15 Mistakes You Might Be Making When Ordering At Chick-Fil-A
Chick-fil-A is a popular fast food restaurant that was founded in 1946 by Truett Cathy in Hapeville, Georgia. Today, more than seven decades after its founding, the restaurant is still owned and operated by the Cathy family. Chick-fil-A restaurants can be found in nearly all 50 states, along with Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and Canada. There are currently over 2,600 restaurants Chick-fil-A across these various locations.
Most of us have been to at least one of the many Chick-fil-A locations, if not several of them. Many of us probably have a long list of favorite items from the fast food chain that we love to order and enjoy. But did you know that there are several common mistakes that you could be making when placing your Chick-fil-A order? It's essential to make sure you avoid making these mistakes yourself so that you can get the most out of your Chick-fil-A experience.
1. Not using the Chick-fil-A app
If you haven't downloaded the Chick-fil-A app, that's your first mistake. The app can be highly helpful when ordering. You can place your order before you even get to the restaurant, and then once you arrive it will be ready and waiting for you. Simply choose how you'd like to get your order, and you'll be all set and ready to enjoy your Chick-fil-A favorites. As you order through the app, it will also remember your favorite items, making it quicker to reorder them in the future. Even more, it will remember any customizations you make to those items (like removing the pickle from your burger) to save you an extra step.
If you like free stuff, that's another reason to make sure you sign up for the app. You'll earn points whenever you make a purchase through the app (or scan the QR code when making purchases in-store). Let the points accumulate, then cash them in to get a free food item, meal donation, or other perks.
2. Only going to Chick-fil-A for lunch or dinner
If you regularly hit up Chick-fil-A for lunch or dinner but have not been there for breakfast yet, it is time to correct that. Chick-fil-A has a rather extensive breakfast menu that can help you get your chicken fix first thing in the morning. The chicken biscuit is one of our favorite items on the menu, but lots of customers also love the Chick-n-Minis, which are like little chicken nuggets on a mini roll: Delicious.
If you prefer your chicken for lunch or dinner, don't worry. Chick-fil-A also offers some non-chicken items for breakfast, such as a bacon, egg, and cheese meal or sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits, a hash brown scramble burrito, and a Greek yogurt parfait. Of course, you can also get your morning hot or iced coffee to go with your meal. Now that you're all excited to try breakfast from Chick-fil-A, just make sure you head to the restaurant at the most time. Breakfast is only served until 10:30 AM.
3. Not trying different sauces
Not trying all of the different sauces offered by Chick-fil-A is another mistake you might be making. The restaurant offers eight different sauces. The Chick-fil-A Sauce, with its smoky finish and a hint of honey mustard, is a customer favorite. It isn't the only one you'll want to try, though. If you like sweet and sour sauce, then you're certain to love the Polynesian Sauce, especially if you pair it with some crispy chicken nuggets.
The Honey Mustard Sauce is another offering that tastes great with everything from nuggets to fries to the chicken sandwich itself. It boasts a wonderful combination of sweetness and spice. This option is a real treat for your tastebuds. Other sauces offered by Chick-fil-A include the Garden Herb Ranch Sauce, Zesty Buffalo Sauce, Barbeque Sauce, Sweet & Spicy Sriracha Sauce, and Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce.
Most of the sauces are sold in convenient little tubs, making it easy to dip your fries and chicken without making a mess. Chick-fil-A tends to be a little bit more generous with its sauces as compared to other restaurants that are pretty strict about how many sauces you can get with your meal, so don't be afraid to ask for a few different ones to try.
4. Not buying larger bottles of your favorite sauces
Did you know that Chick-fil-A sells large bottles of several different sauces? You don't have to try and hoard tons of little sauce containers in your pockets or purse to get them home only to get lost in the depths of the refrigerator. You can just buy a large bottle to enjoy with your left-over Chick-fil-A or any home-cooked meals.
Chick-fil-A introduced these large sauce bottles in 2020, and today, you can purchase 8-ounce bottles of Chick-fil-A Sauce, Polynesian Sauce, Garden Herb Ranch Sauce, Barbeque Sauce, and Honey Mustard Sauce. If you want to get a larger bottle of sauce, simply add it to your order, either through the app or when ordering in-store or at the drive-thru. However, every Chick-fil-A may not have all five sauces available for purchase, so you might want to call ahead if you're looking for a specific sauce.
5. Always ordering the same item
We get it. We all have a favorite item from Chick-fil-A. However, if you only order your favorite item(s) each time you go, you're missing out on everything else the menu has to offer. While there are a few items you might want to reconsider ordering at Chick-fil-A, by and large, the chain offers so many wonderful items that you shouldn't limit yourself to only eating one or two.
