dinners, trips, gifts etc are all the norm as every rep in town is looking to build relationships with these planners.
About 10 years ago, we mentioned during a meeting with buyers that In-n-Out was building it's first restaurant in SF. A couple of the LA transplants in the room literally hopped out of their chairs to high-five each other upon hearing the news. Light bulb moment for us. We called In-n-Out to see if we could set up an event and found out they offered catering trucks. This was well before the recent food truck craze.

We parked the truck in a central location and blasted out email invites to the media teams in the market offering In-n-out for lunch. We had 300+ show up. Felt like every planner in town came out. This is in a business where planners get offered breakfast, lunch and dinner at the finest, hippest spots in the city...

Very few burger joints illicit this kind of response and for In-n-out, it is well deserved...

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I hit the Burbank In-N-Out today myself! Fucking great as always!

Rob Meurer

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You left out the price difference. The douchebags at Five Guys charge three times what In-N-Out costs.

Wendy Day

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Right on Bob! My former bandmates in Green Jello (yea, Green Jelly after the lawsuit) we're so into In-N-Out that we all went to the ground breaking ceremony when they built the one on Sunset (near LaBrea) years ago. I just made myself hungry typing that. Double double!!

Gary Helsinger

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I frequent 5 Guys in Miami on a regular basis and I've never had that experience. I don't even recall a single time when they even had music playing loudly and I believe me, I LOVE 80's pop so I would have noticed. Wish we had an In-N-Out in the east coast though.

Chris Andrews

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Good...fresh, but really nothing special, just soulless, lacking any real grit or character.

These folks have SOUL

http://www.originaltommys.com/

PO Box

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Our In n Out here in the Mission Viejo/FootHill Ranch in OC, is awesome. I don't have hamburgers very often.. its a special treat reserved for when I feel I need to to a hot fresh meal.

Kori Carothers

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Don't forget about Whataburger

Wade Bowen

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Five Guys is finally moving into the Boston area. No loud music and lines out the door daily.

Must be a franchisee that is stubborn in your area?

Bret Clancy

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Da bomb,indeed!

Don Mizell

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As a New Yorker, I am jealous of your ready access to In-n-Out Burger. They are truly the best. That said, EVERYONE complains on Yelp.com. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who compliments anything there, though it happens.. Perhaps it is just the businesses posting negative things about their competitors? Having worked in the digital marketing space for 16 years now, I am very distrustful of any web outlets that offer up consumer opinions. Sad really. It is what it is. Five Guys is great on the east coast, nothing but raves here. But they lack real competitors, like the infamous In-n-Out.

Fact is, Yelp is powered by the businesses that live or die by the reviews. War is hell! And if I was a restaurateur, first thing I would do is hit the digital boards to dis my competitors and praise my menu.

Enjoy the fries! Would you like a shake with that?

John Staub
Marketing, FARM and Digital
Cornerstone Agency

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Are they the latest Boston Chicken/market which grew too fast? But
instead with music was too loud?

Take that away. You listened to music on the wrong levels as we all
usually do at all restaurants.

Five Guys is competing because it's better. As in burger vs. burger it
won in the past decade as proven by its growth. I saw it happen in DC since day 1 when we used to cut class and drive to northern Virginia for it. Now in CA, I have been listening as people drive to and from lake Tahoe for years saying the same thing about in n out: "is there any meat on this thing?" Where's the beef?

Without the Big Lebowksi you have no in n out. As soon as Five Guys
hit Georgetown in DC, it blew up because it's an international school
and in n out is basically Johnny rockets.

Give me a burger not a salad bar sandwich for posers. Everyone wants to love in n out and that's why it works. Start grow scratch and five guys wins every time.

Alex Maxa

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5 guys is better than in n out. Your just angry and can't get over the fact it tastes better than in n out.

I've gotten food poisoning from in n out. No doubt I could get it from five guys also. But your generalizing on an experience.

I LMFAO with you saying 5 guys is toast. BASED ON WHAT??? Your opinion??? Please.

By the way...music had nothing to do with it. Zero. Nada. Nothing. It's cheeseburgers.

Kyle Novak

Please publish.

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heart stopping now.. Love the french fries but the hamburgers just aren't anything special

Tom in Sac

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This made me shed one or two tears of happiness. Just sayin'.

