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Some evenings when you sit in that notorious L.A. traffic gridlock you can only think about one thing: What if you got off of the freeway and made your way toward some In-N-Out? No matter how long you've been in town, if traffic is bumper-to-bumper it takes an iron will to resist jumping off the exit to spoil your appetite. The only problem with scoring a double-double and a Neapolitan shake after a long day at work is that the drive-thru wait time can be longer than your actual commute home. If you hit some of these locations on the wrong day, you could spend an hour idling before indulging in your favorite item on that secret menu. Clearly, not all In-N-Out lines are created equal, so this is a look at which locations across Los Angeles have the busiest drive-thru lines during peak dinner hours (5:30-7:30). You shouldn't have to wait forever for your animal fries.
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10. LAX
Address: 9419 S Sepulveda Blvd.
Cars in line: 5
Estimated wait time: 10 minutes
Blocking traffic?: No
In the shadow of LAX sits L.A.'s least insane In-N-Out drive-thru line. This location is geared towards weary travellers who just got off the plane and all they can think about is In-N-Out. This location offers about as much parking as a Wal-Mart for all of the frequent fliers who want nothing more than to reunite with their beloved burger as they bask in the Cali. sun. You'll see more taxis dropping off travelers than cars in the drive-thru line.
9. Inglewood
Address: 3411 W Century Blvd.
Cars in line: 7
Estimated wait time: 10 minutes
Blocking traffic?: No
Inglewood's In-N-Out isn't exactly in a destination area, unless you're headed to Home Depot or the race track (if you're headed to both, that makes for a good story). Despite it's proximity to the 405 and the 105, this is one of the slower in In-N-Outs in L.A.
8. Santa Monica
Address: 13425 W Washington Blvd.
Cars in line: 9
Estimated wait time: 12 minutes
Blocking traffic?: No
Surrounded by box stores, the Santa Monica In-N-Out's huge parking lot could handle dozens of cars. Though this franchise is built to handle a ton of traffic (you can even get your oiled changed next door while you eat), the dinner rush is relatively light here compared to more central locations.
7. Hollywood
Address: 7009 Sunset Blvd.
Cars in line: 12
Estimated wait time: 20 minutes
Blocking traffic?: No
Though the Sunset In-N-Out sees brisk traffic all day, it gets crazy here at night. After 11 p.m., don't try to turn from Orange Drive onto Sunset, as an endless line of cars driven by tipsy twenty-somethings will be blocking your path. Imagine that college town drunk food spot, but instead of catering to one campus, it caters to several city neighborhoods. Needless to say, it's a mad house.
6. Studio City
Address: 3640 Cahuenga Blvd.
Cars in line: 13
Estimated wait time: 20 minutes
Blocking traffic?: No
While this location doesn't have the longest wait times, you'll more than make up for any time saved by sitting in gridlock on the 101 Freeway. If you try to get to this location from more than a few blocks away, it could take you an hour if you attempt the trip at the wrong time.
5. Huntington Park
Address: 6000 Pacific Blvd.
Cars in line: 14
Estimated wait time: 23 minutes
Blocking traffic?: No
Just because this location isn't near a major artery or popular destination doesn't mean it doesn't get crazy crowded. There is a substantial and locals report that this location is perpetually crowded. In this part of town, In-N-Out isn't on the way to a destination, it is the destination.
4. Culver City
Address: 9245 Venice Blvd.
Cars in line: 16
Estimated wait time: 25 minutes
Blocking traffic?: No
A half-hour wait at this location is what you'll get on a good day. On busy evenings cars take over the nearby strip mall parking lot and even bleed on to Durango Ave. With its proximity to the always-busy 10 and 405 Freeways, as well as La Cienega Blvd., this location is right in the middle of a traffic Bermuda Triangle.
3. Torrance
Address: 20150 Hawthorne Blvd.
Cars in line: 21
Estimated wait time: 30 minutes
Blocking traffic?: No
You can count on a long line at the Torrance In-N-Out, but since this location is in a shopping center with such unpopular destinations as Payless and David's Bridal, there is plenty of space for your car to sit in line without holding up other consumer traffic.
2. Westwood
Address: 922 Gayley Ave.
Cars In Line: 22
Estimated Wait Time: 33 minutes
Blocking Traffic?: Yes
This location, on the south end of UCLA's campus, is one of the most heavily trafficked In-N-Out locations in L.A., yet it offers very little waiting space for drive-thru customers. Once there are fifteen or so cars in line, vehicles spill out onto Gayley Avenue. But, at least if you wait in the drive-thru line, you won't have to deal with annoying college kids inside seeking a cure for the munchies.
1. Manhattan Beach
Address: 3801 Inglewood Ave.
Cars in line: 25
Estimated wait time: 40 minutes
Blocking traffic?: Yes
A serpentine roped-off line attempts to contain the cars at this location, but waiting customers quickly bleed into the rest of this shopping center's parking lot. You might not expect it, but this location, well away from the busiest part of the city, had the longest line of any In-N-Out on this list.