In-N-Out Secret Menu 2024: We Tried All 33 Items
Did you know that there’s an In-N-Out secret menu? That’s right, this popular West Coast fast-food chain is more than meets the eye. While the official menu is pretty low-frills and basic (albeit tasty), the In-N-Out secret menu adds some extra options, allowing you to truly customize your meal.
But what’s on the In-N-Out secret menu? And how do you place your order to make sure you get what you want? To help you answer these questions, we visited the popular burger chain to try the secret menu items and provide a first-hand review of each In-N-Out secret menu item, plus tips on how to order them.
Read on for our full review and everything you need to know about the little-known In-N-Out secret menu!
Jump to Section
- Does In-N-Out Have a Secret Menu?
- How We Taste-Tested the In-N-Out Secret Menu Items
- In-N-Out Secret Menu Burgers and Sandwiches
- In-N-Out Secret Menu Fries
- In-N-Out Secret Menu Shakes
- Other In-N-Out Secret Menu Items
- How To Order From the In-N-Out Secret Menu
Does In-N-Out Have a Secret Menu?
So what is the In-N-Out secret menu anyway? Is it a real thing? In short, yes. In-N-Out Burger is known for having a "Secret Menu." While not officially listed on their standard menu boards, In-N-Out offers a variety of customizations and “special orders” that customers can request.
These "secret" menu items have become popular among regular patrons and In-N-Out enthusiasts. The In-N-Out employees generally know how to make these items, so while they’re “secret,” they’re still well-known enough to order guilt-free. Just in case the staff doesn't know about the customization you'd like, be sure to come prepared with the exact order you'd like, including all the ingredients that need to be added or removed from official menu items to create the secret menu item.
How We Taste-Tested the In-N-Out Secret Menu Items
On a recent trip to California, Cozymeal CEO Sam Nasserian visited two In-N-Out locations to try the many secret menu items for himself and see which lived up to the hype, which could be worth passing on and which were a pleasant surprise. At one location, an In-N-Out chef even prepared the dishes specially for our taste test. When ordering, he found that most of the In-N-Out secret menu items were known by the staff, however, a few do need to be explained in more detail to get what you want.
In-N-Out Secret Menu Burgers and Sandwiches
1. Animal Style Burger
This is probably the most famous thing on the secret menu from In-N-Out, so it’s not much of a “secret” anymore. Ordering In-N-Out Animal Style involves adding a special sauce, grilled onions, a mustard glaze (pre-grilling) and pickles to your burger. All you have to do is ask for it “Animal Style” and the employees will know what you mean.
Cozymeal Rating: We rate this iconic In-N-Out secret menu item very highly. The main benefit of this burger over the standard burger is that the flavors are stronger thanks to the patty being mustard glazed and the addition of onions that have been grilled and caramelized.
2. Grilled Cheese
Vegetarians rejoice. No, there’s no veggie burger to be found here, but you can order a grilled cheese from the In-N-Out secret menu. You can order it by name in many locations, but you can also make it simple and order a bun with lettuce, tomato, In-N-Out sauce, onions and two slices of cheese. Thanks to this secret menu from In-N-Out tip, you'll get a tasty meatless sandwich.
Cozymeal Rating: The grilled cheese is another In-Out-Secret menu item that we rate highly. It’s an especially great option if you’re looking for a non-meat dish that is still packed full of flavor. The In-N-Out sauce that gets added is also a big plus in terms of flavor, adding something a little extra compared to a regular grilled cheese.
3. Mustard Grilled
Do you want your burger to have an extra zing? Order it mustard grilled. You can order any normal burger this way and the cook will coat the burger with mustard before grilling it, letting the flavor seep into the patty.
Cozymeal Rating: We found that going for a patty that has been mustard grilled is another excellent way to enhance the flavor of the standard burger. If you love the Animal Style Burger, you’ll also like this In-N-Out secret menu item.
4. Wish Burger
This is a tongue-in-cheek order for vegetarians who don’t want the grilled cheese. The Wish Burger is an independent menu item that simply comes with all of the vegetable toppings, like tomatoes, onions and lettuce, on a bun with no meat. We suppose you can order this Animal Style if you like, but that sounds messy.
Cozymeal Rating: While it tastes good, we found that the regular version of the Wish Burger is slightly mundane in comparison to the other In-N-Out secret menu items. If you want to try this vegetarian sandwich, asking for it to be made Animal Style is a good idea to boost flavor and make it more comparable in terms of taste and quality to the other menu items.
