This is the order ticket from Hot Doug’s Sausage Superstore and Encased Meat Emporium in Chicago. I’ve held on to it for a couple years now. This ticket is filled out by the order taker at the counter and passed along to the cooks. The whole system is intended to improve efficiency and prevent mix ups. It works really well too. For how busy Hot Doug’s gets they don’t seem to mess up orders. A couple years ago I went with some friends and the line was out the door. We waited outside in 30º December wind just to get a dog and duck fat fries (which are only available on the weekends). We gorged ourselves and didn’t even finish the duck fat fries. Then we took a nap.
I like the systematic ordering system created on the ticket, and the social nature of its use. The abbreviations are great too (can you figure them all out without cheating and referencing the Hot Doug’s condiment page?). I’m guessing that the counter staff and the cook staff barely read the words on these things anymore. Dealing with them day in and day out I bet they can read it at a glance just by the relative position of what’s circled.
And don’t forget the Hot Doug’s theme song.
