It's so simple, but oh so good. The Chick-Fil-A sandwich.

[Janet from Richmond]

I've been on a Chick-Fil-A kick (this happens to me often with lunch, I get hooked on something and eat it a couple of times a week for a period of time) and man, that's a good chicken sandwich.

It isn't fancy, but just well done. Buttery bun, crispy juicy chicken with a nice spiced breading and pickles (I think the pickles are key <g>).

With a diet lemonade, it's a fine lunch and only $4.

[Doodad]

While the Chick-Fil-A sandwich is great the real sleeper is their vanilla soft serve . Don't bother with their over priced shake which can't touch Steak and Shake's go with a kiddie cup of what they call " Ice Dream". It puts all other soft serves to shame.

[randyjl]

They are building one in my small town! Yeah! Their chicken noodle soup is great too!

[Vexorg]

Chick-Fil-A is another one of the well regarded chain places that seems to exist everywhere but where I live (As far as I can tell, there are none anywhere in Washington. Sonic is another example of this.) I did try one when I was on my recent roadtrip, and I did find it a bit on the dry side. If I end up somwhere where they have these again in the near future, I'll definitely have to try it with extra pickles though.

[Rick]

I thought it was only in Pittsburgh that Chick Fil A was replacing the closed Krispy Kremes. They must have made some deal to buy all the out of business Krispy Kreme stores.

[AnnieG]

Well, a Chick Fil A replaced the Krispy Kreme store in Springfield, PA, which is in Delaware County near Philadelphia. And I think there was another Krispy Kreme store in Bucks County where Chick Fil A took over as well. So, at least they are buying them out in PA. In Delaware, a Cingular store went into the old KK store on Rt 202, so perhaps they have not bought out all of them.

[SarahEats]

Yup...the old KK near Oxford Valley Mall is now a Chik-Fil-A.

[bertha1223]

oh. wow. Chick-Fil-A is delicious, I'm sure I could the chick-fil-a sandwich several times a week. I always have to go out of my way to eat there, though. It hadn't ever occurred to me to get extra pickles (I usually just eat the sandwich the way they give it to me, no special requests. Last time I was there I got it without butter, and I put mayonaise on it. it was good that way, but I think it didn't need the mayo). I agree, however, that the pickles are "key". Now I want to find out if there's a restaurant closer to me so I can go and try extra pickles sometime soon.

[coreyander]

Mmmm... I don't even eat meat anymore, but I loooved Chick-Fil-A as a kid growing up in NC. Chicken sandwich, sweet tea, those waffle shaped fries... probably the best fast food chain there is. I've lived on the west coast for the last ten years, though, so ol' Chick-Fil-A has been relegated to the 'childhood memory' department. I'm glad to hear that others are confirming what I remember!

[justagthing]

Where on the west coast do you live b/c here in S. CA, we have quite a few Chick-Fil-A's.

[steelydad]

Hey..I had the grilled sandwich in of all places, the Lexington, KY airport. And....it was VERY TASTY....the pickle def. makes it. My teenage son insisted on the fried filet, and was pissed off that my grilled filet, which I will admit I was skeptical about ordering over the fried, was 50 % bigger than his sandwich and more tasty. They are doing something right there with the spices.

[miamiflan]

I live just south of Atlanta and went to school with the Kathys, Truett Kathys grandsons that is. They are a really nice family and do alot for the community and schools. When the boys had parties they always had TONS of Chick Fil A sandwiches for everyone. My friends and I found a 24 hour Chick Fil A...which means they are open late Saturday night...which technically means we got ours on Sundays! Woo hoo!

[cackalackie]

I eat my nuggets with Buffalo Sauce. Today I even had Buffalo Sauce on my Chick-Fil-A sandwich.

[MeowMixx]

The chicken nuggets with tabasco sauce and a little polynesian sauce - YUM!!!!!!!!!!

[scott.]

by far my favorite fast food meal is a #1 with extra pickles and 3 or 4 polynesian sauces. one sauce to put on the sandwich and the rest for the fries. no ketchup needed.

and to the poster above, mcdonalds (at least in the south) offers sweet tea now. it's not bad, either.

