In-N-Out

[barrettd]

I used to be a huge Whataburger fan, by far my favorite. But the past couple of years IMO Whataburger has gone downhill. Every once in awhile I give them another try and always leave disappointed. Also I always thought Whataburger fries were the worst of any fast food restaurant, so between the lower quality of burger now coupled with the low quality fries, I avoid them completely now.

Interesting. I couldn't tell if my memory was clouded by nostalgia, but it does seem the Whataburgers aren't the same as I had years ago when I was younger. I didn't realize they had changed hands. I still prefer a Braum's burger for fast food, but Whataburger is pretty close.

I'd much rather sit at Tucker's and take my time with one of their burgers, given the choice. I haven't even eaten all the good burgers in the vicinity, yet.

[corwin1968]

Interesting. I couldn't tell if my memory was clouded by nostalgia, but it does seem the Whataburgers aren't the same as I had years ago when I was younger. I didn't realize they had changed hands. I still prefer a Braum's burger for fast food, but Whataburger is pretty close.

I'd much rather sit at Tucker's and take my time with one of their burgers, given the choice. I haven't even eaten all the good burgers in the vicinity, yet.

Whataburger is still my go-to for a burger and the location on Penn, just South of Memorial is pretty consistently good. A couple of chains that used to be among my favorites that now are just flat awful, are Sonic and Braums. Heck, I'll put a good, fresh McDonald's double cheeseburger or even a cheeseburger up against Whataburger, but getting a good burger at McDonalds is almost as rare as getting one at Sonic & Braums.

[Video Expert]

Perhaps if Oklahoman's ate more fast food, In-N-Out would consider coming here.

[barrettd]

Whataburger is still my go-to for a burger and the location on Penn, just South of Memorial is pretty consistently good. A couple of chains that used to be among my favorites that now are just flat awful, are Sonic and Braums. Heck, I'll put a good, fresh McDonald's double cheeseburger or even a cheeseburger up against Whataburger, but getting a good burger at McDonalds is almost as rare as getting one at Sonic & Braums.

The Braum's I visit is pretty consistently decent with their burgers. And the WB you mentioned is the one I usually go to. Now that I'm thinking about it, I don't really eat fast food burgers all that often, I guess. Trying to remember the last time I had one, in fact.

Goes to show you what I know about fast food, I guess.

[BDP]

Don't know if it's purely just because of California transplants, but it just so happens that a lot of rapidly growing cities/metros in the US have a ton of people from California moving there. Super fast-growing cities are attractive markets for most things.

Yeah, there's really no way of knowing unless we were in the meeting, but it does track. Their brand is big enough now that they certainly wouldn't need to rely on that, but it could be a factor. It's also privately held and not franchised, so it could even just be as subjective as personal preference. 30 years ago it was surprising that they decided to do anything outside of southern California.

I almost always go to one when I am in a market that has them, but I'm not sure if I'd really go that much if one came here. I don't eat fast food burgers that often and I'd probably still just end up going to Sparks or Arbolada more than In N Out, anyway.

[SEMIweather]

The Braum's I visit is pretty consistently decent with their burgers. And the WB you mentioned is the one I usually go to. Now that I'm thinking about it, I don't really eat fast food burgers all that often, I guess. Trying to remember the last time I had one, in fact.

Goes to show you what I know about fast food, I guess.

I honestly think Braum's has vastly improved over the last few years, or maybe they've just stayed the same quality while most other fast-food chains have gone downhill. My theory is their level of vertical integration has helped them keep prices down post-COVID, and having all of their stores corporate-owned has probably helped them with knowledge retention in a time of higher than average employee turnover in the restaurant industry.

[Scott5114]

The problem I have with Whataburger is the one in Norman is consistently so slow that by the time I get my food it doesn't feel like it was worth the wait, even when the food is at its best.

It's bad enough that, before I worked from home, my wife wouldn't worry that something had happened to me or I was with another woman if I was an hour late coming home from work. She would just assume I had stopped by Whataburger.

[Zuplar]

I honestly think Braum's has vastly improved over the last few years, or maybe they've just stayed the same quality while most other fast-food chains have gone downhill. My theory is their level of vertical integration has helped them keep prices down post-COVID, and having all of their stores corporate-owned has probably helped them with knowledge retention in a time of higher than average employee turnover in the restaurant industry.

I’ve also found myself going to Braums more thinking it’s better but you have an interesting theory I hadn’t thought about. At the very least I like supporting local.

[soonerguru]

I honestly think Braum's has vastly improved over the last few years, or maybe they've just stayed the same quality while most other fast-food chains have gone downhill. My theory is their level of vertical integration has helped them keep prices down post-COVID, and having all of their stores corporate-owned has probably helped them with knowledge retention in a time of higher than average employee turnover in the restaurant industry.

Interesting. This has not been our observation. We did grab one recently and it was OK, but my wife pretty much flat-out refuses to eat there now. If you go in and literally ask them to make you one fresh, they will, but if you don't, you're getting a patty out of the burger drawer.

