A viral video purporting to show a “secret menu item” at In-N-Out is drawing criticism from In-N-Out employees, many of whom say the “secret” item isn’t something they actually make.
The viral post, from an account called @HungryHotline, claimed that In-N-Out customers can order their burger “Monkey Style” — meaning it comes topped with animal-style fries. (Animal-style fries, which are indeed on the restaurant’s not-so-secret menu, are just fries topped with cheese, caramelized onions and burger spread.) The video, posted July 6, has since been viewed over 4.6 million times on Instagram alone.
“I wish y’all would stop posting this [because In-N-Out] will never have this,” one viewer commented. “I worked there for 5 years and it’s so annoying when people post viral videos like this and there’s an influx of people asking for [it].”
A couple of self-proclaimed workers further claimed that In-N-Out’s employees will “laugh at you” if you try to order such an item. Others simply instructed viewers to order a burger and animal-style fries separately, and assemble as they wish.
But the final blow came from none other than Lynsi Snyder herself, the owner of In-N-Out Burger.
Last week, Snyder responded to the post with two emojis: a skeptical face (with a raised eyebrow) and a thumbs down.
“Thanks for exposing these fake menu items,” one fan responded.
“Ur my hero,” another said.
Oddly enough, the myth of the “monkey-style” burger at In-N-Out has persisted for over a decade. The idea is believed to have been started by a blogger at FoodBeast, but it has been routinely debunked time and time again.
“There is no such thing,” an executive at In-N-Out Burger told the Los Angeles Times in 2013. “It seems to be a story that originated somewhere in cyberspace. For a variety of reasons, we’re unable to prepare burgers in the manner that a few websites have described as ‘monkey style.’”
An In-N-Out employee, during a 2016 AMA session (“ask me anything”), even said one of his biggest pet peeves is people ordering an item “they heard about online that doesn’t exist.”
“Monkey style fries/burger is not a thing,” the employee said.