What's the Longest You'd Wait in Line for Fast Food?

[tasha99]

Ten minutes, even for In and Out Burger. They often have long lines, but are usually really efficient.

 

[hopemax]

This In-N-Out is in my metro area, and I would totally wait a couple hours for it. I've waited in plenty of 2 hour attraction lines, and those you leave hungry. Plus, waiting in a drive thru line is at reasonably safe pandemic outing. We had In-N-Out when we lived in AZ, and I miss it. In 10 years, I've gotten to have it twice (although, the last time was only in October when we drove through Utah). My birthday is in December, and I told DH it's what I want for my birthday since I can't eat out in any of our usual places.

 

[MillauFr]

The Il Corvo quick service pasta bar in Seattle would frequently have lines approaching 30 - 45 minutes. The line would snake around the block. It was walk up only. My daughter described it as "Life Changing Experience". It was 2 blocks from my office so I would just have her wait in line and call me when she got within a few people of the front of the line so I didn't have to wait. Now I just order delivery with DashPass and let someone else do the waiting.

 

[katmigordon]

We won't even get in line for the drive-through if there are more than 2 cars.

 

[katmigordon]

We are way too impatient - 15 - 20 min wait is a MAX time for a sit down we really want. Wouldn't dream of waiting that long for fast food.

I would never wait that long for anywhere. Wow!

I would wait 15-20 minutes though. We did for a place just the other day.

 

[katmigordon]

But driving is FUN - waiting is BORING.
I would much rather drive to somewhere else over that half hour than sit twiddling my thumbs.

This reminds me of where I used to work, a very popular mom and pop diner out in the middle of nowhere. Some people weren’t willing to wait 15-20 minutes for a table saying they would go somewhere else. I always thought to myself good luck with that. By the time you drive 20-30 minutes to any other restaurant you could have been seated here before that. I always thought it was funny.

As for waiting for fast food, I don’t mind waiting if it’s something I’m having a craving for

 

[wilbret]

https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/massive-line-colorado-in-n-out-burger-joints
If the line is longer than 15 mins, I'll go elsewhere.

For in and out? 10 minutes?
On average, 15 minutes and I’m out.

 

[RangerPooh]

It's not exactly the same, but one place that kind of gives me a similar vibe is Dick's Drive In around Seattle. Their specialty is just simple burgers and simple cheeseburgers. Back around 2013 I think it was maybe $1.10 for a 1/8 lb burger.

I've never had theirs but there is one in Spokane that people raved about. We'd drive by it and there was always a line.

 

[bcla]

I've never had theirs but there is one in Spokane that people raved about. We'd drive by it and there was always a line.

Looked it up. That’s Dick’s Hamburgers in the Spokane area. Not related to Dick’s Drive-In, but of a similar style. The only location I visited was Queen Anne in Seattle. Ironic since that location doesn’t include a drive in. Bill Gates did a 60 Minutes piece there.

 

[sk!mom]

I'd put my wait time tolerance at 10-15 minutes, tops, and that would have to be in a place where there aren't other, quicker options nearby (I live in a town with only one fast-food place, so it does happen). If there are more than 4 or 5 cars ahead of me, I don't even get in the drive thru line. I certainly wouldn't brave November weather and a pandemic to spend hours in line for a burger!

I've actually only been to In N Out once, in three trips to California, because usually when we pass one the lines look too long to be bothered with. So other than going the one time, with an aunt who lives out there and was playing tour guide for us, we eat elsewhere. And I've only been to Chik-Fil-A once even though my alma mater had the only non-airport location in Michigan for many years, because the line was always too ridiculous. Why would I wait 30min of my lunchbreak waiting for Chik-Fil-A when I could have Subway or Panda Express in <10?

You’ve only ever been to Chick fil A once??! I’m so sorry!

As far as the original question, I don’t really get fast food except for occasionally Chick fil A. They have the wait down to a science and it’s rarely longer than 10 minutes.

 

[Heather07438]

I HATE waiting to order. So maybe 10 minutes. But even that is too long.

Now I went to Taco Bell and waited nearly 30 minutes to get my food AFTER I ordered and there was only 2 people in front of me ordering.

DS and I waited 45+ minutes for Taco Bell drive thru one night and we were the second car I let that car go in front of us coming in. Turned out they were ordering for the entire football and cheer teams. Bag after bag after bag... we just laughed. It was the only place open. Sometimes it's nice to hold your kid captive for conversation too.

 

[superme80]

Normally 10-15 mins max. Once DH and I waited 30 mins for Dutch Bros on our anniversary trip. We seriously had nothing better to do, so it is just part of our fun trip. The worst was I made him wait an hour for In n Out. Normally I do not like In n Out. Unfortunately pregnant me LOVES In n Out. Saturday night around 9 pm I had a craving. Yup waited the entire hour and got my food. Pregnant me was happy. DH? Not so much!!!!!

 

[neverlandsky]

1 hour Chick-fil-a (days after their grand opening). Never had it before. We didn’t like it. Haven’t been back since.

45 minutes In & Out burger (visiting and haven’t had it in 3 years). It’s was during the lunch rush and due to Covid the dining room was shutdown along with inside ordering. I like their animal style fries and pink lemonade.

 

[BrianL]

Not too long - I think I'll wait about 10 minutes max. I have been known to get in a ratehr long Chick-fil_A line bu thtey are usually very fast. I did it this weekend and the line was backed up into the street. It took 5 or 6 minutes to get food in-hand. They are amazing! I did try the order on the app and park in a spot way and it took longer, but was still righta round 10 mintues from when I pulled in. I guess I figure if I pre-order it should be faster, but I don't think they really get it until you click the "here" button.

I will wait a tad longer for something I can't get here, like In'n Out. I know they are cooking everything fresh so I don't mind. They still only take about 10 mintues - a bit longer that time in LA right at lunch.

 

[soccerdad72]

The longest I've probably waited was 15-20 minutes, either at Chik-fil-A or at Raising Cane's - both times I can think of was for my son. I didn't even order anything for myself.

 

[DisneyHardin]

It's funny that I saw this thread this morning - I waited almost 40 minutes in the drive-thru last night at Popeye's. I would have left, but that is what DH really wanted for dinner.

 

[mrodgers]

You’ve only ever been to Chick fil A once??! I’m so sorry!

Not sure why, I've only been to Chick Fil A once. I wondered what all the hype about a chicken sandwich was. Not much different than any other fast food chicken sandwich.

It was really difficult trying it too because it was in a mall, with Five Guys Burgers right next to it. Next time we were in the mall and needed to eat, I let the kids stand in line at Chick Fil A and went and got myself a burger.

 

[mrodgers]

DS and I waited 45+ minutes for Taco Bell drive thru one night and we were the second car I let that car go in front of us coming in. Turned out they were ordering for the entire football and cheer teams. Bag after bag after bag... we just laughed. It was the only place open. Sometimes it's nice to hold your kid captive for conversation too.

Happened to us inside KFC. Almost. They let us go in front of them and told us they have 3 buses full of high school kids across the road in the parking lot. We were quite thankful for that.

 

[Donald13]

We waited for chick fil a once for over an hour. But 14???? No thank you

 

[RamblingMad]

https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/massive-line-colorado-in-n-out-burger-joints
If the line is longer than 15 mins, I'll go elsewhere.

It’s fast food. If it’s not fast, what’s the point?