Monday, September 27, 2010

Al's In-n-Out (Quick Snack) Burger, Santa Ana

During the 1950s and 1960s Al's In-n-Out (Quick Snack) served up memorable burgers, fries, and shakes on Main Street, near present-day Lathrop Jr. High. Later on, the establishment found itself in a legal battle with another burger chain of the same name.

A couple of OCThen readers submitted some memories recently...

Anonymous...
The 1960's Does anyone remember The "In N Out" (not affiliated with today's chain) on Main St in Santa Ana - near Lathrop Jr. High - Best French Fries in the world.

CoxPilot...
I think EVERYONE remembers the In-and-Out (Quick Snack) on main. Check out all the comments on this site about it. There even used to be a U-Tube video from the '50s, but I think it was finally taken off. A good friend of mine (Roy Ross) delivered meat to them.

I found several comments posted here on OCThen about Al's In-n-Out...

July, 15, 2007...
Two hamburger stands are at the top of my list. First, the In and Out on south Main St. in Santa Ana. Even the teachers from SAHS ate there. Al made the best french fries...Also there was an A&W drive through somewhere on south Bristol in the early 60's. We would stop there to get a frosty mug on the way back from the beach. Anyone remember where that was?

Bob

November 11, 2007...
Bob's comments regarding Al's In and Out on main and the old A&W are remarkable. I grew up in Santa Ana and Al's was the place. As a little kid of 8 or 9 I would walk to Main Street from Linda Way (Monte Vista School) to visit the Library, Santa Ana Hobby Shop, SAR, Jerry's Flying Hobbies and so much more in that little corner around Main and McFadden. Try explaining that there was a great In and Out before the current In and Out and you can find out who is one of the SA/OC oldtimers! But there was a couple of others, remember Fabulous Eddys? and what was that other big drive in on main, down near Edinger?? Russ's Burgers?? And the Zoo for a summer treat out near Corona Del Mar and who can forget the original Orange Inn and the Smoothies out on the coast highway across and down from the hourse ranch.

Thanks for the mems!

Dan Bleskey
SAV 72
SAC 75
CSUF 81

November 20, 2007...
To Dan B: I grew up in Santa Ana (1947 - 1985) and we lived on So. Olive right off of Edinger. Jerry was a good friend and I worked with him later in life. I also was good friends with the Palmers (Frank's Hobbies on Main, across from Pep Boys). Al's Quick Snack (In-and-Out) was at the top of the list, but Mel's on the coast hiway was where you showed you car. I live in the South Carolina now, and we have a Zesto's a block away.

March 6, 2009...
As others have said: Al's In And Out (before he had to change the name after a legal battle with guess who?) had fantastic fries.

Do you have memories to share about Al's In-n-Out?

21 comments:

  1. Just so you know, the spelling of the Molnar's In & Out Drive-In was "Kwick-Snack". Al and his Wife Mary were great hard working people and those of us who ate there daily and became part of the "Family" miss them both. After they closed the Drive-In, Mary went to work for J.C. Penny's at what is now the Block and Al tried a couple of restaurant ventures but they moved back East and never returned.

    ReplyDelete
  2. A&W was located on Bristol St, south of Edinger next to Mater Dei High. Anyone recall the hamburger joint located at Edinger and Fairview that served up cashew burgers in the 60s'? How about Pops Bicycle Shop? I practically lived there as a kid and when I wasn't hanging out there, I was at the slot car track that I believe was located at Main and McFadden St next to what once was.... Granny Goose Chicken.

    Thomas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pop's Bicycle Shop...owned by Henry Carrsenson(sp) who wore wooden shoes in the shop. His step-son John Mikkelson and I were great friends during that time and still communicate.
      A&W watching the Catholic girls...oh yah!
      Great time of life in Santa Ana.
      Tim

      Delete
  3. Audrey Boteilho RodriquezOctober 04, 2010 3:43 PM

    Pop's Bike Shop located on 1st.Street& McClay,just across the street from Arnold's Hamburger hangout. Pop fixed lawn mower's, flat tires, sharpened garden tools and Pop always had his radio playing tunes. If you had a penny in your pocket,it was enough for a gumball too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Al's In-n-Out/ Santa Ana; '55 was when we would crusie Main St. from the circle in Orange to Mel's in CDM. The In-n-Out was a halfway stop going both ways and definitely the best fries of that era. My girlfriend was a little jealous and to tease her I had a buddy slide down in the seat of my '56 Pontiac, she approached us thinking I had another girl in the car. We had to get out of the drive-thru because she was so upset. The A&W was close to Edinger and Bristol another fond memory.
    Eddie Osburn SAHS '57

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the name of the place in CDM was Merle's, not Mel's.

      Delete
  5. Yes, I remember the In-n-Out on South Main fondly. I had tried to look it up before but always got info about the other In and Out. I loved the grape-lemonade they had and the greasy french fries that sometimes tasted like fish. We always stopped there on the way back from the beach.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Went to lunch at IN&Out from Lathrop every day for a crown dog and fries with a vanella coke also Graceys fairview and main.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Could you post a link to Al's video again? I found it on burnhamwoods website but the link doesn't work.

      Delete
    2. Henry, do you still have the video of Al that you posted a link to on burnhamwoods website? If so could you post it again please, it doesn't work anymore. Thank You, Max Janeway SAHS 54'-56'

      Delete
  7. Does anyone remember or have pictures of a hamburger place in Manhattan Beach called The Beacon it was open in the 50's served hamburgers and chili?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Al's In & Out.....best thing on the menu
    Crown Dog, 1/2 order of fries and a Cherry Coke!! I can almost still taste them. Try to make the crown dogs at home sometimes but never ever the same as Al's

    ReplyDelete
  9. I went to Lathrop Jr high school in the 1950's. The standard lunch for us was always fries from the In and Out and candy bars from the Alpha Beta market across the street. That was fast food! I am 70 now and it did not hurt me a bit.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Used to work at the hobby shop across the street. Hales

    ReplyDelete
  11. HOW ABOUT THE NUTBURGER ON FAIRVIEW IN SANTA ANA NEXT TO THE GO CART PLACE???

    ReplyDelete
  12. How about the Nutburger on Fairview in Santa Ana next to the Go Carts. They put peanuts in the hamburgers! Great combination!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think that Mel's drive in was on the corner of MacArthur and PCH. In the 70's it became The Zoo and, today, the Gulfstream restaurant is at that same location. It's strange to be going to the same spot for 50 years. I also feel that way about Las Brisas in Laguna. When I first came to California in 1958, my family went to Victor Hugo's which was at the same spot before Las Brisas opened up. It was a lot more of an upscale restaurant than Las Brisas is today and the food was excellent. I miss that place.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I went to Lathrop, ate fries for lunch at Al's and then for dessert across the street to the Alpha Beta for candy bars.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Is this the one I remember as a really small child going thru the drive thru and getting cherry cokes and french fries from? They also had carhops. It was down the street from Sears.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Al's in-n-out was the best. I used to work at Santa ana Hobby shop and later at Hales Hobbies across the street.

    ReplyDelete

Custom Search