Chadder’s Is A ‘Shoddy Clone Of In-N-Out’

Chadder’s, the tiny Utah burger chain that In-N-Out sued in 2007, may look a lot like everybody’s favorite restaurant — the menu is practically identical, and so is the decor — but it’s actually more expensive and less tasty, Rhombus Magazine found:

There was a bun, meat, cheese, onions, lettuce and tomato, which combined to make a marginally tasty burger. The meat patties were a lot smaller than expected, but when you are dealing with a knock-off you learn to expect to be unimpressed. …

The fries were just like those of In-N-Out except smaller and not as crisp. …

Chadder’s is a shoddy clone of In-N-Out. Do I recommend that you eat there? If the word “cliché” describes your lifestyle, then yes, go for it. If you really want a good original burger, then don’t.”

Read the entire review to see the writer’s take on founder Chad Stubbs’ weak explanation for why he opened the wannabe In-N-Outs.

(Photo: Db-GraphicDesign.com via flickr)

One Last Cheeseburger Before Heading To Iraq

Blogger Ethan Wims is on his way to Iraq with the U.S. Air Force, but before he left, there was just one thing he absolutely had to do: Eat the last In-N-Out cheeseburger he’d see for at least the next six months.

So … I had my last meal in the states. What better way than to have the good all-American cheeseburger? There is a better way you say? Why yes … how could I forget … In-N-Out!!!

The only problem is that the malaria pills that I have to take make my stomach ache, so I couldn’t finish my fries. But I had it and it was delicious and I can’t wait to have my favorite burger joint again.

Stay safe over there, Ethan! We’d ship you a burger, but it probably wouldn’t be very good by the time it arrived.

Hundreds Seek Jobs At Mesa, Arizona, In-N-Out

Some 600 to 800 people showed up Tuesday to apply for 60 open positions at a soon-to-open In-N-Out in Mesa, Ariz., according to local media reports. People began lining up for the job fair around 4:45 a.m.

“In two days we are expecting to interview about 1,500 people,” Division Manager Ray Gonzales told the East Valley Tribune.

Part-time hires will make $10 an hour with the opportunity to earn a 25 cent merit raise within the first 100 hours, Gonzales told the Arizona Republic.

The new store, located at the Fiesta Mall, will be Mesa’s third In-N-Out.

(Photo: Tim Vetscher/ ABC 15)

Win An In-N-Out Gift Card!

What’s the only thing better than a meal at In-N-Out? A free meal at In-N-Out, of course! Right now the personal-finance blog Stop Buying Crap! is giving away a handful of $5 In-N-Out gift cards.

Deadline for entry is Sunday, March 15. Head on over to Stop Buying Crap! for complete contest details.

Quality You Can … Drink Through A Straw?

A couple of years ago, we stumbled across a YouTube video of people making an In-N-Out liquid lunch and then daring each other to drink it. At the time, we joked that this would be great for anyone in a full-body cast who had to ingest all their meals through a straw.

Well apparently we’re not the only people the idea occurred to. Over on the Serious Eats blog, someone who had just endured oral surgery and couldn’t chew food asked, “What the heck do I eat?” And of course our favorite answer she received was this one:

When I was in junior high, my brother got jumped by a bunch of guys and he had to get his mouth wired shut. He could basically only “eat” what he could suck through a straw. After a few days of chicken broth he threatened (in writing) to take the wires off with pliers if we didn’t give him “real” food.

His girlfriend and I made — and this is SO disgusting — In-N-Out milkshakes. Essentially, we threw In-N-Out fries and cheeseburgers in a blender with some water and made a drink out of it. I realize now that this was pretty stupid and dangerous, because had he thrown up he probably would have choked. Cute, right? My brother was nuts, though, and he probably would have gone after pliers.

(Photo: daphne31 via flickr)

Palm Trees Do Grow In Southern Utah

Last month, in discussing In-N-Out’s plans for a restaurant in northern Utah, we mentioned the company’s concerns that palm trees wouldn’t grow in ski country. We also speculated — based on flickr photos like the one above — that In-N-Out’s sole existing Utah location also lacked palm trees.

Well, we all know what happens when you assume things (even based on photographic evidence), and it’s been nagging at us ever since. So today we called up In-N-Out and asked! The friendly INO operator informed us that there are indeed a handful of restaurants without the iconic crossed palm trees, either due to climate or local zoning laws. She then offered to contact the manager of the Washington, Utah, location to get a definitive answer, which we had within minutes: Yes, there are crossed palm trees.

Now who wants to send us a photo of them? :)

(Photo: marty.mankins via flickr)