Fast Casual Burgers · Tool Face-Off

Shake Shack vs In-N-Out Burger

Quick answer

In-N-Out wins on value and cult simplicity; Shake Shack wins on menu variety and urban vibes. Your wallet and your Instagram will disagree on which is better.

Our pick

Shake Shack

Upscale street food with a side of FOMO

3.7★

In-N-Out Burger

West Coast gospel served through a drive-thru window

3.5★

Avg. Burger Price

$8-10

$3-5

Locations (US)

~500+

~400 (West Coast & select states)

Drive-Thru Available

Yes

Secret Menu

Unofficial hacks only

Legendary 'Animal Style' official secret menu

Veggie Burger Option

Yes (Shroom Burger)

Grilled Cheese only (no real veggie patty)

Milkshake Quality

Hand-spun, premium flavors

Classic, simple, consistent

Chicken Sandwich

Yes, multiple options

Crinkle-Cut Fries

Yes

No (fresh-cut, polarizing)

Animal Welfare Commitment

Publishes sourcing standards

Privately held, less transparency

Calories (standard burger)

~500 kcal (ShackBurger)

~480 kcal (Double-Double)

Mobile App Ordering

Yes, with rewards program

Yes, basic ordering

Founded

2004, NYC Madison Square Park

1948, Baldwin Park CA

Shake Shack

Availability★★★☆☆

Menu Variety★★★★½

Burger Quality★★★★½

Sides & Extras★★★★½

Value for Money★★½☆☆

Speed of Service★★★☆☆

Vegetarian Options★★★★☆

In-N-Out Burger

Availability★★½☆☆

Menu Variety★★½☆☆

Burger Quality★★★★½

Sides & Extras★★★½☆

Value for Money★★★★★

Speed of Service★★★★☆

Vegetarian Options★★½☆☆

Worth knowing

In-N-Out pays its workers significantly above fast-food average, starting above $20/hr in CA.
Shake Shack started as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park before becoming a global chain.
In-N-Out prints Bible verses on the inside of its cups and burger wrappers — quietly faith-based since 1987.
Shake Shack went public on the NYSE in 2015 and its stock popped 119% on day one.
In-N-Out has never franchised a single location — every store is company-owned.

In-N-Out's menu is so small it fits on a Post-it note, yet people write entire Reddit essays debating the perfect 'Animal Style' order combination.

If you want

You want the most burger for your buck

A Double-Double with fries and a shake costs less than a single ShackBurger alone.

→ Pick In-N-Out Burger

If you want

You live outside the West Coast or Texas

In-N-Out simply isn't there yet — Shake Shack is rapidly expanding nationwide and internationally.

→ Pick Shake Shack

If you want

You're vegetarian or want menu variety

The Shroom Burger and rotating specials give non-meat-eaters a real reason to show up.

→ Pick Shake Shack

If you want

You want the definitive American burger pilgrimage experience

Animal Style fries, a Double-Double, and a chocolate shake is a bucket-list meal with a $10 price tag.

→ Pick In-N-Out Burger

Shake ShackVSWhataburger

Fast Food Restaurants

Shake ShackVSFive Guys

Fast Food

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Shake Shack vs In-N-Out Burger

Shake Shack

In-N-Out Burger

Worth knowing

More face-offs like this