Michael Gross

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Yum! I haven't been there in too long! Never even tried a shake. But the animal style fries are over the top good. And the burger animal style is great too.

Amy Madnick

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Washington Boulevard In-N-Out, by Costco, a veritable melting pot of color and race.

But no one would pull a gun here. That's just not the vibe."

So a "veritable melting pot of color and race" is a possible prescription for a good "gun pulling" is it ?

Aurora, Colorado is a mighty "mixed" up place I guess ! ... sorry i had to comment on this, you generalize a lot (most of the time in relevant fashion), but geez ... must be nice to live in a whitewashed utopian enclosure and even nicer that a gun wasn't pulled out on you on Washington fucking Boulevard.

KD

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Next time you're in Austin, TX try a joint called Mighty Fine. You'll have to get out of downtown a bit, but it's worth it. Go for the double burger. It may not be In-N-Out, but it ain't bad.

Jasper

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We have a plethora of amazing hamburger joints in SoCal, from The Counter on the west side to 25 Degrees (hollywood Roosevelt) closer to the east. These are great burgers, very few can argue that.

In reality, In-N-Out has become iconic not just because of the tasty food, but because of the customer service. They serve each customer how they want, when they want and with extreme enthusiasm; even when the drive-thru line is close to a mile long. That’s what the best music companies are doing today...they focus on their customer base, and super serve them to complete satisfaction.

If I want a limited edition of the vinyl (that’s not on the standard menu and includes bonus music), I can request it and get what I want, even if it means paying a premium. The world we live in rarely can configure its options to a "one size fits all model", nor should it. Each customer is unique, and its imperative that they all come away feeling "Super Served". In-N-Out does this 100 times a day, and its something that the entire music business can learn from.

Gone are the days of one size fits all, instead we are looking at unique customer experiences that can be individually rewarding for each that are willing to partake.

That’s the business model I am striving for in the future, and I am
confident that most will find this path more rewarding and profitable than the simply saying "New album available now" and hoping that the marketing money spent will yield enough to pay for itself.

Thanks,

Marc Jetton
SARGENT HOUSE / RODRIGUEZ LOPEZ PRODUCTIONS

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Great insight
Music is way too loud

Been to a smashburger ?

Lawrence Clayman

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Those diet drinks are wicked nasty. The only reason that shit exists is Rumsfeld. When he was at Searle, he tried to shove it down our throats but the FDA would not approve it. When Reagan came in with rummy on his team, bingo. Replacing carbon with chlorine (poison) at a molecular level is the key to diet drinks, and slow mass murder on a scale that makes war look nice. Sorry.
Plus, diet drinks cause seizures and weight gain.
But, In-N-Out, that's what i'm talkin' about. Was a Costco visit tradition and always a return-to-LA first stop.

David Reilly

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Sorry Bob, but outside of Hollywierd, burger joints are places you take your kids, and my kids love 5 Guys. There's little romance, like in the stupid McDonalds commercial where the office workers were excited to go there for lunch. That NEVER happened even once in any office across America.

The 5 Guys near here are doing fine, are packed, and play no loud music. That's strictly an L A hipster thing. And every worker in all of these places are disengaged from the customer. Because the job pays nothing and it's boring. Just a place to kill time in between classes. Don't expect much from the staff of fast food joints.

Bob Maggio

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One of the very first stops I'm going to make when I get back to the US and LA in November is In-N-Out, and thanks to you that craving has now been intensified that much more.

I will also be eating some Heids' dogs while I'm in Syracuse!

-Gregg Bell

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Don't shit on Five Guys - maybe they fuck it up on the West Coast, but I've never had anything close to the shitty, loud, annoying experience you describe here on the East Coast. Over here, lines snake around the block for Five Guys.

Russell Joye

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Chick-Fil-A doesn't have a "policy" on gays; its CEO expressed religious beliefs about marriage.

One would expect a lawyer and wordsmith such as yourself to grasp that glaringly obvious difference.

But, as usual, the shrill, hateful so-called liberal and tolerant agenda is deaf to nuance.

Jon Shapiro

P.S. And the Tea Party people are RACISTS!! libel:
"Peopled by enough ethnicities to make the Tea Party gag."

Ridiculous.

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Man I miss la.
In n out is almost worth moving to la for alone.

Jamie Danan

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You're just going to the wrong 5 guys location Bob!

