There’s fast food . . . and then there is In-N-Out. Californians will go on and on about how delicious In-N-Out is: the freshness of the burger, the soft bread, the delicious cheese, the “animal style” grilled onions, the special sauce: the ingredients come together to make one very delicious burger!

In N Out double double
Yum.

In-N-Out was founded in California in 1948. For decades, it could only be found in California and was, for many, a symbol of the state. Today there are franchises in Arizona, Nevada, Texas, and Utah, and Californians joke how these four other U.S. states are “lucky” to have In-N-Out.

In N' Out has been a staple of California fast food for over 50 years!
In N’ Out has been a staple of California fast food for over 50 years!

What makes In-N-Out so delicious? Perhaps its simplicity: the In-N-Out menu is just burgers, cheeseburgers, fries, and milkshakes. (Although there is a “secret menu” that includes vegetarian items and special recipes: check out Wikipedia’s section on other menu options!) Unlike other fast food restaurants, which use frozen ingredients shipped from far away locations, In-N-Out uses fresh ingredients. In fact, each restaurant is located within a day’s drive of a distribution center.

In N Out ingredients
Fresh is best!

 

Since In-N-Out is such an icon of California culture, it is only fitting that you speak California slang while “chowing down” on a burger. (That’s slang for “eating.”) Check out these California slang words that are tossed around daily during conversations in Cali!

 

California Slang 

The bomb: amazing, awesome, great

In-N-Out burgers are the bomb!

 

Cruise: to come or to leave

We are going to cruise over to In-N-Out after class. Want to come?

In N Out
An In-N-Out in California. All restaurants have the same red and yellow theme.

 

To rock something: to wear something and look good

Have you seen the silly hats that the workers wear? 

I think they totally rock them. 

 

Heads: the amount of people in a place

There are so many heads in here! It’s going to take forever to get our order!

 

Swoop: to take/steal

I swear you swooped some of my fries! No fair!