In-N-Out Burger CEO Lynsi Snyder says Arkansas, Mississippi and Oklahoma are among the states the California-based chain is eyeing for future locations, though she gave no timeline for any new openings.
Snyder, granddaughter of co-founders Harry and Esther Snyder, who launched the company in 1948, made the comments during an interview with television host Terry Crews. She explained that In-N-Out has long resisted rapid expansion in favor of preserving what she described as the chain’s core values.
“I just want to make sure that everything is right and that our In-N-Out family is strong, and we’re retaining all those values,” Snyder said.
She pointed to cleanliness, food quality and customer service as priorities the company won’t compromise for growth. “If I ever felt like we were slipping or losing our way, growth would look a lot different,” she added.
In-N-Out has built its reputation on simplicity and freshness. The company says all ingredients are delivered fresh to every restaurant, and it doesn’t operate microwaves or freezers in its kitchens. Burgers are made from fresh beef supplied by the chain’s own patty-making facilities in California and Texas.
From a Burger Stand to a Regional Chain
In-N-Out’s roots trace back to a 100-square-foot stand in Baldwin Park, a Los Angeles suburb, where Harry Snyder built California’s first drive-thru restaurant and invented the two-way speaker system now standard across the fast-food industry.
The chain has expanded gradually beyond California over the decades. Washington state got its first In-N-Out in August 2025. Tennessee got its first location on Dec. 10 of last year, marking the company’s easternmost presence yet. That state now has five open restaurants with a sixth announced as coming soon.
New Mexico is set to become the chain’s 11th state in 2027, a move the company first announced on Instagram in 2023.
Staying Small on Purpose
Despite the string of new markets, Snyder pushed back on any notion that In-N-Out is expanding aggressively. “I feel like there’s a special peace knowing that In-N-Out isn’t everywhere,” she told Crews, adding that while it might look like the chain is “growing like crazy,” that isn’t the case.
Pressed on where the chain might head next, Snyder offered a short list without commitment: “Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma. There are some states there that are possibilities.”
California remains the heart of the operation, with 299 locations in the state. “This is where we started, it’s where we are now and it’s where we’ll always be,” Snyder said.
Fox News Digital reported that it reached out to In-N-Out for further comment and details.
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