I fought rush hour traffic, just last night to bring "5 Guys" home for us!
Manager personally greets every customer as they pick up their to go order. And in between to go pick up's, she checked on every "eat in" customer. DB Levels on the music were so low, I had to really focus to pick up on who was playing....

Must be a Southern Cali thing, that's all I can say..

TicketViper

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I don't eat high cholesterol crap to often anymore, my body the car now eats a little better grade food than I did when I was younger but I've got to say that when I do I go to the In-N-Out down by LAX, really I can't resist the smell of aviation fuel with my burger as I sit outside and watch the planes land on the runway. Where else can you get a Burger with a side of a Boeing 747 with it.

My favorite thing to do while waiting (no shit) for my order is to watch for the counter person to get far enough away from the microphone and grab it and say "The captain would like to remind you to put the tray in front of you in the upright position we will be landing at LAX soon where the temperature is 75 degrees hope you enjoyed the flight and thank you" That usually get everybody laughing and I haven't been tossed out yet.

Their use to be a place in the 70's at the corner of Olympic & La Brea here in LA called "POP's" (now a greasy doughnut shop) hands down the best burger this town will ever see, a couple of cuts above Pinks with the best salami and egg sandwich on the menu to keep your doctor busy, any locals who have lived in this city all their lives knows what I'm talking about. The fat cook at the grill and that mom & pop atmosphere that is now dead and gone from this city.

All in all, if any of these establishments would install a "Lipitor" vending machine by the door I might take a chance and eat these kinds of foods again. :) I mean what the hell you only die once.

RS

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Hi Bob, I have always thought In-n-Out is the model of what American business should have been. You make a good product, and you keep to it, you pay and take care of your workers and they give back. It should never be about how much profit we can squeeze out of every corner or how do we corner the market. Just make a good thing and keep it up and the money will follow. Like you said just be great at a few things instead of ok at all things, quality is key, but keeping quality up is what makes In-n-Out work. It's the same now as it was back when it started. I really don't think there's anything like that now. Even McDonalds fries are crap now from what they were in the 70's. I think too, the owner of In-N-Out didn't get too greedy and kept a pace of very steady growth and kept control of the quality. I think they, but I'm not a 100%, use all California products. This kind of company just makes great economic sense.
Can also compare this to the music industry, when record companies were small and put out great music, everyone won, when they got greedy and too big, and tried to make too much money and put out lots of crap, everyone lost.

Take care,

Paul David Hager
FOH Engineer For Miley Cyrus / Devo
Record Mixing Engineer to the Stars!

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2 quick thoughts:

1) Just yesterday I had a great burger for lunch at a place near where I am visiting my 89 year old dad in hospice in the suburbs north of chicago - & while eating it alone I thought about the burger the way u did, & even thought about how McD's thought it revoultionized the burger but really diluted it - & how all these places are bringing back REAL burgers, etc.

2) Interesting article in last New Yorker about the Cheesecake Factory's QC. & how modern "big" medicine is trying to emulate that QC in its facilities.

Wallace Collins

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In-n-out is great, but I can tell you without a doubt that when talking to many of the thousands of ex-Southern Californians up here in the Seattle area, it is the mention of "Tommy's" that will bring a tear to the eyes.......A double chili burger with cheese., smothered in that amazing chili...a handful of those delicious chili peppers, fresh, and ready to burn a hole in your tongue. So many of us have such fond memories of drunkenly making our way home from concerts or clubs, looking for that orange roof and the wonderful way those burgers, tamales, and fries, just COVERED in that thick, gooey chili would soak up the alcohol and send you home safe and sound. Check out their web site....people order the Chili and have it shipped to them all over the world, but they really have to be experienced on a magical California night.......

David Resch

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We were in San Francisco in June, and were going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium for the day.....we drove ten miles out of our way to hit the In-N-Out in Salinas for lunch. Same thing last year skiing in Utah, for lunch on the way to the airport. Trouble was, my son rode in the back seat down Big Cottonwood from Solitude, and got car sick and couldn't eat! We got him a t-shirt instead. We think the fries are only so-so.

Armand Sadlier

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I totally agree with you, In&Out make the best burgers in the
world...period.
I live in Montreal, where i wish there would be some In&Out restaurants, but every time I go to Los Angeles, i make a point of stopping at my favorite In&Out ( the one on Sunset, a block East of LaBrea.. ) and live the ultimate burger experience !

