Wondering which fast-food favorites your parents might have indulged in on the year you were born? Or perhaps what your babysitter snacked on while looking after you? With options such as Taco Bell’s Bell Beefer (1970s) and the McDonald’s Pizza (1980s) on the menu, it was arguably something more exciting than what you’re eating today. This is a whistle-stop tour of the fast-food items that were popular every year from 1946 to 2000.
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1946: soft serve and milkshakes, Dairy Queen
America’s favorite soft-serve ice-cream chain was opened in 1940 in Joliet, Illinois, only a few years after the creamy dessert was invented. A great success, Dairy Queen was also selling thick milkshakes under the name “Blizzard” by 1946 and, by 1947, the brand had reached nearly 100 stores through franchising. Ever since, it’s been the go-to place for light-as-air sweet treats. (Pictured: a Dairy Queen advert from 1953.)
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1947: The Original Slider, White Castle
In the 1940s popular burger chain White Castle’s tiny square patty sliders were the fast-food favorite. Sold for as little as 10c (7p) each, customers bought them by the sack load. In 1947, the company made them even more flavorsome (and also sped up the cooking time) by adding five tiny holes to the patty. White Castle trademarked the idea and still uses it today.
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1948: Howard Johnson’s Famous Ice Cream, Howard Johnson’s
This legendary fast-food chain (which now only has one restaurant left) started life as a soda fountain and ice-cream shop. Its ice cream was famous for being exceptionally creamy and smooth and for coming in 28 flavors including black raspberry, peanut brittle and peach. The year 1948 was a milestone for the brand with Johnson selling his five-billionth ice-cream cone.
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1949: French Fries, McDonald’s
The twiggy fries from McDonald’s have a reputation for being some of the best – but the fast-food chain’s potatoey offerings haven’t always been this way. The restaurant used to serve potato chips but, in 1949, decided to swap them out for the stick-thin French fries we know and love today. Triple Thick Milkshakes were also introduced in this year.
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1950: donuts, Dunkin’ Donuts
Coffee and donut giant Dunkin’ Donuts was introduced to the world in 1950. Before that, the brand was operating under the name Open Kettle. It started in Quincy, Massachusetts and by 1965 there were 100 shops to choose from.
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1951: Banana Split, Dairy Queen
One of the most loved banana splits in America comes from ice-cream chain Dairy Queen. The dessert features soft serve, banana slices, whipped cream, and strawberry, pineapple and chocolate sauce. It was first introduced in 1951 and has remained on menus since.
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1952: Tendersweet fried clams, Howard Johnson’s
Aside from ice cream, guests flocked to Howard Johnson’s for “sweet as a nut” fried clams. By now the chain was bicoastal and had an exclusive deal with The Soffron Brothers Clam Company from Ipswich, Massachusetts, who supplied a special type of shucked clam which had its belly removed. At the restaurant they were cut into thin strips and fried until golden brown. Do you miss Howard Johnson’s? Remember these other legendary fast food brands that are no longer around.
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1953: donuts, Danny’s Donuts
When diner chain Denny’s first opened in Lakewood, California, in 1953, it wasn’t called Denny’s. Its name was Danny’s Donuts and it was a 24-hour donut stand. These days the chain’s restaurants are still open every hour of the day, every day of the year, but serve a greatly expanded menu including famous dishes such as the Grand Slam breakfast: buttermilk pancakes, eggs, bacon and sausages.
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1954: broiled burgers, Insta-Burger King
When Burger King first opened in Miami, Florida, in 1954, it was called Insta-Burger King, named after the Insta-Broiler which was used to cook its burgers. Broiled burgers from Burger King were all the rage. Thankfully, a few years later the contraption was upgraded to a flame-broiler which is still used to cook its burgers today and “insta” was dropped from the name.
