9 Changes I Wish Chick-Fil-A Would Make

As someone who grew up in the Atlanta area, I've eaten a lot of Chick-fil-A in my life, from early morning chicken biscuits at the airport before flights to late-night chicken nuggets on the way home from the bar. Whether I'm ordering a spicy chicken sandwich or a frosted coffee (or, sometimes, both), I generally expect pretty consistent deliciousness from this fast food chain. And compared to the many other fast food chains that seem to have been on the decline in terms of quality over the last several years, Chick-fil-A seems like one of the few drive-thru spots that still serves up higher-quality dishes, at least by fast food standards.

But just because I'm a Chick-fil-A fan doesn't mean I don't think the restaurant chain could make improvements. In fact, there are more than a few things it could improve on, whether we're addressing scheduling, shifting quality standards, or specific dishes. Do I expect Chick-fil-A to hear my plea? Not really. But maybe some other Chick-fil-A goers out there will find some solace in knowing that other diners experience the same annoyances at the chain as they do. At the end of the day, though, I'm sure we'll all be back at our local Chick-fil-A soon enough.

This is the most obvious Chick-fil-A change of them all, a change plenty of customers have probably wished for. It always seems to go that you crave Chick-fil-A on Sundays most, when you know you're not getting a crispy chicken sandwich for a good 24 hours. I've been disappointed countless times driving past a CFA location, thinking about how good a chicken sandwich would be, only to realize what day of the week it was.

There's something to say for the sense of anticipation this schedule creates. It's almost like Chick-fil-A is playing hard to get, which only makes you want the food more. Plus, I do think it must be nice for the people who work there to have that one day a week guaranteed off. But when I'm at my hungriest and most selfish, I do, in fact, wish that Chick-fil-A was open every day of the week. Considering that these restaurants have been closed every Sunday since 1946, though, I somehow doubt this dream of mine will come true.

When it comes to chicken, I do think that Chick-fil-A is one of the better fast food restaurants in the country. But if you're judging by the chain's fries, it's near the bottom of the pack. Unfortunately, I think that Chick-fil-A's waffle fries are one of the worst items on the entire menu. Are they sometimes soggy? Sure. It's not the sogginess that I hate, though. My issue is that these fries taste almost entirely unseasoned, without even enough salt. Combine that with how often they seem undercooked, and you have a recipe for blandness. In fact, I truly believe that Chick-fil-A has such delicious sauces because it's overcompensating for its sad fries.

If Chick-fil-A really wanted to up its game, it would swap out the waffle fries entirely and go for a different shape. After all, I've yet to taste waffle fries that had a particularly good texture, and it almost feels like Chick-fil-A just chose this shape to be different. A simple shoestring fry situation would be perfect, likely offering a better crisp or a more pleasant sogginess. And maybe, just maybe, the chain could start seasoning them more generously in the process.

The first time I ordered Chick-fil-A's Cool Wrap, I was so excited to eat a lighter, fresher option at a fast food joint. Not so long ago, healthier-looking options like this one were few and far between at places with drive-thrus, so I was happy to see a non-fried menu item that wasn't just a plain old grilled chicken sandwich. I was ultimately kind of disappointed in my selection that day, though. The Cool Wrap could taste so much better than it does, but it's unfortunately one of the blander, least interesting items on the menu. It comes with grilled chicken breast, lettuce, and cheese, all rolled in a flatbread, with your choice of sauce on the side. The three main ingredients aren't that flavorful, so the result is a pretty mediocre wrap.

There are so many ways in which the Cool Wrap could be improved. Some raw red onion would work wonders for the wrap, introducing a bold sharpness to really make things pop. Some sliced tomatoes could be a nice addition for an extra touch of freshness. Or Chick-fil-A could swap out the lettuce for arugula, so at least you get some nice peppery notes in the mix. This menu item has so much potential if only Chick-fil-A would make a few minor adjustments.

One thing I can respect about Chick-fil-A is that it doesn't try to change its identity for anyone. There are plenty of fast food burger chains out there that sell chicken and even fish sandwiches in an attempt to capture a wider audience. Chick-fil-A has been steadfast in only serving chicken in its entree lineup, specializing in one specific thing and doing it well. That narrow focus may explain why the chicken there is so good, and it's why I wouldn't be interested if the chain started selling burgers.

But it's 2026, and I think it's time that we see a vegan or vegetarian entree on Chick-fil-A's menu — and it doesn't have to be any sort of weird style of veggie burger unrelated to the food that the chain already sells. There are so many plant-based chicken patties out there now, for example, that could be turned into a Chick-fil-A style sandwich that meat-abstaining diners could enjoy. To me, this seems like the change on this list that's least likely to happen, since it probably would've happened by now if Chick-fil-A were interested in making that leap to a new market.