Best,
Pierre Paradis
Sphere Musique

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Bob, you don't know service until you eat at the McDonald's in Moscow. Seriously. Things may have changed since I was there in 1991, but picture this...

- A line 30 minutes deep, out on the street and around the block. When it first opened, the line was 4 hours long, but that was some years earlier and the novelty had probably worn off.

- About 5 stories tall, with seating for 350 people or so.

- A single, very long counter with cash registers jammed in side-by-side. An employee stood at each register taking orders, and never moving from the register. Two other employees serviced each register, bringing the food items. It was like a beehive of constant activity behind the counter.

- $3.50 USD bought 2 Big Macs, 2 fries, 2 shakes, and 2 sundaes. It all tasted the same as in the USA, except for the consistency of the meat, which was slightly different. In Norway, the same meal was $20 USD.

Chris Rimple

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It must be a SoCal thing. We have a great Five Guys here in Southwest FL and the food/service is great and there's no loud music - ever. And I'm big on music - loud or otherwise - so I'd notice. The place is usually quite busy. I used to live in SoCal and yes In-N-Out is fabulous. If it's a franchise requirement to blast 80's music then I can only hope my local franchise owner/operator continues to ignore the mother ship.

Morten Sissener

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5 guys with music? Must be a left coast thing.

Innis Nelson

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Great article until the TEA party comment. Don't be an ignorant Liberal. I thought you were smarter than this.

Dave May

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OK, Bob. I get it. You are a left coast lib. I respect that and I still can appreciate your music related insight.
But, "Peopled by enough ethnicities to make the Tea Party gag"?
Was that just a cheap shot on an easy target for a quick laugh for the hipsters in your readership?
Or do you really believe that?
This is a lot like CNN reporting the Colorado shooter was a Tea Party member without any real journalism...
except you have a lot more readers than they do viewers....
You don't have to appeal to a lower common denominator to increase your 'fans' by engaging in demagoguery.
Mixing politics and music really only goes so far these days.
Ask the Dixie Chicks about that.

David Pratka

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Tito's (Tacos) on Sepulveda and Washington Pl.

My daughter now lives in Montana, and I live in Maryland.

Our friend Bill freezes and overnights us 13 tacos and 13 burritos every Christmas......each.

An institution! As good as "Zappa And The Mothers Live At The Fillmore East, 1971".

Ever had 'em??

Cheers,

Kathy Freeman

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Re: In-N-Out HERO Burgers in Toronto was deemed better by my LA pal Emond, no hormones antibiotics etc. That is the one thing In N Out doesn't do.

www.heroburgers.com

If you extra-chew a burger, you extract more taste - I kept telling Emond, chew more, taste more - he was inhaling it.

I like the Mc Double $3 for two burgers, including tax. They are big macs without the extra bun and lettuce.

jf1

PS: You could try earplugs/drive through with that loud 80s place, but I suppose you would be rewarding their arrogance.

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My views exactly on Five Guys in NYC. I think they go out of their way to hire excons, which is fine, but train these people that when they're at work it's not a time to hear BS.

When a cashier is delayed in completing my transaction due to coworker chatter I let them know that they can do that on their own time not mine.

Miss Miceli

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1st place I hit when I fly into LAX is In an Out. Good article

Jimmy Risk

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Sorry to write you back, but I gotta tell you, our fave, quality burger
joint in So Calif nowadays is The Habit. If you haven't been...

http://www.habitburger.com/locations/

Yum.

Karen & Rich Votava

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Dead on review of My favorite burger joint. I grab one every time I get out west. Love the place. Wish someone would open one in Nashville. They would make it just off the touring musicians and crew guys who live here. In fact you will probably see more In and Out shirts in Nashville then any other city because we all have one. I love your blog. keep up the good writing.

Tim Bowers
Tour Manager.
Nashville, TN

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I've told you before, and being that I'm a major sucker for a burger, I'll say it again:

Hole-In-The-Wall burger on Santa Monica just West of Westwood, behind Winchell's. Get the pretzel bun. Get the onion mayo. You'll be smiling, guarantee. The fries are standard, but the burger is damn fine.

