In-N-Out Burger — Restaurant in Barstow

I honestly hate that I'm giving In-n-Out less than 5 stars but something has changed. It's not just this location, it's this one, the one in Las Vegas and a couple other random ones I've been to during the course of the last few years.

Once upon a time, I once drove 15 hours (each way) for an In-n-Out burger and it was everything I knew it would be. Amazing, delightful, delicious, incredible. Hot, crispy, juicy, gooey, tasty - everything. That was back in the late 90's when I lived in Oregon and the closest In-n-Out was in Chico, CA.

Then I moved out to the Midwest and didn't have one for decades. When I finally got to an In-n-Out, it was a couple years ago and it just wasn't the same. I thought it was just the quality at that location, but no. I've since tried a few more locations. This one at Barstow CA was the one that finally and definitively convinced me that something is consistently not right. The fries are always limp, softyish or soggyish - I don't know how to describe them but they are not crispy and I've always ordered them extra crispy. And they don't even taste like fries made from potatoes. This time, the fries were actually cold and the melted cheese was like rubber. (I tried animal style fries in the hopes that they would be better).

The double double animal style extra spread burger had a bland and unappealing limpness and tastelessness to it. Even a bit dry, like they forgot to put on the sauteed onions and extra spread altogether. The same thing happened at one of the locations in Las Vegas NV. I actually thought they had misunderstood me and given me a regular burger - not an animal style one, so I ordered a second one. Same thing. And they were both served pretty much cold.

Every In-n-Out I've been to in the last few years has left me disappointed in the exact same way. The burger and the fries are not hot. It's like by the time they get to the end of the assembly line, the food tastes and feels like it's been sitting on the counter for hours. That's it. Like they prepared it in the morning and forgot to microwave it, or put it under the heaters and just went ahead and threw it out on the counter in a basket.

In-n-Out has always been massively busy - all the way back to the mid-90's when I first discovered it. Every time I got my food back then, it tasted hot and fresh, no matter how long the wait or how many people were in line. The bun was noticeably toasted on the inside, which added a really nice texture and taste. The animal style onions and juicy flavor was there and intact and EXCITINGLY DELICIOUS.

I don't know what has changed, or why the food tastes like it's been sitting on the counter for hours by the time I get it now, but it's not hot (consistently) and it's not exciting like it used to be and I'm sorry but it's not good any more. Limp, lukewarm, and tasteless. That's what it's been at various locations in CA and NV for the last few years. It breaks my heart to say that, but it's officially a consistent pattern at this point. I'm heading back east by way of AZ this time. If I can get to one out there, I'll see if it's any better. I sure hope so.

I hate to write that review because while I lived in the Midwest for decades I dreamed of In-n-Out. I spent years trying to recreate it. I was obsessed. I KNOW it used to be amazing, I KNOW I wasn't just imagining it. But now it's just another so-so burger and fries in a basket that is consistently lukewarm, tasteless, and limp by the time they call my number.

I'm sorry In-n-Out (and World at Large). I wish I was writing a...

This place is great. The only fast food I would ever stop and eat at. But this particular location was even better. We stopped here on the way to and from Las Vegas, like most people. So they are used to high tourist traffic especially at the weekends. The day I visited they were swamped with customers (a huge tour bus just parked outside) and I thought it will be at least an hour to get our order. I was amazed to see how efficient the In-n-Out team was. The line moved really fast and I was able to place and pick up my order with no delays from the usual waiting times. I was truly impressed!

A few more notes on baby and kid friendliness: they cooked a patty on the side with no salt for my toddler and they gave us some awesome stickers for my toddler, and provided a high chair. There’s a changing table in only one of the two bathrooms and even that one is a bit unstable (I needed to ask for help to secure...

I've made a routine for years of patronizing this store on trips through Barstow. Today ended that. I just want to do a follow up on my tasteless experience at the Barstow In/Out Burger. As an over the road trucker, risking contamination coming into the flu riddled state of California, I was appalled when told by an off duty employee entering the store without a uniform, that I should try to get food from one of their adjoining competitors. Then, management, via a corporate operator, told me that they wouldn't take a call in or online order. So basically, In/Out Burger Barstow doesn't care about the drivers that are working hard to resupply the state of California. This seems typical of this particular region. Four wheel desert buggies are allowed. The off duty employee can bang on a window and enter in flip flops, but, the truck driver can't even buy a burger....