To top it off, their restaurants are consistently dirty, their brand and concept is dated, and they don't seem to care. It's pretty shameful because if they cared more, Braum's could be a great concept.

They just have very low standards.

[Just the facts]

N/m

[Ryan]

What is the common denominator / demographic among their current locations that is lacking in Oklahoma?

They use selective availability as a marketing to boost their brand. Austin Dallas California and Nashville are hip. Okies aren’t there yet. Culturally, our rural half is holding us back. Not that our politics help us out. We are still culturally equivalent to Nebraska. Maybe even West Virginia or Iowa. N&Out isn’t trying to expand to those mArkets either

[BDP]

They use selective availability as a marketing to boost their brand. Austin Dallas California and Nashville are hip. Okies arenÂ’t there yet. Culturally, our rural half is holding us back. Not that our politics help us out. We are still culturally equivalent to Nebraska. Maybe even West Virginia or Iowa. N&Out isnÂ’t trying to expand to those mArkets either

Do they have a "hip-o-meter" at HQ to guide them?

Seriously though, they do have a lot of locations in markets that I certainly wouldn't call "hip".

As far as culture or politics go, they give to Republicans, print bible verses on their packaging, and the owner runs her own ministry. So, I really don't think the Oklahoma culture is scaring them off.

The "selective availability" theory certainly tracks, though.

[chssooner]

They use selective availability as a marketing to boost their brand. Austin Dallas California and Nashville are hip. Okies aren’t there yet. Culturally, our rural half is holding us back. Not that our politics help us out. We are still culturally equivalent to Nebraska. Maybe even West Virginia or Iowa. N&Out isn’t trying to expand to those mArkets either

I don't know how to break this news to you, but don't look on the bottom of their cups

[Jersey Boss]

I don't know how to break this news to you, but don't look on the bottom of their cups

Are you saying religious beliefs are not compatiable with culturally progressive beliefs?

[BoulderSooner]

I don't know how to break this news to you, but don't look on the bottom of their cups

Fact.


And as has been said/posted before Okc is in the delivery range of their Dallas district center. We will get locations. After Texas expansion

[BoulderSooner]

Are you saying religious beliefs are not compatiable with culturally progressive beliefs?

Let’s see they as a company were Anti Covid mandates and are pro life. Not “progressives at all”. They are Pro freedom

[chssooner]

Are you saying religious beliefs are not compatiable with culturally progressive beliefs?

They aren't culturally progressive, though. A quote from Harry Potter is coming to mind: "Quite honestly, do you even know what they are about?" They have never been, and never will be. They are a west coast CFA.

https://www.reddit.com/r/antiwork/co...essive_as_you/

So yes, yes I am saying that, in this case. Not always the case, but for purposes of this thread, yes I am.

[Ryan]

Expanding to Oklahoma before more “hip” markets would be a terrible decision. It makes it too accessible. That’s something you do when you want to be McDonald’s. I think they enjoy their identity and it’s west coast association. That’s what made them so popular in Texas when they opened up. And Vegas before that. The Vegas move alone speaks volumes about not making some bull/$&@ religiously motivated market expansion. Look it may be family run but it’s not bill gothard and co. It’s people who hired a marketing team.

[Ryan]

Expanding to Oklahoma before more “hip” markets would be a terrible decision. It makes it too accessible. That’s something you do when you want to be McDonald’s. I think they enjoy their identity and it’s west coast association. That’s what made them so popular in Texas when they opened up. And Vegas before that. The Vegas move alone speaks volumes about not making some bull/$&@ religiously motivated market expansion. Look it may be family run but it’s not bill gothard and co. It’s people who hired a marketing team.

They’re not coming to Oklahoma any time soon. We have a better chance at getting the old OG&E center out of old Rainey than getting an In n Out

[BoulderSooner]

They’re not coming to Oklahoma any time soon. We have a better chance at getting the old OG&E center out of old Rainey than getting an In n Out

they already have Oklahoma in their expansion area (via the texas distro center) we are just after texas in expansion

[Jersey Boss]

It's a contest between I-n-O and Bucees as to which will tap Oklahoma first./s
Maybe Bojangles will reconsider declining Oklahoma after announcing they would be in Loves

[stlokc]

As I write this, I sit in a hotel room in Palm Desert, California, having just in the past hour eaten at In N Out for the first time in my life.

Verdict? It’s a fast food burger. Better than McDonald’s/Burger King/Wendy’s. Not as good as 100 other local options available in OKC. It’s on the order of a Five Guys or a Steak and Shake.

It’s fine. It’s nothing to spend a lot of energy worrying about one way or another.

[Ryan]

they already have Oklahoma in their expansion area (via the texas distro center) we are just after texas in expansion

They’ve been in Austin since 2015 and that was old news then. They ain’t coming here. Not before Louisiana and New Mexico

[chssooner]

They’ve been in Austin since 2015 and that was old news then. They ain’t coming here. Not before Louisiana and New Mexico

Yeah, because those scream "hip" as you wax poetically about.

[soonermike81]

It’s fine. It’s nothing to spend a lot of energy worrying about one way or another.

This is exactly how I feel.