That said, In-N-Out is happiness for a couple bucks. A few bucks if you spring for the shake. Can't beat it.

Scarlett Rabe

P.S. Thanks for making me ravenous.

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If you like onions ask for both - grilled and raw - it's awesome!

Charles Adams

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In-N-Out is fantastic! Quick, friendly, clean and dependably good burger and great fries.

Peter Koepke

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Amen! If there is one thing I'll truly miss when I die it's an In'n'Out double-double animal style :)

Keith Walker

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Very true - we tried 5 Guys in El Segundo and it's just not the same. If I want a custom burger, I'll go to the Counter and go nuts. Their fries also let me down, and the seasoned fries? Forget it.

In-N-Out is expanding to Dallas, so not east coast yet, but further...

Before iphones, you could call their 800 number while driving and ask where the nearest one was - nice customer service touch.

Also always love in the drive through when they ask "will you be eating this in your car or is it to go?" as there is a difference...

Faves: double double animal style protein with a flying dutchman.

Ned Ward

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there are many things I miss about LA.....In & Out being the primary one...and the Taco Stand on Vine between Santa Monica and Melrose... Cactus .

Pastor Tacos are the best anywhere.

Marty Schwartz

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Classic burgers, classic rock! We are still selling out most our gigs and haven't a hit since 82!

Kenny Lewis
Steve Miller Band

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I have to say Bob, our experience at Five Guys here in the Nashville area is quite different than yours. Be that as it may, I love In-N-Out for the same reasons you state. Unfortunately, there are no In-N-Out's here in Tennessee, so whenever we are in LA we make sure that we get at least one meal at In-N-Out!

There are several burger joints in Nashville that make great burgers though! If you are ever in Nashville I would recommend that you try Burger Up. They use very high quality beef that is locally raised to very specific standards and they have a great menu. Here is a link if you just want to check them out. You never know when you might be in Nashville and need that burger fix!

http://www.burger-up.com/

Cheers

P.S. I love Chick-Fil-A!

Ross Robinson

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I'd seen all the press but never been. Then, three days ago, I was sitting here, hungry, and I saw a FB post by a friend in Baltimore saying she was heading for Five Guys. I announced that I was going to find one and finally give them a try, despite there being a Habit Burger a mile from here. Then my pal Paul, down in Miami (but who spends time in Los Angeles) said I should go to Umami in Studio City. It would make me forget about 5 Guys. I checked the traffic. Smooth sailing to Coldwater. So I went. Ordered a Hatch Chili Burger, fries and a cold Stella. A superior burger and the fries, while too skinny for my taste, were not bad at all. The next day I decided to do a comparison and drove out to the Northridge 5 Guys.
Just as you reported (a) nearly empty (b) Sirius XM classic rock (not 80s) was BLASTING. The burger was meh, but the fries were very good (and there were enough to feed three). Next time I want a burger, I'm going back to The Habit (it's close and both the burger and the fries are superior, though not gourmet). If they're too busy, I'm off to Fat Burger (excellent burger and a choice of skinny or fat fries). After that, I default to Johnny Rockets (vanilla coke, please). It's not quite fair to compare Umami to these fast food burgers; I'd say their burger is superior but for twice the price it better be... I'll go to In n Out when all else fails but the lines usually dissuade met.

Bill Fitzhugh

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Yer killin' me. My wife and I were just talking about how satisfying a great burger is.

As far as loud music in restaurants, you probably saw the article in the NY Times about how loud music speeds customers through their dining experience and sends them on their way. Maybe that's at play with 5 Guys, I dunno.

I love the term below -- the "weaponization" of audio. We all know music has power, but the idea there are consultants who can tell you how many bites I take per minute with volume and beats per minute blows my mind...for a minute or two. Here's an excerpt and below a link to the article...And scary as it sounds, people are much louder here in the NYC area.

"Some research has shown that people drink more when music is loud; one study found that people chewed faster when tempos were sped up. Armed with this knowledge, some bars, retailers and restaurants are finely tuning sound systems, according to audio engineers and restaurant consultants.

"Think about places where they're trying to get you in and out as quickly as possible," said John Mayberry, an acoustical engineer in San Marino, Calif., who has railed against what he terms the "weaponization" of audio. “It’s real obvious what their intentions are."

