Instead of Three Fast Food Chains...

I can't figure out how to get this right-side up, urrrg

...I just did In-N-Out twice.

It just didn't work out that we had time for Carl's Jr. or Pollo Loco. Sadly, I never even stumbled across a Korean-BBQ-Mexican-Infusion cart. But we did sample In-N-Out, which was the one I really cared about anyway. Immediately upon getting off the plane, renting a car, and discovering we had over an hour before we could check-in to our hotel room without an early fee, we punched "In-N-Out" into the GPS and were on our way.

I felt very cool sauntering up to the counter and asking for a Double-Double Animal Style with extra special sauce on the side. Very cool indeed. The boyfriend got a regular double-double with fries. I got a lemonade, because I didn't feel like trying to order a rootbeer float, and felt like I was pushing it as a newbie with the secret menu items. When asked if I wanted my fries Animal-Style too, I declined. Too much animal was being consumed already.

With high expectations I took a giant bite. I was ravenous--thanks American Airline for not even giving us PEANUTS on our six hour flight, yeesh!--but I tried to savor my first taste of In-N-Out. 

Animal Style Double-Double DELISH.

"Oh my God," I mumbled through chewing, "this is what a Big Mac wants to grow up to be..."

Delicious.

But, way too much. I got through about half and could do no more. I don't know if it was the extra pickles, the extra sauce, the extra cheese, the amount of caramelized onions or the fact that it was two whole burgers in one bun (I can NEVER get through a double anything haha) with all the fixin's but I just could not finish this beast. The fries were also a bit of a letdown, as I'd been warned, so I only got through about half of those too. I took the lemonade with me. Overall a pretty satisfying lunch.

Boyfriend liked the food, he got a regular Double-Double with fries, but was skeptical about the sauce

The next day we met a friend of mine outside of the Warner Brothers tour. Sadly, she couldn't get tickets and we had gotten ours the night before, so we decided to meet for lunch after. "Can we go to In-N-Out?? I've been in LA for three days and still haven't had one!" Boyfriend and I looked at each other. "Um, maybe, we just had it yesterday..."

By the end of the tour we were craving the burgers. At this point my friend had eaten without us, so we had no actual reason to go to the same place a second time. But the craving was bad. How do LA-ers do it? How do they pull themselves away from the burger perfection that is In-N-Out?

Animal Style Fries, Well Done and quite delicious!

This time, I tried the Animal Style fries (well done), with a regular Double-Double. If I lived in In-N-Out Burger territory I think this would be my meal. The Animal Style burger was a bit much, but on the fries it was slightly less heavy and greasy for some reason. Well-done-ing the fries was a wise choice, they were 100% better that way.

About an hour later we were seriously regretting this decision. Bloaty gross stomach aches for us both. I barely was able to stomach half of a taco that night for dinner (Lucy's El Adobe, it tasted fresh and delicious and I wish I could have enjoyed it more), which was hours later.

To sum it up: The burgers were delicious, and if I lived in the area I would definitely utilize the place on a bi-weekly basis at least. Writing this is making me drool, and I am concocting ways to re-create this masterpiece at home. 

These birds were thrilled to be at In-N-Out

Also: LA was wonderful and we're already planning another trip, and talking half-seriously about possibly moving there someday. Highlights included this burger experience (duh), a wonderful day at the beach (both Venice and Santa Monica), an excellent tour of Universal Studios, being on Jay Leno as Leprechaun #44 in the show's attempt to break the world record for most leprechauns in a single room (223 I think was the final count), and seeing the following celebrities: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jane Lynch (outside of the Paul premiere), Angelina Jolie and two of her children (at Universal Studios, couldn't tell which kids, but I think maybe Shiloh and Zahara), Jay Leno and Rainn Wilson (at the taping for the Jay Leno show).

Not happy to be back in the Northeast snow, that's for sure. Get me back to Cali please?