How To Order TikTok's Viral 'Bowl' Hack From Chick-Fil-A
When it comes to fast food establishments, Chick-fil-A has a reputation for standing out from its peers. From its menu to the friendliness of its staff (who always respond to customers by saying "my pleasure"), people have come to expect a certain kind of service from the chain. Part of this hospitality entails customizing orders to meet specific customer needs, whether that's extra sauce or light ice in soft drinks. However, a viral video currently making the rounds may be pushing the chain's customization limits too far, albeit in the most delicious way possible.
Rumors swirl around restaurants' "secret menus," which are offerings that don't appear among the listed offerings but can be ordered by request. Secret menus often take heat, especially when they pop up on social media, as it's perceived that special orders make workers' jobs harder (and hold up the line for other patrons). However, some establishments embrace secret menu items, including Starbucks, Chipotle, and McDonald's. As for Chick-fil-A's secret "bowl" hack, customers are clamoring for it to join the menu officially.
What to expect from this viral fast food sensation
Chick-fil-A's secret menu bowl first gained notice thanks to a TikTok upload from an employee at the chain. In the short clip, the woman takes a plastic salad container and fills it with the following items: waffle fries, mac and cheese, and chicken nuggets. She then tops the mixture with ranch dressing and honey mustard BBQ sauce before closing the lid and shaking the contents.
@babydoll_247 Eat with me 😍#part 1#chickfilaemployee
Many fast food joints offer bowls, which feature lots of ingredients crammed together for flavor and convenience purposes. However, Chick-fil-A's unofficial bowl is extremely tempting, as it includes the chain's most iconic menu items. The inclusion of ranch and honey mustard BBQ amps up the flavor thanks to the combination of creaminess and tangy smokiness. Even better, the Chick-fil-A bowl is relatively easy to replicate. Simply order the items featured in the clip, ask for a salad container, and recreate at home. If you're wondering whether the restaurant will make this popular off-menu item a permanent staple, that remains to be seen.
This bowl may remain Chick-fil-A's best kept secret
Insider delved into the process for adding new items to Chick-fil-A's menu. Amanda Norris, executive menu director for the chain, explained that each new item goes through a rigorous five-step process, which includes Understand/Inception, Imagine/Concept, Prototype/Development, Validate/Test, and Launch/Roll Out and Stewardship. Overall, the process can take anywhere from 18 to 24 months, which ranges from the initial inspiration to the item's official inclusion on the menu.
It's worth noting that the chain considers more than just how popular an item is with fans (which usually becomes evident during the Validate/Test stage, i.e., the first time customers will get to sample a new item). The chain also considers how challenging the item is to make, which could lead to delays and snags in the otherwise efficient process. Based on these factors, it's hard to tell whether the viral bowl will become a permanent menu fixture any time soon.