Down-N-Out is an Australian tribute to the classic In-N-Out burger

The cult of In-N-Out burger is not reserved for those lucky enough to live near one, it is a worldwide phenomenon.

Its outlets are concentrated on America's west coast and in Texas, meaning fans who don't live near one would need had to travel thousands of miles to get a bit of that fresh taste. 

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From time to time, the burger chain opens pop-up restaurants around the globe. At In-N-Out's last Australian pop-up, fans spent hours waiting in scorching heat to get their fix. Suffice it to say: It's not easy being an In-N-Out fan.

An Australian cover of In-N-Out

Like the hundreds of pub cover bands that have mimicked American acts in the years gone by, Down-N-Out is a heartfelt Australian tribute to a Californian classic. It's a burger pop-up open for two weeks at the Sir John Young Hotel, an unflashy pub in Sydney's city centre.

At Down-N-Out, you can get yourself a homage of the chain's famous double-double, which you can have served "tiger style" (similar to In-N-Out's animal style). This option adds mustard-cooked patties, pickles, extra Thousand Island spread and grilled onions to your burger.

Image: mashable australia

Punters can even add bacon on a burger, while vegetarians can devour theirs with a soy-based "fake meat" patty. Both of these options are unheard of at the original In-N-Out, which doesn't have much variety.

Behind the pop up is Hashtag Burgers, a group who have been putting on burger related events around the city with the aid of established chefs. The creation of Down-N-Out is the result of the group always wanting their own restaurant.

"We always wanted to do our own thing, with our own chefs and space," Ben Kagan from Hashtag Burgers told Mashable Australia. 

Their take on the In-N-Out burger was spawned from the group's monthly event, Funk-N-Burgers, which have served up tributes to other famous burgers such as the Big Mac, the Whopper and White Castle sliders. 

Yet it was the group's In-N-Out tribute burger, the Down-N-Out, that got the most praise. "Everyone loved it," Kagan said.

It took the group six months to find the perfect location, with the restaurant opening in a space that combines all their passions. One thing is certain, it is nothing like an In-N-Out restaurant. "We didn't want to do it half arsed, as it's a big idea. We wanted to put all the things we love inside, like comic books and old hip hop. It looks like my bedroom actually," Kagan laughed.

Is it the same burger and fries as In-N-Out?

Not really, but that's not a bad thing at all. Mashable Australia got to try a double-double burger with added "tiger style" ahead of the pop up's launch on Wednesday.

Taste wise, it is very close to the original animal style In-N-Out burger, largely thanks to the Thousand Island sauce and sweet, intensely caramelised onion which makes the flavour pretty spot on. The spongy bun appears similar, and the thin, 120 gram patties are cooked through. It's just like In-N-Out, where it counts.

The key difference is the burger is larger in size compared to the original, which is something that will cause alarm to purists. That's an intentional decision, however. "We don't want to just rip it off, we wanted to make it a substantial burger," Kagan said. 

The pop up is also trying to set itself apart with its own "secret menu" that will be different to In-N-Out's iteration. 

Image: mashable australia

Also different is the price: It's A$10 (US$7.44) for the standard burger, A$14 (US$10.41) for the double-double, and A$3 (US$2.23) for fries. It's A$2 (US$1.49) extra if you want any of it "tiger style." 

It's definitely not the cheap and cheerful prices of In-N-Out, where you can get yourself a double-double meal for US$6.60 (A$8.87). But it is in Australia after all, where everything costs more — so deal with it. 

A pleasant difference, however, is the fries: They're excellent.

In-N-Out's fresh cut fries sound delicious on paper, but they're well known as being a stodgy, undercooked disappointment. One needs to order them well done for it to be palatable, but then it's like eating shards of glass.

Down-N-Out's fries appear the same, but are still crunchy and fluffy on the inside. The only thing we'd wish is more of that "tiger style" topping on the fries, because you can never have enough of that Thousand Island bliss.

Image: mashable australia

The food is spot on, but the romance isn't there

So, Down-N-Out have the product down pat. The only thing missing is the romance of being in an actual In-N-Out thousands of miles away. Yes, we know that's weird.

There is nothing quite like being jetlagged in an In-N-Out store complete with those white tiles, red seats, employees wearing funny paper hats and eating food with Bible citations on the packaging. It's those details that make the visit just a little more magical.

But like an impressive Pink Floyd or ABBA cover band, Down-N-Out is a spot on tribute to one of the world's most sought after burgers. 

It's the best Australian fans can expect. Considering In-N-Out hasn't even reached the eastern states of the U.S. let alone Down Under, and it isn't likely to happen in our lifetimes, if ever.