In-N-Out’s Animal Style fries are topped with melted cheese, spread and grilled onions.
The dish transforms the chain’s plain fries into a loaded menu item. In-N-Out adds melted cheese, its proprietary spread and onions that have been cooked on the grill. The combination is associated with the company’s unofficial “Not-So-Secret Menu,” where “Animal Style” signals a richer, more heavily dressed preparation.
The onions are the key detail in this question. They are not fried mushrooms, roasted peppers or steamed broccoli. In-N-Out also offers several onion preparations for burgers, including raw chopped onions, grilled onions and whole grilled onions, so descriptions can vary depending on the order.
Animal Style began with the burger rather than the fries. In-N-Out’s history says the first Animal Style burger was created in 1961 after customer requests. The fries version later became a widely recognized customization, pairing the chain’s fresh-cut potatoes with American-style cheese and a tangy spread.