Why does In-n-Out ask if you want onions on your burger?

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

ussfletcher

Platinum Member
Apr 16, 2005
2,569
2
81
I went to the new one in Dallas and specifically asked to have no onion. Got my order and it still had onions - as if their menu was really complicated. But the bigger question is that I ate the burger and it was meh (after removing the onions). What's the big deal with In-in-Out burgers??? I'm not going back.

Those are some rather polarizing words around here, be careful.
 

chalmers

Platinum Member
Mar 14, 2008
2,565
1
76
You cared so much that you posted about it on the internet? Say no/yes and depress on the accelerator. Your life won't change trust me.
 

preslove

Lifer
Sep 10, 2003
16,754
64
91
Goddamnit, now I want a burger, don't have ground beef and just went to the grocery store :(
 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
5
81
Raw onions are awesome. I eat onion by itself sometimes. Not a whole onion, but some rings of one. Especially red onion.
 

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,409
39
91
If you consider that they give you a whole "onion patty," it's clear why they ask. They put a heck of a lot more onions than your average burger. But that's the way I like it :D:
 

Ronstang

Lifer
Jul 8, 2000
12,493
18
81
All places need to start just selling the burgers dry with a list of what you can have on it if you like. I would rather have something left off than get fucking mayonnaise on my burger and I am not going to learn Spanish to prevent that.
 

killster1

Banned
Mar 15, 2007
6,205
475
126
its your fault for not ordering your burger how you want it.. say onions or no onions.. i always order teh double single with extra grill onion.
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
Anybody who can rub two brain cells together can order first off exactly what they want. I tell In and Out how I want my burger so they never have to ask. Think instead of whining.

Who said I'm whining? I just asked why. Other places have a standard for the exact same reason I said: So that they don't have to ask. Why does In-n-Out want to make more work for themselves? Over the decades, it adds up.

I went to the new one in Dallas and specifically asked to have no onion. Got my order and it still had onions - as if their menu was really complicated. But the bigger question is that I ate the burger and it was meh (after removing the onions). What's the big deal with In-in-Out burgers??? I'm not going back.
No place is 100&#37; consistent. When they are done right, they are a different class than McDonalds, Wendy's, and Burger King. When they are done poorly, there just another fast food burger.

I know onions will cause my dad to throw away a burger. He grew up poor and the cooked everything with onions.
Not sure how that explains the first statement. Are you saying that he is tired of onions because it sounds like you just said that he has a taste for them due to growing up with them on everything.

They'd like to know if you'd like onions or not.
Ding! Ding! But why not let me volunteer that based on the sandwich being expected to have it or not?

its your fault for not ordering your burger how you want it.. say onions or no onions.. i always order teh double single with extra grill onion.
You still don't get it. I don't have to say "with sauce" because it comes with sauce. I don't have to say "with TWO slices of cheese" when I order a Double-Double by the combo number because it comes with that too. I *DO* have to say whether or not I want onions because it neither comes with them by default nor does exclude them by default. They ALWAYS ask you when you order a burger no matter which burger you pick, unlike other places. I'm asking "why the difference?"

A Whopper or a Big Mac comes with onions unless you specify. A Double-Stack or a Jr. Bacon do not unless you specify. If you do not specify, you get them the way they were offered, so Wendy's, McDonald's, and Burger King do not ask you to specify. In-n-Out DOES because it seems that they have not settled on a standard way to offer them.
 

AznAnarchy99

Lifer
Dec 6, 2004
14,695
117
106
Because some people really hate onions and some dont? Is it hard for you to say yes or no?

this belongs on reddit and their "First world problems"
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
Because some people really hate onions and some dont? Is it hard for you to say yes or no?

this belongs on reddit and their "First world problems"

It didn't say it was a problem. I just said that I'm curious to know why they prefer to keep asking when no other burger place does that. Lern tu reed.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,906
14,305
146
I only like onions if they are cooked, raw is meh. Caramelized with some kind of wine sauce is the way to go tho.

I'm just the opposite. I prefer fresh, raw onion on burgers. I do NOT like them cooked/sautéed.
(onions are fine in recipes, I'm talking about burgers)
Even on a patty melt, where it's traditional to have sautéed onions, I prefer them sliced and raw.

In-n-Out offers their customers the choice...because not everyone wants onion breath...not everyone LIKES onions, and it's just good customer service.
 

Skillet49

Senior member
Aug 3, 2007
538
1
0
Probably because it's not like onions come/don't come on a burger you order anywhere, especially if they ask if you want them raw/grilled. It's not like ketchup or lettuce, which is generally assumed it will be there.

They are just trying to offer good customer service. Why is this a problem?
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
I'm just the opposite. I prefer fresh, raw onion on burgers. I do NOT like them cooked/sautéed.
(onions are fine in recipes, I'm talking about burgers)
Even on a patty melt, where it's traditional to have sautéed onions, I prefer them sliced and raw.

In-n-Out offers their customers the choice...because not everyone wants onion breath...not everyone LIKES onions, and it's just good customer service.

"They offer you the choice" is not the answer because SO DO THE OTHERS. You have the choice even if they don't ask you. The act of asking is not explicitly what gave you that choice. They ask because with no standard for inclusion or exclusion, they have to.
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
Probably because it's not like onions come/don't come on a burger you order anywhere, especially if they ask if you want them raw/grilled. It's not like ketchup or lettuce, which is generally assumed it will be there.

They are just trying to offer good customer service. Why is this a problem?

No lettuce on a Double-Stack or Jr. Bacon. Admit it: Lettuce is just as standard or non-standard as onions. It's not a "problem" as you suggest, it's just inconvenient for them to ask all the time. Onions ARE generally assumed to be on certain burgers, as I've shown earlier. The Whopper has onions if you don't specify not to and BK specifically promotes it "your way."
 

Skillet49

Senior member
Aug 3, 2007
538
1
0
No lettuce on a Double-Stack or Jr. Bacon. Admit it: Lettuce is just as standard or non-standard as onions. It's not a "problem" as you suggest, it's just inconvenient for them to ask all the time. Onions ARE generally assumed to be on certain burgers, as I've shown earlier. The Whopper has onions if you don't specify not to and BK specifically promotes it "your way."

Fair enough about lettuce. I have only eaten at In N Out once as there are none by me.

I would imagine it takes less time for them to ask than to have to deal with people being like WTF onions/no onions if they didn't ask.