Perhaps the superior of the Animal Style options, these fries had a surge of flavor from the addition of cheese, caramelized onions, and the chain's signature spread. They were absolutely delicious.
Since In-N-Out's fries aren't salty and are cooked in neutral sunflower oil, they perfectly paired with the thick sauce.
The potatoes were softer than most fast-food fries, giving way for a mouthfeel that reminded me of a potluck side dish.
The potatoes weren't the star, but rather a vessel for all of the delicious toppings, so the combination of savory, sweet caramelized onions, tangy dressing, diced pickles, and melted cheese may be yummy enough to win over those who despise the soft texture.
This option was quite messy, though. And I'd recommend sharing this order with a friend because it needs to be eaten fresh. When trying it for this review, the cheese eventually got kind of gross and clumped together with the spread.
And at room temperature, the limp structure of the fries became more apparent, and they developed an unusual leftover-food taste, but you can order your fries well done to avoid this.
Many other chains have cheese fries, which are wonderful and delicious in their own right, but none are quite doing it like In-N-Out.
Whenever friends ask me what to order, I always say Animal Style fries.