Most fast food restaurants are back to regular hours, but what are they available for dine-in?
The fast food and restaurant industry, like much of everything else, was heavily impacted by the sudden and rapid outbreak of the coronavirus. Are any fast food restaurants open for dine-in?
In what seems like a blink of an eye, restaurants all across the country shut down. They quickly made plans to only be available for to-go orders and contactless delivery, and this was the new normal for a while.
Meanwhile, fast food chains shut down their dining room and didn’t allow anyone inside, strictly sticking to drive-thru orders, to-go, and delivery. When things began to improve, restaurants allowed a 25% capacity, and it has been gradually increasing since.
What about fast food restaurants, though? These can be a little more complicated because, well, it’s meat to be fast. Customers are supposed to be in and out, sometimes a little too quickly for staff to clean the tables and chairs after.
Simply put, it was easier to not allow anyone to sit inside. Has that changed?
Which fast food chains are open for dine-in?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear answer to this. Many chains have opened and limit the capacity of customers inside, but it really depends on each location. For a guide of chains and restaurants state-by-state, check OpenTable.
From what we gathered by quickly looking through it, is that most dining rooms are open, but with restrictions. Of course, this is very different for states that are more affected. Some cities, like Los Angeles, are only doing outdoor dining, and with restrictions.
Keep in mind, this is mostly for restaurants, though, fast food chains are still keeping things more on the safe side. With the success in drive-thru and delivery orders, though, I don’t think the industry is in any rush to open dining rooms soon.
Are there any locations near you that allow dine-in? Share with us!