Apple Pay is the most popular mobile payment system in the U.S., with more than 40 million users as of 2024, and accepted at over 85 percent of retailers. In fact, in 2019, 51 percent of all mobile payment users in the United States used Apple Pay to pay in stores, restaurants or other points of sale.
Apple Pay works anywhere that takes contactless payments — from vending machines and grocery stores to taxis and subway stations. Many popular quick service and fast food restaurants continue to accept Apple Pay.
Does Wienerschnitzel Take Apple Pay?
While Weinerschnitzel restaurants no longer accept Apple Pay directly, they continue agreements with most of the major food delivery services including Door Dash, Postmates, Grubhub. Instacart, and UberEats.
All of these services accept Apple Pay as a payment method, making this an alternative way for Apple users to continue placing their Weinerschnitzel meal orders using this iPhone app.
It is important to note that each Wienerschnitzel location is different, and may be using different meal delivery apps, so it is important to open each app to check if the nearby Wienerschnitzel is available.
Why Does Wienerschnitzel Not Take Apple Pay?
In 2015, the Weinerschnitzel restaurant chain was lauded as an early adopter of mobile technology; having announced that its mobile rewards program platform was available on both the iPhone and Android operating systems.
It also offered mobile payment functionality, letting users pay for their meals directly through the app. In order to earn rewards points, users checked in through the app at any Wienerschnitzel location and showed the cashier a three-digit code.
However, in late 2020, with the Covid pandemic still raging and requiring changes in its business operations, Weinerschnitzel not only closed its lobby and meal take out service (leaving only drive-thru ordering); but also discontinued accepting all contactless payments including Apple Pay.
This has not affected its growth however, with Weinerschnitzel achieving record profits through the first half of 2021. “One third of our franchise system never had inside dining prior to the pandemic,” according to Ted Milburn, Director of Franchise Development. “Our business is such that drive-thru and take-out have always been the dominant sales leaders.
What Other Fast Food Restaurants Take Apple Pay?
| Au Bon Pain | Dunkin’ Donuts | Jimmy John’s | Panera Bread |
| Baskin-Robbins | El Pollo Loco | Johnny Rockets | Pizza Hut |
| Chick-fil-A | Firehouse Subs | KFC | Starbucks |
| Chili’s | Fuddruckers | Luby’s | Taco Bell |
| Chipotle | Fuddruckers | McDonald’ | White Castle |
Using Apple Pay in Stores
Apple Pay offers an easy payment alternative to using credit or debit cards. Since most people already carry their phones with them, this eliminates the need to carry debit cards, credit cards, or even cash. They can even use wearables like the Apple Watch. It is also a secure option, since you must place your finger on Touch ID or enter a passcode to complete contactless payments.
“Both iPhone and Apple Watch are perfect for this purpose. To use default credit cards, simply double-click the side button on your phone then enter your passcode or use face or touch ID. Then hold the top of your iPhone near the payments terminal just as you would with credit cards. Wait until a checkmark appears on the display” (VN-Parco.com).
Apple Pay is available through a huge variety of partner retailers in the U.S. and beyond. Independent retail businesses, restaurants, gas stations, and other businesses can also easily use Apple Pay as long as they have approved card terminals that support Apple Pay functionality.
Can I Use Apple Pay at Wienerschnitzel?
You can not use Apple Pay at Weinerschnitzel locations, but you can order food using Apple pay from Weinerschnitzel and use food delivery service such as UberEats and DoorDash to deliver to you.
Weinerschnitzel restaurants was an early adopter of the mobile payment technology, which came into wide use after the introduction of Apple Pay with its iPhone 6 in September 2014.
The business model for this successful restaurant chain is to have a relatively small footprint where the emphasis is on take out and drive-through ordering rather than indoor dining. In fact, almost one-third of their units never had indoor dining.
Contrary to the experiences of much of the restaurant industry, this business model has allowed Weinerschnitzel to thrive during this Covid pandemic, as it is well suited for the social distancing encouraged, as well as the takeout option.
During this period, there was a corporate decision to discontinue all mobile payments for all meal service, including their take out and drive-through windows. Thus, not only Apple Pay, but Samsung (now Google) Pay, Venmo (Paypal), and others are no longer accepted for payment.
However, you can still use these mobile payment services for meals from Weinerschnitzel restaurants but only indirectly: through the use of meal delivery services, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Door Dash, UberEats, Grubhub, and others.
