I compared McDonald's drive-thru and Sonic's drive-in, and saw how both approaches contributed to sales growth during the pandemic

Liam McBurney/PA Images/Getty Images

• I visited Sonic and McDonald's to compare the two chains drive-thru experiences.
• McDonald's embodies the classic drive-thru style, while Sonic operates a drive-in.
• McDonald's model is more versatile, but I think Sonic's innovations will help it stay successful.

Drive-thrus are key for McDonalds. About 95% of the chain's nearly 14,000 US locations have drive-thrus, with 25,000 worldwide.

A McDonald's 24 hour drive-thru.      Getty

Source: Restaurant Dive

"Drive-thru made McDonald's what it is today," McDonald's CEO and president Chris Kempczinski said in an earnings call in April.

McDonald's U.S President Chris Kempczinski speaks about fresh beef expansion at a McDonald’s event in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States March 5, 2018.      Richa Naidu/Reuters

During the pandemic, drive-thrus became more important than ever, making up 90% of orders.

McDonald's Drive Thru service could soon become much more automated.      AP Photo/Seth Perlman

I gave the classic drive-thru experience a try to see how one of the biggest chains in the world stands up to other formats.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Source: Insider

I used the McDonald's app to order a quarter pounder and Big Mac, and of course fries.

McDonald's

The app is pretty standard compared to other fast food mobile ordering. I selected my order and location and then went to pick it up through the drive-thru.

McDonald's

The app gave me a short code to give the worker at the speaker, which I think made things move slightly faster than trying to repeat my name a few times.

McDonald's

My McDonald's location has double drive-thru lanes, a relatively recent innovation that was added to reduce wait times and bottlenecks.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

McDonald's corporate has been pushing franchisees to upgrade drive-thrus since 2019 after years of increasingly long wait times.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Source: Insider

McDonald's average drive-thru wait times got slower every year for six years through 2019, leading to an all-time high of 273 seconds.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Source: QSR

Along with double lanes, consolidating menus by removing options like grilled chicken sandwiches, salads, and all-day breakfast cut wait times.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Source: Insider

I had a fairly simple order, but I didn't wait more than five minutes to receive my food.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

McDonald's has also been investing in a curbside pickup program, with designated numbered parking spots where employees can bring out food to waiting customers.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Next up, I went to Sonic, which has a drive-thru along with a drive-in.

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

Source: Insider

Sonic's drive-in model thrived during the pandemic as competitors closed dining rooms.

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

Sonic operates a drive-thru, dining room, and drive-in. The drive-in has 15 to 20 parking spots with their own speakers to order food, which is brought outside by the car hop.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The drive-in area is under a covering that keeps it comfortable in hot temperatures or rainy weather.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The drive-in section is just across the parking lot from the entrance.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

There's also a small outdoor seating area.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Normally customers would also have the option of ordering and eating inside, but the dining room was still closed.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Each drive-in spot is essentially a drive-thru in miniature, with a sign displaying Sonic's massive menu. Customers press the red button to signal that they are ready to order, and a worker will take their order through the speaker.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Most of the sign is a static display, but there is also a digital screen that shares information. In this case, it said that some ingredients were not available because of supply issues across the entire industry.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I ordered through Sonic's app before I arrived, which gave me time to look through the extensive menu that experts say is key to the chain's success.

Sonic grew during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Source: Insider

The menu has typical fast food fare comparable to McDonald's - burgers, chicken sandwiches, and fries.

Sonic grew during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Unlike many competitors, it also has a wide selection of snacks including different types of tater tots, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, and soft pretzels. Analysts said that the comfort food not tied to a specific meal time may have also contributed to Sonic's success.

Sonic grew during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Sonic's drinks are a major part of its appeal to customers. Sonic's president told Insider that 25% of all orders are drink-only, and there are 1.3 million possible drink combinations on the menu.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Source: Insider

There are so many options to add to a drink that it's almost overwhelming. I finally went with a diet coke with cranberry flavor and lime.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Once you finish ordering on the app, check out and pay.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

When you arrive, the app prompts you to say where you are parked. Each spot in the drive-in has a corresponding number.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Both Sonic and McDonald's have added ID numbers that reduce the chances of miscommunication between customers and employees.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The app gives updates about order status while you wait.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Once you're checked in on the app, you can also see your order status on the screen. The screen informed me when a carhop was heading out with my order.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Carhops bring out food and drinks to customers waiting in parking spots.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

A server brought out my food and drinks within a few minutes, boxed up conveniently for transport.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The drinks, a milkshake and a flavored coke, were probably the highlight of our trip - and definitely worth a visit on their own.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Some people eat in their cars, but I chose to drive home because the snacks I ordered were fairly messy.

Sonic restaurants have over 20 drive-in spots.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

After my visit, I'm not surprised that Sonic grew so much during the pandemic. It sells snacks and drinks that make a perfect treat any time of the day, and the drive-in has very minimal contact with other people for safety.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Sonic has a lot of room to grow before it rivals McDonald's, but I wouldn't be surprised if the success continues. Sonic's drive-in model is a smart way to get around the bottlenecks that plague drive-thrus.

Sonic was massively successful during the pandemic.      Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The typical drive-thru exemplified by McDonald's is more versatile, though. It takes up less space, and adding a few curbside spots has a similar effect as the drive-in. Both are well-positioned to grow off-premise dining as it stays key to their businesses.

Nadine McNally hands a food order from the window of the reopened McDonald's drive-thru at Bloomfield Shopping Mall in Bangor, Wales.      Liam McBurney via Getty