[hch_nguyen]

Yikes I can't stand the polynesian sauce myself. I use like 2 packets of their mayo on the sandwich. In Texas they offer Kraft Lite Mayo, too, but I go for the full fat Chick-Fil-A stuff. I don't spread it on the sandwich, I dab a little on the sandwich each time I take a bite. I use a side-by-side mixture of ketchup and mayo on the waffle fries. These are the only kinds of fries I do this with for some reason.

As for sweetened tea, that's definitely a *Deep* South phenomenon, for even in Texas, McD's does not and has never offered it. And here in L.A. where I am now, they don't have a Chick-Fil-A anywhere near me that I know of, not L.A. proper anyway. The closest one is like 30 miles away I think. Chick-Fil-A has its roots in the South, which boasts the greatest density of them.

[jes]

McD's in Maryland offers sweet tea. havent had it but its there.

[Oh Robin]

They're starting to pop up everywhere in CA. Anywhere you see a closed Krispy Kreme, Chick-Fil-A is taking their place. :)

[hch_nguyen]

I never understood what there was not to like about an original Chick-Fil-A sandwich. I always order pickles on the side so that they remain slightly crispy when paired with the sandwich right before eating. Makes a world of difference. My sister even orders the buns on the side, so they don't taste soggy when she eats them. I've never had enough nerve to do this myself. Also, at which other fast food joint can you get sweetened iced tea, I ask??? So much more convenient and you don't have that glop of undissolved sugar at the bottom like when you have to sweeten iced tea yourself.

[cameronaus]

Combo #1 extra pickle,mustard,little mayo

[savina]

For me, nothing beats the Chick-Fil-A breakfast sandwich. Served on a biscuit, I put a little bit of honey on it...oh man, I'm craving one right now. Unfortunately, there's not one close enough to me that I'm likely to make it there within breakfast hours on any given day.

[ccbweb]

The perfect chicken sandwhich. There is a Chic-fil-A in the food court where I went to college. I had probably 2 or 3 a week and I miss them terribly.

[Oh Robin]

So yummy. And the milkshakes... heaven.

[tuxedo]

I happen to crave chick-fil-a rather often - but after reading the posts, I am trying to figure out how to shorten my work day and drive to one to eat!
I too, have a sensitive stomach and this place never seems to bother it!
Combo #1 - no pickles, mayo and a smidge of ketchup - lemonade - and cheesecake for desert. - yummo!

[justagthing]

I've been eating at Chick fil A since the mid or early 80's when they first came out to S. CA. I don't go as often since I no longer work in the mall, but now they have opened several free standing stores. Alot of comments on the thread have been about the sandwich, but I have to tell you that they catering menu is also great. I ordered a plate of nuggets for about $20 and took that with me to a bunch of hungry girls that were getting ready for a wedding. That plate made about 8 hungry gals very happy. All for about $30! Plus they gave me an extra dipping sauce. I will definately go back and order that again for any emergency situation or potluck in which I don't want to cook. BTW...you do not have to order it ahead of time. I walked in and waited less than 15 minutes and it was ready.

[textex]

had a combo 1 today very good

[textex]

i lov chick-fil-a i aways got extra pickies. the waf fries are the best

[fara]

Entirely new sandwich - chik-fil-a w/yellow mustard. goes great w/the pickles.

[fara]

i have to say that after about 100 chik-fil-a sandwiches in the span of 6 months, one does get tired of them.
i don't eat other fast food by the way. if you've never tried them you must.

[Rick]

I like mine with Honey. I also like their honey bbq sauce.

[fara]

My friend said last night I should do the equivalent of "Super Size me" for chik-fil-a. hmm, maybe one meal a day would be the limit, as good as they are.

