• Jakdracula@lemmy.world
    699·
    10 months ago

    But why?

    It would take longer to drive there sit in that line and then drive home than it would take to just make chicken for yourself. Add some pickle juice to your chicken seasoning and it’ll taste just like Chick-fil-A. Then you could have delicious chicken at home without all of the Christian hate, er, love.

    • funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works
      421·
      10 months ago

      I was reading the chic fil a guys biography in a thrift store other day. It opens with how he was going to give a guy a free car, but recorded the “you get a car” message at the end of 3 consecutive cassette tapes of Christian preacher sermons. Presumably, that’s, what, between 3 and 6 hours worth of church to have a chance to catch the message that you get a free car?

      Then the guy didn’t listen to them all the way through so didn’t get a car.

      The guy was essentially orphaned from an abusive home and walked hours to work every day. The chic fil a guy was like “what an unfortunate story!”

      motherfucker you tricked him like some kind of goblin

    • Pizzasgood@kbin.social
      142·
      10 months ago

      Plus it’s not just about total time between “I want food” and “Nom nom”. There’s also the matter of how usable that time is. On a good day it might only take me a few minutes longer to get fast food, but all of that time is spent behind the wheel and most of it is spent driving. Making a sandwich at home, on the other hand, only about a minute is spent actively handling food. The other seventeen minutes while the patty cooks are free; I can it spend doing anything I please. So instead of comparing twenty minutes for fast food vs. eighteen minutes for DIY, it’s really more like twenty minutes vs. one minute.

      • Encrypt-Keeper@lemmy.worldEnglish
        6·
        10 months ago

        Chick-fil-a chicken is fried. You really shouldn’t be off doing something else in your home while you’re frying anything.

          • Encrypt-Keeper@lemmy.worldEnglish
            71·
            10 months ago

            I have an air fryer but it doesn’t really fry things. Not in the way an actual fryer does. All an air fryer is, is a convection oven.

            • Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de
              22·
              10 months ago

              well my experience is that it works just as well, and is much more convenient.

              just dip stuff in egg and panko then toss it into the air fryer, yeah sure whatever it’s not technically frying but it tastes good so i don’t give a shit.

              • Encrypt-Keeper@lemmy.worldEnglish
                61·
                10 months ago

                Well I’m glad you like it. But for everyone else who wants actually fried food I think they’re stick with fryers lol

    • Master@lemm.eeEnglish
      63·
      10 months ago

      Cfa moves fast. That’s probably only a 10 min wait. If that was a mcdonald’s or burger king it would be an hour wait.

    • GBU_28@lemm.eeEnglish
      32·
      10 months ago

      Unfortunately no. They serve Limited menu, you’d be through that line in 10 minutes or so

    • misophist@lemmy.world
      636·
      10 months ago

      An American fast food restaurant with two drive-through lines wrapping entirely around the building, along with at least 10 curb-side pickup parking spots. At least 48 visible vehicles waiting for their christian bigotry-flavored chicken sandwiches and nuggets (Chick-Fil-A is the name of the restaurant).

      • Blackmist@feddit.ukEnglish
        91·
        10 months ago

        I can see the appeal of fast food when you really can’t be arsed to make anything, or you’re away from home or whatever, but I can’t fathom why you would wait in a line that is charitably going to take an hour to get to you, for incredibly bland food.

        Especially when you could park up, go inside and skip the massive queue of cars. Or just eat literally anywhere else.

        • local_taxi_fix@lemmy.world
          11·
          10 months ago

          Tbf the people at the end of this line will wait maximum 20 minutes. They can achieve this because instead of doing the typical intercom->window fast food setup they have employees outside walking between cars and putting the order into iPads, then another set walking food to your car.

          On another note, those outdoor employees are regularly forced to stay outside in extreme heat and cold without proper protection. If they want to wear a jacket it has to be a Chick-fil-A jacket, which they have to buy from the company. Lots of videos online about people working the drive thru line.

          • Chr0nos1@lemmy.world
            2·
            10 months ago

            The ones by me have booths for those employees, that are heated in the winter, and have AC in the summer.

            • meowMix2525@lemm.ee
              1·
              10 months ago

              Mine has a single booth iirc but I’ve never seen it used and its past the intercom so the system definitely wouldn’t work the same if it was

    • PsychedSy@sh.itjust.works
      5·
      10 months ago

      There’s a Chick-fil-a in my town that had to pay to redo the parking lot multiple times because cunts would block the street to get into the drive thru.

    • stebo02@sopuli.xyz
      17·
      10 months ago

      Exactly, why would you wait in line for drive-in when you can just park your car and order inside? I thought the concept of drive-in was invented to save time, not waste it.

      • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
        13·
        10 months ago

        In North America it is common to have about 75% of the staff focus on filling drive thru orders while the rest handle walk ins. I’ll frequently see 4-5 employees working different stations to make the drive thru flow while 1 employee has to handle all the work (except maybe the grill) for the walk ins.

        In nearly every aspect of life in North America, you are treated as a second class citezen if you walk instead of drive.

        • ArxCyberwolf@lemmy.ca
          4·
          10 months ago

          Where I work, most of the staff are focused on the drivethru. You have only 3 employees for dine-in and DoorDash/Uber/Skip. One makes all of the sandwiches, one runs back and forth to grab drinks and fries from the stations, and the other is the front counter order taker. We still get horribly overwhelmed because people tend to show up in large groups, usually high school students or seniors. The poor fry station person has to make both the drivethru and dine-in orders quickly.

  • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
    261·
    10 months ago

    Imagine how many people you could get to circle around a square building if they had pedestrian friendly infrastructure

  • Zatore@lemm.ee
    222·
    10 months ago

    its insane yes, but it cant even keep up. Lines out to the street are common in Arkansas

    • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
      375·
      10 months ago

      In my opinion, this should be illegal or businesses fined. Their drive thru leaks onto public infrastructure (the road) reducing its throughput and potentially creating a dangerous situation.

          • Nouveau_Burnswick@lemmy.world
            3·
            10 months ago

            If the shittiness of Tom Hortons coffee isn’t going to stop people using the drive-through, I don’t know what legislation is going to do. /s

            Things I think have a legitimate use case to retain drive-throughs: Car-washes, Oil changes, Tire changes, gas stations. Basically anything where the car is what is being worked on.

      • njordomir@lemmy.world
        64·
        10 months ago

        Yes, it should be illegal. This happens with all the cult-y fast foods places out here. In N Out, Whataburger, Hate Chicken (aka Chick fil A), Dutch Bros, etc.

        Parking, getting out, and going inside will easily save you 50%+ wait time.

        Weren’t parking minimums supposed to prevent this? :-D

        Then again, the worse the traffic jams the more people may consider alternatives.

        • instamat@lemmy.world
          1·
          10 months ago

          I don’t understand Dutch bros. I guess if you prefer a lil coffee in your choccy milk, then it’s the place to go

      • Zagorath@aussie.zone
        21·
        10 months ago

        If anyone’s going to get a fine there it would really be the individuals. While the business is creating the demand, there isn’t really any process they could put in place to stop people lining out onto the road.

        Also, if we were going to forbid it, what would be the substantive difference with forbidding just parking on the public road? Which, yeah, that’s definitely a conversation we should have and a direction we should move towards—it’d probably have a greater effect anyway. But it’s not clear that there’s really a great mechanism for specifically banning queueing.

          • Zagorath@aussie.zoneEnglish
            3·
            10 months ago

            Yeah that’d be reasonable.

            What really annoys me is that it’s pretty obvious that places will prioritise the drive-through over in-store customers. You can go in and watch car after car get served at the window while you wait for your meal.

            • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
              1·
              10 months ago

              The drive thru is perfect for the fast food owner. Most of the time they dont have to worry about guests using tables, using the washrooms, dirtying the floors etc. It processes the customer and gets them off their property faster.

          • RaoulDook@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            10 months ago

            Yeah go ahead and get right on that. Be sure to tell Congress and the President of the USA that is the priority they need to be working on.

            • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works
              0·
              10 months ago

              The USA isn’t the only country in the world so you take care of your shit in your own country and seeing the number of omnibus bills that pass Congress, I’m sure it could very easily pass without anyone noticing, just like most stupid laws do in your country.

      • PsychedSy@sh.itjust.works
        1·
        10 months ago

        They actually reworked a parking lot here a couple times to extend their lanes so it didn’t fuck anything up. Probably depends on city and location, but they can’t really control assholes that are willing to fuck you for some tendies.

        • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
          11·
          10 months ago

          They absolutely can do something about it.

          Make it illegal to block the road to use a drive thru, the problem is much like many other traffic laws, it will rarely be enforced.

    • Scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.techEnglish
      21·
      10 months ago

      In WA they’ve had to close one because morons would back up onto the street, down an offramp, and onto the freaking interstate. For a chicken sandwich.

      Of course it’s in a non-walkable spot, across the interstate from all of the businesses and offices so everyone drives there

    • vivadanang@lemm.eeEnglish
      145·
      10 months ago

      it says something very interesting that the chik-fil-faithful swear up and down it’s the tastiest thing ever when it’s weak soggy breaded no spice bland ass whitemeat with a fuckin’ pickle.

      makes me wonder if they’ve either never had decent chicken, or are just lying because this one chicken vendor stans for xtians lol

      • Encrypt-Keeper@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        10 months ago

        I personally can’t think of any other fast food chicken sandwich that’s as good or better. Maybe Popeyes chicken sandwich if you want something crispier.

