What is it with the long lines at Chik-fil-A?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the record, I personally don't like CFA. I think there are way better places out there for fast food chicken sandwiches (Popeyes and Wendy's to name a couple).

But here is what I see:
- The quality of their meat is good and it's real chicken. My understanding is that they use a premium chicken. McD's and BK use a cheaper chicken.
- Some people like waffle fries. There are not that many places where you can get waffle fries. Personally, if I get a jonesing for waffle fries, I'm going to Wooboi chicken....so good
- Their service is excellent. My kids like the food so I indulge them with CFA. Every time I go in, whether we eat in or take out, their cashier's are hospitable and customer oriented. Same with their servers. One time, when our order took too long (like 10 mins), they proactively gave me a gift certificate for a free meal or something like that. I was floored. Also, they have so many workers and they are all moving around. No one stands around and looks at their phone and acts like you are an imposition on their day like you get at some other fast food places.
- Lastly, I think you hit the nail on the head with their milkshakes. So good. That's the only thing that I will eat from CFA

Is the peach milkshake a seasonal item? It was just sooooo good with fruit bits. I will be back just for the milkshake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the record, I personally don't like CFA. I think there are way better places out there for fast food chicken sandwiches (Popeyes and Wendy's to name a couple).

But here is what I see:
- The quality of their meat is good and it's real chicken. My understanding is that they use a premium chicken. McD's and BK use a cheaper chicken.
- Some people like waffle fries. There are not that many places where you can get waffle fries. Personally, if I get a jonesing for waffle fries, I'm going to Wooboi chicken....so good
- Their service is excellent. My kids like the food so I indulge them with CFA. Every time I go in, whether we eat in or take out, their cashier's are hospitable and customer oriented. Same with their servers. One time, when our order took too long (like 10 mins), they proactively gave me a gift certificate for a free meal or something like that. I was floored. Also, they have so many workers and they are all moving around. No one stands around and looks at their phone and acts like you are an imposition on their day like you get at some other fast food places.
- Lastly, I think you hit the nail on the head with their milkshakes. So good. That's the only thing that I will eat from CFA

Is the peach milkshake a seasonal item? It was just sooooo good with fruit bits. I will be back just for the milkshake.

Yum! Am driving out to get one right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the record, I personally don't like CFA. I think there are way better places out there for fast food chicken sandwiches (Popeyes and Wendy's to name a couple).

But here is what I see:
- The quality of their meat is good and it's real chicken. My understanding is that they use a premium chicken. McD's and BK use a cheaper chicken.
- Some people like waffle fries. There are not that many places where you can get waffle fries. Personally, if I get a jonesing for waffle fries, I'm going to Wooboi chicken....so good
- Their service is excellent. My kids like the food so I indulge them with CFA. Every time I go in, whether we eat in or take out, their cashier's are hospitable and customer oriented. Same with their servers. One time, when our order took too long (like 10 mins), they proactively gave me a gift certificate for a free meal or something like that. I was floored. Also, they have so many workers and they are all moving around. No one stands around and looks at their phone and acts like you are an imposition on their day like you get at some other fast food places.
- Lastly, I think you hit the nail on the head with their milkshakes. So good. That's the only thing that I will eat from CFA

Is the peach milkshake a seasonal item? It was just sooooo good with fruit bits. I will be back just for the milkshake.

Yum! Am driving out to get one right now.

Enjoy it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've always seen long lines at drive through and thought this must be some special kind of fast food since they are always crowded. We went in today to finally check it out and it was crowded inside as well. The kids meal with the tiny 5 nuggets and waffle fries and a drink was a joke for $6. The burger (burger for $6 or meal with waffle fries and drink for $10) was nothing to rave home about either. Even my kids said the $11 burger meal at Red Robin is better. The saving grace was the milk shake.

Why the long lines then?

There are no burgers at Chik-fil-A. Just chicken.

Sorry, I'm an immigrant and consider everything that is stuffed between buns as a burger. (think veggie burger, chicken burger). I guess their chicken sandwich then. It was not nice at all, so what gives with the lines?

Obviously, others don’t think like you. Mind your own business.

[Anonymous]

The lines are so long bc it is DELICIOUS. But they will have those lines moving fast. Seriously. They should give our govt and corporations lessons in efficiency (and all with a smile).

[Anonymous]

They keep it simple:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People like
a) it's clean
b) the employees tend to be really, overly polite and helpful
c) they often have a play place for the kids
d) they have halfway decent food for a fast food restaurant. I'm a vegetarian now but I used to eat there sometimes and thought their chicken was better than other fast food chains. And all the fast food chains are kind of expensive now.

The Burger King near this Chik-fil-A location is also clean. So is the Mcdonalds down the road which is also more spacious and not standing room when crowded.
Agreed with the employees - Very kind and polite
There was a play space but it was locked. Burger King also has a play space
Food was meh. KIds said they liked the Mcdonalds nuggets better. 20 pieces there for $6 there vs 5 tiny ones here with not so nice waffle fries and a drink for same price.

