Almost all of the most admired fast-food restaurants originated in the United States of America back in the early 20th century. Some of these restaurants- McDonald’s, Domino’s, Subway, KFC, and more, gained huge success; today, they have chains scattered throughout the world.
The fast-food industry has gained a cult following despite being a significantly unhealthy option because it is readily accessible and affordable by most. Nowadays, there’s a fast-food restaurant on almost every corner of every street. But out of all the big names in the fast-food industry, what was the first fast food restaurant? Here is a list of the 18 oldest fast-food chains originating in America.
What Was the First Fast Food Restaurant and 18 Oldest Fast-Food Restaurants in America
1. Nathan’s Famous
Nathan’s Famous is a fast-food restaurant chain from Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. It is a fast-food chain serving excellent hot dogs. The business was started by a Jewish-Polish immigrant. Nathan Handwerker, and his wife, Ida Handwerker. Their son further expanded the business. More branches of Nathan’s Famous were opened in New York till the franchise blew up.
Ida Handwerker created the popular hot dog recipe. Her grandmother passed down the ingredients of the secret spice recipe. Kosher-style hot dogs were invented by Nathan, who came up with the term because of the lack of horsemeat and pork to make the hot dogs. The original location where the hot dog stand stood back still exists and sells a unique item, fried frog legs, not available in the other chains of Nathan’s Famous.
Popular Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is held annually at the original location in Coney Island. Winners of the eating contest are the participants who have consumed the hottest dogs within ten minutes. Joey Chestnut made the world record for the hottest dogs eaten in the eating contest with 74 hot dogs.
2. A&W
A&W was founded by Roy W. Allen. Allen started the business by selling root beer in Lodi, California. He set up the root beer stand on the roadside of the day a parade was being held to honor World War I veterans.
Later Frank Wright became his official business partner. And they launched their first restaurant in Sacramento, California. Allen and Wright, their surname initials, came to be the company’s name.
A&W started opening more franchises in the restaurant, making it one of the oldest fast-food restaurant chains in the world. The first chain of A&W to be opened internationally was in Winnipeg and Manitoba in Canada. Though A&W is primarily known for being root beer kings, the chain diversified its menu by selling hot dogs, burgers, fries, and more popular fast-food items.
3. White Castle
White Castle is considered to be the world’s first hamburger-based fast-food restaurant. The original White Castle restaurant was set up in Wichita, Kansas.
Anderson was a chef in the food business running food in Wichita. Ingram was in the real estate and insurance business when Anderson met him, and together, they started White Castle.
White Castle’s business model worked based on hygiene. They made sure to keep the restaurants clean by using interiors made out of stainless steel. Their employees were made to wear crisp, clean uniforms and appear tidy.
Sliders are small square-shaped hamburgers popularized by White Castle. The restaurant was known for selling five-cent sliders and then cost 10 cents each; that has also been titled “The Most Influential Burger of All Time.”
4. KFC
KFC stands for Kentucky Fried Chicken. KFC was established in Salt Lake City by Harland Sanders, who was given the nickname ‘The Colonel. KFC is the first chicken-based fast-food restaurant in the world.
Harland Sanders owned a gas station. After a few years, he started selling food to customers who visited the gas station for a break. His customers were mostly long-drive motorbike riders. His business began to grow, and he bought the gas station on the opposite side of the street to his gas station as it had a better commercial location. This station was turned into a restaurant that came to be known as KFC.
The fried chicken took notoriously long to cook. Harland Sanders started looking for a way to reduce this time. He turned a pressure cooker into a pressure fryer while researching this purpose. Through this innovative cooking method of making chicken crispy and juicy and the addition of his famous “11 herbs and spices”, KFC became a commercial success and is now one of the most fast-food admired chains in the world. It records the second-most sales of fast food after McDonald’s.
5. Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen was first opened in Joliet, Illinois, in Chicago. The restaurant initially sold soft-serve ice cream. Then it started building a brand identity by selling other frozen foods. The first soft-serve cone started the booming Dairy Queen business.