[sisterhoney]

Before I moved to Maryland from New England, I had never even heard of Chick-Fil-A! It has now become my favorite fast food place, hands down! It is so much cleaner than all the other fast food options! And the service is fantastic! The employees are so polite...every time! The drive thru service is the BEST, every time! They have NEVER made a mistake with my order or forgotten straws, etc. Can't say that about most places. The food really is addictive. My husbnad gets annoyed at how much I crave Chick-Fil-A. I will drive out of my way for it! Luckily, there are many Chick-Fil-A's in Maryland, so I don't have to go more than 15 minutes or so to find one. I agree, their original combo #1 is the best, but I also like the Spicy wrap. You have to get it with the spicy sauce though, or it's not as good. It is a little dry, but with the sauce it's great! I also feel like it's healthier than other fast food options. The wraps are very fresh...all their food is. And I like that you can add sides that you can't get at other fast food places, like fruit cups, cole slaw, etc. They also have yummy milkshakes that are the best I have tasted in a while, and great cheesecake. Lots of different choices. The fries are the best! Very addictive! If you eat one, I challange you to resist eating more! I too wish they were open on Sundays! It does always seem like that's the day that I want Chick-Fil-A the most! I am always raving about Chick-Fil-A to my family & friends back in New England & they can't understand what all the fuss is about! I can't wait for relatives to come to Maryland to try it! It's the best!

[atlantanative]

One of the best fast foods in my opinion - pickles are an absolute must - I've always been a purist, but I'll have to try the sandwich with some buffalo sauce sometime. Cleanliness and service must be a result of the company's hiring and training...always friendly, always fast, always the correct order.

[DC Gal]

I grew up in NC and therefore grew up on Chick-Fil-A. They are my absolute favorite fast food. There is one in the mall up the street from my house in Alexandria, VA, but the mall is supposed to undergo major renovation within a year or so - I don't know what I will do. As it is, we eat there at least once a week, if not more.

I always get a nugget meal with fries and sweet tea. My hubby gets the chicken sandwich meal (NO pickles) with fries and sweet tea. We also love their biscuits on Saturday mornings.

And, being big ACC football fans, we love the fact that Chick-Fil-A is also a big sponsor of the ACC schools and sandwiches are sold at many of the stadiums during football games. Just nothing like it to satisfy you during a game.

I also agree - they are a step above the other fast food chains. where else do the employees respond with "my pleasure" to any request you make! Everywhere else, you're lucky if they don't throw the food at you, much less be polite to you!

[free sample addict aka Tracy L]

I also thought the service was great. I am not sure about the older locations but the one in my neighborhood is brand new and they have gone to great lengths decor wise to make it feel less fast foodish. It's nice going to a place where you are treated well and the environment is comfortable.

[fara]

there's a chick-fil-a on my campus. i could be bringing my lunch from home, but i end up eating chick-fila at least 2-3 times a week for lunch. -almost every day i'm there. i have a very sensititve stomach and i have never gotten sick or had that greasy letdown feeling from eating fast food after eating chickfila. i can' t eat campus food (even baked potatoes b/c of stomach problems, yet chikfila is a-ok.
they must be REALLy clean.

[free sample addict aka Tracy L]

After reading the first couple of responses to this post I visited the branch that opened in my area. I had the traditional chicken sandwich combo w/cole slaw and soda (I didn't read far enough about the diet lemonade), DH had the spicy wrap with waffle fries. Overall, very tasty. I thought the waffle fries were addictive and the cole slaw very refreshing. It seemed really well run, almost a step above the usual fast food joints.

[amkirkland]

The wraps are typically pretty dry to me, mainly because they're not doused in fatty sauces before you gt it. Crazy... fast food that's actually healthy.

[Covert Ops]

And they're served ICE COLD. I mean, I know they're called "cool wraps," but why can't I get warm chicken in my wrap, to melt the cheese? And I also don't like the sauce on the side. . .I ordered a "spicy" wrap that was really a plain chicken wrap with spicy dressing, and the dressing had a smoky, BBQ flavor that I didn't like at all.

That's what I get for straying away from the nuggets. . .:-D

[Greyhoundgrrl]

My brother worked there in High school and claimed that the reason the sandwiches were so juicy is that they were pressure-cooked before being breaded and fried. I wonder if this is still the case.

[amkirkland]

I think they pressure fry, but it's raw when it goes in the fryer. Most commercial chicken fryers use this method.

