The iconic Animal Style burger at In-N-Out, a favorite among many customers, traces its origins back to the early 1960s. Its creation stemmed from a customer's observation and subsequent request for a customized burger, according to In-N-Out's chief operating officer, Denny Warnick.
"We began serving the Animal Style burger in the early 1960s when a customer watched one of our associates make his own customized burger and asked for one made the same way," Warnick told Fox News Digital. "The name was created there on the spot."
This customer-driven innovation highlights the fast-food chain's philosophy of accommodating special orders to ensure customer happiness. Over time, many variations in preparation for basic menu items were given names, often by the customers who frequently ordered them in a particular way. These terms were used to describe how an order or menu item could be prepared exactly as the customer desired.
In-N-Out's website now lists some of its most popular off-menu orders on a "Not-So-Secret Menu." The Animal Style burger is described as a burger of choice with hand-leafed lettuce, tomato, a mustard-cooked beef patty, pickles, extra spread, and grilled onions. While the name "Animal Style" is widely recognized today, the company notes that many customers are still discovering these special preparations.
Beyond the Animal Style burger, the "secret" menu includes other customizations. The Double-Meat features two beef patties, while the 3x3 and 4x4 have three and four beef patties and corresponding slices of cheese, respectively. The Grilled Cheese substitutes a burger patty with two slices of American cheese, and the Protein Style offers any burger wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun. Another off-menu item, the Flying Dutchman, consists of two patties and two cheese slices without buns or condiments, reportedly created by former CEO Guy Snyder before his death in 1999.
Founded by Harry and Esther Snyder in 1948 in a Los Angeles suburb, In-N-Out was California's first drive-thru hamburger stand. By 1973, the chain had grown to 13 locations, all within Los Angeles County. Today, the family-owned company operates over 400 locations across 10 states. The chain continues to prepare all burgers fresh to order, regardless of whether they are part of the standard menu or a special customer request.