Whataburger is better than In-n-Out.

"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
05/20/2016 at 10:04 • Filed to: None

Visiting my brother’s family in Austin, I had a standard-issue whataburger for breakfast. If I want a fast food burger, I’ll have one of these if it’s available, but I’ll add cheese and hold the onions. IMHO, this is a significantly better hamburger than In-n-Out.

DISCUSSION (70)

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 10:09

Plus cheese hold the onions is indeed the proper way to order your Whataburger.

Even mentioning the frozen salted hockey puck that is a Sonic hamburger in the same sentence is just wrong.

Chariotoflove > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 10:09

Can confirm. Whataburger is better than Sonic burger.

CalzoneGolem > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 10:10

One of my great failings in life was not going to Whataburger while I was in Texas. Also not going to Round Rock donuts.

EL_ULY > CalzoneGolem
05/20/2016 at 10:11

MMMMMM Round Rock donuts!

Xyl0c41n3 > CalzoneGolem
05/20/2016 at 10:15

But did you go to West for kolaches, or border Texas for fajitas, or the hill country for BBQ? Heh.

CalzoneGolem > Xyl0c41n3
05/20/2016 at 10:18

No ...

Textured Soy Protein > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 10:18

The only proper way to top a fast food burger is cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles and onions.

Leave the foo foo mayo, lettuce and tomatoes for those fancy sit-down restaurant burgers.

Berang > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 10:19

Add Jalapenos and bacon.

Also if you’re still in austin and like spicy food, go to Burger Tex and get the bulgogi burger!

and 100 more > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 10:20

More like Whateverburger...

If Sonic is your metric for burger quality, then yes, Whataburger is better.

Xyl0c41n3 > CalzoneGolem
05/20/2016 at 10:21

What did you do while you were here?!

Ok, so the next more important question is....

How soon can you get back here so we Texan Oppos can take you to all the places you NEED to go to for amazing noms?

Invinciblejets > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 10:25

Never been to one. But anything has to be better than the soggy mess of a burger sonic sells.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 10:31

But how does it compare to In-N-Out?

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > CalzoneGolem
05/20/2016 at 10:34

Nobody has better donuts than they have in SoCal. The South makes some alright ones (mostly KK), but the little shops in SoCal are almost invariably good, while those elsewhere are almost invariably mediocre.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > and 100 more
05/20/2016 at 10:35

The guy lives in SoCal and uses Sonic as a metric. Something very wrong there.

and 100 more > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/20/2016 at 10:37

Don’t you say it...

Don’t you DARE say it.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 10:39

It is tasty. So is In ‘N Out. Not sure which is better, but damn good.

CalzoneGolem > Xyl0c41n3
05/20/2016 at 10:42

Probably never again.

CalzoneGolem > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/20/2016 at 10:43

Fresh KK is the best I’ve ever had.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 10:49

sonic can only make milkshakes, everything else is crap

ttyymmnn > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/20/2016 at 10:51

NorCal, actually.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > and 100 more
05/20/2016 at 10:58

I meant, In-n-Out, which is unremarkable.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/20/2016 at 11:00

NorCal, if you must know, and I have corrected my initial post.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
05/20/2016 at 11:00

I made a mistake, which I have corrected.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Textured Soy Protein
05/20/2016 at 11:02

Agreed.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 11:03

Former Sonic employee here and Big Fan of Whataburger. The best thing coming out of Sonic was the home-made onion rings. We made them fresh every morning. Awesome.

Since they changed their menu and decided to focus on shakes and malts, Sonic food barely passes muster. I’ve also found they can’t get the order correct. Never.

Whataburger is fantastic. Like Burger King, you can have it any way you want. It’s best when you leave take the basic burger - mustard, pickles, onions, lettuce, tomato - and add jalapenos and bacon. Somehow they always manage to get the order correct. I’ve yet to trip them up, even with four people ordering four vastly different burgers.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
05/20/2016 at 11:04

Well. I edited my initial post.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 11:08

Haha, now you’re just playing with fire with the commentariat.

