Thai Express Menu Prices (CA)

The number of changes in the restaurant industry in the past few months has been staggering. Dining rooms were shuttered and when they opened, new rules were enforced in how to occupy them safely. Means of purchasing food also changed in many places as some chains did not allow customers to step inside their premises at all.

One thing that remained slightly unchanged is the drive-thru. Sure, the queues are longer now but they’re generally the same - you drive up the drive-thru lane, place your order through a two-way intercom and you pay and pick up your order on the next window. It’s a breeze. It’s also deemed the safest way for purchasing from fast food chains on-site.

They’re not enough, however, to tide most fast food chains through. While this segment of the restaurant industry is somehow surviving the crisis, thanks to their drive-thrus, deliveries, and quick and affordable grub, they’re still losing a lot with their dining rooms closed or operating in limited capacity. Many brands and experts are now thinking of new ways to overcome the challenges that the pandemic brought.

Drive-ins are one of the things being considered by chains and experts alike. With this concept, customers can still eat on-site but they don’t have to be indoors with other diners. They can just eat in their cars without too much fuss.

Drive-ins are different from drive-thrus as the former provides a space for customers to park their cars in and finish their meals on site. Drive-thru has a grab and go style, intended for folks to consume their takeouts elsewhere. With drive-ins, restaurants can expand their dining rooms without the need to significantly change their infrastructure to ensure safety.

The idea is exciting but there is a major issue for many: space constraints. Not a lot of fast food stores have enough room for dozens of cars in their parking lots.

The concept is also proving to have mixed results. Taking a look at the existing drive-in chains in the US, Sonic is growing which means that their format is proving to be effective in the times of corona. The chain is hailed as the favorite fast-food eatery in Texas and Oklahoma and sales are up in Kansas and Missouri.

The largest drive-in chain in the world, Atlanta’s The Varsity, has a whole different story. They had to close down their drive-in services in July 2020 as one of their bellhops tested positive for COVID-19. The company then decided not to bring back their drive-in concept and constructed a two-lane drive-thru instead.

As drive-ins did not make it big in Canada, the concept is still to be tested locally. But would you be interested in trying out a drive-in Harvey’s or Thai Express? With Harvey’s menu prices and size, they might just make it work if they wish to try it.