May 8, 2007
Chick-Fil-A not in LA
Some people might think a chicken sandwich is just a chicken sandwich, those people obviously haven't eaten at a Chick-Fil-A. The reason they haven't eaten a Chick-Fil-A sandwich is simple, there just aren't enough here in LA.
Having lived next door to Chick-Fil-A during my brief stint in Orlando, I had the honor of enjoying the deliciousness of a piece of fried chicken on a bun with three pickles whenever I wanted. Ever since, every time I move I make it a habit of logging on to chick-fil-a.com and finding the closest location. Upon arriving in LA, I was disappointed to see that the closest Chick-Fil-A was a 25 minute drive away in Redondo Beach in the South Bay Galleria
.
I made the mistake of first making the trip out to Redondo Beach on the last Saturday before Christmas. Yes, I was heading to a mall on the busiest shopping day of the year and not doing any Christmas shopping, I was there for the Chick-Fil-A. I sat in mall traffic, lapped the parking lot 37 times, walked passed the hoards people hustling for last minute sales to walk into the food court and say, "I'd like two Chick-FIl-A sandwiches please." Yes, two sandwiches, you've got to make the most of the trip.
Luckily, I didn't make the trip on a Sunday. Chick-Fil-A is closed on Sundays. Why are they closed on Sundays? Here's what their website tells us...
Admittedly, closing all of our restaurants every Sunday makes us a rarity in this day and age. But it's a little habit that has always served us well, so we're planning to stick with it.Our founder, Truett Cathy, wanted to ensure that every Chick-fil-A employee and restaurant operator had an opportunity to worship, spend time with family and friends or just plain rest from the work week. Made sense then, still makes sense now.
I now make that trip to Redondo about once a month, usually in a car full of Southern transplants (Chick-Fil-A was started in Atlanta and is huge below the Mason-Dixon) and other friends who have converted into thinking that these chicken sandwiches are worth a 25 minute drive.
Every trip, however, we all think "Why the hell isn't there a Chick-Fil-A closer to us?" Just like "What's the meaning of life?" "Why do people find Carlos Mencia funny?" and "Why does that talking gecko have a British accent?" it remains an unsolved mystery.
We've sent in emails, filled out feedback forms and still have never been given the good news of "We're bringing Chick-Fil-A to LA." Its always a generic "Thanks for the feedback."
This past Saturday, I was in Irvine visiting a friend when I learned that there were not one, not two but three Chick-Fil-A's with another on the way in the city of Irvine.
If I said I wasn't jealous I'd be lying, and I don't like to lie unless you're a bill collector. Seeing the citizens of Irvine enjoy Chick-Fil-A whenever they wanted (except for Sundays) got me thinking, "What's Irvine got that LA doesn't have?" One thing Irvine definitely doesn't have, T-Mobile service, but that's got nothing to do with the price of waffle fries, just thought I'd throw that out there.
So why Irvine and not LA? Is it due to Chick-Fil-A's strict religious heritage? Is LA not banging its bible hard enough for the Chick-Fil-A folks? Tell us Chick-Fil-A. The people of LA want their chicken sandwich, waffle fries and sweet tea and we don't want to drive 25 minutes for it.
Photo by absentmindedprof via flickr



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Kudos to the author! His humorous approach may have hit the nail on the head. Irvine is known for its religious/conservative constituants - so this may actually be the reason that Chick has chosen to roost there.
Like the author, should we want to try this sandwich we'll just have to grab some friends and enjoy some quality time in our car.
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Hmmm...Chick Tracts...Chick-fil-a...it's all coming together...
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I work in Cerritos and make it a point to stop by the Chick-fil-a at the Cerritos Town Center. The stuff is like crack. Crack-fil-a would be a more appropriate name.
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I'm Canadian, but we'd always hit the CFA when we visited our relatives in Philly as kids. It is insanely delicious, I concur. Embarrassed to admit I just assumed my older sister knew what it was she was talking about when she pronounced it "Chick-Fil-A" (rhymes with "Ha!") all these years, thereby robbing it of the obvious "filet" double entendre. Nevertheless, it will always be "Chick-Fil-Ah" to me.
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forget chick-fil-a....so cal needs a DUNKIN DONUTS infusion.
hell, they're on every other block in most of this country, and if America supposedly 'runs on dunkin,' then why are we left out of the mix??
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I, too, hail from the south, where CFAs are plentiful. But I stopped eating there long before I moved here due to the closed on Sundays bit... Fuck that shit. If I can't get a grilled chicken sandwhich from you on Sunday then sell that shit to the lord.
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GOD BLESS CHICK-FIL-A! I was happy when the one in north Long Beach opened. It puts them into a regular cue of fast food options for me now. No longer a pilgrimage that I used to have to do. The help there is always scary-nice and they say "my pleasure" when you say thank you. I like listening to the creepy lyrics of the christian rock music while eating my fries with honey and hot sauce. There is sort of a religious undertone to the whole expericence that intrigues me while I eat some awesome grub.
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Wow, I must be missing something. Bun, Chicken patty, and pickles. I work in Irvine, and had to try it (when they opened on here they passed out tons of free sandwich coupons to local businesses) but I just don't get the hype. I can make one at home. And the waffle fries suck- get some salt!
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Back in the day there was a Chick-Fil-A in the Santa Monica Place mall. I still remember what that chicken tasted like. I STILL crave it and I haven't had it in about twenty years! Talk about good impressions...
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Also wonder why Sonic has just one location in SoCal -- and it's in Anaheim.
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Hear, hear! I grew up in Texas where Chick-fil-A was a staple in practically every major town, mall, and university food court. But since moving to LA, I have gone without. Driving down to South Bay Suburbia is not a trip I love taking, but it's one driven by need and addiction. I wholeheartedly agree: Los Angeles needs Chick-fil-A.
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Crack-filet.
There's about 800 stores in the BevCenter that should be replaced with a Crack-filet.
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I miss those mispelling cows! I went from living 5 minutes away from one in Colorado to only having one during Christmas vacation. I about cried tears of joy when I unexpectedly encountered one in a mall in Fairfield.
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yeah, I used to hit the one at Santa Monica Place back in my samohi days.
what do they do to it to make it so addictive?
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I used to work at the one in SM Place and they get you hooked by giving you free food when you work there. I make the drive from Encino to Hawthorne about once a month and always stop in Rancho Cucamonga on the way to Vegas.
Whoever opened one here would make a mint.
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I also sent a request into the website stating all the reasons they should open a Chick Fil A closer and was told they have no plans to do so, but I did get a free sandwich coupon.