John Fremont and his son introduced the first soft ice cream for serving. Sherb Noble, a friend, and regular customer, offered to sell the dessert in his ice cream shop in Kankakee, Illinois. The ice cream became popular from the first day of sales. Fremont and Noble went on to establish Dairy Queen based on this success.
Dairy Queen’s trademark menu includes Blizzard, a soft serve with sundae toppings, and Dilly Bar, a soft serve ice cream with a chocolate coating. Dairy Queen also provides hot dogs, hamburgers, French fries, chicken, salads, and soft drinks, among non-desserts.
6. McDonald’s
McDonald’s is the world’s most popular fast-food chain, founded by Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California. Later Ray Kroc, a businessman, purchased McDonald’s from Richard and Maurice.
McDonald’s is famed for its burgers in the present day, but did you know that McDonald’s restaurants originally sold barbecue sandwiches? McDonald’s Bar-B-Q was launched later. However, the business took off after Ray Kroc envisioned his way of running the franchise.
Today the iconic, yellow-lettered sign restaurant is known for its hamburgers, fries, soft drinks, ice creams, and more. Some of McDonald’s bestselling products are Double Cheeseburger, Chicken Nuggets, Egg McMuffin, Snack Wraps, the Big Mac, and of course, the Happy Meal. McDonald’s earns the biggest revenue among all fast-food restaurants in the world.
7. Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A is also a popular American fast-food restaurant chain. Chicken sandwiches are the most well-known items on the menu.
The restaurant chain offers meals throughout the day as part of the menu. Some favorite items on the menu are waffle fries, soft drinks, the original chicken sandwich, and chicken nuggets.
Christian beliefs heavily influence the company’s values because the owner is a Southern Baptist. Chick-fil-A restaurants and Christian celebrations such as Thanksgiving and Christmas are closed on Sundays.
Chick-fil-A works based on customer service and smaller menus. Most fast-food restaurants like to expand their products to gain new customers, but Chick-fil-A is content with promoting its famed chicken sandwiches. The capital A in the company name stands for “grade A” quality of chicken. Employees of Chick-fil-A are hardwired to provide the best customer service leading to the best results in customer satisfaction.
8. In-n-Out Burger
In-n-Out Burger is a California-based burger stand founded by Harry and Esther Synder. The first stand was set up in Baldwin Park, California. In-n-Out is a drive-in restaurant. It is the first drive-in restaurant to be commercialized. It’s a family-owned business. It has been this way since its founding. The owner of In-n-Out Burger is Lynsi Synder, the only grandchild of the Snyders.
The In-n-Out fast-food chain has restaurants only in the western parts of the United States of America, Oregon, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and California. In-n-Out has chosen not to expand its business on a large scale as they believe lesser locations provide better management and customer service.
In-n-Out is known for its variety of hamburgers, French fries, and thick milkshakes. Its trademark menus include the Double-Double, Cheeseburger, Pink Lemonade, and a Not-So-Secret Menu. A fun fact is that In-n-Out packaging feature Bible verses displaying the Synder family’s Christian beliefs.
9. Dunkin’ Donuts
Dunkin’ Donuts started as Open Kettle, then Kettle Donuts. Bill Rosenburg established it in Quincy, Massachusetts. Rosenberg changed the name after discussions with company executives. Currently, the name of the fast-food chain is Dunkin to reflect its expanding menu.
Bill Rosenberg devised a business plan for the restaurant after selling food at general labor locations. He observed that coffee and donuts were the most well-loved items by the people. Dunkin’ Donuts rose in popularity after launching it, and Rosenberg began selling franchises.
The popular fast-food restaurant specializes in doughnuts and coffee. It also serves bagels and donut holes known as “Munchkins.” Some of its popular items are Avocado Toast, Glazed donuts, Stuffed Bagel Minis, Bacon Egg and Cheese Sandwiches, Strawberry Dragon fruit, Dunkin’ Refreshers, and more.