      • KeriKitty (They(/It))@pawb.socialEnglish
        1·
        10 months ago

        I… I kinda like them <.< If they’re that bad, someone please save me with good chicken sandwiches. I will wait. The cat on my lap will not.

        • zalgotext@sh.itjust.works
          2·
          10 months ago

          Yeah I don’t understand the people who claim Chick-fil-a is bland.

          Soggy, sure, sometimes. All fried food can be soggy, if you go on a bad day and you get a piece that’s been sitting for too long.

          No spice, sure. Spice is relatively subjective. They do have the spicy sandwich which I think is better than the plain, but that’s my opinion, other people may not agree.

          White meat, yeah, they use white meat. I like white meat, when it’s done well, but again, that’s subjective.

          Bland though, I just can’t fathom. The way Chick-fil-a prepares their chicken before frying is a wet brine. Chemically, there is no way for wet-brined chicken to come out bland. Either osmosis takes place and salt gets inside the meat, or osmosis doesn’t happen because the salt was already there. And Chick-fil-a’s quality standards are stringent, so a particular franchise couldn’t get away with skipping that step, at least not for long. So you can call Chick-fil-a many things, but if someone calls it bland, I question if they’ve actually eaten there.

          • vivadanang@lemm.eeEnglish
            11·
            10 months ago

            Chemically, there is no way for wet-brined chicken to come out bland. Either osmosis takes place and salt gets inside the meat, or osmosis doesn’t happen because the salt was already there.

            AND YET IT IS. It’s only excitement is the pickle and fighting traffic lol.

      • THCDenton@lemmy.world
        81·
        10 months ago

        Dude home made fried chicken is ALWAYS better. Once a batch size gets too large it always sucks. Give it a try you wont look back.

        • TheMauveAvenger@lemmy.world
          3·
          10 months ago

          Commercial fryers keep a higher, more consistent temperature, which is ideal for frying food. As long as the cook knows what they’re doing, keeps the oil fresh, etc., you will always get a better result from a restaurant fryer (not talking about CFA anymore).

        • GBU_28@lemm.eeEnglish
          3·
          10 months ago

          But you aren’t getting breaded chicken faster than waiting in that line

  • renrenPDX@lemmy.world
    171·
    10 months ago

    I don’t get it either. The chicken sandwich is OK at best. A solid 7/10 just for consistency. Everything else is meh. People seem to like their fry sauce, which is probably required to eat their flat tasting waffles fries.

    Americans like sauces and dressings on things. Ranch on everything, unless it comes with their own sauce.

    • CryptidBestiary@lemmy.world
      31·
      10 months ago

      I grew up around the East Coast of the US so I’ve been exposed to Chick-fil-A since I was born. Then I lived a good portion of my life in the West Coast, and when Chick-fil-A starting popping up here, people were going nuts over it. I guess they still are and I feel like I’m the only sane one who knows their food is mid at best with all their sauces

      • abraxas@sh.itjust.works
        2·
        10 months ago

        Here in New England they’re really struggling from what I’ve seen. Parking lots and drive-thrus empty despite having this crazy 2-lane designed drive-thru. I think different regions have different guilty pleasures.

    • RaoulDook@lemmy.worldEnglish
      13·
      10 months ago

      Why would they be playing outside at a fast food restaurant instead of their own yard?

  • BurnSquirrel@lemmy.world
    165·
    10 months ago

    I think a lot of the comments here mischaracterize chik fil a as another shitty burger joint in a way that would be confusing to people that never seen one. They make really good chicken sandwiches because chicken sandwiches is almost the only thing they make. While most fast food joints might have 1-3 people running it during non-peak hours, chic fil a constantly has a small army in there. I don’t even know how so many people stay busy but that crazy looking line pictured will be cleared out in under 10 minutes.

      • BurnSquirrel@lemmy.world
        72·
        10 months ago

        They did but no longer do. The owners may still personally, but if you were to dig into the owners of every company you’d probably come to the conclusion that there is no ethical consumption under capitolism.

      • LPodyssey07@lemm.ee
        62·
        10 months ago

        They actually don’t any more. They’ve apparently refocused their charity contributions to helping the homeless or something like that.

        • Th3D3k0y@lemmy.world
          102·
          10 months ago

          I’m still going to judge them for their previous actions and continue to boycott them

          • LPodyssey07@lemm.ee
            22·
            10 months ago

            You’re welcome to. I haven’t been in years and was surprised to learn that recently.

          • LPodyssey07@lemm.ee
            72·
            10 months ago

            No, and I don’t need you to change your mind. I was just updating your information.

              • ASeriesOfPoorChoices@lemmy.world
                11·
                10 months ago

                “they’ve changed” - you say it like a corporation has a moral compass, or feelings. It’s just a piece of paper.

