Who gets their food faster, take out or drive thru?
 

Just wondering as I’m sitting in my car at an In N Out. Which gets served faster?

This will likely vary.

I have observed at Chic-Fil-A the car that entered the drive through line as I get out.

I pretty much have my food before the car.

it will vary first based on popularity of the option and the store's ability to meet that option.

At peak times drive throughs have additional order takes for cars to help with the load. If you hit a heavy load without additional personnel on the option you take that can be longer. I generally avoid going out at peak times.

The second thing is food preparation, you can't give out orders faster than food can be made. What some one orders can hold things up. In the drive through it holds up EVERYONE if something has run out for one customer after ordering.

Where as in the check out line inside that one person just waits longer.

I fundamentally prefer to park and walk in, I have more enjoyment that way.

Culvers and SteakNShake (I love that place) have cars pull ahead to wait in cue.

McDs now does that as well.
I think now they have to have additional breakfast cookware and material out,so their anticipated pre-production is not as fast.
I once flipped burgers downtown during lunch rush. The QPs and Macs and chicken sandwiches went continuously.

So, we were the first group of people doing 6 Sigma at GE. To get some "data" for us to use for doing statistical calculations, 30 people were sent to 2 different McDonalds with stop watches, and $5 to order lunch. Half were sent through the drive through and the other half, the counter inside for take out.

Drive through was faster at lunch time. Mid afternoon, counter take out was faster.

Funny, not long after, McDonalds installed a timer system at the drive through. This was 1996.

My few experiences with walking into a chic-fil-a, is that I will never eat in the resturaunt again. The enthusiasm, and gleefullness of the ever present staff is sickening, and annoying.....just let me eat in peace !

Depends on who is in line and what they order.

I grab Dunken Donuts coffee 1x to 2x a week. As I pull in the parking lot I size up the drive through line. If I see more than one Mini van or SUV in the line I walk in and get my coffee at the counter, if there are just pickup trucks in the drive through I get in line.

The ladies in the kid haulers order the foo foo drinks that have to be mixed up and then sandwiches and donuts for the kids, they tie the line up for ever.

The pickup trucks are typically construction type guys like me trying to grab a quick cup of hot coffee and get moving.

Burger places? I have no idea, I avoid fast food place at all costs.

I try not to be so dang lazy and I rarely go through a drive through. I get out of the car, and walk a few steps to the store and order at the counter. Now if I happen to walk in and a local little league bus load of kids just walked in in front of of me I will walk out and try the drive through.

The local convenience store where I get my gas (100% gas no ethanol) and buy beer has a drive through. I can indeed go to the drive through and they will sell me a cold 6 pack of beer or even a 12 pack. I always go in and I think only once have I done the drive through and that was just one time, right before my hip replacement and it really hurt to walk.

The only time the drive through is faster is when some math impaired moron is buying lottery tickets or scratch off tickets and tying up the clerk.

i never do the drive thru. i'm all riddled with guilt anyways from eating fast food, i am at least "taking a walk" to get it.

i do step lunges all the way back to my car

The rule of thumb for drive thru for food. 5 vehicles in line and going in will be faster.
Usually if there is a line at the window, there is a line inside as well.

Remeber what Joe says
 

Heh, I've thought of this question as well. The In n Out by my place has two drive thru lines, one on the north driveway and one on the east driveway. I used to size up the drive through line on north, and if it was too packed, i'd go through the east driveway and park to go up and order. While I got my food relatively quick, I was then blocked in by the drive thru cars. Nowadays I just wait in the drive thru line in the east driveway because it's quicker, or park a block away and walk (if I am not in a rush)

Eric, a behavior that puzzles me not a little.

I am walking to my parked car.

The drive through line is backed up.

Car cuts to block me in to join in line.

They won't get their order any faster if they had stopped to let me out.

I was pretty dang obviously walking to my car.

Had a chain all doing this. Fortunately I had a passenger that stepped into the flow and blocked it.

This is afternoon, morning coffee tunnel not an excuse.

I do attempt to park away from drive through lines, this last time I didn't see much option.

It amuses me more than irritates me.

The woman in the Starbucks drive thru ordering 20 varied drinks while I wait behind her for a grande black coffee.

OT, but i dont even like IN and Out.

those burgers are freakishly rich and greasy (for me), and i hate the fries.

Haha, it happens more than I'd like to admit. Thankfully nowadays when going to the drive thru's I usually take my most impractical cars. This way, when cars block me in they now face a few nice revs and backfires... or anti-lag, which usually motivates them to move out the way :D

What are you, some kind if communist?! :). You are the first person I know who doesn’t like In N Out.

Just came to read the meter?

I know some people who don't like In n Out.... they prefer 5 guys. Not a fan of it...

If you tell me to choose between Whataburger or In n Out... chances are I'd go for Whataburger. Patty melt, onion rings, and spicy ketchup is so good!

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