In-N-Out provides affordable food with a lively late-night atmosphere
By LORENA ALVAREZ — features@theaggie.org
In-N-Out is a favorite at UC Davis not only for its late hours of operation — 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. — but also because of the quality of its food. Whether students are looking for a late-night snack or a meal after a long day of studying, In-N-Out is there to provide excellent service at a reasonable price.
Melanie Maldonado, a first-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major, explained why she thought In-N-Out won “best late night snack” with a leading 32.6% vote for the fifth time in eight years.
“It’s one of the few places that’s open later at night and they have efficient service. The quality of the food is still really good regardless of when you go,” Maldonado said. “Most of the fast food places that are open are the big food chains and I feel like In-N-Out is one of the higher quality foods that doesn’t make you feel icky afterward.”
Maldonado went on to recall a fond memory she has of In-N-Out, depicting how a fast food restaurant can be a place of community for UC Davis students.
“The first time I visited In-N-Out in Davis, I was with my dad when he dropped me off for school. Everybody was sitting with their parents so it was kind of nice to see everyone getting dropped off,” Maldonado said. “It was kind of sad but it made me realize that everybody’s just going through the same thing. So it’s like we’re all going through this together.”
When asked what makes In-N-Out stand out from other fast food restaurants, Alec Gossage, a fourth-year cinema, digital media and communications major commented on the “speed” of the service.
“It’s still fast when it’s late instead of being slow like most places in Davis,” Gossage said.
Tania Shahvali, a fourth-year pharmaceutical chemistry major, noted In-N-Out’s quality control.
“They have factories that produce their meat in California [and Texas] and they cannot have stores outside of a certain radius,” Shahvali said. “This means that all of their stores get the same fresh meat, [so] you will get the same quality food at whichever In-N-Out location you go to.”
Shahvali went on to address In-N-Out’s location, noting its proximity to the frat houses and its drive-through.
“I’ve gone to In-N-Out after some frat parties and it’s right [near some of the houses] so people normally just walk there, right from the frat houses,” Shahvali said. “[The drive-through] is a pretty bad setup. […] but I think its location and its good service at 1 am is one of its best things.”
Jaylynn Velhagen-Dizon, a fourth-year digital media and English double major, further spoke on In-N-Out’s quality and affordable pricing.
“I love that it’s cheap,” Velhagen-Dizon said. “I think that a lot of fast food, especially now, is becoming overpriced for poor quality. In-N-Out is a decent price for good quality. To me, In-N-Out has burgers you could make at home, which makes it feel a little bit more fresh.”
While In-N-Out is valued for its more affordable pricing, it is important to note that it is not vegan-friendly. Customers can request veggie burgers or french fries but should still beware of the potential for cross-contamination. That said, it is an excellent late-night spot for college students looking for quick and affordable service as well as company from fellow late-night snackers.
Written by: Lorena Alvarez — features@theaggie.org