5. Double Meat
Sometimes one patty just isn't enough. Luckily, you can easily get two by ordering the Double Meat from the In-N-Out secret menu. Either request this by name or just ask for two patties. You'll get a protein-heavy burger filled with all the extra toppings you want. If you want extra cheese as well, just go for the official menu Double Double.
Cozymeal Rating: This is another item we are a big fan of. As with other In-N-Out secret menu burgers, it has a lot more flavor than the regular menu burger with one patty. While each patty is quite thin, we actually found this to be a bonus. The thinner patties can soak in much more flavor during grilling than a thicker patty could while providing a similar amount of protein.
6. Flying Dutchman
The Flying Dutchman at In-N-Out is a unique, albeit simple secret menu item. It consists of two beef patties and two slices of cheese. What makes it distinctive is that it's served without a bun or any other traditional burger fixin. Essentially, the Flying Dutchman is a "burger" without the usual accompaniments, with the patties acting as a bun around melted cheese. Simply order it by name.
Cozymeal Rating: While good, we wouldn’t place this at the top of a list of must-try In-N-Out secret menu items. If you appreciate all the elements of a burger, including the bun, salad and sauce, you’re unlikely to enjoy the Flying Dutchman. However, if you want a quick, high-protein snack or follow a meat-heavy, low-carb diet, adding this to your order is recommended.
7. Protein-Style Burger
Missing the lettuce? Instead of the Flying Dutchman, you can order your burger protein-style. Instead of the regular bun, the burger ingredients — beef patties, cheese, lettuce, tomato and any other chosen toppings — are wrapped in large, crisp lettuce leaves. This is a great low-carb alternative to a traditional In-N-Out burger that’s a bit more “burger-like” than the Flying Dutchman. Order it by name and the employees will happily get you your bun-less burger.
Cozymeal Rating: We would place the Protein-Style Burger above the similar Flying Dutchman in terms of flavor. This is a great choice if you want a low-carb, high-protein option but with the addition of lettuce and tomatoes, which the Flying Dutchman doesn’t have. One thing we found is that it isn’t very filling. If you’re looking for a complete meal, you should order two or even three Protein-Style Burgers for a meal that’s as filling as one regular burger would be.
8. Cheesy Wiki
Is your grilled cheese not cheesy enough? Hey, no problem! That means that the Cheesy Wiki is more your speed. When you order the Cheesy Wiki grilled cheese from the secret menu for In-N-Out, you will get a grilled cheese filled with four slices of cheese instead of two. To make ordering easy, simply ask for a grilled cheese with two extra slices of cheese.
Cozymeal Rating: This In-N-Out secret menu item tastes great but is very filling. If a regular burger fills you up, definitely only order one of these. Despite being filling, if you love cheese, especially grilled cheese sandwiches, this will probably be your favorite In-N-Out secret menu item.
9. Cold Cheese
This In-N-Out secret menu option is available for any cheeseburger. The “cold cheese” alteration simply means that the employees won’t melt the cheese on your burger. They’ll serve it cold. Arguably you could do this with the grilled cheese and make it into a cheese sandwich, but this seems to “officially” only be an option for cheeseburgers at this time.
Cozymeal Rating: While a little unusual, you will definitely enjoy this if you don’t like melted cheese on your burger. If you appreciate well-melted cheese, we would recommend avoiding this item. Notably, we found that the cheese doesn’t blend well with the bun, patty and other ingredients and the burger as a whole doesn’t have as much flavor as those with melted cheese.
10. Doggy-Style Grilled Cheese
If you want to ditch the buns on your grilled cheese, you’ll want to order it “Doggy-Style.” What does this mean? Instead of the buns, you’ll get a lettuce wrap and fries surrounding your cheese. This one is worth trying for the fries alone.
Cozymeal Rating: This is a must-try for lovers of both grilled cheese and fries who want to combine them for something that’s a little different but still delicious. When trying this item, we found that adding a hamburger patty is also a good idea, creating something that resembles an In-N-Out hamburger salad bowl. The staff at In-N-Out hadn't heard of this item, so ensure you explain the order and ingredients in full if you want to try it.
11. 3x3
Is a double cheeseburger not enough to satiate your enormous hunger? No problem. You can order a 3x3 (three by three) from the In-N-Out burger secret menu. Instead of one or two patties, you get a burger with three whole patties and three slices of cheese. You can order any normal burger as a 3x3.