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1955: Large Charcoal Broiled Steak, Howard Johnson’s
By the 1950s Howard Johnson was seen as “the king of the road”, and nothing was better than stopping by for a juicy, charbroiled steak served with fries and salad. This menu from 1955 shows that at one point it cost just $1.95 (£1.48).
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1956: Original Recipe Chicken, KFC
Up until 1956 Colonel Sanders sold his Original Recipe Chicken, cooked in a pressure cooker and seasoned with 11 herbs and spices, from his restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky. However, when the highway next to the restaurant was moved, he decided to branch into other markets. Sanders traveled the country, stopping by restaurants to demonstrate his secret recipe and setting up franchise agreements with incredible success.
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1957: Whopper, Burger King
The iconic Whopper – a 4oz (113g) beef patty topped with tomatoes, lettuce, mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles and white onion in a sesame seed bun – was launched in Burger King’s first restaurant in Miami in 1957. When it first came out, the hefty burger cost only 37c (28p).
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1958: pizza, Pizza Hut
The original pizza chain, Pizza Hut was opened by two brothers (Frank and Dan Carney) in 1958 with $600 (£457) borrowed from their mother. It quickly became a firm favorite with students at the Wichita State University, near where it was situated, and within a year began franchising.
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1959: hamburger, Henry’s Hamburgers
Though you won’t see many Henry’s Hamburgers drive-ins around anymore (there’s only one left in Benton Harbor, Massachusetts), it was once a major player with stores coast to coast in the 1960s. Customers visited for its hamburger with special sauce made from ketchup, mustard, pickle-relish juice and pickles. The restaurant also sold chili dogs, hot dogs, deep-fried shrimp and crispy catfish.
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1960: pepperoni pizza, Domino’s
The world’s most successful pizza delivery chain opened in 1960 in Michigan, initially called DomiNick’s. It only had two sizes of pizza, 11 toppings and one drink which was Coca-Cola, until the late 1980s. You can bet one of those toppings was pepperoni, the chain’s most popular today.
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1961: Whataburger, Whataburger
Before Whataburger arrived, America was eating burgers with one hand. Then Whataburger’s founders introduced a meal that required two. It was a five-inch beef patty in a five-inch bun with tomato, lettuce, pickles, diced onions and mustard. Slowly but surely the new burger took off and by 1961 the chain had expanded to multiple locations and the signature A-frame restaurants had been introduced.
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1962: Cheese Slider, White Castle
A White Castle favorite, the dinky Cheese Slider was added to the chain’s menu all the way back in 1962. At the time, executives thought it was a “calculated risk”. And it obviously paid off as it’s a menu staple today.
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1963: bacon cheeseburger, A&W
It’s not a very widely known fact, but A&W is credited with inventing the bacon cheeseburger in 1963. The story goes that so many customers asked bacon to be put inside their cheeseburgers that Michigan franchise owner Dale Mulder added the dish to the menu. He then went on to be president of the company and is still chairman today.
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1964: Original Chicken Sandwich, Chick-fil-A
In 1964, Chick-fil-A became the home of the Original Chicken Sandwich after the menu item consisting of breaded chicken breast, two pickles and a toasted, buttered bun was added. Founder Truett Cathy tested hundreds of recipes before managing to come up with the killer combo.
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1965: Filet-O-Fish, McDonald’s
The presence of the Filet-O-Fish sandwich (breaded white fish with American cheese and tartar sauce) on the McDonald’s menu is a mystery to some. However, it got its place on the menu in the 1960s to solve the problem of low burger sales on Fridays (due to Catholics abstaining from meat that day) – by 1965 it was sold right across the US. Nowadays, as one of the only pescatarian items on the menu, it’s still a popular dish.
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1966: The Original Sneaky Pete, Sneaky Pete’s
This Alabama-based hot dog chain was founded in 1966 by Pete Graphos and has expanded into convenience stores and malls all over the region ever since. It’s signature dish is The Original Sneaky Pete, a juicy hot dog covered in sauerkraut, onions, mustard and Sneaky Pete’s sauce.