10. Whataburger
Unlike most fast-food chains on this list, Whataburger, unlike most fast-food chains on this list, is a purely regional fast-food supply chain. Harmon Dobson and Paul Burton founded the restaurant. The first restaurant was set up in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Harmon Dobson envisioned the restaurant selling burgers that were bigger than all existing burgers, that took two hands to hold, and that made the customers go, “What a burger!” Dobson loved flying. He took the idea for the store design from it. The stores feature an orange and white striped A-shape frame. The first restaurant to display this was opened in Odessa, Texas.
Whataburger is famous for its ground beef burgers packaged in “Whataburger,” “The Triple Meat Whataburger,” “Whataburger Jr.” “Just burger,” and “Bacon and Cheese Whataburger.” They also provide burger options without beef, such as “Whatachick’n.” The restaurant serves breakfast with eggs, bacon, pork sausages, and biscuits.
11. Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box is another fast-food restaurant chain established by Robert O. Peterson. San Diego, California, was the first Jack in the Box location.
When he launched Jack in the Box, Peterson owned a popular fast-food chain, Topsy’s Drive-In. He was inspired by the circus decor of his previous chain restaurant to carry forward to the decor of Jack in the Box.
Jack in the Box was also the first chain restaurant to use an intercom system in drive-through design with two-way radio communication. He bought the intercom system rights from George Manos. Jack in the Box was also the first to establish a separate pick-up window.
Famed food served here is fries, chicken tenders, cheeseburgers, and hamburger sandwiches. They also have themed food based on international products, such as tacos and egg rolls.
12. Burger King
Burger King was established as Insta Burger King. The name was derived from the machine used to cook the burgers called Insta-Broilers. The burgers gained fast popularity, and franchises were opened right away.
Although Insta Burger King grew as a company, it faced financial problems within two years. Later it was rebranded as Burger King following the crisis.
McLamore and Edgerton proved to be blessings for the company as they marketed it well and brought it out of its sinking financial status. They realized the Insta-Broilers were breaking down due to the meat drippings and invented flame broilers in place of it. They created the famous chain mascot, and James McLamore created the Whopper burgers.
More popular food items from Burger King include Triple Whopper, Bacon King, Impossible Whopper, Double Stacker King, Chicken Fries, Chicken Nuggets, Caramel Sundae, Cheesy Tots, Double Quarter Pounder King, Original Chicken Sandwich, and more.
In Australia, Burger King is called by another name, Hungry Jack’s, because a food joint already trademarked Burger King in Adelaide.
13. Sonic
Sonic was established by Troy Smith. He was a World War II veteran trying to return to normal life in Seminole, Oklahoma. Initially, he started working as a milkman before switching to selling bread as it was lighter than milk. He set up a small fast-food restaurant called Troy’s Pan Full of Chicken and bought a root beer stand called Top Hat.
Customers of Top Hat used to park their cars, and the orders were placed in the stands after getting out of the car. Smith was inspired by drive-in restaurants that used speakers for taking orders. He changed the business model so that customers could order using speakers from their cars, and the products would be delivered to them at their cars by carhops.
Sonic’s food items include fries, burgers, corn dogs, chili dogs, breakfast toaster sandwiches, onion rings, floats, and sundaes. Among drinks, milkshakes, slushies, and soft drinks are available.
The company name changed from Top Hat to Sonic because the first name was already taken.
14. Waffle House
Waffle House was founded by Tom Forkner and Joe Rogers Sr. The first Waffle House fast food outlet was opened in Avondale Estates, Georgina, on Labor Day in America.
Forkner came up with the name Waffle House as waffles were the most sold item among all the 16 items on the menu. Roger envisioned a fast-food restaurant chain that provided a speeded service system and all-time availability.
Waffle House has an extensive disaster recovery response. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has stated about Waffle House and Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Walmart. The first Waffle House store is a Waffle House Museum now.