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

The only Chick-Fil-A -- that I know of -- in Massachusetts is in the mall in Burlington, a burb out on Route 128. I have been known to drive from our house in Allston to Burlington and back (about 45 minutes one way) for the combo with waffle fries, slaw and a Dr Pepper. The nuggets are also quite good.

[enhF94]

Me too! During holiday season, no less. Man, BFP, I like your New Mexpat-Fil-A taste.

For years I thought that frying in peanut oil was the key to their succulence, but since I've tried it at home I've found that it's possible to screw up even with the peanutty action. I do think that pressure-frying makes a difference, but I'm not going to try that at home. (Phoom! hot oil everywhere)

[katp]

I admire their reasoning for being closed on Sundays, but DANG that seems to always be the day I'm craving it! I get mine with extra, extra, extra pickles!

[SarahEats]

One time my husband and I got a serious jones for Chik-Fil-A on a Sunday and drove all the way to the store (about a 30-minute drive at the time). We pulled into the parking lot and remarked how dead the place looked before we realized it was Sunday and they were closed. Talk about a letdown!

I need to start ordering my sandwiches with extra pickles. I always feel like there aren't enough on the sandwich but it never occured to me to ask for more.

[katp]

Sometimes I'll even just ask for a small cup of pickles so I can add as much as I like to my sandwich and have the rest to eat straight up. I just love those pickles!

[SarahEats]

I was near a Chik-Fil-A at lunch time yesterday so I got a sandwich and fries...and made sure to ask for extra pickles. What a revelation! I'll never order it without those extra pickles again.

[messyjessy]

Mmmm...there are plenty of Chik-fil-a's in the NC area. Three of them in the area where I work.

I go back and forth between

1. Combo #1 (original sandwich) with no butter & extra pickle (a packet of light mayo and ketchup)
Medium Waffle Fries (my favorite ones have the skin still on them) with a packet of Ranch to dip them in
and a Large Lemonade.

or

2. 6 pack kids meal with honey mustard and ranch for the fries!

I think I want Chik-fil-a for dinner now!

[jessicheese]

Having worked at Chick fil A for a year in high school (about 10 years ago), I thought I'd share some informational tidbits:

-The same chicken is used for the "Chick fil A" sandwich and the grilled sandwich. Same marinade, same everything up until cooking.

-If you ask for your sandwich to be made in a special way (be it extra pickles, no butter) They'll make it fresh for you.

I used to eat there everyday, for free, for a year and didn't avoid anything (as many foodies do when working somewhere). Very clean, great company.

And for the record, I get a Chick Fil A sandwich (mayo and honey mustard), small fry, 6 pack of nuggets, and half lemonade/ half unsweetened tea. Mmmmmmm.....

[ozzygee]

I suspected that sometimes the sandwiches sat around. Thanks for the tips!

[gina]

My fiance worked at Chik-Fil-A in high school, too, and he still loves them. Every once in a while, he will pick up 4 or 5 sandwiches--one for me, and the rest for him.

I always take the pickles off of mine, and I like it even better after it's spent the night in the fridge.

[shauben2007]

Maybe that was the case awhile ago, but my wife tried the grilled chicken, it was processed, vile, and rubbery.

Originals are great though.

-Steve

[amkirkland]

how do you define processed?

[kare_raisu]

is the carrot or chicken salad any good?

[cackalackie]

The carrot salad is really nice. It doesn't have mayo or any heavy dressing like that. It's just simply carrot, raisin, and some other bit of fruit, I believe. Really nice.

[amkirkland]

Nope, you don't mess with a chick-fil-a sandwich. At least if it's fresh. As much as I LOVE them, when they've sat around, they become pretty rank. Back in the day I'd put some polynesian sauce on it, but these days it's straight up. I'll dress up the grilled chicken sandwich though.

[ubermasonfan]

Oh no. The key to to a Chik-Fil-A sandwich is ranch dressing!!!! The sandwich, and the waffle fries, go great with a dollop of ranch dressing.

