Ah, Portland—a city of craft breweries, artisanal coffee, and food trucks so creative they could rival fine dining. From freshly baked sourdough pizza to perfectly crafted burgers from local joints that actually care about flavor, we’ve got options. So when news broke that In-N-Out Burger is setting up shop near Portland International Airport, my reaction wasn’t exactly excitement. Their burgers? They’re not bad. But amazing? Let’s not kid ourselves. I just don’t understand the frenzy.
According to city planning records, the California-based chain plans to build a restaurant on a vacant lot at NE Airport Way and NE Holman Street. The design includes 61 parking spaces and a drive-thru lane capable of holding up to 31 cars. Because apparently, the ultimate Portland vibe is sitting in traffic, waiting for a burger that’s fine… but not worth a 45-minute wait.
Currently, there are four In-N-Out locations in Oregon, but none in Portland—until now. And while some people are practically giddy at the thought of a "double-double" within city limits, I’m left scratching my head. Portland already has an abundance of top-notch burger joints offering everything from locally sourced grass-fed beef to next-level plant-based patties. So why all the fuss over a fast-food chain?
To be fair, I get why In-N-Out has its fans. Their burgers are simple, consistent, and a step above many other fast-food options. Their "animal style" fries have a cult following, though calling a pile of fries drenched in Thousand Island dressing and cheese "legendary" feels like a stretch. It’s good fast food, sure—but is it good enough to inspire hour-long drive-thru lines and Instagram-worthy levels of devotion? Not really.
Portland, a city known for its creativity and culinary innovation, isn’t exactly the kind of place where chain restaurants thrive. That said, In-N-Out isn’t bad, and I’ll admit it’s better than some of the alternatives. But is it worth the hype? For me, it’s about as exciting as standing in line at Voodoo for an overhyped donut—fine if you’re a tourist, but not something locals are clamoring for.
The project is still in the planning stages, so there’s no set opening date yet. But judging by the chaos at their other locations, you can expect plenty of traffic jams and overexcited Instagram posts when the doors finally open.
FOX 12 mentions they reached out to In-N-Out for comment, but honestly, what more is there to say? It’s a burger chain. It’ll serve decent burgers and fries to anyone willing to wait for them. If that’s your thing, great. For the rest of us, there are plenty of other options in town that make the In-N-Out hype seem, well, overcooked.
Once operational, this location will be In-N-Out's fourth in Oregon, with another in development in Ridgefield, Washington, signaling continued expansion for the popular burger chain in the Pacific Northwest.