Some customers like the loudness. Younger people can withstand loud music longer, while older ones may run from it, helping proprietors maintain a youthful clientele and a fresh image."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/nyregion/in-new-york-city-indoor-noise-goes-unabated.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Chip Lovitt

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You win the prize for liking In and Out. I've been aware they're LA's fav for many decades, having seen those bumper stickers where they've removed the "b" to create another message ;-) yet I've only eaten In and Out once, last summer.

My girlfriend was visiting from NM and we took her 14 yr. old daughter to Magic Mountain for a long hot day of "fun." Leaving the park that night we were famished, and that was the only place they wanted to eat at.

I was dubious, since I gave up fast food in junior high, but I went along trying to be easy going about it. It tasted so - fake - and the burger was very thin. I've eaten lots of burgers, but in my own kitchen, or in restaurants where they used more quality ingredients.

This burger reminded me of the government surplus food they gave us in the junior high cafeteria! I couldn't stomach trying the animal fries. As the meal moved through my system I didn't feel so good. Not sick, just like my body was temporarily hosting an alien guest. It came out the next day and smelled something terrible. That was my last In and Out and unless there's an emergency of dire proportions and that's the only thing to eat, I won't be stomaching In and Out ever again. Is this what a decades long diet of organic eating has done to me?

Melissa Ward

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The east coast doesn't need In and Out. We have Shake Shack.

Christopher Prince Boucher

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whoa Bob. don't mess with McDonald fries! The best plain-jane tasting fry you will ever eat. No ketchup required.

Tod Devonshire

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Bob- you know we go way back and I so enjoy all of your posts but I couldn't get through this one after reading that Caffeine Free Diet Coke is your favorite drink. Pretty please do the research and put this beverage on the back burner permanently. Want you to stick around with us for a long long time and there could be nothing nastier than CFDC to put in your body. It alters your PH which in turn begins changes in your body that can lead to serious conditions and disease.

Never a diet soda drinker (years ago watched my business partner drop 80 pounds -that's not a typo- when she gave up Diet Mountain Dew), I did like an occasional Coke until the day one tipped over on top of my sink. By the time I noticed it, it had eaten away the grime I had unsuccessfully tried to get off the base of my faucet for the last 6 months using scrubs and bleach. I still use it on tough cleaning jobs.

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/w/watervscoke.htm

Patsy Sermersheim

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In and out is all that you say it is. Too true.

Everardo Gil

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Sorry to hear your Five Guys out there in L.A. was a bad experience. My daughters and I love the place. If we gotta stop at fast food while on the road, Five Guys is our number one destination. Every one we've gone to so far has been the complete opposite of your experience.

The one in Baltimore Harbour was our first experience, and this last time we were there, the owner was extremely friendly. And both times we've been there they were PACKED. Our visit to the one down near Manchester, NH was the same friendly service. It was late on a Sunday, maybe 8pm, so it wasn't as busy. And the kid on duty there was very engaging, even telling us that a new Five Guys was going to be opening up near us in Lebanon, NH. Wahoo !! And the place near Piscataway, NJ was playing the demo tapes for "Money" by Pink Floyd. I'd never heard it before and thought it was someone ballsy enough to cover the tune. Despite it being a fairly busy late-lunch hit, one of the guys was kind enough to go in the office to tell me who was playing.

Hmm, I'm detecting a trend.....my experiences are all East Coast.....

Disclosure - I have NO vested interest in Five Guys. I just thought you'd like to hear a differing view.

Thom Wolke

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Why did you have to remind of yet one more reason I miss LA (we left in '87)? At any rate you motivated me to write them a letter begging them to open stores in Atlanta (HQ for ChickfilA). Do some folks still modify the bumper stickers?

Gil Few

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Have you been to The Original Tommy's yet?

John Peale

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I think you'd like to know about this burger joint too, called Bareburger, which is making quite a splash in N.Y.C.:

http://www.bareburger.com/

There's one in my neighbourhood and I go there as often as I can. Not only is the quality of their menu outstanding, they also have a great atmosphere & interior design, and their whole concept - from food, to water usage, to building materials, etc. - is based on an ethical and sustainable philosophy. Therefore it appeals to customers on multiple levels - gastronomic, political, ethical, environmental.... Of course, none of that other stuff would matter if the burgers weren't GREAT. And they are.

When you're in N.Y.C. next I hope you can check 'em out.

