The drive-thru was one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century. There's nothing better than
ordering food and having someone hand it to you without even needing to leave your car.
It's the perfect road trip snack or the best way to cap a long drive home.
But do you know the unspoken rules of the drive-thru?
Though it's hard to find someone who hasn't experienced a drive-thru at least once,
you might not have realized that drive-thru etiquette actually exists.
It turns out there are unwritten rules on how to properly order your food via drive-thru,
from the moment you reach the speaker until you're happily driving away with that burger and fries.
And it's important to know these rules because if you mess it up,
you not only make your drive-thru experience longer, you delay everyone waiting behind you.
So here's Rule #1 of Drive-Thru etiquette:
Know what you want before you get to the front of the line.
Sure, you can't usually see the menu until you're at the speaker or the window ready to order.
But according to The Takeout, not knowing what to order upon pulling up to the speaker
is one of the biggest ways customers add time to everyone's drive-thru experience.
An easy fix could be to pull up the menu on your phone ahead of time.
This can also show you helpful things, like if they allow substitutions.
"One burger, with four slices…"
"I'm sorry, we can't do that."
"Just put four slices of cheese on a burger!"
"We can't do that."
Or, if you've been to the restaurant before, you probably already know what they have.
In-N-Out Burger? They have burgers. It's really not that complicated!
But there are a few other important rules to follow at the drive-thru that will help the
process run smoothly. Rule #2 according to The Takeout: you should avoid being too chatty with
drive-thru employees. Though it's always important to be kind, when the restaurant has a long line,
most workers aren't interested in having a conservation that might only extend the process.
Rather, be cordial, place your order, and keep the line moving.
Tastemade offers up Rule #3, and while it might seem like a no-brainer,
plenty of people frequently forget this one: Make sure you have your wallet.
We've all experienced that moment of panic when we realize we've left our money at home.
However, noticing it after you've already placed your food order isn't the most ideal time.
And the corollary: have your wallet out and ready to pay when you pick up the food.
Digging through your pockets or purse can be done while you're waiting in line.
And then there's Rule #4: Once you place your order, stick with it. Tastemade advises not
adding additional items to your order once you arrive at the pickup window; the process isn't
as simple as you'd think. Because drive-thrus run like well-oiled machines, changing an order after
you've placed it throws a wrench in the system, often resulting in a manager getting involved.
At the end of the day, the most important thing to remember when ordering from a drive-thru is
to have patience. CNBC reported in September 2021 that drive-thru times are longer than ever,
with the average time having increased by 25 seconds in 2021 from the year prior.
Another study by SeeLevel HX found that drive-thru windows have also become worse at
perfecting orders. Back in 2020, the overall order accuracy was at 87%, but in 2021, that number had
dropped to 85%. Though despite what you may have heard, it's not actually intentional.
"They know you're going to be miles away before you find out you got f—ed, okay?
They know you're not going to turn around and go back, so they don't care!"
CNBC reported that Chick-fil-A was named the chain with the most accurate orders,
followed by Taco Bell.
The study also cites a few reasons why drive-thru times might have grown.
Longer menus have become more popular, which could slow down the overall processes in the kitchen.
Plus, with so many restaurants short-staffed,
cooking times might have become longer as a result of orders being filled at a slower rate.
Plus, drive-thru visits as a whole have increased drastically since the pandemic started.
Visits in August 2021 were 11% higher than they were in August 2019; the scare
of catching COVID-19 may have led more to opt for the drive-thru lane versus dining indoors.
Remember these four essential rules of the Drive-Thru, and you can ensure a safe,
happy, and fast dining experience.
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