States with In-N-Out 2026

What Is In-N-Out?

In-N-Out is a popular fast food burger chain headquartered in California and with a growing presence in several additional states. In-N-Out is similar to other fast food restaurants, such as McDonald’s and Burger King, but with a tighter focus on burgers and an arguably more enthusiastic cult following. In-N-Out was founded in 1948, and it remains one of the most popular fast-food chains in the Western states.

What States Have In-N-Out?

As of September 2024, In-N-Out had approximately 403 locations spread across eight states. Nearly 70% of In-N-Out restaurants (276 as of September 2024) are located in California, and the company headquarters is in Irvine, California. In addition to California, In-N-Out has a happy presence in Arizona, Colrado, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Utah.

In-N-Out is undergoing significant eastward expansion and broke ground on an additional corporate hub in Franklin, Tennessee in September 2024, with plans to open its first Tennessee locations in 2026.

What Makes In-N-Out So Popular?

In-N-Out is known for three main strengths. The first is the freshness of its ingredients. The meat used in its burger patties is free from fillers, additives, and preservatives and is never frozen at any point in the production/supply chain. The vegetable toppings (including lettuce, tomatoes, onions) and cheese used tend to be similarly fresh. Additionally, the potatoes used to make fries are unfrozen and remain uncut until moments before they are to be cooked.

The second main strength of In-N-Out is its customer service, which includes hustle, greeting each customer with a smile, and specifically asking each customer if they want onions, to be sure each order comes out exactly as intended. Finally, In-N-Out has an absolute devotion to burgers—no chicken sandwiches, salads, or other entrees—but also has a “not-so-secret menu” with specific upgrades. For example, devotees can order their burger “animal style” (fried in mustard and topped with pickles, extra thousand island dressing, and fried onions) or opt for a “4x4” (four burger patties and four slices of cheese).

What Are the Biggest Competitors of In-N-Out?

There are several chains that are major competitors of In-N-Out. For example, McDonald’s, which has one of the largest fast-food chains in the country, is one of the largest competitors of In-N-Out. Burger King is another major competitor of In-N-Out. There is arguably a parallel between Chick-fil-A and In-N-Out because of the freshness of the food and exceptional level of customer service, but the two do not have a significant geographic overlap (nor are their menus similar). Other burger chains such as Five Guys, Whataburger, Fatburger, Mooyah, Fuddruckers, and Johnny Rockets (among others) are also competitors.