Cozymeal Rating: Like many of the other In-N-Out secret menu burgers, we rate the 3x3 highly. Due to the three patties, it’s great for when you’re extra hungry and want a high-protein meal. It offers all of the benefits of Double Meat but with even more flavor due to the additional grilled patty.
12. 4x4
Wow, a triple cheeseburger still isn't enough for you? Hey, we get it. Sometimes your hunger is just too intense. In that case, you can order this In-N-Out secret menu item: the 4x4. As you can likely assume after the 3x3, it consists of four patties and four slices of cheese. You can order any normal burger as a 4x4.
Cozymeal Rating: The 4x4 is great as well and is one of the secret menu items we recommend the most, with similar benefits to the 3x3 but with even more protein. What’s notable is that this large burger is prepared in a way that you can actually eat it without it falling apart despite the four patties and other extra fillings. You can also get this Protein-Style if you want a high-protein, low-carb option.
13. 16x16
If you want to go all out with your In-N-Out secret menu order, why not order a 16x16? While some say that 4x4 is the largest burger you can order, you can always try your luck at getting this extravagant option. Either be upfront and ask for a burger with 16 patties or get four 4x4 burgers.
Cozymeal Rating: We didn't try this item and, chances are, you won't be able to get it prepared if you ask for it. If you really want to try the 16x16, you'll have to order four 4x4 burgers and combine them yourself.
14. Tomato Wrap Burger
Do you love tomatoes and hate carbs? This In-N-Out secret menu item might be right for you. It’s the (messy) tomato wrap burger. It’s like ordering your burger protein-style, but instead of lettuce, you get two slices of tomato surrounding your patty (and optional cheese). This is tasty, but you may want to eat it with a fork.
Cozymeal Rating: This In-N-Out secret menu item is another one we would rate highly, finding it similar to the Protein-Style Burger but with its own unique elements. If you like Protein-Style, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this secret menu option as well. It’s also quick and convenient to eat but you will probably need to order around four to feel as full as you would after a regular burger. It can also fall apart a bit, but that is to be expected due to the water content of the tomatoes.
15. Onion Wrap
The Onion Wrap is a newer In-N-Out secret menu item that’s proving highly popular. It’s basically the Flying Dutchman with the addition of grilled onions, which act as a bun around the patty and cheese. Fans of the Flying Dutchman who want an extra hit of flavor should definitely try the Onion Wrap.
Cozymeal Rating: If you don’t like the lettuce included in the Protein-Style option and want a low-carb yet flavorful snack, this is a great choice. The caramelized grilled onions also add a lot more flavor to the Flying Dutchman, without adding carbs or many extra calories.
16. Extra Toasty Bread
While not a full sandwich, this hack is a great way to customize any burger or sandwich if you prefer your bread well done. All you have to do to benefit from this In-N-Out secret menu hack is ask for your burger bun to be left on the grill for a bit longer than usual until it gets nice and golden. Best of all, there's generally no extra charge for this In-N-Out menu hack!
Cozymeal Rating: While the bread at In-N-Out is already great, we found that the extra toasty bread adds more texture to the burger. The sauce also soaks into toasted bread a little less, so is a good option if you don’t like the sauce and juice from ingredients like tomatoes soaking into the bun of your burger too much.
17. Pup Patty
If you have a furry friend (or just a craving for some plain beef), order a Pup Patty off of the In-N-Out secret menu. It’s simply an unsalted beef patty that’s safe for your dog to snack on.
Cozymeal Rating: We didn’t try this ourselves, but if you’re heading to In-N-Out with your pup, they’re sure to love this dog-friendly secret menu treat!
In-N-Out Secret Menu Fries
18. Animal Style Fries
Speaking of fries, have you ever ordered your fries Animal Style? This In-N-Out secret menu item is similar to the Animal Style Burger but in fry form. You’ll get your tasty In-N-Out fries covered in onions, the secret In-N-Out sauce, and cheese. Once you have fries this way, you won’t go back to the regular version.
Cozymeal Rating: If you’re a fan of the Animal Style Burger, you’re almost guaranteed to love this loaded fries version. It’s especially good for those who like savory flavors, with the Animal Style toppings providing a much more savory flavor than you get with regular fries and ketchup.
19. Roadkill Fries
Don’t let the name put you off. Roadkill Fries are perfect for anyone who wants both a burger and fries but knows they don’t have quite enough room for both. When you order roadkill fries from the secret menu for In-N-Out, you’re ordering a Flying Dutchman on top of Animal Style Fries.
