Top In-N-Out Rival Expanding With 60 More Locations
In-N-Out may constantly have lines out the door and cars wrapped around the block, but one rival burger chain is Double-Double-ing down on their chances to win you over. It may not offer a "secret menu," but with a hefty selection of cheesy, flavor-bomb burgers and sweet tooth monstrosities, there's no need to learn any new lingo.
Slated to open dozens of new locations totaling about 600 restaurants nationwide, don't tell China, but 2026 may turn out to be the Year of the Burger.
It may not quite be a household name - yet - but Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is on the rise and likely coming to a town near you.
Where New Freddy's Are Popping Up Soon
It seems Freddy's is leaving no stone unturned, with expansion plans stretching across the following U.S. regions:
- Northeast
- Midwest
- Rust Belt
- Northern California
- Pacific Northwest
- Florida
Additionally, this growing burger chain has shifted its approach. If you've visited a Freddy's before, you likely parked at or drove through a standalone building, but that may not be the case any longer, as future stores will seek out "endcap and in-line locations."
Drive-thrus may be a thing of the past at new spots, but hey, that just means you can burn a few extra calories if you're ordering fan favorites such as the Grilled Cheese Steakburger Combo.
If you're trying to keep things a little lighter, Freddy's recently rolled out healthier options like Steakburger and Chicken Bowls.
How Freddy's Fares Against In-N-Out
We all know any ol' burger won't cut it. In-N-Out has long been famed for its seemingly identical bite no matter which location you visit, whether it's a Double-Double or a secret menu hack.
Freddy's, on the other hand, has more in common with Steak 'n Shake, serving thin-smashed steakburger patties, classic diner-style frozen custard, and an array of salty sides instead of the one thing In-N-Outers most often complain about: stale fries.
While In-N-Out's pink lemonade has become something of a legend, Freddy's is giving customers another reason to skip the soda fountain with the recent launch of Bevies - 5 Custard Cream Soda flavors, each topped with Freddy's signature custard cream.
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This story was originally published July 9, 2026 at 10:52 AM.