Some Orders Are Easier Than Others
Working in fast food means preparing hundreds of meals, and if that wasn’t taxing enough, they’re all doing it under a literal clock while impatient stomachs wait in the drive-thru. Although employees generally don't mind prepping whatever's on the menu, some requests require extra attention or complicated preparation—and you bet those annoy workers as much as you fear they do. Before you drive to the window, here are 10 orders employees generally don't mind, and 10 they definitely do.
1. Heavily Customized Sandwiches
Removing one ingredient is usually fine, but pulling several from the bun makes preparation unnecessarily complicated. Employees then have to remember additional toppings, reduced sauces, specific ingredient placements, and multiple exclusions on the same order. If multiple customized orders come in at once, it gets even more confusing.
2. Extra-Large Family Orders
Preparing food for an entire family means substantially more coordination. It’s not about wrapping a sandwich—workers need to track main dishes, sides, drinks, and special requests while making sure everything ends up in the correct bags. When these orders arrive during peak hours, you bet those poor employees are sweating.
3. Complicated Frozen Beverages
Blended beverages aren’t as simple to make as you think! Employees need to measure syrups, add toppings, blend everything, and clean equipment before preparing the next drink. And what’s even crazier is that people know the difference between one sugar and two, so one little mistake can land employees in hot water, which doesn’t help the stress.
4. Everything Cooked Fresh
Many restaurants already follow strict holding times to maintain quality, but some customers specifically request every little thing to be prepared from scratch. What does that mean for employees? It means separating batches of meat, sides, and other ingredients instead of using food that's ready to serve.
5. Extra-Crispy Orders
You’re obviously within your rights to ask for the crispy stuff, but requesting well-done food interrupts the cooking process. Employees now have to keep certain items in the fryer longer or arrange additional cooking time without affecting other orders. But when the kitchen’s already slammed, that one hiccup makes their days a lot harder.
6. Massive Loaded Bowls
Some establishments let you build bowls using a massive selection of proteins, vegetables, sauces, and additional toppings. It’s great for you, but not so great for employees! Preparing one with nearly every available ingredient also means repeated trips between containers and careful attention to portion sizes.
7. Separately Packaged Ingredients
Believe it or not, some customers ask that every component of their meal arrive in its own container rather than assembled. Suddenly, employees then have to locate additional packaging, separate ingredients, and make sure nothing gets forgotten. Talk about a simple meal turning into a journey!
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8. Complicated Specialty Pizzas
Pizza seems like it’s the most straightforward thing on the menu, but that’s far from the truth with speciality pies. When customers request different toppings across multiple sections of the same pie, workers are left scrambling to keep those things separate. Not to mention, unusual combos can also affect cooking consistency.
9. Build-Your-Own Desserts
You might want to think of the poor fast food employee before you dive into an elaborate creation. Depending on what you ask for, employees have to alternate between dispensers and carefully package everything without spilling. It’s not the end of the world, but it is a hassle.
10. Giant Party Platters
Large platters with dozens of individual portions? You bet those need more preparation. Workers are left to coordinate multiple batches, arrange everything, and double-check that all your food is correct. Now, these orders are easier to manage with advance notice, but asking for one at the last second might just make that teenager hate you.
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Not every fast food order is a nightmare waiting to happen, though. With some of the more annoying ones out of the way, let’s dive into which items are usually a delight to pack!
1. Standard Menu Orders
Fast food kitchens are designed around efficiency, and that means familiar meals. Employees already know the ingredients, portions, and assembly process of basic stuff, all without needing to dig through special instructions. Choosing something exactly as it's advertised lets them follow the routine they've practiced hundreds of times.
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2. Simple Sides
Ordering a basic side that's already being prepared throughout the day rarely creates much work. All it is is sticking your side in its proper container and sending you on your merry way. As long as there's a fresh batch available, these requests are among the easiest to fulfill.
3. Regular Fountain Drinks
In most places nowadays, employees don’t even have to fill the cup for you. They might just hand you your own and leave you to mix whichever sodas you want! Compared with beverages requiring blending or several ingredients, this straightforward request is relatively painless, and employees will be glad to hear that’s all you want.
4. Basic Breakfast Orders
We know it sounds like almost anything would be nightmarish during the morning rush, but it’s actually the opposite. Employees often prepare large quantities of their most popular breakfast combinations, so ordering one without substitutions only entails sticking your order in a bag.
5. Prepackaged Desserts
Some fast food joints offer desserts that arrive individually packaged and require virtually no preparation on an employee’s end. They only need to get what you want and stick it with the rest of your order. There's no complicated assembly involved, either.
6. Single-Item Orders
Someone stopping by for one straightforward item is unlikely to pressure the kitchen. If you’re all you’re craving is a burger or a milkshake, employees can focus on completing that request without packaging multiple meals. Provided the item is, in fact, readily available, these orders are simple to handle.
7. Regular Hot Coffee
Don’t even think about showing up with a laundry list of demands! For employees working alongside freshly brewed coffee, pouring a standard cup is pretty routine. Black coffee is particularly convenient because it doesn't require anything more than pouring your joe into a to-go cup. During the morning rush, that simplicity makes a noticeable difference, too.
8. Basic Value Meals
Standard meal combos are designed to make ordering straightforward. Employees can follow an established process and get the job done on autopilot, which is good for you, too! So long as you stick with the advertised combination, workers don't have to remember additional substitutions or unusual requests.
9. Ready-to-Serve Bakery Items
Plenty of fast food restaurants come with bakery items, and you’re not exactly getting them fresh. Instead, they’ll have products that are already prepared and displayed. All that’s left for staff is to retrieve a pastry and continue with their day.
10. Plain Sandwich Orders
Although some employees are accustomed to assembly with various toppings, a straightforward plain order can still be easy to prepare. When you only want the bread and main filling, workers have fewer ingredients to handle—and fewer chances to mess up. The important part is communicating the request correctly, so nobody accidentally adds something!
