Chick-Fil-A Has Decided Not To Remove Its Side Salad From Menus

Chick-fil-A fans are nothing if not passionate. They'll wait in drive-thru lines that typically run slower than those of other fast food chains. They'll buy the Georgia-based chicken chain's signature sauce by the bottle. They'll put up with having to choose another fast food joint on Sundays, but apparently, there's one thing Chick-fil-A customers won't part with, at least not quietly.

When Chick-fil-A began announcing in March that the chain was removing the side salad from its menu, that was a bridge too far for some of its customers. Social media was abuzz over the menu change, and in a move that Inc. called "a lesson for every brand," Chick-fil-A has reversed its decision. In a statement sent to Tasting Table, the company said, "In exciting news for guests, we have decided to keep the Side Salad on our menu." Evidently, there are more salad fans than Chick-fil-A realized, and the company has decided to keep them happy.

Chick-fil-A's statement explained, "At Chick-fil-A, our guests come first. Based on feedback, we have decided not to proceed with removing our Side Salad from the menu." Inc. pointed out that Chick-fil-A's decision to axe the salad was initially made to streamline its menu, but that efficiency carried too high a cost in the form of disappointed customers who placed a much higher value on the side salad than the company had realized.

In a statement on the Chick-fil-A website, the company explains that its decision to keep the side salad on the menu was in response to customer feedback and that participating restaurants will continue to serve the salad, a blend of mixed greens, topped with a blend of Monterey jack and cheddar cheese, grape tomatoes, charred tomato, red bell peppers, and a choice of dressing. Fans of Chick-fil-A's salad can breathe a sigh of relief, though they'll still have to go elsewhere for salads on Sundays.