It’s easy to fall into a routine, especially if the routine involves something as fun and convenient as ordering food out late at night. One man has made an evening ritual of getting Whataburger breakfast right at 11pm, and one of the workers said something out of pocket to him.
In a TikTok with over 1 million views, James Clark (@shi_squirrel) shares what was said to him that is making him consider taking a break from his favorite fast-food place.
“I got called out the other day. This is a reality check,” Clark begins.
Clark started a late-night ritual which involved getting breakfast sandwiches from Whataburger at 11pm, when breakfast starts.
“I’m not necessarily proud to admit it, but I have an alarm set in my phone for 11pm every single night so that I know when Whataburger breakfast starts,” he admits.
He’s had this alarm set for the past six months, and he says he goes a few times a week.
Worker Calls Out Whataburger Regular
On his last Whataburger visit, he pulled up at 10:58 to see if he was able to get his order. At the drive-thru, he starts his order, and the Whataburger employee completes it.
“This is for James?” he asks.
Clark confirms but is baffled by the worker knowing his order.
“It didn’t register to me that I order from this Whataburger way too much,” Clark shares.
Clark pulls up to the window, and the worker was surprised by Clark’s appearance.
“’Oh, I don’t mean this in a mean way, but I thought you’d be bigger,’” he recalls the worker saying.
Clark is offended and confronts the worker about knowing his name and order.
“You just order here, like a lot man. We started making breakfast at like 10:50 ’cause you order on the dot at 11. Like most nights,” he recalls the worker saying.
Clark says he asked for a compliment, and the worker says he has good dedication. This interaction caused Clark to reevaluate his life’s decisions and he says he believes it’s time to take a Whataburger break.
“I don’t know what I am doing. I have caused an establishment to start making breakfast before their scheduled time to start making breakfast,” he concludes.
Are You A Regular At A Fast-Food Place? Workers May Be Judging You
Regulars in the comments section shared embarrassing moments when they realized the workers recognized who they were.
“My dad stopped going to the Starbucks by his house because he started ordering the blueberry muffin and he found out they were calling him the muffin man,” one TikTok commenter shared.
“I went to Chick Fil A and the lady said ‘It’s you again.’ Didn’t go back for AT LEAST a month,” another added.
Others encouraged Clark to continue going to Whataburger.
“That’s so nice that they start cooking at 10:50 for you,” one commented.
“But like you have to keep going now they’re starting early for you,” another wrote.
“They will think you died if you stop going lol,” a third chimed in.
“You’re a regular. I long to be a regular anywhere lol,” a fourth revealed.
Why People Become Regulars
SevenRooms reports that routine, personal experience, and community is why people become regulars at an establishment.
People are creatures of habit. Going to the same place will typically lead to the same results with food orders.
Establishments that regulars frequent and the workers there can be trusted to make their food or coffee the same every single time. Staff may not know your name, but they will know what you like and make it how you like it.
Community is another reason people become regulars. A great deal of our interactions have gone digital, and people are craving human interaction more than ever. More than half of U.S. adults feel lonely, and a quick visit to a cafe, restaurant, bar, or fast-food place can help alleviate those feelings.
While it might be embarrassing being known as the guy who gets breakfast early, there is nothing wrong with the novelty of having a routine.
BroBible has also contacted Clark by email and TikTok direct message as well as Whataburger via email. The story will be updated if either party responds.