Explain the love for Chick-Fil-A?

Cafe Society
161

Mcdonalds is going to have much more than 5-6 people during lunch rush. I never actually worked there, but when I managed Wendy’s, we usually ran up to 17 people.

I’ve never had a cashier making food, if that’s what you mean, but as far as putting the order together, during lunch rush, there were a few people (often including the MOD) who were coordinating to get all the food on the trays and out the window.

I have seen nothing in these threads that put CFA above that of a reasonably run Wendy’s, BK, or McD. Now, there may be something about consistency, in that with having the large numbers of stores they do have, they may not all be up to the standards described herein about CFA.

But, I gotta say, given some of the descriptions I’ve heard about the fast food encoutnters in this thread, some of you have visited some pretty terrible locals that are far worse than I’ve ever seen after a couple decades in the field.

Have to say that nearly my only experience eating CFA was when I worked a mall job for a bit, and it was one of the places in the food court. I was not impressed by the staff or the food quality. I also once ate at a standalone store with a friend, and the chicken was one of the nastiest breaded items I’ve ever seen come out of a fryer.

Come to the Wendy’s near my house, their service is pretty top notch too. 50 Seconds from the time you are on the speaker to the time you drive away with your food, and most days go without a single misorder.

162

Agree. A few years ago I was out with a bunch of friends. We had all helped another friend get a pool table out of his house, and we were all going to go get some lunch. Someone suggested Chik-fil-a and a general consensus was reached.

I stood up and said, “well, if that’s were everyone is going, I guess I’ll head home”. One other friend stood and said, “yeah, me too”. Surprisingly, none of the other six guys had any idea why two of us were leaving.

So, a conversation ensued. We went to a rib place and had a great meal. It was pretty shocking how uninformed six of eight guys were. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that not one of the eight has eaten at Chik-fil-a since.

163

tbf Cathy was Baptist, and their views on divorce aren’t as hard-line as the RCC. The RCC outright prohibits divorce.

164

I don’t know where your house is, but the one near where I used to work was stunningly inconsistent, both in competence and quality. You might luck out and get something they indeed just cooked, or you (more likely) might get something which tasted (and chewed) like it was cooked 3 hours ago and has been sitting in a heat tray.

165

Here! Here!

166

I have almost always seen CFA’s be quicker than other fast food next to it. At the CNN Center (Atlanta) where was a Wendy’s next to a CFA and the CFA would always beat it in spades. I say was because the Wendy’s doesn’t exist anymore. The CFA would always have longer lines but people would get their food faster there than the Wendy’s. CFA generally had one person getting food orders ready for every cashier (so the cashier wouldn’t have to get anything ready aside from maybe soda, but even then perhaps not), in addition to the folks in the back making the food.

edit: Just to note I prefer Wendy’s food, but I’ve always thought their service was pretty bad.

167

To be fair, Wendy’s went downhill fast after Dave died. He wasn’t even a month in the ground and they were already changing some of the core ideals that he had opened his first store with.

Some places keep to the quality that was expected back in those days, but many probably do not.

Maybe CFA’s ownership still being in the family, rather than being diluted out to shareholders and investors helps to maintain the level of quality.

168

Yeah, my experience with Wendy’s are generally not positive. The one by my house is brand new, but just has atrocious service. I do like their spicy chicken sandwich, though. Not as good as Chick Fil A, but a damned good fast food chicken sandwich. Terrible burgers, though. Don’t know what happened, because I remember them being good in the 80s and early 90s.

169

Damn straight. Down here, if you don’t specify what you want, you might be surprised at what you’re snorting through your rolled-up C-note.

170

Chick-Fil-a was popular for decades before Cathy’s donations made the news.

Other fast food places have closed the gap in food quality some, but CFA specializes in quality ingredients and preparation (i…e, peanut oil, iirc) and focuses on chicken. No Rib-Fil-A sandwiches. And the staff is more friendly than other places, apparently genuinely so, and that is at every location to which I have been.

