In-N-Out Burger Clogs Neighbors' Arteries

Calif. town battles traffic, obesity

(NEWSER) - The California town that gave the world its first drive-thru restaurant has banned the construction of new ones for at least 9 months. Officials in Baldwin Park, birthplace of the cult classic In-N-Out Burger chain that revolutionized fast food, say the move will both ease traffic congestion and help tackle the obesity epidemic. More»

405 closure leads to crazy discounts, viral videos, possible flash mobs

(NEWSER) - LA residents are planning to flee or hunker down this weekend as a 10-mile stretch of the 405, one of the nation's busiest freeways, shuts down for 53 hours. For non-Angelenos: This is a big deal, hence the nicknames "Carmageddon" and "Carpocalypse." Some of the most amusing developments:

• Some businesses are offering discounts to woo customers tempted to stay home, the Wall Street Journal reports. A pet photog who makes house calls will give you 20% off with her "4-0-fido" deal. A tattoo shop on a sure-to-be-clogged thoroughfare is offering 15% off. One restaurant will serve a $40.05 four-course meal; a bar is offering $5 Irish Car Bombs and Cadillac Margaritas.
• JetBlue ran a "Fly Over the 405" special—$4 one-way tickets between Burbank and Long Beach, a 40-mile, 20-minute trip. That sold out in less than four hours, the Los Angeles Times notes, but you can still snag a $150 luxury helicopter ride over the traffic snarl, the WSJ adds.

California chain in-N-Out Burger wins top honors

(NEWSER) - The people at Food & Wine , given the taxing task of singling out America's best burger, from roadside joints to posh restaurants serving Kobe beef burgers, have picked the top 25. First prize goes to cheeseburgers from West Coast chain In-N-Out Burger , famed for its made-to-order burgers of Harris Ranch beef—and its employee-centered personnel policies. The rest of the top 5:

• Minetta Tavern, New York City. Its Black Label Burger, made from a blend of dry-aged rib eye, skirt steak, brisket and short rib, is topped with caramelized onions.

A controversial bit of luxury, in a bun, for $6.50

(NEWSER) - The Double Down it's not: A French fast-food chain will sell a cheap foie gras burger, mixing high and low cuisine for a brief holiday promotion, Reuters reports. Consumers will be able to get a bit of duck liver in a conventional hamburger for about $6.50—a steal for the normally luxe spread. More»

Sadly, it's not as exciting as it sounds

(NEWSER) - Just in case KFC’s Double Down isn’t sufficiently artery-clogging for you, Carl’s Jr. has the solution: A footlong cheeseburger. Creatively dubbed the “Footlong Cheeseburger,” the $4 sandwich is being tested in at least one California restaurant, the Orange County Register reports. The good news: The sandwich actually sticks out of the to-go bag. The bad news: Rather than crafting an actual footlong burger, Carl's Jr. employs three normal-size patties. More»