Head of In-N-Out burger chain addresses expansion to 3 more states
In-N-Out chief executive Lynsi Snyder has named Arkansas, Mississippi and Oklahoma as possible future expansion states, while stressing that the chain will grow cautiously. She said protecting food quality, service and the company’s values matters more than opening restaurants quickly, and that limited availability is part of the brand’s appeal.
The chain opened in 1948 and now has 299 locations in California. It opened its first Washington restaurant in August 2025 and expanded into Tennessee last year, where five stores are operating and a sixth is planned. New Mexico is due to become its 11th state in 2027; Snyder said the company remains committed to its Southern California roots.
In short
- Three more states could eventually get In-N-Out restaurants.
- Snyder says expansion will be guided by quality and company values.
- New Mexico is due to become the chain’s 11th state in 2027.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Careful expansion can protect the food quality, service and workplace culture that customers expect, while keeping the company’s growth sustainable. Limiting availability may also preserve the brand’s distinctiveness, and remaining rooted in Southern California can honour the company’s history as it enters new markets.
The case against
A cautious pace may leave customers in Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma and other underserved areas waiting, even where there is clear demand. Expanding more quickly could create jobs, widen access to the chain and help the company compete in new markets, provided it invests enough to maintain its standards.
Explained simply
In-N-Out is a privately owned American burger chain founded in California in 1948. It is known for a relatively small menu and for running its own restaurants, with much of its business concentrated in the western United States.
The chain has expanded beyond its California base in stages, including recent moves into Washington and Tennessee. Arkansas, Mississippi and Oklahoma are being considered for future growth, but the company says it plans to expand cautiously.
The pace matters because opening restaurants in new regions requires the chain to maintain its food quality and service standards. Its expansion also tests how far it can grow while keeping its long-standing connection to Southern California.
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