                If they’re moving money in a different direction today compared to how they did yesterday, that’s a change.

                Your belief in if that is or isn’t a change is irrelevant - it is a change.

                Did the religious assholes running it have a change of heart towards LGBT+ people? Probably not. But no-one is saying they did.

      • samus12345@lemmy.worldEnglish
        23·
        10 months ago

        The LGBTQ people I know go there anyway because there’s no ethical consumption under capitalism. There are LGBTQ people working there, too.

    • June@lemm.ee
      51·
      10 months ago

      Before I started actively boycotting them for their support of anti-LGBTQ work, I always felt their chicken was only ok. I think burger king’s Ch’King is way better and that Arby’s chicken sandwich is also superior. When they finally got to my market I was thrilled and then very quickly let down.

      • krush_groove@lemmy.world
        51·
        10 months ago

        I asked a bi friend of mine his thoughts about the whole donation thing, and they included “it’s a great fucking sandwich” so he’s my out to get one when I am in the US.

        • June@lemm.ee
          51·
          10 months ago

          As a member of the LGBTQ community myself, I don’t begrudge you that at all. My feelings on the matter are my own and I don’t need or expect others to conform to them.

          I just also happen to not like them at all so it helps with the boycott 😅

        • June@lemm.ee
          1·
          10 months ago

          I haven’t had Popeyes in so long. There’s only one near me but there’s so much more that I love between here and there.

      • Erismi14@midwest.socialEnglish
        31·
        10 months ago

        Unfortunately for most Americans, this is the situation. All of those places have a mediocre chicken sandwich because all of the restaurants are chains. Small businesses struggle with how new commercial areas are built, and chains run on such thin margins it is hard to compete.

        I live in a Chicago neighborhood and have access to many delicious, reasonably priced chicken sandwiches. I have not had the need or the craving to go back to chic fila a since

  • aulin@lemmy.world
    111·
    10 months ago

    Anyone else always read it as chick-fillah? It’s such a stupid spelling.

    • fakeman_pretendname@feddit.uk
      31·
      10 months ago

      How’s it meant to be pronounced? I’ve only ever seen it written down.

      Chick feeler? Chick filler? Chick fill urgh Chick fill Ah

      I just don’t understand what they’re trying to call it. Unless it is “filler”, my best guess is something like “fillet”, though I can’t make the letters match up with the words.

      • misophist@lemmy.world
        11·
        10 months ago

        Chick-Fil-A is pronounced Chick-fuh-lay. It is like Chick-Filet, but the American pronunciation of filet (and what I would assume the proper French pronunciation – the ‘t’ is silent).

  • RagingRobot@lemmy.world
    101·
    10 months ago

    The only reason the lines backup now is because they don’t use the normal drive thru system anymore. They try to be innovative and have people standing outside with iPads to take your order. Then you sit and wait for them to cook it all because they took too many orders at one time.also they usually have multiple lines all merge into one window. It’s madness over at the chic fil a drive thru!

    • I_Comment_On_EVERYTHING@lemmings.world
      81·
      10 months ago

      Having worked at a Wendy’s, McDonald’s, and a Chick-fil-A… The Chick-fil-A system is superior. At least from an employee standpoint. The amount of volume that we could move through the drive thru with the two lane system and people taking orders in person was kind of insane.

      • PsychedSy@sh.itjust.works
        1·
        10 months ago

        It shows with the employees, too. Slinging free drinks and pupper cups at me. Someone was a dick trying to get in line? Have some lemonade, bitch.

    • Magesticles@lemm.ee
      6·
      10 months ago

      It is exactly like you said, but the line moves! It’s nothing like other fast food restaurants. Yes chick looks like madness, but it’s a controlled madness. It reminds me of Costco. If you been there during peak hours, it’s a total madhouse. But, a controlled madhouse.

    • Encrypt-Keeper@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      10 months ago

      Idk before our Chick-Fil-A added the second line and started with the iPads, the line extended out onto the four lane road leading into the parking lot and back a block or two.

      • ArxCyberwolf@lemmy.ca
        1·
        10 months ago

        Same with the restaurant I work at, the parking lot is woefully too small for the volume of traffic we get, and the line regularly spills onto one of the busiest roads in town and holds up traffic badly. We’re the third busiest restaurant of its brand in Canada.

    • ProtecyaTec@lemmy.world
      112·
      10 months ago

      You’d think so, but Chic Fil A is insanely fast to the point where sitting in line probably faster than the walk and wait.

    • ASeriesOfPoorChoices@lemmy.world
      11·
      10 months ago

      Notice how the entire car park to the right (where there is one car) is blocked off by traffic cones? I bet that isn’t helping.

      But as for the others… yeah.