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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

OP seems to have found the only slow CFA in America. They should be reported to headquarters. The one near me is almost frighteningly efficient, especially the drive through line. The line is long, but almost never stops moving. In fact, the joke around here was that the government should have hired CFA to run the Covid vaccination system.

This is OP. That was another poster not me. I didn't say they were slow, just baffled at the long lines when I felt their food (other than milkshakes) was mediocre for the price. But based on the replies, it looks like this chain has a fan following, so good for them.

OP if you’re family prefers McDonalds yo CFA then yes, you won’t understand the appeal of CFA. Enjoy your chicken parts.

[Anonymous]

Popeyes is way better than Chik-Fil-A

[Anonymous]

The hate chicken just tastes so good.

[Anonymous]

They limit location and the number of stores. If there were as many CFAs as McDonalds in an area, the lines would probably look like McDonald's lines. Where I am, I can get to 5 McDonalds for every 1 Chick fil a. The McDonalds also have lines, but not as long because there are more. This is my take. I will say the Chick fil a line near me moves fast and has great service.

[Anonymous]

I could take or leave the sandwich, it’s pretty good, but the waffle fries are amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Popeyes is way better than Chik-Fil-A

THIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

Price and quality - We order a lot from Red Robin and their chicken sandwich and fries which cost just about the same are better than Chik-Fil-A. Whiskey River BBQ there is really good. I ordered the chicken sandwich and nuggets meals for kids and a chicken sandwich meal for myself. All three of us loved their milkshakes but the main food not so much. But different strokes for different folks. As for the nuggets, maybe we are all used to the Mcdonalds like you said.

But Red Robin and probably the Whiskey River BBQ place are not fast-food places.

True, Red Robin is not a fast food place. I shouldn't be comparing a fast food's sandwich with a restaurant sandwich. I think its the orice point that kills chik-fil-A for me - knowing I can get better quality at the restaurant for same price. I do scheduled time carry-out a lot at red robin and pick it up at the entrance inside the store (even from before covid). Whiskey river bbq is one of their burgers Both places are far for me (and 5 min from each other) and I went in to chik-fil-a only because I was in that area and wanted to know what the big deal was about.

[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.

I have never seen a burger king or mcdonald as clean as CFA, not close. x10000 on the restroom part. We only stop CFA on road trips for this reason.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, but you still tip on takeout (less but still). So the cost davings argument doesn make sense.

[Anonymous]

What's with the long lines? It's a very popular place to go. Reasons have been presented above. If you don't wish to go there, then don't got there. No one is offended if you opt for a different dining location.

Their breakfast is excellent. Much better than a McDonald's breakfast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the food quality is much higher than most fast-food. Fries cut fresh daily on site. Chicken cut, breaded, & cooked daily on site. Lettuce and most toppings cut in store. It is not cooked from frozen. Seasonal milkshakes have fresh fruit.

OMG, their fresh peach milkshake is amazing!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

OP seems to have found the only slow CFA in America. They should be reported to headquarters. The one near me is almost frighteningly efficient, especially the drive through line. The line is long, but almost never stops moving. In fact, the joke around here was that the government should have hired CFA to run the Covid vaccination system.

Well said. Bet you anything OP won’t say which one was “slow”. Lol.

[Anonymous]

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?

The long lines are the result of lots of people wanting to eat there. Obviously these people have a different opinion than you. Really not that hard to understand.

Exactly!

[Anonymous]

I don't like their politics but they are one of the few fast food places that offers gluten free options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

Price and quality - We order a lot from Red Robin and their chicken sandwich and fries which cost just about the same are better than Chik-Fil-A. Whiskey River BBQ there is really good. I ordered the chicken sandwich and nuggets meals for kids and a chicken sandwich meal for myself. All three of us loved their milkshakes but the main food not so much. But different strokes for different folks. As for the nuggets, maybe we are all used to the Mcdonalds like you said.

But Red Robin and probably the Whiskey River BBQ place are not fast-food places.

This. A chicken sandwich at RR is going to cost much more.

I love the CFA spicy chicken sandwich. It's tops among spicy chicken sandwiches.