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1967: Big Mac, McDonald’s
This was the year the first Big Mac was made at a McDonald’s in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, invented by franchise owner Jim Delligatti. The 45c (35p) burger consisted of two beef patties, three buns, American cheese, lettuce, onions and secret sauce. In early 2018, for a limited time, it was available in three different sizes to mark the Big Mac’s 50th birthday. Read more about the incredible history of the Big Mac here.
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1968: Pickle-O’s, Sonic Drive-In
Love them or loathe them, Pickle-O’s (pickle slices deep fried in batter) arrived at Sonic Drive-In in 1968. They didn’t become a permanent fixture, however, and disappeared from most outlets soon after, resurfacing once in 2003 for the chain’s 50th anniversary. Some branches, such as this one in Dearborn, Michigan, still serve the old-school snack, though.
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1969: Dave’s burgers, Wendy’s
Before the year 1969, Dave’s square, fresh beef burgers and Frosty chocolate ice cream desserts simply did not exist. The first branch of Wendy’s was opened by founder Dave Thomas in Columbus, Ohio, in November of that year. The classic items have been on the menu and popular ever since.
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1970: Enchirito, Taco Bell
This beef, bean and onion burrito, made with a soft flour tortilla and topped with red sauce and Cheddar, had a huge fan base when it arrived at Taco Bell. Nonetheless, it was discontinued for six years between 1993 and 1999, disappearing completely in 2013. To get a taste of the retro classic, order the Smothered Burrito which is a pimped-up version of the dish.
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1971: Classic Roast Beef, Arby’s
Hot roast beef sandwiches have been on the menu at Arby’s since the beginning in 1964 – however, the recipe we know and love today was created in 1971. Marinated, slow-roasted then thinly-sliced beef is piled into a toasted sesame seed bun. Arby’s Sauce (a tangy, spicy ketchup) and Horsey Sauce (a mayo and horseradish sauce) are optional add-ins.
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1972: Munchkins, Dunkin’ Donuts
These bite-sized donut snacks (which come in a variety of flavors including glazed chocolate cake, blueberry and jello) were brought out at the beginning of the 1970s. It’s thought that they were invented to solve the problem of excess dough cut from donut holes – a delicious and genius idea we think.
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1973: Quarter Pounder, McDonald’s
Invented in 1971, this 4oz (113g) burger with ketchup, mustard, onion, dill pickles and a sesame seed bun was added to McDonald’s menus nationwide in 1973. These days it’s better than ever, made with fresh rather than frozen beef and cooked to order.
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1974: Egg McMuffin, McDonald’s
The breakfast favorite, a freshly cracked free-range egg cooked in a Teflon circle served on a toasted English muffin with a slice of American cheese and grilled bacon, was invented in 1972 by Santa Barbara McDonald’s owner and operator Herb Peterson. However, in the beginning Ray Kroc wasn’t completely sold on the idea and it took a few years for it to be rolled out completely.
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1975: BMT, Subway
The sandwich chain’s flagship BMT, made with layers of pepperoni, salami, ham and salad, was introduced in 1975. If you’re wondering what its initials stand for, it was named after the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit system.
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1976: Bell Beefer, Taco Bell
A Sloppy Joe of sorts, the Bell Beefer was a burger bun filled with ground beef, onions, lettuce and sauce (there was also a version with grated cheese and tomatoes). Introduced in the mid-1970s, it was Taco Bell’s answer to the beef burgers of other fast-food chains. The meaty sandwich was then struck off in the late 1980s, becoming one of its most missed items – fans have even made a Facebook group in its memory.
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1977: Arby-Q sandwich, Arby’s
This was the year the Arby-Q sandwich (roast beef with tangy barbecue sauce in a sesame bun) entered our lives. It is one of those items that has gone on and off the menu over the years and is sadly not currently available.
