What Is Animal Style at In-N-Out? Burger, Fries and Cost
Animal Style at In-N-Out means the burger patty is cooked with mustard, then topped with extra spread, pickles and grilled onions. It is the most popular item on the chain’s “Not So Secret Menu.” You can also order Animal Style fries, which come with melted cheese, spread and grilled onions.
If you have wondered “what is animal style” or “what does animal style mean at In-N-Out,” this guide covers what you get, what it costs, how to order it and how to copy it at home. For full prices, see our In-N-Out menu with prices.
What Animal Style adds to a burger
An Animal Style burger has four changes compared with a standard In-N-Out burger. Each one is simple, but together they make the burger tangier, richer and messier.
- Mustard-cooked patty: mustard goes on the beef as it sears on the grill, which gives it a tangy crust.
- Extra spread: a double dose of the house Thousand Island style sauce, made from mayonnaise, ketchup and sweet pickle relish.
- Pickles: sliced pickles are added to the usual lettuce and tomato.
- Grilled onions: onions are cooked soft on the grill instead of served raw.
It works on any burger: a Hamburger, a Cheeseburger, a Double-Double or a bigger stack. If you only want part of the style, ask for a mustard-grilled patty on its own.
What are Animal Style fries?
Animal Style fries are regular In-N-Out fries topped with melted cheese, spread and grilled onions. They arrive as a messy, shareable pile, so many people ask for a fork. Some fans go one step further with “ultimate” Animal Style, which adds crumbled patty on top, though not every crew will know that name.
How to order Animal Style
You order Animal Style by saying it out loud at the counter or the drive-thru speaker. In-N-Out has no mobile ordering, and its owner said in 2026 that the chain has no plans to add it, so there is no app button for this.
- Name the burger first, then the style. For example: “A Double-Double Animal Style.”
- For fries, say “Animal Style fries,” or ask for the fries Animal Style in your combo.
- Add any other tweaks in the same sentence, such as “Protein Style” or “fries well-done.”
Every In-N-Out is company-owned, so the order is understood across the chain. Check which states have In-N-Out to see where you can try it.
How much does Animal Style cost?
Animal Style costs about $1.50 extra on a burger, based on the price data on our menu page. Animal Style fries are about $5.45, compared with about $2.75 for plain fries and about $3.95 for cheese fries. Prices vary by state and store, so treat these as typical.
Does Animal Style add calories?
Yes, a little on the burger and a lot on the fries. A standard Double-Double has about 610 calories. A nutrition database lists a Double-Double Animal Style at about 670 calories, so the style adds around 60. The same database lists Animal Style fries at about 750 calories, against about 360 for plain fries. These Animal Style figures are not on In-N-Out’s own menu board, so use them as estimates.
Animal Style and the other “not so secret” orders
Animal Style is one of several custom orders that In-N-Out lists on its website. Here is a quick table of the main ones.
| Item | What you get | How to order |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Style burger | Mustard-cooked patty, extra spread, pickles, grilled onions | “[Burger name] Animal Style” |
| Animal Style fries | Fries with melted cheese, spread and grilled onions | “Animal Style fries” |
| Protein Style | Lettuce wrap instead of a bun | “[Burger name] Protein Style” |
| 3×3 or 4×4 | Three or four patties with three or four slices of cheese | “A 3×3” or “A 4×4” |
| Flying Dutchman | Two patties and two slices of cheese, no bun or veggies | “A Flying Dutchman” |
| Grilled Cheese | Melted cheese, lettuce, tomato and spread on a bun, no patty | “A Grilled Cheese” |
| Fries well-done or light | Crispier or paler fries | “Fries well-done” or “light” |
| Neapolitan shake | Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry in one cup | “A Neapolitan shake” |
The 3×3 and 4×4 are the largest stacks the chain lists. Beyond these, be careful with viral orders. Reports say names like “Monkey Style” or “Doggy Style” fries are made up, and staff may not honor them. For more orders, read our guide to fast food secret menus.
Where the name Animal Style comes from
The name goes back to 1961, according to In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyder’s book. Rowdy regulars who honked horns and played loud music were nicknamed “animals” by the staff. One night, one of them saw a manager, Theo Roberts, make a mustard-fried burger for himself with pickles, grilled onions and extra spread. He asked for one, loved it, and was told to just call it “Animal Style.” The book calls it the first known secret menu item at In-N-Out.
How to make Animal Style at home
You can get close to the real thing with a skillet and a few pantry items. This is a home version, not the official recipe.
- Make the spread. Stir together mayonnaise, ketchup and sweet pickle relish. Chill it.
- Cook the onions. Slice an onion thin and cook it over medium heat until soft and golden.
- Sear the patty with mustard. Cook a thin beef patty on a hot pan. Squirt yellow mustard on the raw side, then flip it so the mustard cooks into the meat.
- Add cheese on top for the last minute if you like.
- Build it. On a toasted bun, stack spread, lettuce, tomato, pickles, the patty and the onions, then add more spread.
For fries, bake or fry them, then top with melted American cheese, a spoonful of spread and the same grilled onions.
Is Animal Style worth it?
For about $1.50 it is a cheap upgrade with a big change in flavor. If you want fewer calories, ask for Protein Style, which swaps the bun for lettuce. Compare other chains too: see how the Five Guys little burger compares with the regular, or browse the Five Guys menu, the Whataburger menu and the Shake Shack menu.
Frequently asked questions
What is Animal Style at In-N-Out?
Animal Style is a custom order where the patty is cooked with mustard and the burger gets extra spread, pickles and grilled onions. It is listed on In-N-Out’s Not So Secret Menu and works on any burger.
How much is Animal Style at In-N-Out?
Animal Style costs about $1.50 extra on a burger, and Animal Style fries cost about $5.45. These are typical prices from our menu data, and they vary by location.
What are Animal Style fries?
Animal Style fries are fries topped with melted cheese, spread and grilled onions. They are messy, so many people ask for a fork.
What is in Animal Style sauce?
There is no separate Animal Style sauce. The burger gets extra of the regular In-N-Out spread, a Thousand Island style sauce made from mayonnaise, ketchup and sweet relish.
Can you get Animal Style at any In-N-Out?
Yes, every In-N-Out restaurant makes Animal Style, because the chain lists it on its website as part of the Not So Secret Menu. Check which states have In-N-Out to find a location.
Why is it called Animal Style?
It is named after rowdy regulars the staff called animals in the early 1960s. One of them asked for the mustard-fried burger a manager made for himself, and he was told to call it Animal Style.
How many calories are in an Animal Style burger?
A Double-Double Animal Style has about 670 calories, roughly 60 more than the standard 610, according to a nutrition database. Animal Style fries are listed at about 750 calories.
Can you order Animal Style on the In-N-Out app?
No, In-N-Out has no mobile ordering and its owner said in 2026 there are no plans to add it. Order Animal Style in person or at the drive-thru.
Prices are typical U.S. prices before tax and can vary by location. Menus Info is not affiliated with any restaurant mentioned. See how we check prices.
