I tried Chick-fil-A for the first time as a Canadian, and I don't get why Americans love it so much

Tiffany LeighFeb 7, 2024, 01:10 IST

I'd never been to Chick-fil-A before, but after trying it I don't that I'd come backTiffany Leigh

Now that Chick-fil-A has opened locations near me in Canada, I decided to finally try it.
I was excited to try popular items like the original chicken sandwich, but I wasn't blown away.

Chick-fil-A has been operating in the US since 1967, and it was just named "America's favorite restaurant" for the eighth year in a row, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index.

But the first location didn't open in Canada until 2019. When I learned the popular fast-food chain was coming to my city of Toronto, I was curious.

But I was finally motivated to go when a second location opened just a few minutes from my house.

Having never tried the chain before in my home country or the US, I was curious to learn — and taste — what the hype was all about.

I immediately noticed how bright and roomy it was inside.

There are only a couple of Chick-fil-A locations in Canada.Tiffany Leigh

There was plenty of seating inside.

There was a counter-like table at the window.Tiffany Leigh

I noticed a few nice touches that paid tribute to the surrounding neighborhood.

I visited the Queen Street West location of Chick-fil-A.Tiffany Leigh

The early-dinner rush made the line long, but it moved quickly.

The employee took our order in line, but I wasn't quite ready.Tiffany Leigh

At the cash register, the staff pulled up my name and order.

Luckily I read through the menu online beforehand.Tiffany Leigh

Because of my long wait, I got a voucher for a free treat.

I got a free treat because of my wait.Tiffany Leigh

I thought the prices were kind of high for what I got.

I think Chick-fil-A is a little pricey for fast food.Tiffany Leigh

When I took everything out of the bags, it was quite the spread.

I was excited to try food from Chick-fil-A.Tiffany Leigh

I started with the original Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich, but it let me down.

I started by trying the classic chicken sandwich the chain is known for.Tiffany Leigh

Redemption came in the form of the spicy deluxe sandwich.

The spicy deluxe sandwich has pepper-jack cheese.Tiffany Leigh

I was craving something lighter, so I tasted the Cobb salad with grilled nuggets next.

I tried the Cobb salad at Chick-fil-A.Tiffany Leigh

I've heard all about the spicy chicken strips, but I wasn't that impressed.

I was excited to try the spicy chicken strips.Tiffany Leigh

The waffle fries were also a major letdown.

I wasn't a fan of the Chick-fil-A waffle fries.Tiffany Leigh

Fortunately, the seasonal peach milkshake was a huge winner.

Chick-fil-A was offering a seasonal peach milkshake.Tiffany Leigh

Lastly, I conducted an informal taste test of the sauces.

I loved the original Chick-fil-A sauce.Tiffany Leigh

At the end of my experience, I felt conflicted and a little disappointed.

I wasn't blown away by the food at Chick-fil-A.Tiffany Leigh

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