We have both here in Dallas (seriously, a new In-n-Out pops up every week it seems), and each burger has its time and place. Whataburger is a much better fast food burger, as it’s compact, stays together, and is a much quicker experience than In-n-Out. In-n-Out is a fine change of pace, but most of the value is tied up in accouterments and not the burger itself.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 11:08

hmmmm. better than In-N-Out... strong words for a fast-food burger.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
05/20/2016 at 11:14

Am I there for the hamburger or the ketchup?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
05/20/2016 at 11:16

In-n-Out is a good clean chain, but the burgers are unremarkable.

and 100 more > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 11:25

Fair enough.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 11:28

ketchup situation at whataburger is pretty primo in my opinion

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 11:54

We have both here in SA. I'll take a Whataburger any day unless I'm in a hurry. In-n-out is a close second considering they make them quicker.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/20/2016 at 11:58

Your approval of Krispy Kreme makes your entire statement questionable. KK donuts are tolerable if straight off the belt, otherwise they are horrible.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 12:01

This may be heresy given that I’m a Texan, but INO’s burgers are better that Whataburger’s standard burgers. But Whataburger does have some great “specialty” burgers and the fries are better.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Xyl0c41n3
05/20/2016 at 12:05

Have you tried the cinnamon roll place around the corner from the Czech Stop and up Oak a couple of blocks? If not, you should.

Xyl0c41n3 > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/20/2016 at 12:09

There’s a cinnamon roll place in West?

*looks at calendar*

*sees full calendar*

*contemplates just driving directly to West anyway*

Heh. Next time I'm in central Texas I'll be sure to Czech it out. (You see what I did there? Eh? Eh? Hehe.)

Xyl0c41n3 > CalzoneGolem
05/20/2016 at 12:10

Never again? That makes me infinitely sad. How come?

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Xyl0c41n3
05/20/2016 at 12:19

I think its name is Gerik’s Bakery — right next to a big pizza barn. They must have 20 different varieties of cinnamon rolls — we bought a dozen the last time through without duplicating a single one. They of course have kolaches, etc. as well. If you don’t like it, I’ll gladly buy your kolache at the Czech Stop the next time.

CalzoneGolem > Xyl0c41n3
05/20/2016 at 12:23

No particular reason it is quite far away and it is a bit too warm for my tastes. I’m not opposed to going back to Texas but I don’t feel a desire to go back to Texas.

phenotyp > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 12:33

In Austin? You need some Dan’s in your life.

Kinja'd!!!

In fact, I think I’m going to do just that.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/20/2016 at 12:46

InO fries are weak.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/20/2016 at 12:47

KK is a contender for most overrated American brand.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > TheRealBicycleBuck
05/20/2016 at 12:51

There's nothing like a bitter onion to ruin a hamburger, nor onion breath to ruin a conversation. So I hold My onions typically.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Chariotoflove
05/20/2016 at 12:52

See edit. I goofed.

Xyl0c41n3 > CalzoneGolem
05/20/2016 at 13:01

Them’s fightin’ words.

CalzoneGolem > Xyl0c41n3
05/20/2016 at 13:02

Also, I didn’t really notice that any things were bigger in Texas then my beloved Maine.

Chasaboo > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 13:03

Blasphemer!

Xyl0c41n3 > CalzoneGolem
05/20/2016 at 13:16

Mostly, it’s just our egos. :)

And the sky. Big sky country down here.

Maine is on my list of places I want to visit thanks, in large part, to Stephen King. Is that weird? It’s just that he paints such a lovely picture of the state in so much of his work. It sounds like a great place.

CalzoneGolem > Xyl0c41n3
05/20/2016 at 13:30

Yeah that is weird. Stephen King used to come to my family’s restaurant. Good dude. Tipped well. I don’t care for his writing but it’s beautiful up here. Trees and rolling hills.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 13:30

False sir. In-N-out is scientifically proven to be the best burger from a chain.

Kinja'd!!!

Xyl0c41n3 > CalzoneGolem
05/20/2016 at 14:57

I like his writing well enough. It's like comfort food. You can read it without straining your brain too much; it's filling, entertaining and comforting. Though I read one of his more recent novels and it just seemed so off to me. Didn't really feel like I was reading Stephen King. People swear up and down that he doesn't use ghost writers, but I dunno.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 16:52

Somehow I thought it was the other. Sorry about that. You’re forgiven for choosing a random burger place for comparison - that area doesn’t have a long tradition.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 16:58

Only if you don’t know how to order them.

Lots of people complain about them. You know, those fries you can literally watch them cut immediately after you order them.

