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Burger King isn’t wasting any time in plotting its future post lockdown. From rethinking its dining room layouts and expanding its to-go services to reimagining the drive-thru for urban settings, the fast-food chain is hard at work on ways to improve its restaurant experience for our new normal.
Tech is at the forefront of the company’s new plan, which endeavors to make dining out more convenient and shrink the restaurant’s physical footprint by more than half. To get there, Restaurant Brands International’s in-house team scrapped all existing ideas and started from scratch on a functional concept that would address all the major guest touchpoints, including finding different ways to order and new expedient ways to pick up food. Some of it is obvious, like the need for actual curbside service for folks who’d rather stay in their cars but don’t want to sit in a line to order. While the more imperceptible changes address other takeout and delivery trends we're seeing today. For instance, a dedicated lane for delivery drivers in all urban drive-thrus to keep up with the growing demand on third-party apps.
Folks can expect to see the new and improved Burger King restaurants rolled out in 2021 across Miami and several cities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Until then, here’s a glimpse of what’s in store. Spoiler: The future is sleek, modern and, sadly, has no room for ball pits.
The new drive-in areas will make car picnicking a breeze
Pull up and place your order via the BK App or by scanning a QR code at your parking spot to have your meal brought out to you. These designated areas are shaded by solar-powered canopies so you can comfortably chill in your car while you eat.
Finally, curbside takeout that’s actually efficient
Faster than the drive-thru and with less human contact than ordering to-go, the new curbside area lets customers order via the BK app and pick up without leaving their cars.
New pick-up lockers for app and delivery orders
Minimizing contact even further, orders placed on the app or for delivery will go from the kitchen to a coded food locker facing the restaurant’s exterior.
More comfortable outdoor seating
While few BKs offer outdoor seating, this new design will incorporate a covered area with plenty of tables to dine onsite at more locations.
Bigger, better drive-thrus
Expect dedicated drive-thru lanes for delivery orders and multilane ordering and pickup for faster service.
Hello, walkups!
It used to be that only folks in cars could order from a window, but now even pedestrians can walk up to a Burger King and place their to-go order without ever having to step foot inside.
Smaller, more efficient restaurants
Kitchens and dining room will go above the drive-thru lanes, reducing the restaurant’s overall footprint and making it ideal for urban driving cities
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