In-N-Out Burger customers will pay a lot more for their favorite burgers. The restaurant has announced that it is no longer offering a popular discount menu hack. Let’s take a look at what happened.
In-N-Out Burger No Longer Has a Secret Discount ‘Hack’
A recent story published in the Los Angeles Times revealed that devoted customers once had a “secret menu hack” that would allow them to pay less for their fast-food treats. The “Flying Dutchman” is a popular burger that consists of two beef patties and two slices of cheese, with no bun. However, it is not on the In-N-Out Burger menu because it is one of the company’s secret menu items.
In California restaurants, the burger costs $5.50, a few cents less than the ubiquitous “Double-Double.” Some customers, however, would just order two patties and two pieces of cheese, resulting in a roughly 50% discount on what is effectively a Flying Dutchman without specifying the name.
But In-N-Out Burger execs have caught onto the “hack,” according to a Reddit post on the matter, and now, the cost of the individual patties and cheese is the same as simply ordering a Flying Dutchman.
“The new price of a meat and cheese patty will be aligned with Flying Dutchman pricing — a meat and cheese patty will be half the price of a Flying Dutchman,” according to the March 20 memo from In-N-Out Chief Operating Officer Denny Warnick. This means that two patties and two slices of cheese, which is the equal of a Flying Dutchman, will be charged the same price.
The cost of adding a single patty or cheese slice to a standard burger will not change.
“Please be sensitive to any disappointment on behalf of our Customers,” the memo continues. “They are our Number One, and this change may take them by surprise.”
Habit Burger & Grill: Its Competition
Adding to In-N-Out Burger’s recent woes is the muscling in of its longtime competitor, Habit Burger & Grill, to the NoCal area.
Habit Burger & Grill, headquartered in Southern California, intends to open a new location in the Mendocino County capital.
The Denny’s property at 105 Pomeroy St., which has been vacant since the diner shuttered in the summer of 2023, will house the new restaurant. The building renovation application was formally submitted earlier this month, and the approval procedure is underway.
In an email to SF Gate, Jesse Davis, the city of Ukiah’s chief planning manager, revealed that Habit Burger’s parent business, UK 105 Investments LLC, submitted for a Minor Site Development Permit on March 10.
“Since the closure of Denny’s in 2023, the City has responded to several inquiries and facilitated multiple pre-development meetings related to the parcel and its signage allowances,” Davis said. “The project is currently scheduled for review by the Design Review Board on March 27, 2025, which will provide a recommendation to the City’s Zoning Administrator. That hearing is anticipated to take place in mid-April.”
The rivalry between In-N-Out Burger and Habit Burger & Grill is viewed as an opportunity to boost the local economy, and as such, the officials are welcoming it with open arms. “As a rural community, attracting businesses like Habit Burger and Hobby Lobby isn’t just about adding new shopping and dining options—it’s about creating opportunities for our local businesses to thrive,” said Mo Mulheren, Second District supervisor, to SF Gate.
“Increased foot traffic means more customers exploring our unique boutiques, restaurants, and services, strengthening our local economy. By welcoming well-known retailers while continuing to support our small businesses, we can build a balanced and vibrant marketplace that benefits everyone,” Mulheren added.
