In-N-Out Burger in Tokyo

Earlier Today, the ZipZap restaurant in the Harajuku area of Tokyo was transformed into Japan’s only In-N-Out Burger.

According to Twitter users, it was a special one day event, meant to research the Japanese market. Here are some photos from people who ate there:

I hope the research yielded the desired results, so we could soon see actual In-N-Out Burger restaurants open in Japan!

[Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

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39 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - March 28, 2012 at 6:20 pm

Categories: General Japan Tags: Harajuku, In-N-Out Burger, tokyo

Anonymous

I miss my In-N-Out!! The company has been doing a mini-tour of Asia recently: they stopped by here in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Seoul as well. I doubt they’ll open up stores in these three locales because what makes In-N-Out In-N-Out is the amazing supply chain (company owned farms I believe) that deliver fresh veggies and meat throughout the day. I don’t think they could do the proper quality control in HK, Mainland China, or Korea. In Japan on the other hand, a country already known for being a stickler for quality, I think it might be entirely possible.
Ap

“I hope the research yielded the desired results, so we could soon see actual In-N-Out Burger restaurants open in Japan!”

What !? And why ??
- Ap
  
  Just to clarify; I meant “why would you want more fast food crap in any country !?”.
  Also, the abundance of photos for this article makes it seem like and advertisement, than anything else.
  - Jorg
    
    ” Just to clarify; I meant “why would you want more fast food crap in any country !?”.”
    
    Clearly you’ve never had In-N-Out. It is far from “fast food crap”.
    - http://thehopefulmonster.wordpress.com/ Sublight
      
      “It is far from “fast food crap”.”
      
      You mean they take a long time to make it?
      
      I tried it once in Hawaii many years back, and there was nothing about it that stood out from any run-of-the-mill burger joint. Like Krispy Kreme, In-N-Out is far more marketing than substance.
      - Pockypimp
        
        There’s no In-N-Out in Hawaii. They’re only in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and now Texas.
        
        http://thehopefulmonster.wordpress.com/ Sublight
        
        Ok, maybe it was a Carl Jr. and I misremembered.
        
        Either case, one of those burger chains that weren’t in New England back before I came to Japan.
      - KenKen
        
        Hahahha, funny when you don’t know where you were and making comments about a place you have never been to. genius.
      - Ben Smith
        
        you mean far less marketing. actually in n out doesn’t spend anything on advertising. they’re one of the few major companies in the world that can get by purely on word of mouth of their customers who buy stickers and tshirts. mcdonald spends billions on advertising for their crap burgers, and in n out makes billions without advertising because of their amazing burgers
  - Ben Smith
    
    in n out is the best burger in the world, hands down. i’ve had burgers from restaurants all across america and not a one comes close to the double double, animal style. its simply the perfect recipe.
Ken Yasumoto-Nicolson

Instagram photos are ugly and cliched, seeing them one after another like that.
- TheSammer
  
  Seems to me like every Instagram-user thinks he/she is an artist. I also can’t really understand the hype behind the upcoming Android version.
Adrianojapan

Junk food is always my savior in strange countries.
- KenKen
  
  We all live in strange countries.. so that means we always have a good place to eat.
Hamachiman

Wow I didn’t know Japan had one. Being from California, I grew up eating these in the L.A. area. I know some don’t care for it but to me the taste matches the hype. Great tasting burgers, my favorite fries.
Anonymous

in and out in japan… how long have i lived in Florida and been deprived of

Bluebell icecreamIn-n-out
sonic (closest is a 3hr drive)
What-a-burger

I want this stuff closer to me!
Jelo

That’s quite a phallic looking logo, with a equally suggestive name. Good thing they don’t sell hot dogs… Those burgers look rank btw.
- Markinsdsw
  
  Since I know what they taste like they don’t look rank to me. I think the only chain with better tasting burgers is Carl’s Jr
- Can4chiefs
  
  Most people in the 1940’s didn’t have their minds in the gutter, that’s when they started.
- Ben Smith
  
  LOL i never noticed that but yeah
Trejkaz (pen name)

When they did this in Sydney, it sold out before it opened.
Lebeeep

In-n-out is still a family owned restaurant originally from southern California, so you only see them in the west coast. They do not franchise out so they have not branched out too far in the USA, their quality is always miles ahead of any fast food chain…I hope they never lose the quality just to make money. <3
- Can4chiefs
  
  They didn’t open in the Dallas area until they had their farm/ranch set up, so they still never freeze anything and it’s as fresh as the California In-N=Out’s. I drove 3 hrs yesterday to have one!
- Ben Smith
  
  there are services so you can get one delivered anywhere in the world for 50$. But a place called crunchbutton just opened up so in certain parts of LA you can get it delivered for like 3$
Lans

Oh man I hope they end up putting one in here! It seems strange that Japan would get one before lots of other places though… given the distance and drastic differences in business etiquette. I am definitely crossing my fingers though. Is there a webpage to update about these one day trials here before they happen?
- Tony D
  
  Australian here, ever since I saw it in the movie Harold and Kumar I’ve wanted to try it
Eda

It’s only a matter of time before Japan has Chick-Fil-A and Chipotle.
Aaron

When ColdStone came, and there were 2 hour lines, I was like “meh”. I still haven’t gone. When Krispy Kreme came, and there were 2 hour lines, I thought, “I’ll get some later”; and, once the lines went down, I did, and I was like “Did I used to like these?”

If In-N-Out, I’d camp out the night before and then eat it while standing in line to get a second. Double Double, onions, extra spread. And Animal-Style Fries. Now, please. The only thing better would be authentic SoCal/Baja style Mexican food, but that’s even less likely to happen.
- Calkyu
  
  Completely agree with you Aaron!
shirley

COME TO ME in-n-out!!!!
LARockerInJapan

lol@816b474a313b8cf28d015e7cddbae701:disqus “fast food crap”. Considering the fact that McDonald’s in Japan is far superior to McDonald’s in America I’d say In-N-Out has the potential to thrive here. Wendy’s, Burger King – regarding In-N-out in Japan, it’s only a matter of 時間。
Ap

Just because it tastes better, doesn’t mean it’s healthier…
- Can4chiefs
  
  The food they use comes from their own farms, it’s never frozen, no trans fats, no artificial anything and it’s always been that way. The menu hasn’t changed in over 60 years. They are still family owned and they are now in Texas, the Dallas area. I just drove 3 hours yesterday to have an In-N-Out. You obviously have never eaten there or know anything about the company, they are not a franchise fast food business.
Adamclayton

Although this may have something to do with market research, it’s believed to be more about protecting the trademarks that they got recently from Caliburger. (INO didn’t register their trademarks worldwide, so Caliburger snapped them up in Asia and Eastern Europe.) Have to use them every so often or lose them, so expect these popups every rare while.
- Muncher
  
  They have a “knock off” that is about 80% in Bahrain called “Easy take out burger”. It’s not bad, but it’s not In-N-Out. I grew up on double-doubles. Eat burgers all over the world. Still haven’t got one that is continually better. If they only added bacon as an option, I think they would beat everyone out there…. Animal Fries. What can I say.
http://www.robinsbbq.com/catering-menu.html BBQ catering

The best in and out burger in Tokyo,With high quality and the lots of varieties at a very good price range.
bernician

this is some american chain i take it?
Cheap chips!
- KenKen
  
  This is a family run company. Not a chain as you may think. Try it before you make a comment about something you know nothing about. But yes, it is still just a burger.
Calkyu

4 X 4 Animal Style.. See so understands this one. Love IN N’ OUT…. plus, I’m not one for fast food.

In-N-Out Burger in Tokyo

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