Dunkin', McDonald's, and These Other Chains Are Requiring Customers to Wear Masks

Masked Meals

Restaurants are following in the footsteps of the nation's largest retailers, requiring customers to wear masks when they come inside, even if it's just to grab some takeout. Of course, rules are a bit different when it comes to dining, with chains typically allowing patrons to remove masks if they're seated and eating. Hungry? Here are the restaurants that will require you to put on a mask, even if there's no state or local mandate.

Dunkin'

Starting Wednesday, grabbing your morning coffee and doughnut will mean putting on a mask if you'll be stepping inside Dunkin'. The restaurant says wearing a mask "is a simple step we can all take to stop the spread of COVID-19" and encourages those who can't or won't wear masks to use the drive-thru, curbside pickup, or delivery.

McDonald's

Satisfying your next Mac attack will require you to wear a mask if you're planning to go inside McDonald's. The nation's largest fast-food chain started requiring all customers to wear masks at the beginning of August. Workers will be trained to "take a proactive approach" in case of conflicts over the rule. McDonald's will also pause dining room re-openings for another month, but it is leaving the decision to close dining rooms that are already open in the hands of franchisees.

Chipotle

This ubiquitous fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain has "proactively made the decision" to require customers wear masks inside its restaurants nationwide, it says on its website. The new policy went into effect in late July, a spokesperson told CNN.

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Shake Shack

Shake Shack has already shut down some of its locations and shifted others to to-go only, but the burger chain also says it will require any customers who place orders inside to wear a mask. It also encourages patrons to pre-order on its website and app, or use third-party delivery services including Grubhub and Seamless.

Starbucks

If your caffeine cravings bring you inside of Starbucks, you are required to wear a mask. The java giant announced the policy earlier in July and pointed out that anyone who does not want to wear a mask is still welcome to use the drive-thru or place an order for curbside pickup or delivery.

Panera Bread

Diners are required to wear a mask in Panera's more than 2,000 bakery-cafes across the country "except while seated and eating or drinking," the chain announced earlier in July. The company notes that it offers curbside pickup, delivery, and drive-thru services for patrons who don't have a mask or don't want to wear one.

Olive Garden

This family-favorite Italian restaurant with more than 800 restaurants nationwide requires guests to wear masks when not at their tables. Customers who want to get their carb fix without fussing with a mask can order food online for curbside pickup or next-day delivery.

Longhorn Steakhouse

Longhorn, owned by Olive Garden parent company Darden, also requires guests to wear masks when they aren't at their tables. Its team members at nearly 500 locations nationwide are also undergoing daily temperature checks. Curbside pickup is an option here, too.

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

Another Darden-owned chain, Cheddar's is Cheapism's favorite family dining restaurant. It specializes in dishing out comfort food at its roughly 170 restaurants nationwide, and requires customers not at their tables to wear a mask if they don't want to opt for curbside pickup.

Noodles & Co.

All guests who go inside company-owned locations of Noodles & Co. are now required to wear masks, a policy that went into effect in July The chain has also extended free delivery through the end of the month and continues to offer curbside pickup.