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1978: Beef ‘n Cheddar, Arby’s
The classic roast beef sandwich has been a firm favorite on Arby’s menu for a while, but in 1978 it was upgraded with warm Cheddar sauce, red onion and a toasted onion roll. This new menu item was named the Beef ‘n Cheddar.
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1979: Taco Pizza, Pizza Hut
Back in the 1970s, in Pizza Hut’s dine-in restaurants’ heyday, it launched a Taco Pizza. The best of both worlds, it was a regular pizza topped with ground beef, tomatoes and lettuce, and covered in zingy taco sauce. The catchy advert said it all: it was a “pizza-looking, taco-tasting pizza”. And we really need it to return for those days when we can’t decide between the two.
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1980: Cheesarito, Taco Bell
Part of Taco Bell’s original menu, the Cheesarito was melted cheese, scallions and taco sauce rolled up in a soft tortilla. In simple terms, it was a grilled cheese burrito, so it’s a mystery to fans why it was discontinued when we know Taco Bell has all the ingredients in its kitchen. But here’s a secret – you can still get the restaurant to make it for you. Order a bean burrito without the beans, add extra cheese and taco sauce, and there you have it.
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1981: McRib, McDonald’s
This meaty sandwich, first brought out in 1981, has been on and off McDonald’s menus so many times in the past 40 years we’ve lost count. Not actually made of rib, it’s processed pork meat covered in barbecue sauce in a bun. Nonetheless, the seasonal item has reached mythical status and fans get very excited every time it returns.
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1982: Taquitos, Whataburger
A favorite of students, shift workers and the late-night crowd, Whataburger’s Taquitos (served between 11pm and 11am) gained popularity when the whole chain became 24 hour. They’re made of flour tortillas filled with scrambled eggs and a choice of bacon, sausage or potato, and can be customized with cheese, jalapeños, onions and sauce.
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1983: buttermilk biscuits, Popeyes
Flaky buttermilk biscuits are virtually synonymous with fast-food chain Popeyes – however, that wasn’t always the way. They weren’t launched until 1983, just over 10 years after the restaurant was first opened. Now it’s hard to imagine the spicy chicken served without this classic side.
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1984: McDLT, McDonald’s
Let’s be clear: we don’t want Styrofoam packaging to make a comeback, but we love the sentiment behind the McDLT, which graced menus in the mid-1980s. The beef patty was kept separate from the lettuce, tomato, cheese, pickle and sauce, so the meat stayed hot and the salad was kept from going soggy. It was discontinued in 1998.
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1985: Blizzards, Dairy Queen
Though this soft-serve ice-cream dessert, blended with ingredients like cookie dough, M&M’s and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, was first introduced much earlier, it was its reintroduction in 1985 that saw its major success. The chain reportedly sold more than 100 million Blizzards within a year, and the sweet treat has been a menu staple ever since.
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1986: Seafood Salad, Taco Bell
Out of all the Taco Bell items that have been discontinued, none is talked about quite as much as the Seafood Salad. It was released in the 1980s to compete with McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish and other “healthier” options on rival burger chains’ menus. Consisting of shrimp, whitefish, snow crab, black olives and salad leaves, it sounds exciting compared to the primarily ground beef-based menu today.
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1987: Burger Bundles, Burger King
You might recognize these little beauties, but know them as a different name. In 1987, Burger Bundles arrived – three or six sliders in a single box. But they quickly disappeared, replaced by Burger Buddies, which came in pairs. After vanishing again, they returned in 2004 as Burger Shots: patties with mustard, ketchup and pickles on six joined buns for tearing and sharing. We don’t care what it’s called, or in what iteration, we just want it back.
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1988: Pan!Pan!, Little Caesars
If you were old enough in the late 1980s, you might recognize Pan!Pan!, the square, deep-dish pizza from Little Caesars. They were sold two for the price of one, or you could mix and match with a round pizza. This was also the year the pizza chain started television advertising.
