Few fast food items are as iconic as Chick-fil-A’s waffle fries. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and with a unique shape perfect for scooping up the cherished Chick-fil-A sauce, these fries have long been a fan favorite. But recently, Chick-fil-A made a tweak to the recipe that has sparked a flurry of reactions across social media. While some customers are singing the praises of the change, others are voicing their disappointment—and the debate is heating up. So, what exactly changed, and can you tell the difference? Let’s dive in.
What Changed?
According to Chick-fil-A, the adjustment to the waffle fry recipe is a “slight” one, aimed at keeping the fries crispier for longer. The secret lies in a new coating that includes pea starch. The company insists the taste remains the same but acknowledges the change is noticeable in the texture and overall fry experience.
The updated recipe is free of the nine major allergens, as noted by Chick-fil-A. However, this has raised concerns for parents of children with pea allergies, who now find the restaurant off-limits due to cross-contamination concerns. The chain has faced questions about balancing allergen-free goals with potential new risks.
In a statement to Today.com in January 2025, a Chick-fil-A spokesperson explained that the changes aren’t exactly new and have been tested for over a year.
Mixed Reviews
When it comes to food, people don’t hold back their opinions, and Chick-fil-A’s new fries are no exception. Across platforms like TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram, customers have expressed everything from glowing reviews to passionate critiques with most falling on the negative side. Some even suggested starting a petition to get the fast food chain to change them back.
Fans Say
“You know, I noticed recently that their fries have been a lot better. I just thought I was getting lucky. Seems like a positive change,” – wrote Reddit user vaporintrusion.
“Got some earlier this week without knowing about any changes, and immediately thought that they were the best fries I’d ever gotten from Chick-fil-A,” – wrote user silent_steve201 on Reddit.
TikTok user duchesscora said in her video below, if there is a difference it’s not very notable and certainly not worth boycotting the restaurant.
Critics Say
“New fries taste stale. Yeah they’re crisper but they’re also drier and slightly tough. Kinda taste like fries that have been left out/old and refried, not great,” – KikoSoujirou via Reddit
“[Your] fries WERE the best and I looked forward to them about twice a week- WHY would you mess with that? I noticed the difference in taste immediately a few weeks ago, threw them away, and haven’t been back since. What I didn’t notice was that they were any crispier. Bad business decision,” – Instagram user jillcrowley2 wrote on a Chick-fil-A post
“What did you do to my fries?” – said hey_velina in her TikTok rant below. One commenter on the video said the texture made them seem freezer burned which the creator agreed with.
Why It Matters
While it might seem like a small tweak, the change has brought on big reactions and calls for the recipe to be reverted back. For Chick-fil-A, the stakes are high: waffle fries are a significant part of their brand identity. A seemingly minor adjustment has the power to delight one group of customers while alienating another. Will they change them back to appease loyal customers?
Love them or hate them, Chick-fil-A’s new waffle fries are here to stay—for now. Whether the pea starch coating becomes the new standard or another update rolls out in response to customer feedback, one thing is clear: people are passionate about their fries. So, the next time you swing through the drive-thru, give them a try and see if you can tell the difference.
Let the debate continue—crispy, soft, or somewhere in between, how do you like your waffle fries?