‘Secret’ combo orders to try at In-N-Out
by Fred HernandezAMG-Parade · Las Vegas Review-JournalIn-N-Out already has a cult following, but the people who really love the chain know the best orders aren’t usually found on the regular menu. Sure, Animal Style still gets most of the attention, but fans have come up with tons of unofficial combo orders that take things to a whole other level taste-wise.
Mustard-fried patties, chopped chiles, well-done fries, extra spread, Neapolitan shakes—half the fun of ordering at In-N-Out is figuring out your perfect combination. The menu itself is pretty simple, which is exactly why all the little customizations stand out. Plus, once you try an In-N-Out menu upgrade, there’s no turning back. After you learn the secret to personalizing your order, you may not want to stick to the basics anymore.
SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter
If you’ve ever pulled into the In-N-Out drive-thru and felt like you missed a secret lesson the second you heard someone confidently order something you’ve never even heard of, this guide is for you.
These are the best “secret” combo orders to try at In-N-Out, according to fans who know exactly what they’re doing. Whether you try one or try them all, you can’t go wrong with any of these next-level orders you’ve just got to taste.
What Is the In-N-Out Secret Menu?
The In-N-Out secret menu isn’t really a secret anymore, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming one of the most famous fast-food menus in America.
Unlike chains that constantly roll out limited-time items and complicated builds, In-N-Out keeps its official menu surprisingly small. That simplicity is what gave fans room to start customizing their food orders over the years, which eventually evolved into some of the delicious unofficial items that have become part of the chain’s culture.
Some of the best-known examples include Animal Style burgers and fries, Protein Style burgers wrapped in lettuce instead of buns and well-done fries cooked longer for extra crispiness. Most employees already know these orders by name, so you usually don’t have to explain them.
A big reason people love the secret menu is because it makes the food options at In-N-Out feel way more customizable than they seem. And once people started sharing their own add-ons, tweaks and customizations, the secret (or rather not-so-secret) menu options grew.
What Are the Most Popular In-N-Out Secret Menu Items?
Tada Images / Shutterstock.com
If there’s one secret menu order almost everyone knows, it’s Animal Style. Burgers come loaded with extra spread, grilled onions, pickles and a mustard-fried beef patty, while Animal Style fries get topped with melted cheese, spread and grilled onions. Even people who rarely go to In-N-Out usually know about these options.
Protein Style is another longtime favorite, especially for anyone skipping the bun. Instead of bread, the burger gets wrapped in crisp lettuce, which somehow makes the whole thing feel lighter while still being messy in the best way possible.
Then there are the smaller customizations regulars swear by. Well-done fries get cooked longer for extra crunch; chopped chiles add heat to burgers and fries; and Neapolitan shakes combine chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream into one cup. Flying Dutchmans (two beef patties, two melted cheese slices and no bread), mustard-fried patties and extra toasted buns also have loyal fans.
A lot of these orders started spreading through word of mouth long before TikTok and food influencers got involved, and now they’re basically part of the In-N-Out experience.
How Do You Order From the In-N-Out Secret Menu?
In-N-Out Burger / Antoniogut / Shutterstock.com
Ordering from the In-N-Out secret menu is a lot less intimidating than people make it seem. Most of the popular items have been around for years, so employees already know what you mean when you ask for something like Animal Style or well-done fries.
If you’re trying something more customized, it’s usually easiest to just describe exactly what you want. You can ask for chopped chiles, extra toasted buns, mustard-fried patties, extra spread, or fries cooked light or well-done. In-N-Out is pretty flexible with modifications as long as you keep it reasonable.
And if you forget the secret menu names entirely, it’s not a big deal. At the end of the day, most of these orders are really just combinations of toppings and cooking styles people figured out over time.
Related: The Most Bizarre Fast-Food Items Ever Released (and Why They Failed)
What Is the Best In-N-Out Combo Order, According to Fans?
These are the In-N-Out combo orders the burger chain’s biggest fans love.
The Double-Double Animal Style Order
If there’s one order that shows up constantly in In-N-Out fan discussions, it’s a Double-Double Animal Style with Animal Style fries. For anyone unfamiliar, a Double-Double is In-N-Out’s classic burger with two beef patties and two slices of cheese. A lot of people also add chopped chiles, which fans say is a life-changing discovery once they finally try them.
The “Extra Toasted” Order
Extra toasted buns came up way more than expected in fan threads. People swear the extra toast helps keep the burger from getting soggy once you start adding extra spread, onions and pickles. Whole grilled onions also show up a lot in these orders because they hold their shape better than the chopped grilled onions.
The Onion Lover’s Order
Apparently, choosing between raw onions and grilled onions isn’t enough for some people. A surprising number of fans order both at the same time, especially on Double-Doubles. After reading enough comments about it, the combination starts sounding pretty good (just have some breath mints nearby for afterward).
The Protein Style Combo
Protein Style burgers have a huge following among people who still want the full In-N-Out experience without the extra heaviness from the bun. Orders pairing a Protein Style burger with Animal Style fries are very popular, along with adding a drink like Lemon Up, the chain’s unofficial lemonade-and-7UP mix.
The Fry Fanatic Order
In-N-Out fans may argue about fries more than the burgers themselves. Some swear well-done fries are the only way to order them because of the extra crispiness, while others think light-well fries strike the perfect balance between crispy and soft.
The Big Appetite Order
For those wanting to go all out, 3x3s, 4x4s and Flying Dutchmans came up repeatedly in fan discussions. A 3x3 comes with three beef patties and three slices of cheese, while a 4x4 comes with four patties and four slices of cheese. Flying Dutchmans skip the bun entirely and consist of two beef patties and two slices of melted cheese. Some of these orders sounded genuinely intense, especially once Animal Style fries and shakes enter the picture.
The Shake Combo
Neapolitan shakes made with chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream get mentioned constantly in In-N-Out threads, especially alongside Animal Style burgers and fries. Pink lemonade, Arnold Palmers and root beer floats also have loyal followings among regulars.
Are Secret Menu Items More Expensive at In-N-Out?
In-N-Out / Christian Heinz / Shutterstock.com
Most In-N-Out secret menu items really aren’t separate menu items at all. They’re usually just regular burgers, fries or shakes with different toppings, cooking styles or add-ons layered in.
A lot of the most popular customizations don’t cost extra. Things like Protein Style burgers, well-done fries, mustard-fried patties and extra toasted buns are generally treated more like modifications than entirely different menu items.
The price usually goes up once extra cheese, patties or loaded fries enter the picture. Animal Style fries cost more than regular fries because of the cheese and toppings, while bigger orders like 3x3s, 4x4s and Flying Dutchmans naturally cost more because you’re adding more beef and cheese.
In other words, ordering off the secret menu doesn’t automatically mean paying dramatically more. Most of the time, you’re just customizing the regular menu instead of unlocking some hidden premium tier.
Upgrade Your Next In-N-Out Order
Part of what makes In-N-Out’s secret menu so fun is that nobody seems to order the exact same thing. Whether you keep it simple with Animal Style fries or go full 4x4 with chopped chiles and an extra toasted bun, fans clearly take their orders very seriously.
Now you have some fresh new ideas for your next trip to In-N-Out, straight from the people who love it most. One thing’s for sure: you won’t leave hungry.
Related: The Genius Way to Make Guacamole 10x Better, According to an Award-Winning Chef