For years, people have speculated about when In-N-Out Burger might finally open a place in Utah. This place has a cultish following, and with so many former Californians in the state, Provo would seem like a gold mine for In-N-Out. There are those who say that In-N-Out is anti-Mormon (but aren't there plenty of church members in So. California?) I suspect that they haven't opened a joint in Utah because they only use fresh ingredients. Apparently, Las Vegas and Phoenix are about as far as you can ship the fresh ground beef from Baldwin Park, CA. I'm sure that part of their desire to keep the chain relatively small is to maintain the "aura" surrounding it (in the same way that Harley Davidson does with their motorcycles).
There are conflicting reports of In-N-Out coming to Washington (near St. George), but according to the Dixie Sun, In-N-Out will open there in May.
The desire for In-N-Out also fueled the craze about Chadder's in American Fork which was well documented in this blog (look under "hamburgers").
Now along comes EZ Take Out, another hamburger place that seems oddly familiar. This California chain first got started in 1969 in Upland, CA, and it competes directly with In-N-Out (which got started in 1948). Sometimes, these may even be across the street from one another. They offer a simple menu: hamburger, cheeseburger, "double take" (which is a double cheeseburger) and a couple of chicken sandwiches. You can get your any of these "monster style," which is like In-N-Out's "animal style.) Interestingly enough, they also have breakfast burritos.
I know that people get pretty fanatical in the California burger wars (don't even try to talk to fans of Tommy's), but I think EZ is a pretty close approximation of In-N-Out, and probably a bit better than Chadder's. But it looks like if you crave the real thing, your drive down I-15 will become a bit shorter in May. (St. George is still technically Utah, right?) Too bad we can't just buy a fresh one of each and do a true side-by-side. (This would be a bad day to get your cholesterol checked.)
3 comments:
You're out of your mind to think that EZ Take Out has anything in common with Inn-n-Out. EZ Take Out is horrid in every way. Don't waste your time going there when there are plenty of enjoyable burger joints in Utah that rival Inn-n-Out's freshness and flavor.
As a born and raised Californian I thought nothing in Utah could rival In n Out. Then I noticed EZ Take Out burger, which is a place that I used to see from the Freeway from home all the time, and I heard it was pretty good. So, I went to check it out, and it's almost exactly like In N Out. If you gave me an In n Out burger and an EZ Take Out burger together, I don't think I could tell them apart. The price is a little higher and the fries aren't as good, but as far as burgers go, it's the closest thing to in n out you'll get north of St. George.
EZ Take Out is pretty good, and super cheap now too (I thin they might be struggling). In-N-Out will be here soon, now. Will Chaddars and EZ Take Out survive? Certainly EZ will /not/ survive unless they improve their signage. That white/red sign bends right into the scenery of State St. there and it's easy to miss the place altogether.
Post a Comment