Inside out

The Dog House serves up Cali-inspired fast food burgers

Tulsa’s burger lovers were supremely punked last year when a banner emblazoned with the In-N-Out Burger logo appeared in front of an empty lot. Social media—and regular media—went wild about the alleged new home for an In-N-Out Burger, a California-based fast food joint that has developed its own lore, with its secret menu and limited availability in the heartland.

Josh Lynch, owner of The Dog House food truck (and Cali kid from way back) watched it all go down on social media.

“Around this time last year, I started making my own In-N-Out-style burgers. And because of that brilliant person who pulled that prank, everyone in the city was craving an In-N-Out burger,” Lynch said.

Lynch started frying up his own “Out-N-In” burgers and “panda style” fries at his stationary location at 37th Street and Harvard Avenue.

“It was nuts,” Lynch said. “I was selling out when it was freezing outside.”

Food-trucking during the winter months is especially difficult, so the Great Burger Hoax of 2018 came at an advantageous time.

“They [In-N-Out] will probably hit us up in three-to-six months to tell us to change our shit and quit jacking their stuff,” Lynch said. “I hope it happens, actually, because that’s just more promotion!”

The “panda style” references In-N-Out’s “animal style,” which means the addition of grilled onions, cheese, and a special sauce. Lynch’s panda sauce mimics a more zesty, thinner Russian-style dressing—creamy with a hint of tomato.

Burgers come as single or double, and are topped with cheese (optional), lettuce, tomato, pickle, and that thoroughly-addictive panda sauce. Make it panda style and Lynch will throw some grilled onions in the mix. The burgers can be ordered sans sauce and dressed with mustard, mayo, or ketchup, and you can add on bacon or an egg.

“If you want me to cut up a hot dog and put it on there, I can do that, too,” Lynch said.

Starting at $4, the Out-N-In burger is sure to satisfy the INO craving. But don’t sleep on the panda style fries, which feature hunks of golden, crunchy fries that stand firm against the cheese, grilled onions, and sauce.

The Dog House will be slingin’ these tasty burgers Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and serving up dinner from 5 to 8 p.m., depending on the weather. Lynch posts the schedule regularly on The Dog House’s Facebook page. When the weather gets nicer, he’ll be open later at the static location at 3711 S. Harvard Ave., but will also be taking the burgers out-and-about, along with the signature hot dogs, on his Dog House food truck.