I ordered the same meal at In-N-Out and Culver’s. I couldn’t believe the chain I’d spent years raving about let me down.

In-N-Out, a California-based chain with about 400 locations in eight states, is known for its burgers, fries, and shakes. 

I arrived at a location in Irvine, California, for a late lunch at about 3 p.m. on a Wednesday. 

When I walked in, I saw people waiting for their orders near a bench next to the front counter, though plenty of customers were eating at the red and white booths in the dining area.

Once I placed my order, I grabbed my receipt and sat at one of the booths. About 10 minutes later, a staff member called my order number over a loudspeaker system.

After stopping at a counter to grab some ketchup, I was ready to dig in. I ordered a chocolate shake and In-N-Out’s cheeseburger combo, which came with a cheeseburger, fries, and a soft drink. Altogether, the meal cost about $13 after tax.

My cheeseburger, which had onion, tomato, lettuce, and In-N-Out’s own sauce, had a good flavor. I thought it seemed a little heavy on the toppings, but that may have been because the patty itself was so thin.

For me, the best part of the burger was the tangy sauce spread on the bottom bun. Overall, it was a satisfying main course.

Unlike many of the chain restaurants I’m used to dining at, In-N-Out’s fries are made from potatoes that are peeled and diced at each location.

The fries were long and skinny, with thin slivers of peel still visible. They were tasty, with the perfect amount of salt and hearty potato flavor I expect from a good side of fries. 

The shake was good, with a prominent chocolate flavor, but I didn’t find anything particularly special about it. 

If I were eating at In-N-Out again, I’m not sure if I’d order a chocolate shake.

I’ve visited Culver’s quite a few times and consider myself a fan of the Midwestern restaurant.

The Wisconsin-based chain, which has about 1,000 locations across 26 states, is best known for its ButterBurger, a burger served on a toasted bun spread with butter.

I arrived at a location in Downers Grove, Illinois, at about 6:30 p.m. on a Tuesday night.

When I walked into Culver’s, some customers were waiting for to-go orders by the front counter. I promptly placed my dine-in order with a staff member, who handed me a plastic plaque with a number on it to put on my table. 

I waited for my order in the dining room, which had mainly wooden tables and booths with gray and dark blue cushions. Less than 10 minutes later, a server came by with my tray of food.

I opted for Culver’s deluxe value basket, which typically comes with a ButterBurger, french fries, and a soft drink. However, I was able to substitute the usual soft drink with a medium chocolate shake, an option I didn’t have at In-N-Out.

This substitution added an extra $2.80 to the original $8.80 meal, bringing the final bill to just under $13 after tax.

I opted for the single-patty ButterBurger, which had tomato, pickles, lettuce, onion, and mayonnaise. When I picked it up, a lot of shredded lettuce spilled out the sides.

After a few bites, I thought the burger needed another condiment besides mayo, so I added ketchup.

This addition upgraded the burger’s flavor. I also got notes of butter from the bun and greasy beefiness from the patty as I ate.

The fries that came with my meal looked nice and crispy. When I bit into one, it had a good crunch, and the interior of the crinkle-cut fry was nice and fluffy.

Besides a little bit of salt, though, there really wasn’t much flavor.

When I got my shake, I noticed swirls of chocolate syrup at the bottom of the cup, so I tried my best to mix it in. 

In my opinion, this shake was underwhelming. It tasted sweet but didn’t pack as much chocolate flavor as I wanted.

When comparing the chains’ burgers and fries, I have to give it to In-N-Out.

I loved the sauce the burger came with and couldn’t get over how delicious and fresh-tasting the chain’s fries were. 

Though I can’t drive down the street and eat at In-N-Out, I’ll definitely be heading to a location the next time I’m in a state that has one.