Just a burger, only a burger

I've had my fair share of delicious food from all over the world but when it comes down to it, growing up as an "All-American Boy" as my Government teacher used to call me, I love burgers. Pizzas are still the love of my life, but burgers are a very close second. Today I was looking for a falafel place in Westwood called Westwood Burgers & Falafel and for the life of me I couldn't find it! I was driving up and down Westwood Blvd and almost got into a few accidents before giving up and going to In-n-Out on Gayley Ave.

I waited for almost twenty-five minutes in that dreaded line of what must be the slowest In-n-Out drive through in the world. The prices are up - exactly $6 including tax. I remember paying around $4 when I was in high school. Still not a bad price, except for those fries.

Everyone has strong opinions about the In-n-Out fries but the majority would say that they're soggy and uninspiring. I agree. While fresh out of the fryer they're half-decent when properly seasoned, in about fourteen seconds they become limp and oily, like the ones I had today. So not only is the Westwood In-n-Out slow, they're incompetent. Strike two.

The one thing I like about In-N-Out is that regulars know "their" burger almost like Starbucks customers know their latte or coffee drink. Some people go simple and get a cheeseburger and fries. Others know about "animal style" or go low carb with the lettuce-wrapped burger. Some crazies order more than two patties and cheese slices, sometimes up to 10. My friend Noah once had a 10 X 10 as they're called. That's disgusting.

I rarely venture away from my preferred burger configuration. I always order grilled onions of some sort with my Double-Double, averting the strong flavor of the raw onion. Today I got a whole grilled onion, which gives the burger a wonderful half-crunch and sweetness. While the fries are passable, there's something to be said about the burger. It's about the perfect size, with the Double-Double having just the right amount of meat.

The cheese is oozy and rich. The buns are soft, spongy, and grilled on the inside giving a slight toasted texture. The vegetables are rather bland though the aforementioned onion and juicy tomato do add some freshness and crunch. The sauce is essentially a mayo-thousand island dressing. Together, you get an old-fashioned pack of perfection - a simple joy to eat. East Coasters have Sonic and Dunkin Donuts. We have In-N-Out. And while Sonic's got half a million choices for drink, there's essentially just one delicious burger at In-N-Out. No bacon, no chili, no mustard, no arugula, no maytag blue cheese, no truffles, no foie gras, no short ribs, and no buffalo meat. Just one good burger.

photo courtesty flickr