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1989: McDonald’s Pizza, McDonald’s
It might feel like a faint memory but from the late 1980s to the late 1990s, McDonald’s introduced pizza to menus at select stores in the USA and UK. It came with toppings such as cheese, pepperoni, green pepper and onion, but was eventually phased out due to issues such as slow cooking times. However, people still miss it and there was much excitement when it briefly returned to a couple of stores in the US in 2017.
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1990: Mighty Wings, McDonald’s
Though bone-in chicken isn’t what McDonald’s is known for (most people favor McNuggets), the chain launched Mighty Wings in 1990. The crispy chicken wings were sold up until 2003 and we still miss them. They returned briefly in the US in 2013 with spicy breading but customers didn’t get on board.
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1991: McLean Deluxe, McDonald’s
Amazingly the McLean Deluxe, which joined McDonald’s menus in the USA in 1991, was advertised as 91% fat free. What’s more, it was astonishingly technical, binding water to beef with seaweed extract to make it juicy. Unfortunately it flopped and was dropped in 1996. We guess the majority of people don’t head to McDonald’s for low-fat options. Find out what other fast food failures we wish would make a comeback.
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1992: breadsticks, Domino’s
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1993: McLobster, McDonald’s
This fancy fast-food item was introduced onto American McDonald’s menus in 1993. It was a lobster roll with shredded lettuce and lobster sauce, served seasonally. Sadly, due to supply issues, you can now only get this taste of luxury in Canada and New England in the summer when lobsters are abundant. Now discover the incredible story of how McDonald’s conquered the world.
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1994: buffalo wings, Domino’s
Pizza and buffalo wings are the ultimate game-day combo – but wings have only been available at Domino’s from 1994 onwards. These days, the chain’s wing offering is even more exciting, with hot, barbecue, sweet mango habanero and boneless to choose from.
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1995: stuffed crust pizza, Pizza Hut
The best invention since pizza, stuffed-crust pizza was purportedly introduced to the world by Pizza Hut in 1995 (although, one man from Brooklyn also claims he came up with the idea eight years earlier). To make the golden, cheesy crust, pizza dough edges are folded over a layer of mozzarella. Unbelievably, president Donald Trump featured in the TV commercials.
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1996: Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Wendy’s
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1997: Big n’ Tasty, McDonald’s
This Whopper-like burger from McDonald’s joined menus in California in 1997 and nationwide in 2000. Not to be confused with the UK’s Big Tasty, the Big n’ Tasty was a 4oz (113g) beef patty with tomato, lettuce, onions and “new sauce” in a sesame-seed bun. It was moved onto and off the dollar menu, and eventually culled in 2011. Variants on it can still be found in other countries around the globe.
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1998: Cini-Minis, Burger King
Anyone who grew up in the 1990s will remember Cini-Minis from Burger King: “the best part of the cinnamon roll (the center) in every bite”. Launched in 1998, a pack of four cost 99c (75p) and came with a little pot of icing. When they were discontinued in the 2000s, fans were extremely upset, even creating an online petition which had supporters demanding their return. And they did briefly come back in the US in 2018, but are sadly lost again.
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1999: Original Recipe Sandwich, KFC
By the late 1990s, Colonel Sanders had already won the world over with his secret blend of 11 herbs and spices – but he wasn’t resting on his laurels. In 1999, the Original Recipe Sandwich was introduced: golden breaded chicken cased in a soft bun with salad and mayo. Early commercials poked fun at competitors – “them burger boys would love to have this” says a cartoon Sanders in this 1999 TV ad.
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2000: Caramel Frappuccino, Starbucks
By the year 2000 Starbucks had grown to 3,500 stores, fast becoming the nation’s favorite coffee chain. The Caramel Frappuccino was one of the latest additions around this time – a blended coffee drink topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle, it was a crowdpleaser from the beginning. Now discover amazing dishes invented the year you were born.
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