Going there because of Cathy’s views? No. Some may occasionally- I recall a few years ago when they were closed near me with a sign on the door saying ‘sorry, we ran out of chicken’ and it turned out there was some controversy and Gov. Huckabee suggested everyone go to show support. Whatever.

Staff varies with location. My local one is staffed with apparently half East Asian, 1/4 white, 1/4 Hispanic. There were some black employees when they opened, but they are less common now.

Did you remain silent during the conversation and not suggest a place so you could pull your “I’m going home then” bit? And the other guy said nothing until you spoke up? How noble of you to educate your bunch of friends who apparently never heard of the controversy from the media NOR YOU.

171

I had no suggestions on where to eat, because I generally have no strong negative feelings when it comes to food. I’m not a vegetarian, gluten is fine, no allergies, etc. People were throwing around ideas and when someone suggested Chik-fil-a it won immediately by acclamation.

Once I and the other dude made our feelings known, everyone else wanted to know more about the situations. Cell phones came out and we discussed things. I feel good about educating my friends.:slight_smile:

ETA: also, I kind of assumed that people know about the Chik-fil-a controversy.

172

Same! The McDonald’s Southern-style chicken sandwich was what Chick-Fil-A wish their sandwiches could be.

173

Y’all are insane.

174

Exactly. I mentioned upthread that I worked at CFA in high school. A buddy worked at a McDonald’s, and the stories he told me of conditions in their kitchen kept me away from the golden arches for years. I’m willing to have a slightly less yummy chicken sandwich, if I know it’s been prepared by a restaurant with a religious (heh) devotion to cleanliness.

175

What’s insane is thinking CFA’s weirdly breaded, sweet tasting chicken tastes good :smiley:

176

Which says something about the sort of people whom you tend to hang out with.

As for comparing a value-menu Wendy’s item to Chick-Fil-A’s signature sandwich, well, if Wendy’s is cheaper and still tastes better, that’s not a very favorable comparison to CFA.

177

I see fried and chicken on the menu. But there’s no “fried chicken” as I would define it, chicken pieces with bones. How does this compete with popeyes or KFC?

178

Chik-Fil-A does not compete with Popeye’s, KFC, Church’s, etc. at all. I believe all of Chik-Fil-A’s fare is deboned breast meat.

Chik-Fil-A also has many grilled chicken items (sandwiches, wraps, salads, etc.). If someone is avoiding fried foods, there is plenty to choose from.

179

That’s an ominous way to suggest that bump’s friends care about LGBT issues.

180

I find this comment really interesting. Did you encounter this sweet chicken in their original chicken sandwich or in some other form?

I happen to dislike savory foods with added sugar. It’s not out of concern for my health—just a personal preference.

I’ve noticed that CFA’s chicken nuggets and fingers are weirdly sweet in the way described above, but the standard chicken sandwiches are not. (The spicy sandwiches taste a little sweet to me, but not nearly as sweet as the non-sandwich chicken).

My theory is that the recipe for the sandwich, a huge seller, has been static for decades—it was developed before fast food places discovered that adding sugar to savory dishes makes them sell better. I mean, it would be foolish to change the recipe for such a successful product, right?

The non-sandwich chicken items were developed much later, after consumer palates changed and after the ‘80s-‘90s trend of reducing fat while adding sugar; I think the non-sandwich chicken reflects these trends.

I have no way to know how my theory corresponds to reality, but I’ve always been curious.

So, Dorjän: do you remember what you ordered when you found CFA’s chicken to be sweet?

P.S. I started eating at Chick-Fil-A in the ‘80s at my local mall but stopped when I became aware of their anti-gay worldview. I love Chick-Fil-A’s sandwiches but abhor Truett Cathy’s politics and the evangelical Christian impulses that underlie them, so I don’t eat there anymore. (I object to the evangelism, not the Christianity).

My kids love eating there, and there’s a lot of appeal for me too. The place is, by design, a really easy place to eat with kids. The staff is uniformly friendly and competent. The restaurants are sparkling-clean, and I’m still sometimes tempted to eat there.

But like nearly everyone on earth, I have gay friends and family. Cathy, the boss, hates people I love because of who they are. I can’t abide that.