Cozymeal Rating: This secret menu fries order is also delicious and is kind of like an In-N-Out bowl with fries instead of rice or other grains. Of course, it’s not as healthy as a regular salad or burrito bowl but it’s worth the treat! You could also add the Onion Wrap instead of the Flying Dutchman for extra flavor and texture.
20. Fries Light
Do you like your fries a bit soft? Does the idea of hot and crispy fries sound unappealing? Then order Fries Light. This just means that they don’t cook your fries quite as much as normal.
Cozymeal Rating: Fries Light is the In-N-Out secret menu item that surprised us the most, taking a spot near the top of our list of the best things to order. Even those who don’t often get fries with their burger should try these at least once — you may also be surprised by how much you enjoy them! In general, we found that the texture is better than the regular fries, being quite soft instead of having a lot of bite.
21. Two-Minute Fries
So we already mentioned “Fries Light,” but what if those fries are still too done for you? If you like your fries barely cooked, perhaps still a bit lukewarm in the center, two-minute fries are right up your alley.
Cozymeal Rating: We also liked these a lot and they will probably appeal to you if Fries Light are still a little too cooked for your liking.
22. Fries Well-Done
On the other hand, if you cringe at the very thought of undercooked fries and instead want all of your fries to be as crispy and crunchy as possible, you can order “Fries Well-Done” from the In-N-Out secret menu. The employees will give your fries extra time in the fryer, making them perfectly golden and crispy.
Cozymeal Rating: While we preferred Fries Light slightly more than these, we still rank them as better than the regular menu fries. Whether Fries Well-Done will be a hit or not depends on whether you like your fries on the softer side (in which case go for Fries Light or Two-Minute Fries) or if you enjoy them extra crispy and golden.
23. Lemon Pepper Fries
Give your fries a citrus kick with this menu hack. To get fries covered in lemon pepper seasoning, order your fries the way you like them and ask for some pepper packets and lemon wedges, plus a small paper bag if your fries didn't come in one already. Then add all the ingredients and shake to make a lemony, peppery savory treat.
Cozymeal Rating: This is one of the few In-N-Out secret menu items we didn't get the chance to try. However, many who have tried these fries rate them highly, mentioning that the lemon and pepper seasoning adds a citrusy and slightly spicy kick to the already delicious In-N-Out fries. If you've tasted these In-N-Out secret menu fries, let us know in the comments what you thought!
24. Cheese Fries
This one is pretty self-explanatory, but many people don’t know about it. The secret menu for In-N-Out includes Cheese Fries. It’s just normal sliced American cheese melted over fries, but it’s a tasty upgrade to regular salted fries.
Cozymeal Rating: Cheese Fries are another In-N-Out secret menu fries option that we rate highly. They are notably a good choice if you find Animal Style Fries a bit too much in terms of flavor and ingredients. You could also add ketchup to these for an extra boost of savory flavor.
In-N-Out Secret Menu Shakes
25. Neapolitan Shake
For the Neapolitan Shake, employees either mix or layer (depending on their personal preference) vanilla, chocolate and strawberry milkshakes together. It’s pretty tasty and great for anyone who feels a bit indecisive.
Cozymeal Rating: If you’ve never been to In-N-Out, it’s important to note that the shakes here, while tasty, are quite thick and very sweet. Therefore, combining flavors can be overwhelming for some, especially if they haven’t tried a shake here before.
Having taste-tested the Neapolitan Shake as well as each flavor on its own, we found that while this is good, we prefer the single-flavor shakes. We would recommend this one over the similar Around-The-World-Shake as the specific flavors are a bit more noticeable and all three colors are visible, just like the namesake ice cream.
26. Around-The-World Shake
Do you ever just want all of the flavors at once in your milkshake? If so, the Around-The-World Shake might be what you’re looking for. When you order it, the employees will put a bit of every type of ice cream together to make your shake. It’s unclear whether or not the Around-The-World Shake is any different from the Neapolitan Shake, but we’ll include both for good measure.
Cozymeal Rating: Because this is made with the same ingredients, we rate it similarly to the Neapolitan Shake. It’s good but a bit too sweet and overwhelming.
27. Black and White Shake
Chocolate? Great. Vanilla? Also great. Why not blend them together? When you order a Black and White Shake from the In-N-Out secret menu, you’ll get a chocolate and vanilla combo that’s quite tasty.
