10 Things Chick-fil-A Employees Won’t Tell You
Updated: Jan. 20, 2023
They have the best chicken sandwich and the kindest employee. Find out more about America's favorite fast-food chain.
When it comes to fast-food restaurants, Chick-fil-A holds a special place in a lot of people’s hearts. You probably know that they have a secret spice recipe that makes their chicken sandwiches perfect, and the employees are known to be very kind. But here are ten things that you probably don’t know that Chick-fil-A employees wish you did. Ever wondered why their sandwiches are so good? Here’s why.
It’s their pleasure to serve you—but not always
Some Chick-fil-A customers were very nice and were great people to serve, and they loved having them as regulars, says a Reddit user who worked at Chick-fil-A for six years. However, some people took advantage of their “Customers are always right,” motto. “The funny thing is I say ‘my pleasure’ outside from working there even after three years. For the most part, I loved getting good food to happy people,” says the Reddit user. Find out more about why Chick-fil-A has the best customer service in America.
The staff is that polite due to hiring standards
“From the experiences at my CFA, the owner starts the roll of positivity which goes down to management and down to the team!” says a Reddit user. “Our interview process focuses on the type of person you are instead of the type of employee, and if we have a good feeling about you, we know to hire.” According to the Reddit user who is a manager at Chick-fil-A, while their own restaurant hasn’t been able to be very selective, most of their team members understood their standards and enjoyed the environment, which really helped.
There is no real “secret menu”
While there aren’t any real secret menu items like the ones at McDonald’s, there is pretty fun stuff that the employers have made over time. “I made a grilled nuggets quesadilla a couple of times. Grilled nuggets with two tortillas and shredded cheese,” says a Reddit user. Here’s why it’s so cheap to open a Chick-fil-A.
There is a way to eat for free at Chick-fil-A
But you need to be in the right place at the right time. When a new Chick-fil-A location opens, the first 100 customers get to eat there for free—for an entire year. At least, that sure was the case when the first Chick-fil-A in Queens opened, according to QNS.
The mascot was not always a cow
The original Chick-fil-A mascot was actually a chicken, and it was named Doodles. Once you think about it, it is strangely fitting to have a cow encouraging you to eat more chicken rather than another chicken. Check out what’s actually in Chick-fil-A’s famous sauce.
The people taking orders outside have a purpose
“It’s part of an outside ordering system CFA has developed called IPOS,” says a Reddit user who worked at Chick-fil-A. “During our peak hours, we have a couple of team members go outside and take orders. This actually allows us to take more orders because we’re able to walk up to the cars once we’re finished with the last order so y’all can get your food faster!”
The drive-through is so fast thanks to a system
“In the drive-through, we purposefully have two iPads out, a cashier out, and just one person to hand out food. Two order takers purposefully lead the conversation, low key rushing the person who’s order is being taken,” says a Reddit user who worked at Chick-fil-A for four years. “Taking money is quick and easy, and we have a mobile card swipe so you can go help people who haven’t gotten to the cash register. Finally, by the time you reach the window, your order should be entirely ready to be handed to you.”
Everything really is made-to-order
It’s perfectly normal if you don’t trust the concept of “made-to-order” fast food. However, according to one Reddit user who was a manager at Chick-fil-A for three years, everything really is made-to-order. “Predominantly, it’s made pretty close,” according to the Reddit user. “Hot food doesn’t sit out any longer than 20 minutes and the salads and other prep food are made fresh each morning.”
You’re probably mispronouncing Polynesian sauce
Pol-ip-pone-sian? Hawaiian? Pomeranian sauce? The list goes on, according to Lexi Stroud, who worked at a Chick-fil-A for two years. “People will never learn how to pronounce it, and every day is full of a new name for the sauce,” says Stroud. Talk about variety.
Please don’t come in at 9:45
“For some reason, this always happens,” says Stroud. “It’s ten minutes until you turn off the menu lights and the entire team walks in meaning you’ll be there for at least another 30 minutes while you take their orders and wait for them to get their food.” If it’s five minutes to closing time and you’re contemplating going in, it’s best if you waited until tomorrow. Next, find out more about these crazy items you can get at a Chick-fil-A.
