In‑N‑Out may never add online ordering or pickup. Here's why.

In-N-Out will not be going digital anytime soon, according to the California-based chain's owner.

Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, president and owner of the popular burger joint, said in a recent public interaction that she intends to keep In-N-Out operating the same way her grandparents did, without online ordering or pickup.

When asked about In-N-Out possibly going digital and embracing automation during a recent talk at Pepperdine University, Snyder-Ellingson straight up rejected the idea.

“We have, for sure, had that put in front of us, and the answer is no,” Snyder-Ellingson said during the conversation with Pepperdine University President Jim Gash, which was uploaded to YouTube on April 6. “The main reason is part of what makes In-N-Out and the experience so special is the interaction and the customer service that we’re able to give, the smile, the greeting. Just that warmth and feeling, the culture."

Following this notion, mobile ordering would take a piece of that away, and there’s also the "freshness factor," she added, referring to the food's ingredient quality, appearance, aroma and preparation time.

'Won't compromise our quality,' Snyder-Ellingson says

Earlier in the conversation, when asked about how she envisions her leadership, Snyder-Ellingson said her "passion in leading is making sure" she is "preserving the legacy of my grandparents and my family."

"I want to make them proud," Snyder-Ellingson said. "I want to champion everything that they would want."

When people pitch different ideas and methods to improve the business, Snyder-Ellingson said, "We just usually say, 'No thanks. We'll keep doing it the way we've done it for a long, long time, way before I was born.'"

"It's special because we don't want to compromise," Snyder-Ellingson continued. "There's good compromise, there's bad compromise. Compromising in relationships and lots of other ways are great, but we won't compromise our quality. We're not going to do things the quicker, easier way because it's easier for us. We want to do what's best for our customers. When we look at our mission purpose statement, it's like those are the things that anchor us to preserving that legacy and keeping the internet away."

When was In-N-Out founded? Are locations only in California?

In-N-Out operates more than 400 locations nationwide and employs roughly 27,000 people, according to the company,Forbes reports. It was founded as a 10-square-foot stand by Harry and Esther Snyder in Baldwin Park, California, in 1948.

While the company operates a majority of its locations in California, it has consistently opened restaurants in new states since the 1990s, steadily expanding beyond its home state, according to the chain. Tennessee has seen several openings since In-N-Out announced last year that it would close its Irvine, California, office and split its corporate workforce between California and Tennessee.

In October 2025, it announced another handful of openings in California, Colorado and Tennessee after Snyder tamped down hope of another East Coast expansion.

In a July 2025 appearance on the "Relatable" podcast, she cited logistics challenges, saying, "Florida has begged us, and we’re still saying no. The East Coast states, we’re still saying no."

In-N-Out CEO's go-to order

Meanwhile, during the chat at Pepperdine, Snyder-Ellingson also gave audiences insight into her go-to order at the family-owned burger chain.

“Double meat with fried mustard, extra spread, pickles and chopped chilis only,” she said.

Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.