Obviously, the Chicken Sandwich is a great place to start, but you could also try a Deluxe Sandwich, which adds lettuce and tomato to the original classic. Alternatively, spice things up a bit with a Spicy Chicken Sandwich or Deluxe Spicy Chicken Sandwich. You can also take a break from fried food and try the Grilled Chicken Sandwich or Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich. Chick-fil-A also offers several non-sandwich options, including Chick-n-Strips, Chick-fil-A Nuggets, Grilled Nuggets, wraps, and salads.
Unlike many other fast food restaurants, you also have several side options beyond the standard fries (or waffle fries, in the case of Chick-fil-A). You can get a bowl of chicken noodle soup or chicken tortilla soup, a cup of mac & cheese, a fruit cup, a side salad or kale crunch salad, a Greek yogurt parfait, waffle potato chips, or an apple sauce pouch with your meal. Talk about options: You'll have to go several times just to try out all the different sides.
6. Not knowing how to get the freshest sandwich
If you've ever been to Chick-fil-A during regular lunch or dinner hours, then you know how busy the restaurant can get: There are often long lines inside the store and at the drive-thru. Yet, the lines always seem to move pretty quickly. This is because the Chick-fil-A employees prepare several Chicken Sandwiches ahead of time to have them ready to go when the restaurant is busy. While these sandwiches should still be warm, they may not be as fresh as they would be if your sandwich was made right after you placed your order rather than before.
The secret? Request a minor change to the sandwich so that one will be made fresh especially for you. Ask for the pickle to be removed, pay for an extra slice of cheese or bacon, and ask for the sandwich to be served on a different bun than the one it's traditionally served on. Any change you make will lead to the server making a sandwich for you, helping provide you with the freshest taste possible.
7. Not speaking up if there is something wrong with your order
When the order you receive doesn't match what you order, it can be disappointing. It can be tempting to just deal with the disappointment and eat what you received rather than speaking up and pointing out the mistake to a Chick-fil-A employee or manager. While getting an order fixed at other restaurants can be a big hassle, you should find a much smoother and more positive experience at Chick-fil-A if you request the necessary changes to your meal.
Don't be afraid to bring up the issue, whether you didn't get the extra pickles you ordered, an order of fries was missing from the bag, or something just doesn't taste right. According to the American Consumer Satisfaction Index, Chick-fil-A has consistently ranked at the top of the charts for customer satisfaction.
While the average satisfaction rating for fast food restaurants as a whole was 76 in 2022, Chick-fil-A customers gave the restaurant a score of 83, which is seven points higher than the average. You'll find that the managers and other employees are more than happy to fix anything that was not right with your order.
8. Not knowing about the secret menu
Secret menus are all the rage at many different restaurants. These special menus are often developed by customers or employees who come up with different combinations of ingredients that are readily available in restaurants and offer some new and exciting options to try. While Chick-fil-A's official policy is that it does not have a secret menu, customers on the internet say something different.
There are several mouthwatering options that you can try at Chick-fil-A, from a Fried Chicken Club to Loaded Chicken Waffle Fries or even a Chicken Quesadilla. But, even if the internet is letting us down and a Chick-fil-A secret menu does not exist, the restaurant does allow you to customize each item you order. It is especially easy to make customizations by ordering through the app and making changes such as swapping the standard cheese for a different type, adding bacon to your sandwich, and adding or removing other ingredients.
9. Missing out on Cow Appreciation Day
Even though Chick-fil-A doesn't sell any hamburgers or other beef entrées, cows are still important to the restaurant. Who hasn't driven by a Chick-fil-A advertisement featuring cows telling you to 'Eat Mor Chikin'?" Well, the cow has become a symbol of Chick-fil-A, so much so that the restaurant started celebrating Cow Appreciation Day in 2005. On the second Tuesday of July, customers who dress up like a cow get free food.
While Cow Appreciation Day has been postponed for the past few years due to the pandemic, there is hope for it to return in 2023. It doesn't look like Chick-fil-A has issued any statements this year confirming whether the special event will be back, but given the course of the pandemic and the fact that more and more events are back on, there is hope that it will come back soon. Even if it doesn't, you definitely don't want to miss out on getting some mor chikin.
10. Not ordering Chick-fil-A catering for your next event
If you didn't already know that Chick-fil-A offers catering services, now you do. Whether you're planning a working lunch for your office, a bridal shower, or a child's birthday party, Chick-fil-A can help make your day a little easier and a lot more delicious. Chick-fil-A offers several different catering options to best match the event you're planning.