Cozymeal Rating: Again, the Black and White Shake is much more overwhelming in terms of flavor and sweetness compared to the individual chocolate and vanilla shakes. We weren’t really a fan of this and would rate it below the Neapolitan Shake and the Around-The-World Shake.
Other In-N-Out Secret Menu Items
28. Lemon-Up
Want to upgrade your pink lemonade? You can add 7-Up to it with this In-N-Out secret menu item to turn it from still to sparkling. When you order a Lemon-Up, the employees will fill a cup halfway with 7-Up and fill the rest with pink lemonade.
Cozymeal Rating: Lemon-Up is one of the In-N-Out secret menu drinks that we really enjoyed. It’s very refreshing and perfect to sip on with your burger and fries or to pick up on its own on a hot day.
29. Arnold Palmer
This In-N-Out secret menu trick is super easy but you’ll be glad you’re aware of it on a hot day. All you need to do is mix half iced tea with half lemonade. To customize further, add extra sugar for a sweet iced tea version or some lemon wedges for an extra citrus twist.
Cozymeal Rating: We found that the In-N-Out secret menu version of this classic drink option is very refreshing and will be popular with those who enjoy sweet iced tea. The iced tea also has some caffeine, which gives an energy boost after a few burgers.
30. Root Beer Float
So what if you want a creamy drink, but a heavy milkshake isn’t in the cards? Did you know you can order floats from the In-N-Out secret menu? Order a half-cup of rootbeer (so it doesn’t overflow) and ask for a swirl of vanilla milkshake with it. When they mix together it will create a tasty Root Beer Float. Not a fan of root beer? Opt for any other soda on the menu mixed with the milkshake of your choice.
Cozymeal Rating: The Root Beer Float is another In-N-Out twist on a classic that we enjoyed. While not as filling or sweet as the shakes, it’s more dessert-like than In-N-Out secret menu drinks like Arnold Palmer or Lemon-Up, so keep that in mind if you plan to order burgers and fries along with it.
31. Half or Whole Grilled Onion
This is another addition that you may not be able to get, but it's worth a try. While the official menu allows you to add sliced raw or grilled onions, you can ask for half a grilled onion or even a whole one to pack in the caramelized flavor.
Cozymeal Rating: The half or whole-grilled onions are a great extra topping, adding even more flavor to your meal. The chefs do a good job of grilling the onions without burning them, resulting in a deliciously caramelized addition to your burger or fries.
32. Chopped Chiles
You can add these to anything. While it's a most common addition to burgers, there’s nothing stopping you from adding them to fries or grilled cheese. Ask for chopped chiles, not on the “real menu,” and the employees will add finely chopped chile peppers to your order for some extra heat.
Cozymeal Rating: This ‘not-so-secret’ menu item is very popular among In-N-Out customers. When trying this addition, we found that the green chiles do add quite a bit of heat. So if you like tasting all the flavors of your burger, you may find the addition of chiles too overpowering. However, if you like spicy burgers (or spicy fries), adding chopped chiles to your order is a must.
33. In-N-Out Stickers
Okay, so this isn't food, but it's still pretty cool! In-N-Out has a lot of great merchandise, including fun branded stickers. While these are thought to only be available online, if you ask about them at a brick-and-mortar location, there's a good chance you'll be able to score some.
Cozymeal Rating: Getting the In-N-Out Stickers is highly recommended and is easy to do. They come with multiple designs and are a fun souvenir if you’re visiting In-N-Out on a trip to the West Coast. You may also be able to snag some limited edition stickers celebrating the chain’s 75th Birthday.
How To Order From the In-N-Out Secret Menu
Now that you know what's on the In-N-Out secret menu, how can you try it? As mentioned, there's a good chance that the staff will know a lot of these secret menu items by name.
However, it's always best to arrive at the store with the full customized order written out, memorized or otherwise accessible (for example, by bookmarking this article on your phone). If they don't recognize the hidden menu item name alone, simply relay the customization and hope it can be fulfilled.
As these are off-menu items, remember to always be patient and accept if they can't be done. The price of your order may also vary, so come prepared to pay a little extra for these In-N-Out secret menu items.
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So which of these In-N-Out secret menu items will you try next time you visit the ever-popular fast-food joint? Whatever main meal you go for, don’t forget to wash it down with a root beer float or one of many tasty milkshake variations!
For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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