Before-and-after photos show how much fast-food restaurants have changed over the years

Mary Hanbury,Erin McDowellJul 8, 2020, 21:18 IST

Back in 1955, McDonald's offered 15-cent hamburgers.Tim Boyle/Newsmakers/Getty Images

Some of the most famous fast-food chains were practically unrecognizable years ago.
Many aspects of fast-food restaurants, from the menu to the technology and the overall restaurant design, have evolved over the years.
McDonald's restaurants look drastically different now to how they did in 1953, and the same can be said of other chains.

To stay competitive, fast-food chains across America have to revamp their menus and redesign their stores almost as quickly as they prepare their food.

These days, top chains are doing everything possible to stay current and keep their customers coming back. That includes adding mobile ordering, self-service kiosks, and even alcohol at some locations.

Take a look at how some of America's most popular chains have evolved over the years.

Marina Nazario contributed to an earlier version of this post.

Back in 1955, McDonald's offered 15-cent hamburgers.

McDonald's in 1955. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

McDonald's packaging has gone through noticeable changes over the years.

McDonald's vintage packaging. Ralf-Finn Hestoft/Corbis/Getty Images

Ronald McDonald made his first appearance in 1963, and he has been around ever since.

Ronald McDonald. Mike Fuentes/Getty Images

Now McDonald's offers over 170 menu items across the world.

A patron enters a McDonald's restaurant on September 2, 1998, in Tokyo, Japan. Gilles Mingasson/Liaison/Getty Images

McDonald's is continuing to make changes in order to improve customers' experiences.

Kiosks at the new Solar Disney McDonald's. BlogMickey.com

The company promoted Steve Easterbook to CEO in 2015, changed up the menu, and started serving breakfast all day.

McDonald's breakfast. Irene Jiang / Business Insider

Burger King was founded in 1953, but back then, it was called Insta-Burger King.

Burger King in the 1950s. Burger King

The Whopper was introduced to the menu in 1957, and the sandwich has been on the menu — with its many variations — ever since.

Burger King Whopper. Katherine Frey/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Roadside stands like this Burger King Express in Valdez, Alaska, began popping up in the '80s.

Burger King Express in Valdez, Alaska. Jack Smith/AP

Today, Burger King is launching multiple initiatives to compete in the latest fast-food wars.

Burger King restaurant today.. Dave Rowland / Stringer / Getty Images

The first-ever Wendy's opened in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969.

Wendy Morse, daughter of Wendy's fast-food chain founder Dave Thomas. Will Mcintyre/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

In 1970, Wendy's pioneered the first drive-thru window.

Wendy's founder Dave Thomas visits one of his locations in 1989. Getty Images

In 2012, Wendy's underwent a brand transformation. It redesigned its restaurants, innovated its menu, and improved its ad campaigns.

Wendy's now. Wendy's

In March 2020, Wendy's launched its breakfast menu nationwide and was met with great success despite the pandemic.

Wendy's Breakfast sausage egg and cheese biscuit. Irene Jiang / Business Insider

Taco Bell was founded in 1962. Here the restaurant is pictured in 1996.

Taco Bell in 1996. Quade/ullstein bild/Getty Images

Here's one Taco Bell location 58 years after the chain was founded.

Taco Bell today. Irene Jiang / Business Insider

The chain has expanded to offer upscale dining at its new "Cantina" restaurants, which also serve alcohol.

Taco Bell "Cantina." Abigail Abesamis

Colonel Harland Sanders has been the face of KFC since it was founded in 1952.

Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Getty Images

This is what the restaurants looked like in 1975.

Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in London, April 24, 1975. Reveille/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

KFC has been rolling out a new design in its restaurants.

KFC today. FRCH Design Worldwide

The original Dunkin' Donuts was founded in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1950.

The first Dunkin Donuts, located in Quincy, Massachusetts. Wendy Maeda/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

In 2018, the chain announced it would drop the "Donuts" from its name and simply go by "Dunkin'."

Dunkin' Donuts. Nick Ut / AP Images

This is a White Castle in the 1960s, although the first White Castle was established in 1921.

White Castle restaurant in 1963. Marvin Lichtner/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

This is a White Castle in 1977, pictured in the movie "Saturday Night Fever."

White Castle in the movie "Saturday Night Fever." CBS/Getty Images

Today, White Castle looks slightly more modern, but the logo remains largely unchanged.

White Castle restaurant in 2018. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Arby's was founded by Forrest and Leroy Raffel in 1964.

Arby's in 1996. Quade/ullstein bild/Getty Images

Today, Arby's is shaping up its menu and getting a whole new look to resemble fast-casual restaurants.

Arby's. Arby's

Jack in the Box opened in San Diego in 1951.

Jack in the Box. David F. Smith/AP

The fast-food chain has kept the same mascot for over 65 years.

Jack in the Box mascot. Jack in the box

Founded in 1972, Popeyes wasn't always called Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.

Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits. Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Today, Popeyes restaurants are slated to be completely redesigned.

Popeyes today. Courtesy of Popeyes

Take a look inside this exclusive, socially-distanced tropical restaurant pop-up that has a fully automated ordering system

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