[vision20]

I agree. This is a wonderful chicken sandwich! I moved out to NY and I'm having withdrawals. The only thing about the sandwich that is disturbing are the partially hydrogenates oils (Trans Fat) that it's soaked in. I sent Truett Cathy, CEO of Chick-Fil-A a letter regarding this and all I got was a gift certificate for another sandwich. Go figure!

[ozzygee]

I drive an hour out of my way just to eat at Chik-Fil-A.

Just a dollop of mayo & some polynaise sauce make what is already a perfect sandwich the most amazing chicken sandwich ever.

Of course that's just sandwich #1. Sandwich #2 has only hot sauce on it.

Curious to know how other folks prefer their Fil-A.

[cackalackie]

Usually at lunch I get the 6-piece kid's meal. It comes with the waffle fries and a drink. I get ketchup for the fries and the Buffalo Chicken sauce for dipping.

Sometimes, if I'm craving a Chick-Fil-A sandwich, though, I'll get it with a side of carrot-raisin salad. Now I like putting the buffalo sauce on the sandwich as well.

[laurie]

When I need a Chick-Fil-A fix, I too get the 6-piece kids meal. It's a guilty indulgence that feels less guilty when I stick to the smaller portion. I avoid fast food like the plaque, except for Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets! I only allow myself to do this once in a great while, but oh, what a treat it is when I do!

[Kam7185]

I actually buy the Diet lemonade by the gallon. Insane, I know*~

[shanda013]

I have had it once at the ATL airport.....i had to add chz and it was very good. too bad they dont have any here that i know of in the pnw:(

[Katie Nell]

Thanks a lot, because of this thread I've been craving Chick-Fil-A all week! ;-) And the one near my work isn't open quite yet! Boo! I'm fond of the chicken nuggets and waffle fries myself, but I haven't had it in years! (Please open soon, please open soon, please open soon!)

[cackalackie]

If it was grilled, then it wasn't THE Chick-Fil-A!

[Davwud]

Still aint goin' back.

DT

[Davwud]

I rate it as one of the few places you can not drag me to eat. My wife loves it and took me there once. Once was enough. Flacid tasteless chicken, soggy tomato and an embarassing piece of lettuce. I think I licked the mayo off the bun and called it lunch.

DT

[SarahEats]

Did you get the grilled sandwich by any chance? If so you should have stuck with the original, which is breaded and served with only pickles, no lettuce or tomato.

[Davwud]

I would suspect it was the grilled. It was so bad I'm never going back.

DT

[wabbitslayer]

Did it come w/ mayo on it?!? Never seen that before at any location. (although i love their mayo that comes in the little foil packets)

It sounds like you had a grilled one, which are NOT good. Having eaten at several places that everyone else loved that I hated and swore I'd never try a second time, I feel your pain...but you really oughta try the "real" one.

[Davwud]

Nope.
The other problem is, I live in Canada and when at the inlaws there's way too much stuff I'd rather eat. So I really don't have the time to go there either.

DT

[Chimayo Joe]

I've been there once a long time ago. I had either the chicken strips or nuggets and thought the breading was far too sweet. Liked the waffle fries.

[JenBoes]

I like it too, but I don't think the butter on the bun is a neccessity. It tastes the same without. Unfortunately, there are no Chick-Fil-A's where I currently live.

[SuzyInChains]

I don't even like chicken and I will go out of my way for a Chick-Fil-A sandwich. They were out of pickles one time and I was amazed at the difference. Gotta have the pickles.

[SarahEats]

I love the Chik-Fil-A sandwich. You're right...the pickles totally make the sandwich. I add mayo to mine and it's a great lunch. I also like that they serve waffle fries. There's a standalone store near our new house and I can't wait to move so I can go there whenever a craving strikes.

[HollyDolly]

Hey i may go there today.Want to make a trip to Home Depot to get a kit to repair the front screen door.My two kitties like to jump on it,so now it's torn.
I'll just get a sandwich and can buy a soda at work for 75cents.The Chick-Fil-A in the Forum at olypmia Parkway in Selma,Texas by me often has coupons like buy a dinner or lunch combo and get a sandwich free.