Arun Luthra

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As usual, right on the money. Have you checked out Elevation Burger?

Geoff

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Next time you visit Nashville, you'll have to have a burger at the in-house Grill at Whole Foods (Green Hills). Grass fed, perfectly grilled to your specs. Herb seasoned, perfect, hand crafted fries.... for about the same price the same combo will cost you at 5 Guys.

Theresa K.

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Mc Donald's makes great Smoothies believe it or not.

Richard Rosenberg

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Putting ketchup on anything at In-N-Out should be a crime!

;-)

Rob Cairns

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In-N-Out is anything but in and out. It takes forever! And the burger is getting thinner and thinner. I'll head over to The Counter or The Habit. Nations is amazing!

Kevnn

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I couldn't agree with you more about In n Out Burger! I lived in LA from '86 til '92 and during those years I fell in love with In n Out Double Doubles. Working in recording studios had me often grabbing a burger on the way home after a long day and like yourself it was my little slice of heaven. I have lived and worked in Nashville since '92 and whenever I travel to anywhere that has an In n Out location it's always the first stop in my rental car from the airport and often my departing meal as well. It floors me how In n Out has always nailed the quality control and given me a top notch product 100% of the time in my experience. I must have had at least a thousand Double Doubles over the years and every single time they were fresh, hot and delicious. Even when you're the only person in line it's going to be 7 minutes until you get your order but I know it's going to be fresh and hot.

Recently In n Out has FINALLY expanded further east and in just the past couple of years has taken Dallas by storm with 15 DFW locations and a Texas distribution center. This bodes well for the surrounding major cities from New Orleans to Nashville, Oklahoma and New Mexico. I've waited for 20 years, I guess I can wait a little longer.

Mark Hagen

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It's what got me back into eating red meat. I could resist Mickey D's when the kids were little but then they got down with INO and I was sold. However, over time, that patty just doesn't do it for me. I think I'm eating healthier because it's small and seemingly not fatty but then the fat is what makes it good. Now I want a damn burger that spits back at me. Something to sink my teeth into.
5Guys is a pit but I don't want to pay $9. Haven't tried the Umami, but liked the the Counter.
We need an official rating system.
I'm going to have a shake today on your sayso. I haven't had one in 20 years, thanks.

John Brodey

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I read your post on In N Out Burger.

I agree with everything you said about Five Guys. I tried in Washington, DC before it was even available here in LA and I thought it was incredibly overrated.

You obviously like In N Out, but you did not even mention Fatburger.

In N Out may be good, but Fatburger is GREAT!

Frank Acardo

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Bob, you may not be one for "secret menus" but just once, ask for your burger (I like the double-double) "Animal Style, toasted." You can thank me later!

-dave lackey

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Nah. 5 guys is way better than any of them. I don't know how they run things on the west side, but out here in NY, it's quality. No gimmicks, no loud music, just courteous employees and good food. In-N-Out burgers are flimsy and their fries are below satisfactory. Stop advertising the wrong stuff.

matdecesare

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Mr. Lefsetz.......Oh Mr. Leftsetz.......please visit "Father's Office", or better yet, since you don't imbibe, "Short Order" in The Grove. You're too old for junk food and a person of your obvious good taste and character deserves a better burger. Oh, and get the ginger ale at Short Order. You'll thank me.

Steve Merola

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I swim 800-1200 meters daily. When I get an in-n-out craving, I sprint 4 extra laps, then get a protein style grilled cheese w extra tomatoes an grilled onions so I have no guilt in getting fries too.

Bob Barnett

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Firstly, you missed out on mentioning the most healthy and nutritional considerations at In-N-Out ! They use only healthy no-cholesterol fats for all their preparations ! In this day and age that is something people are more than wanting but needing.

Secondly, I must tell you that I first learned of this restaurant chain by overhearing some PGA Tour players at a tournament in Las Vegas. These guys are all millionaires and they can eat anywhere but yet they meet up with each other and their families and eat at In-N-Out ! These players also have a respect for their health and they expect quality for food they seek for themselves and their families while on tour.

