Earlier this month, a debate broke out here at SpareFoot about the merits of In-N-Out Burger, the fast-food chain with the almost-cultish following. Why? Because two In-N-Out restaurants just opened in the Austin area, drawing long lines of customers longing for classics like the Double-Double with "secret" Animal Style sauce–and drawing battle lines among burger aficionados.
During the in-office food fight, one of my colleagues, Josh Tong, carried the banner for In-N-Out. (In fact, Josh slapped an In-N-Out sticker on the base of my computer screen while I was away on vacation. Thanks, Josh.) Other SpareFeet insisted that other Austin eateries serve much better burgers. So, via email, I polled the burger-loving folks at SpareFoot to find out which patties please our palates.
Mr. Tong cast the lone vote for In-N-Out as serving the best hamburgers in Austin. He recommended the Double-Double Animal Style accompanied by the chain's fresh-cut fries and pink lemonade.
Sorry, Josh, but you're outnumbered. Two other burger joints dominated the voting. A couple of SpareFeet even peppered their "ballots" with not-so-tasty remarks about your beloved In-N-Out.
For the record, Evan digs the burgers—especially "The Ends" and "El Jefe"—at an Austin spot called Billy's On Burnet. He sticks his tongue out at the glut of "fancy" burger places in Austin.
Tevis Paxton, a member of SpareFoot's Lead Development Team, also takes issue with In-N-Out. He maintains that a local chain called P. Terry's cooks up the best fast-food burger in Austin.
Tevis said he's chowed down on lots of In-N-Out burgers in California, where he attended boarding school, and lots of P. Terry's burgers in Austin, where he attended the University of Texas and where he now lives.
"P. Terry's has pretty much exactly the same menu as In-N-Out, only it's cheaper and local. Also, their fries are better," Tevis said.
"I'm sure if you asked P. Terry's to add extra cheese, onions and special sauce to your fries, they'd do it. Actually, I know they will, because I've had them do it before," Tevis said.
To be sure, P. Terry's enjoys a faithful following at SpareFoot. But several SpareFeet are just as passionate about locally owned Hopdoddy Burger Bar, which earns raves for its gourmet burgers. Craig Barrett, a member of our Paid Media Team, went so far as to award his first- and second-place votes to Hopdoddy.
James Gray, a member of SpareFoot's Lead Development Team, took a middle-of-the-menu stance in our internal burger battle.
Here's how other SpareFeet weighed in on this food feud.
"I am simple man," Albert acknowledged in making his choice.
"My favorite burger is the Ahi tuna burger from Hopdoddy. It sounds completely weird, but is actually one of the most delicious things you will ever experience in your life.
Feel free to disregard my recommendation, Craig, but here goes. The "Theta Special" burger at Hut's rocks. Why? It's smothered with pickles, mayo, grated cheddar and hickory sauce. For me, it's at least a three-napkin burger. And I savor every sloppy bite of it.