You can choose from large platters of favorites like nuggets, fruit, wraps, and cookies, boxed meals with a sandwich or wrap, chips, and a cookie, or select individual items from the menu. A variety of breakfast options, including trays of Chick-n-Minis or buttered biscuits, are also available.
If you regularly order from Chick-fil-A or plan on using it to cater several events, you'll want to make sure that you sign up for the rewards program. Every purchase you make earns you points that you can save up to redeem for various rewards.
11. Not knowing how to save money at the restaurant
Times are tight for everyone. Saving money wherever you can help keep your monthly budget from blowing up. Fortunately, there are several ways to save money when you eat at Chick-fil-A. We've already covered a few of these tips, such as downloading the apps to accumulate points that you can redeem for free food and dressing up for Cow Appreciation Day to get a free item, but these aren't the only ways to save.
One way is to always look at your receipt. There should be a code at the bottom of the receipt to complete a survey about your experience. If you complete the short survey within 48 hours of your purchase, you will be issued a code that will let you get a free Original Chicken Sandwich on your next visit.
Some locations also offer discounts for senior citizens, veterans, or other groups. This can vary between restaurants due to the decisions each franchise owner makes, so you should contact your local Chick-fil-A to see if they offer any discounts. If you have children who want an ice cream cone, you can actually get them one for free if you purchased a kids' meal. Just take the toy from the kids' meal up to the register and trade it in for a free cone.
12. Not ordering ahead
If you value your time and have a lot on your plate, you really should be taking advantage of the option to order your meal ahead with the app. When you place an order through the app a few minutes before you're going to arrive at the restaurant, you can choose to pick it up at the drive-thru, curbside, or inside the restaurant. Whichever option you choose, the order should be ready and waiting for you once you arrive. You can grab it and get on your way. If you're planning to eat inside the dining room, you'll be able to start chowing down right away.
Select Chick-fil-A restaurants also offer delivery through various delivery partners. This is another option to consider if your schedule is too tight to make it to the restaurant or you simply don't feel like leaving your house. Just keep in mind that ordering Chick-fil-A for delivery will be more expensive than getting it yourself from the restaurant. The price per item is a bit higher, and you'll also have to pay delivery fees.
13. Missing out on seasonal items
Chick-fil-A's standard menu is great. However, its seasonal offerings can make eating at the restaurant even more appealing and exciting. For example, around Valentine's Day, the chain typically offers heart-shaped boxes that customers can have filled with some of their favorite items, such as Chick-N-Mini, chicken nuggets, brownies, or cookies.
Chick-fil-A is also known for releasing special milkshake flavors around different holidays or seasons. Some of these have become quite popular with customers who seek them out year after year or get extra excited when a new flavor is announced. In the fall, look for the Autumn Spice Milkshake that was introduced nationwide in 2022. Around the holidays, you'll want to try the Peppermint Chip Milkshake, which is one of the most popular seasonal offerings from Chick-fil-A. As the weather warms up and we welcome summer and peach season, don't forget to stop by your local restaurant to grab a Peach Milkshake.
14. Not ordering a gift card to share the love with a friend
If you really love Chick-fil-A so much, why aren't you sharing the love with others in your life? Chick-fil-A gift cards are a wonderful way to say happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, happy holidays, and more. If you want to give the lucky recipient a physical gift card, you can purchase one from your local Chick-fil-A restaurant (you might want to check to confirm that they offer gift cards first). Gift cards are available for any amount between $5 and $100. Many grocery stores and pharmacies also sell physical Chick-fil-A gift cards.
We live in a digital age. If you and your gift recipient prefer handling everything electronically, you might decide that a digital gift card is a better choice. There are several different design options available online to commemorate different holidays and special events. Choose the design that you like best, select an amount, and add a personalized message before sending it off to a friend or family member to let them know that you're thinking of them.
15. Trying to visit Chick-fil-A on a Sunday
Heading to Chick-fil-A to order your favorite meal or try a few new items is a good choice any day of the week. Unlike most other stores and restaurants, Chick-fil-A is closed on Sundays. In fact, closing on Sundays is a tradition that has been in place since Cathy Truett opened the first Chick-fil-A in 1946.
If you're wondering why the restaurant isn't open on Sundays, since clearly, seven days' worth of profits would be better than six, the reason comes down to Truett's principles and beliefs. He felt that having time to worship and relax should take priority over profits. Truett's Christian faith was very important to him. While Truett passed away in 2014, the restaurant remains under the control of his family members, who share his same ideals. So, if you're looking to have Chick-fil-A on a Sunday, you'll have to plan ahead and order it on Saturday so you can have leftovers.