For all New Jersey’s culinary delights, there’s a certain fast-food institution many Garden Staters yearn for but cannot find for 1,500 miles — In-N-Out Burger.

Many consider the California-based chain the undisputed champion of fast food burgers. It’s cheap, consistent and above all delicious. But the location closest to New Jersey is in Rockwall, Texas and because In-N-Out requires locations to be within 300 miles of the company’s distribution facilities (which are only in California and Texas), the chances of the chain coming to the East Coast are thinner than their signature patties. Sadly, it is forbidden beef for us.

The next best thing? You can check out the New Jersey restaurant that is attempting to recreate In-N-Out. Harper’s Table in Annandale serves an “Animal Burger," billed as “In N Out style” with diced onions, American cheese and “animal” sauce.

Man I don’t know if In-N-Out is the best burger I’ve ever had but it’s a damn good burger and I can’t imagine a Cali trip without one pic.twitter.com/NuieBN4gV0 — Jeremy Schneider (@J_Schneider) February 23, 2020

Considering Western New Jersey is a lot closer than the West Coast, I had to try this copycat. Plenty of burger joints sling thin patties and secret sauce — heck, it’s a signature topping on the Big Mac — but I haven’t seen anyone in Jersey with the burger bravado to name their burger after the California kingpin.

Earlier this week, I visited Harper’s Table, which touts a sort of a hunter’s lodge-meets-roadhouse vibe; faux bull horns for door handles and loads of wood panelling.

I ordered the Animal Burger, hoping to recapture some of that West Coast cheeseburger magic. But as soon as it arrived, I knew that wasn’t happening.

Coincidentally, I was in Los Angeles two weeks ago and made sure to wolf down an In-N-Out double-double, animal style with chilies. Translation: Two thin mustard-grilled patties (literally topped with mustard as they’re grilled to lock in the flavor), topped with two pieces of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, pickles, chilies and a healthy spread of In-N-Out’s secret sauce. It’s no secret that it’s basically just Thousand Island dressing, but that doesn’t make it any less amazing. I savored every bite; it lives up to the hype.

The Animal Burger at Harper's Table in Annandale. (Jeremy Schneider | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

While the Jersey version appeared to be a tasty burger, it looked nothing like In-N-Out. The brioche bun was too thick, as was the patty. There wasn’t enough “animal” sauce or onions, either.

Don’t get me wrong, it was a tasty burger in its own right. The beef was juicy and flavorful, the sauce and onions provided the some of the tang I was looking for. Had it not been billed as an In-N-Out imitation, I would have had no quibbles. But the taste and texture of two thin mustard-grilled patties at In-N-Out is vastly different than Harper’s Table’s thick single patty. The American cheese was white as opposed to yellow. And the “animal” sauce, while good, just didn’t have the same zip as In-N-Out’s.

Was I bummed? A little. Was I surprised? Not really. It’s became clear to me that Harper’s Table’s burger wasn’t as much an attempt to replicate In-N-Out as it was an homage inspired by the burger that brought me such beefy bliss in California. And half the fun of In-N-Out is its exclusivity, which makes it that much more exciting when we do get a chance to have the real thing.

And plus, we still have TWO White Mannas. Take that, California!

Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Schneider. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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