In-N-Out Burger with Armen Weitzman

"In-N-Out Burger with Armen Weitzman" is Episode 16 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "In-N-Out Burger with Armen Weitzman" was released on August 27, 2015.

## Synopsis

Actor, comedian, and LA native Armen Weitzman (*Another Period*, *Burning Love*) sits in with Nick and Mitch to discuss beloved west coast institution In-N-Out Burger — and to reveal what he’d eat for his Last Meal.

## Nick's intro

As with so many fast-food chains, our story begins in Southern California in the aftermath of World War II.

The year was 1948 and husband-and-wife team, Harry and Esther Snyder, opened a burger restaurant featuring the first ever drive-thru with a two-way radio. This innovation became the industry standard, but though others imitated, none could inspire the loyalty the Snyders did with their commitment to burgers, fries, and shakes made with fresh ingredients at fair prices.

Over the subsequent decades, the business has remained in the family and has bucked the trend of other fast-food restaurants in a number of ways: by refusing to franchise, instead owning and operating all its own locations; by keeping its menu small and focused with just four food items, plus drinks; and in the famously stingy, labor-unfriendly fast-food sector, by choosing to pay its employees above minimum wage and provide them with benefits. It's kept its prices low and fed its cult-like following with a secret menu, and the Left Coast doesn't even seem to mind the subtle Christianism hidden in its packaging.

Now with over 300 locations across five western states, today we ask, "does it really live up to the hype?"

As promised in its jingle, is its signature Double-Double really "what a hamburger is all about"?

This week on *Doughboys*: In-N-Out Burger.

## Fork rating

* French Fries
* Strawberry Vanilla Shake
 Mike Mitchell
* Double-Double
	+ Animal Style + Raw Onions (Armen Style)
* Animal Style Fries
* Regular Fries
 Armen Weitzman
* Double-Double
	+ Animal Style + Raw Onions (Armen Style)
* Animal Style Fries
* Regular Fries

With these scores, In-N-Out becomes the first member of the Platinum Plate Club. (And a member of the Hand-holding Club.)

Even though it's normally reserved for snacks, Mitch gives In-N-Out the Spoonman Stamp of Approval. Armen declares In-N-Out "Classic."

They all prefer Regular Style Fries over Animal Style Fries.

[*To note: later in ep 47, Mitch drops his In-N-Out score to 3 forks, because he is still angry it won the Burger Brawl Tournament of Chompions. Nick's response is to give it permanent status in the Platinum Plate Club, as a Chompion. They would eventually review it proper again in episode 90, putting this discrepancy to rest.* -ed.]

## Last Meal

In this segment, the guest shares what foods he would like for his last meal. Mitch comes up with the scenario in which they are sentenced to die.

In a dystopian future where Boston Celtics fans have taken over the world and Lakers merchandise is punishable by death, one man has the courage to continue wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey. Armen Weitzman is that man. Sentenced to death by being dunked in a vat of acid by Kobe Bryant himself, Armen must choose his last meal.

Armen's choices:

* a 20-piece Chicken McNuggets with BBQ Sauce (McDonald's)
* naengmyeon
* his Mom's fried chicken
* omakase sushi platter / toro handroll
* tonkotsu ramen
* In-N-Out burger (dessert)
* vanilla malt (dessert)
* Coke

## The Feedbag

2. If you're stuck in the hellish reality where a restaurant has completely stopped service to sing the person you are sitting with "Happy Birthday" and serve them one slice of cake, do you also go ahead and order dessert?
3. Who has your favorite chain restaurant birthday production? I would like to nominate the Texas Roadhouse who drag over a saddle bolted to a child's booster seat and routinely make adults climb aboard while the server encourages the entire restaurant to whoop and holler like a bunch of disgusting pig farmers.
Love the podcast. Fuck Quincy, Sean from Brockton.

## Related Episodes

* 43. Burger Brawl: Semi-soft Finals 1
* 46. Burger Brawl: Finals
* 90. In-N-Out Burger 2
* DD. Secret Menu
* 174. Octdoughberblessed: Chick-fil-A vs. In-N-Out
* 196. Mouth of the Border: Finals
* 269. In-N-Out Burger 3
* 69. Yogurtland
* 95. Chicken Fight: Semi-soft Finals 1
* 97. Chicken Fight: Finals
* DD. Mac Attack: Round of 32, Part 1