McDonalds nuggets are disgusting, there's a reason they're so cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People like
a) it's clean
b) the employees tend to be really, overly polite and helpful
c) they often have a play place for the kids
d) they have halfway decent food for a fast food restaurant. I'm a vegetarian now but I used to eat there sometimes and thought their chicken was better than other fast food chains. And all the fast food chains are kind of expensive now.

The Burger King near this Chik-fil-A location is also clean. So is the Mcdonalds down the road which is also more spacious and not standing room when crowded.
Agreed with the employees - Very kind and polite
There was a play space but it was locked. Burger King also has a play space
Food was meh. KIds said they liked the Mcdonalds nuggets better. 20 pieces there for $6 there vs 5 tiny ones here with not so nice waffle fries and a drink for same price.

McDonalds nuggets are disgusting, there's a reason they're so cheap.

+1 Nasty nasty nasty

[Anonymous]

Try the Cobb salad. It’s better than any you will get at the other fast food drive thrus and heading “my pleasure” makes me happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've always seen long lines at drive through and thought this must be some special kind of fast food since they are always crowded. We went in today to finally check it out and it was crowded inside as well. The kids meal with the tiny 5 nuggets and waffle fries and a drink was a joke for $6. The burger (burger for $6 or meal with waffle fries and drink for $10) was nothing to rave home about either. Even my kids said the $11 burger meal at Red Robin is better. The saving grace was the milk shake.

Why the long lines then?

I mean, Red Robin burgers are... burgers while Chick FilA burgers... don't exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've always seen long lines at drive through and thought this must be some special kind of fast food since they are always crowded. We went in today to finally check it out and it was crowded inside as well. The kids meal with the tiny 5 nuggets and waffle fries and a drink was a joke for $6. The burger (burger for $6 or meal with waffle fries and drink for $10) was nothing to rave home about either. Even my kids said the $11 burger meal at Red Robin is better. The saving grace was the milk shake.

Why the long lines then?

There are no burgers at Chik-fil-A. Just chicken.

Sorry, I'm an immigrant and consider everything that is stuffed between buns as a burger. (think veggie burger, chicken burger). I guess their chicken sandwich then. It was not nice at all, so what gives with the lines?

You ate it, but you’re still not sure if it was chicken? You’re either a troll or you have no taste buds, which may explain why you didn’t like the food.

I meant you can call it chicken sandwich then. Lost in translation.

It's OK, OP. I am not an immigrant but I also think of any meat between buns as a burger. haha I would think of it as a "chicken burger." I also think of (and sometimes refer to before stopping to correct myself) any soft drink as a "coke" rather than distinguishing between different types of soft drinks.

[Anonymous]

The question is why they are so slow, even if you order online. It makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've always seen long lines at drive through and thought this must be some special kind of fast food since they are always crowded. We went in today to finally check it out and it was crowded inside as well. The kids meal with the tiny 5 nuggets and waffle fries and a drink was a joke for $6. The burger (burger for $6 or meal with waffle fries and drink for $10) was nothing to rave home about either. Even my kids said the $11 burger meal at Red Robin is better. The saving grace was the milk shake.

Why the long lines then?

There are no burgers at Chik-fil-A. Just chicken.

Sorry, I'm an immigrant and consider everything that is stuffed between buns as a burger. (think veggie burger, chicken burger). I guess their chicken sandwich then. It was not nice at all, so what gives with the lines?

You ate it, but you’re still not sure if it was chicken? You’re either a troll or you have no taste buds, which may explain why you didn’t like the food.

I meant you can call it chicken sandwich then. Lost in translation.

It's OK, OP. I am not an immigrant but I also think of any meat between buns as a burger. haha I would think of it as a "chicken burger." I also think of (and sometimes refer to before stopping to correct myself) any soft drink as a "coke" rather than distinguishing between different types of soft drinks.

I think of it as all burgers are sandwiches but not all sandwiches are burgers. There are plenty of other foods served on buns that are not burgers. A pulled pork sandwich on a bun is a sandwich, not a burger.

[Anonymous]

They are not slow. I don't know which one you have been too, but I always get my food within 10 minutes, if not sooner. The food is well worth a longer wait!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People like
a) it's clean
b) the employees tend to be really, overly polite and helpful
c) they often have a play place for the kids
d) they have halfway decent food for a fast food restaurant. I'm a vegetarian now but I used to eat there sometimes and thought their chicken was better than other fast food chains. And all the fast food chains are kind of expensive now.

The Burger King near this Chik-fil-A location is also clean. So is the Mcdonalds down the road which is also more spacious and not standing room when crowded.
Agreed with the employees - Very kind and polite
There was a play space but it was locked. Burger King also has a play space
Food was meh. KIds said they liked the Mcdonalds nuggets better. 20 pieces there for $6 there vs 5 tiny ones here with not so nice waffle fries and a drink for same price.

It sounds like price is your main concern — then by all means buy McDonald’s. As for your kids, children tend to like what they’re used to. However, I can’t imagine anyone thinking McDonald’s nuggets are better quality than Chik Fil A. There’s a reason they’re cheap. You may want to compare a list of ingredients for both — McDonald’s is full of water, “food starch,” “autolyzed yeast extract,” and preservatives like TBHQ, while the CFA nuggets are basically chicken and flour.