I'm a fast-food reporter who just tried 3 iconic West Coast chains for the first time. The one I liked the most surprised me.

September 18, 2022

I'm a fast-food reporter who just tried 3 iconic West Coast chains for the first time. The one I liked the most surprised me.

Jack in the Box vs Del Taco vs In-N-Out — Getty Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I visited Del Taco, In-N-Out, and Jack in the Box to compare them.
Del Taco and Jack in the Box recently came under the same ownership, and I think they'll be even better together.
In-N-Out didn't live up to the hype.

I recently visited the West Coast for the first time, where I had the chance to finally try some famous fast food chains.

Fast food as we know it today originated in California, so it's fitting that so many beloved regional chains still operate there and compete with national brands.

Original McDonald's Downey CA — Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

In-N-Out was of course high on my list of priorities, as one of the most hyped fast food chains in the country.

In-N-Out visit — Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Source: Insider

With just under 400 units as of 2021, the West Coast burger chain punches far above its weight in terms of fans and media attention.

In-N-Out is tiny compared to other popular chains. McDonald's is 37 times larger, and even Chick-fil-A is seven times larger, based on 2021 restaurant locations.

In-N-Out is privately held and doesn't release sales numbers, but in 2018 Forbes reported that In-N-Out locations did an average of $4.5 million in annual sales, about double McDonald's average.

Source: Forbes

In 2020, total sales topped $1 billion, according to Technomic estimates.

Source: Restaurant Business Online

I visited a walk-up window in Orange County, which was set up next to the drive-thru and worked similarly.

The menu is quite small and simple, which I appreciated, though there are also additions from the "secret menu."

I opted to go super classic, with a cheeseburger, animal style, fries, and a chocolate milkshake.

The animal-style cheeseburger came with lettuce, pickles, tomato, grilled onions, and extra sauce —not unlike a typical burger with everything on it at most chains.

It was definitely good and made a respectable fast food hamburger.

I have no complaints, and it checked all the boxes a good burger should, but it didn't absolutely wow me the way I was hoping.

I would definitely eat it again, but I'm not going to go out of my way to get this specific burger when I've had others that are comparable.

The fries, however, were not good at all.

They were limp and bland.

It's one thing to serve bad fries, but it's much worse to have a small, curated menu where one of the items is just irredeemably bad.

The milkshake was easily the highlight of my meal. It was delicious and decadent without tasting too artificial.

I was impressed by the price, which was just under $9. I definitely felt like I got a good deal, even if it wasn't the life-changing meal I'd been promised.

I desperately wanted to love In-N-Out, but it just wasn't happening.

Everything feels retro and comforting, from the kitschy uniforms employees wear to the simple menu and promises of fresh food.

I think the chain's glowing reputation is actually a hindrance, at least in my case.

Without the massive expectations I got from the internet and every person that I told about my upcoming trip, I think I would have enjoyed a perfectly nice meal.

By the time I tried it, my expectations were just too high, and In-N-Out ultimately failed to live up to them.

Next up I tried Del Taco, which sells "Mexican-inspired" fast food at its 600 locations across 16 states.

Source: Insider

The chain was just acquired by another franchise, Jack in the Box, for $585 million, so I was excited to see what made the chain so valuable.

Everything about the decor emphasized the freshness of ingredients, including a window to see those ingredients in the kitchen.

I wanted to sample almost the entire menu, so I ended up with two large bags of food.

I started with the Nachotada Crunchtada, a new addition to the menu.

It was a crunchy tortilla shell topped with beans, beef, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, and jalapeños.

It reminded me a lot of Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza, and it was absolutely delicious.

Next up, I tried the Beyond guacamole taco, with plant-based meat.

The taco was pretty standard, but the guacamole definitely took it over the top. Swapping guacamole for sour cream makes it easy to go vegan without feeling like you're missing out.

For just $1.49, the bean and cheese burrito was a classic, cheap fast food meal.