If they’re too mushy, order them “well done”. I know people that get them light, too (making them extra-mushy, since that’s what they’re into).

Always have them mustard grill the patty and grill the onions (run through the same fry cutter), or order animal style (I just don’t like mine soggy, so I order that with light spread). So amazing, especially considering it’s so cheap.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > CaptDale - is secretly British
05/20/2016 at 17:02

Haha. Nice.

I love some In-N-Out, but in Los Angeles it’s just one of many options. There are a lot of great little burger shops in the greater metro area... Some have even turned into small (or in some cases larger) regional chains. The Habit makes a very good burger as well in spite of becoming a larger chain. You pay for it, though, which is where In-N-Out shines: It’s cheap and good. They’re simply the best in the super cheap fast food burger world.

Posting those pictures were cruel. I can think of it and not want it much anymore, but seeing the pictures is driving me crazy. I can’t wait to get a fix when I’m in SLC, even though those mormon kids can’t do it quite as well as the kids in the lower-class parts of SoCal (Don’t ask me why, but I’ve found that the quality of In-N-Out food seems to have an inverse relationship to the income of the surrounding area - Lemon Grove was way better than Mission Valley, Norwalk is better than the ones down in Orange County, and all the ones near the headquarters (mostly rough lower-class neighborhoods; where I grew up) are excellent...).

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/20/2016 at 17:11

They’re edible, that’s better than most; I will actually eat a fresh one. I have no difficulty not eating donuts when I’m not in CA because the ones people recommend are pure crap. The local one here is “Top Pot”, which is shit, but everyone raves about it. In OR everyone goes on about Voodoo, which is shit (they’re just funny designs).

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/20/2016 at 17:19

We have a Top Pot here, but I’ve never gone. I actually prefer a good apple fritter or cinnamon roll to a donut, anyway.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > CalzoneGolem
05/20/2016 at 17:26

You need to hit some small donut shops in SoCal - if they bake on the premises and they’re cash-only, they’re likely excellent.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > CalzoneGolem
05/20/2016 at 17:28

I love Maine; it’s second only to Vermont in my favorite places in the Northeastern US. Mmmm... Lobstah roll.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 17:31

I appreciate the dinosaur eating the burger. That’s a tray liner, right there.

Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/20/2016 at 17:49

Except that great fries (crispy exterior, fluffy interior) are great because they are fried twice. Fresh cut fries always suffer because the first low-temp frying sets in motion a chemical process that allows the second, high-temp job to produce the perfect french fry.

It may be entirely possible that I have spent way too much time reading Kenji Alt-Lopez' experiments on Serious Eats.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/20/2016 at 18:14

Oh yeah, the lower class areas always taste like the people working there care.

they-will-know-my-velocity > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 18:35

Infinitely better. Better than BK, McDonalds, Soni, In N Out.

ranwhenparked > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2016 at 21:12

Meh, I think comparing the two is about as useless as comparing Wawa and Sheetz. Let’s just agree that they both kick the crap out of McDonald’s or Buger King, and leave it at that.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/20/2016 at 21:45

Five. Guys. Fries.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ranwhenparked
05/20/2016 at 21:48

Sheetz? Where are you located?

CalzoneGolem > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/21/2016 at 07:56

I almost lose residency every time I say this but lobster is not good seafood.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > CalzoneGolem
05/22/2016 at 04:18

In a way, that makes perfect sense if you lived there long enough. At one point I know it was super cheap and consumed by everyone. You probably also saw a lot of it at the low points in the season.

In my world, it was always a delicacy and rarely even consumed on special occasions. My mind was almost completely blown when I was there and real lobster was something people regularly use in everyday foods. I can remember every time I ate it in my life, it was always such a special occasion (once we had one for Christmas, for example), I was eating it in such a pricey meal, or I was on vacation in Maine...

The only fairly cheap and affordable crustaceans out here in the West are shrimp/prawns. Crab is another weird food that is common where I now live, while it was very special to me, and still is to some extent... Locals up here can’t comprehend my fascination with it...

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious
05/22/2016 at 05:05

In theory, it should be possible to do this with fresh fries. Well done is simply twice-fried.

Mind you, I am not a fan of potatoes to begin with. They only attain redeeming qualities when they become oil delivery vehicles.

CalzoneGolem > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/22/2016 at 07:08

Lobstah rolls are the best way to consume it IMO.