Waffle House items include Omelets, Hashbrowns, Sandwiches, Coffee, and more on the breakfast menu, and Burgers, Sandwich melts, beverages, and more for lunch and dinner.
15. Pizza Hut
The first chain pizza joint was Pizza Hut, established by Dan and Frank Carney in Wichita, Kansas. The brothers set the brand up. During this time, they were students at college. They were studying at Wichita State University. Bill Parcells, former coach of the National Football League, was one of their employees when he was a student and football player at Wichita State University. Pizza Hut became a hit among students, and the Carney brothers started franchising.
The first Pizza Hut was a small brick building. This iconic pizza place is known for having red roofs over its buildings, fulfilling the concept of its logo. George Lindstrom, a Chicago-based architect, created the chain’s current logo.
Pizza Hut stores have many different layouts. These include storefront delivery layouts, carry-out layouts, dine-ins, and hybrid options that combine these formats. Some Pizza Hut layouts also provide lunch buffets with “all-you-can-eat” pizzas, pasta, desserts, and salads.
Pan pizzas, Hand-tossed pizzas, Thin n Crispy pizzas, Stuffed Crust pizzas, The Bigfoot Pizza, and the Priazzo are famous items associated with Pizza Hut.
16. Domino’s
Dominick’s was an already established small pizza joint in Ypsilanti, Michigan, owned by Dominick DeVarti. Later, Tom and James Monaghan bought the business from Dominick. Devart demanded they change the name of the pizza joint. Jim Kennedy was an employee who suggested the idea of renaming the restaurant as Domino. Tom officially changed the name from Dominick’s to Domino’s.
Domino’s famous marketing strategy of delivery within 30 minutes was started. But this led to breaking traffic rules and reckless driving by Domino’s delivery people resulting in Domino’s facing multiple lawsuits. Later, the 30-minute delivery promise was dropped but picked up again under the slogan “You Got 30 Minutes”. The new strategy indicated that the pizzas would be delivered within 30 minutes without any promises and with terms and conditions applied.
Domino’s pizzas are customized based on the locations of the franchises. The American branches include a variety of Italian-American pizzas and sides. Domino’s prefers to keep its menu simple for easy delivery.
17. Taco Bell
Glen William bell founded Taco Bell. The first location of Taco Bell was in Downey, California. Although the specialty of Taco Bell is Mexican-based food, the founder was not Mexican.
Glen Bell started by selling hot dogs at a hot dog stand. This was situated in San Bernardino, California, called Bell’s Drive-In. Bell was inspired to open his Mexican food restaurant after observing the long queues in Mitla Cafe, a Mexican food joint across the street.
Taco Bell even has its clothing line in collaboration with Forever 21. These included branded sweatshirts and T-shirts. They also manufactured bodysuits in the shape of Border Sauce Packets. After a few years, Taco Bell opened its online merchandise store selling holiday decorations, wedding items, and more.
Taco Bell’s Mexican-style foods include burritos, tacos, nachos, quesadillas, and novelty items.
18. Subway
Fred DeLuca, 17 years old, founded Subway then, and Peter Buck, who provided the funding for the company. Earlier it was known as Pete’s Super Submarines. It went through multiple name changes and finally settled on Subway.
Subway specializes in submarine sandwiches known as “subs.” Subway has two different sections for vegetarian ingredients and non-vegetarian ingredients. They have options to customize their subs. They claim only to use fresh ingredients; to prove it, the ingredients are kept in sections and visible to customers through a glass separation.
Subway offers paninis, salads, drinks, and baked goods like muffins, cookies, and wraps.
Conclusion
According to our survey of “what was the first fast food restaurant,” the answer is Nathan’s Famous. Surely all this talk about fast food restaurants makes you crave burgers, pizzas, donuts, or waffles. Make today your cheat day and indulge in these delicious foods, which are sure to taste better now that you’re equipped with the history of fast-food restaurants.
Suggested reading: The Story of Dunkin Donuts
Last Updated on by somya909
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