So, my wife and I went to the restaurant near Flamingo and saw a parade of PGA players eating there. While eating, the manager came by to see how we were enjoying the meal and facilities and we talked to him for a while. Among a many things we talked about I recall a few key thoughts: the PGA players are regular customers, all tables are regularly cleaned (the front door glass doors are wiped clean every 10 minutes, this is so no fingerprints are visible - it is the first impression a customer will get entering the restaurant ), and the owner reserves the right to hire and fire staff as he sees fit. He will not hire staff with any tattoos (visible or obscured by clothing) this his choice; and all the staff can earn funding towards a college education based on their service provided to the restaurant.

The company also has a merchandise shop next door that is booming with sales of good, hip, quality clothing and accessories with the In-N-Out logos all at reasonable prices.

Not only does this restaurant provide great low cost food, it shows it cares about its customers and staff. I wish we had them in Canada where I live.

Dave Thomas

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You will love Smashburger when you get a chance!

Ray Franklin

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I live in Memphis, a great burger city, and the first thing I do when I fly into San Francisco to visit my parents is stop at In N Out. Got to, first stop, before I see my family even.

NO ONE does it like them. NO ONE!!! All of it, the burgers, the fries, the shakes. They all stand on their own. Memphis has a Five Guys and its packed. I went there last week. The burgers are behemoths but they just can't get the taste right. There is no char to them at all and to me that makes a great burg. Five Guys is the Rhapsody of the burger biz, just a flash in the pan until something better comes along.

And that's what makes In N Out so great. They don't whore themselves out to put a store in every major market across America. They have grown slowly, by reputation. Its a privilege to get one of their burgers if you don't live in sunny CA, or Phoenix for that matter.

Thanks for shouting about one of my favorite foodie joints!

Sam Farries

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AMEN.

I'm eating clean nowâ€"or trying toâ€"and my go-to is In-N-Out, protein-style (with onions!) and an iced tea. I have them all memorized, so, like yesterday, when I'm having a hunger freakout, I don't end up somewhere that's gonna make me ill. Plus feel like I'm participating in a longstanding secret society of people who know what's actually good.

Colleen Wainwright

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I moved out from Fairfield, CT a year ago and now live in Santa Monica...my teen boys love In and Out...however, I remembered Fatburger from mu last stint out here in the 80s and it was the ultimate hamburger experience.

Checked to see if they still existed, found out they did and brought my boys to it. They still like In n Out but they agree nothing beats a Fatburger....not Shake Shack and not In n Out!

Check them out sometime...to me Fatburger is Southern California!

Brian Murphy

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Love In N Out! Graduated college in Vegas, but the Maryland parkway store wasn't there til after graduation. We'd always stop in Barstow for In N Out on San Diego & LA trips. Had plenty of buddies that would make Barstow trips just to grab a burger before they opened in LV. Lived on Hollywood & La Brea for a few years, & I walked to the sunset location plenty of times, since the drive thru and parking lot was always packed. Definitely miss it since I've left LA. I do have to say, I miss Fatburger nearly as much. Love that place too, like that I can get a whole wheat bun, & the fries are tastier, imo. You just made me want to move back to LA even more!

Pete Omlin

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Thanks for the burger piece. It covered all of my 15 year old son's favorite burger joints. I forwarded it to him and we had a lovely conversation about it, a rarity as his teen snarkiness is usually unbearable. He thought you must be "a snobby overly sensitive eared music writing dude" if you think the music is too loud at 5 Guys! Otherwise he said you were spot on with all the food opinions and he thought you should try the secret In-N-Out menu sometime.

Cheers, Jane Piecich

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Here's the URL for the recipe for the In-N-Out Double Doubles. It's for those who love In-N-Out's Double Doubles, but don't have one nearby to patronize:

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/07/in-n-outs-double-double-animal-style-burger-recipe.html

John Arthur Lowe

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while I completely agree with you, why the shilling for ino? Get free brugers?

Lou Judson

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Preach it, Preacher! Amen, and amen . . .

Bart Vogel

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Amen!

Darren Eboli

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Amen

Ian Johnsen

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So you are right, five guys headquarters dictate what music and how loud! However, the food is the shit. Have you had the hot dog? We are doing great with it. I wish we had shakes. I go to in and out but the fries are cardboard and the burgers are just ordinary. I love to go to five guys westwood for a burger and a hot dog no fries (makes me think i'm being healthier) washed down with a diddy riese sandwich. It don’t get no better dude. Except maybe the apple pan or tyler texas bar b q on a good day. love ya swirv



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