Do I think that the food quality standards at Chick-fil-A are higher than that of other, similar restaurants? Sure. Still, though, that doesn't mean that the chain isn't following the trend of giving customers less bang for their buck. Many diners are accusing Chick-fil-A of shrinkflation, or charging the same amount of money for a product that's smaller or delivering less value. Specifically, they allege that the chain's sandwiches are getting smaller.

The first time I saw that people were making these complaints online, I didn't really know what they were talking about. The next time I ordered a sandwich at Chick-fil-A, though, I took a closer look at it. The patty was thinner than I remembered in the past, making for a less impressive-looking sandwich. Since that point, I can't unsee it — it really does look like the popular chicken chain is trying to cut corners. Can I prove it? Maybe not. But I have an intuition about sandwiches.

These days, many consumers are getting financially pinched, no longer able to afford the little luxuries that, at one point, they didn't have to think twice about. When I go out to eat now, I know I'm thinking a lot more about value. I want to make sure I'm getting my money's worth. If Chick-fil-A serves up smaller sandwiches for the same price, I may choose to pass up my spicy chicken sandwich altogether moving forward.

I've already detailed my dislike of Chick-fil-A's waffle fries, but that's not where my side dish complaints end. Not only does the chain fall flat on the fry front, but I think it also drops the ball when it comes to veggie side dishes. Officially, there are only two on the menu: a kale crunch salad and a basic side salad. Let's face it: The side salad is downright boring. This is what you get when you know you want something light but have no other options available to you. It may not be bad, but that salad isn't what anyone is truly craving. And although the kale crunch salad sounds promising, it also misses the mark completely. Even as a kale lover, this is a Chick-fil-A side dish I'll never order again.

I really wish that Chick-fil-A would incorporate some different veggie-based side dishes onto its menu for more variety. Why not have some sort of seasoned green beans or even just some steamed broccoli? Corn on the cob or some kind of beans would make solid additions to the lineup as well. As it stands, I either have to stomach the waffle fries or go full indulgent with the mac and cheese, while other chicken chains like Popeyes and KFC serve up a much wider variety of sides.

If you love when sweet and salty flavors merge as much as I do, chicken and waffles is a dish that's probably right up your alley. You get a nice, subtle sweetness from the waffles paired with the salty and savory flavor profile of the fried chicken. Then there's the combination of the soft and crunchy textures, with the juiciness from the chicken (and hopefully a drizzle of maple syrup) bringing it all together. It's such a classic fried chicken favorite that I'm actually surprised more chicken chains haven't embraced it. In 2026, though, Chick-fil-A rolled out its limited-time chicken and waffles dish, which comes with a chicken patty, bacon, and honey butter. It's all served on a maple-flavored waffle, meaning you don't have to do any messy dipping into a cup of syrup when you're on the go.

Since this is such a classic flavor combination, I absolutely think that Chick-fil-A should keep the sandwich on its menu long-term. Why not offer a different breakfast sandwich option that's at least slightly more interesting than a plain chicken biscuit? The chain doesn't have that many items on its breakfast menu as it is, so this addition can round out the lineup nicely. If it goes away, though, at least we still have this recipe for chicken and waffle sliders.

If you've been to a busy Chick-fil-A before, then you know exactly what I'm talking about when I say that the chain should allow people to see the menu at the drive-thru before ordering. Often, when there's a long line, staff members actually come out to the cars, taking orders as they work their way down the line. I understand that they do this to cut down on wait times, which I appreciate. However, if you're far enough back in the line, you may have to order before reaching the menu board.

Obviously, this isn't ideal if you're new to the restaurant and don't know what the standard items on the menu are. But it's also inconvenient if you just want to switch up your order and try something new. Plus, it's not great for the company itself if it's trying to show off promotions or limited-time offerings. I want to be able to look directly at a lit-up menu right in front of me when I'm placing my order — not have to look it up on my phone when I'm already trying to get through the drive-thru. And to be honest, it feels like a reasonable ask, since it's the experience you get at basically every other fast food restaurant out there.

Once upon a time, Chick-fil-A made a pledge not to use any chickens that had been treated with antibiotics. But in 2024, the chain announced that, because of supply chain issues, it was going to start using chickens that had been exposed to some antibiotics. The chain now says that its chickens are free from antibiotics "important to human medicine," according to its website. This looks like an obvious downgrade in quality, especially since many experts agree that antibiotic-treated meat in general can lead to negative health consequences — not exactly what I want to think about when I'm tucking into my Chick-fil-A sandwich. But this decision is disappointing on yet another level: it just shows that Chick-fil-A, like so many other companies right now, is willing to lower quality standards. All the while, consumers like us get less-healthy food without even getting a better deal in the process.

Yes, I want antibiotic-free meat when I go to Chick-fil-A or basically any other restaurant. But I also want to know that there are some brands out there that are still dependable. Unfortunately, this shift in policy makes me feel like Chick-fil-A may no longer belong in that category. I hope that the restaurant eventually reverses this change and gets back to higher-quality poultry.