It comes with "zesty red" or "tangy green" sauce. I went with the red and was very happy with my decision.

I had to try the namesake Del Taco, with all the fixings.

It was a basic fast food taco with beef, cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce, but it hit the mark perfectly.

I really loved the beer battered fish taco, which even came with a small lime wedge.

The stuffed quesadilla taco was one of my favorites, thanks to the queso blanco between the two tortillas.

The crispy chicken and all the cheese went together perfectly, and it was exactly what you want out of a fast food taco.

The only item I didn't completely love was also the most expensive.

The chili cheddar fries weren't bad, but they weren't as impressive as everything else I ordered.

The Del cheeseburger was shockingly good, the biggest surprise of my meal.

It was juicy and cheesy, with the right amount of crunch from the vegetables. Somehow, Del Taco sold one of the best fast food burgers I've ever had.

My huge order came out to $26.09 and was easily enough food for several people, so it felt like a very good deal.

Del Taco receipt — Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I definitely preferred Del Taco to In-N-Out, but I wasn't done yet.

Finally, I tried Jack in the Box, which has about 2,200 locations around the West Coast of the US.

Source: Insider

It sells a little bit of everything, from chicken tenders to burgers, fries, tacos, and other snacks.

The chain did nearly $350 million in restaurant sales in 2021.

Jack in the Box sales rebounded to impressive levels just below last year's 10% growth in July, beating expectations, CFO Tim Mullany told investors in an August earnings call.

Jack in the Box Taco 3 — Irene Jiang / Business Insider

An end to product shortages, reopening dining rooms, and resuming late night hours were all key to the sales upswing, CEO Darin Harris said.

I tried out a small but representative sample of the menu, including spicy chicken strips, stuffed jalapeños, and tiny tacos.

I'm always happy to eat chicken strips, and these were especially great ones, though a little sparse at $5.49 for two pieces.

They were just the right level of spicy, where I took a few extra sips of my drink but kept going back for more.

They were so crispy and smelled delicious.

I wish I could get these where I live - they'd easily be my go-to fast food chicken.

I love KFC and Chick-fil-A, but I think Jack in the Box can hold its own against either on the fried chicken front.

I of course had to get jalapeno poppers, which are always tempting on menus but sometimes disappoint in actual execution.

I've had variations at other restaurants that seem to be 90% breading, and super light on the filling, but that wasn't the case here.

Though there were only three in an order, they were large and stuffed full of cheese and jalapeños, at $3.79.

I ordered the tiny tacos as a kind of wildcard because I was too curious not to.

There were probably about 15 in a paper box for $3.49. They were, as promised, tiny tortilla-type pieces each containing beef.

They were smaller than I'd anticipated but very fun to snack on. They reminded me of Fritos.

I enjoyed my visit to Jack in the Box, and it felt nostalgic though I'd never been there before.

Jack in the Box reminded me of Sonic, with a large menu of snacks and foods that don't necessarily go together, but with better execution.

Sonic now hiring sign — Sonic drive-in sign.
Photo By Tim Leedy/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images

I wish I'd been able to try more of the menu because I was already won over by the end of my first bite of chicken.

Jack in the Box Taco 7 — Irene Jiang / Business Insider

I think with the addition of Del Taco, Jack in the Box could be poised to make a push to other areas of the US, and I hope they do.

Jack in the Box Taco 4 — Irene Jiang / Business Insider

After trying all three popular West Coast chains, Del Taco was my favorite thanks to a large menu, low prices, and creative, delicious food.

Jack in the Box was a solid mid-tier option, and I'd happily eat it again.

jack in the box taco review 1878 — Melia Robinson/Business Insider

In-N-Out was the most disappointing of the bunch, but my overall impression of West coast fast food was still positive. I can't wait to go back.

Do you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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I'm a fast-food reporter who just tried 3 iconic West Coast chains for the first time. The one I liked the most surprised me.

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