THEN AND NOW: How fast-food menus have changed over the years

Erin McDowellAug 7, 2020, 03:07 IST

In-N-Out in the 1960s.In-N-Out

McDonald's Big Mac, Burger King's Whopper, and Popeyes' chicken sandwich — while these items are now undeniably iconic, at one point they were all brand new.
Business Insider looked at how fast-food restaurant menus have changed over the years, from McDonald's to Chick-fil-A and In-N-Out.
Some menu changes brought about astronomical sales, while others outraged customers to the point of social media rants and even violence.

When the McDonald brothers opened their first restaurant in 1940, it served barbecue food, while Taco Bell's first location had just five items on the menu. But over time, these restaurants have perfected their offerings, ultimately becoming the fast-food giants we know today.

Business Insider took a look back at how the menus at McDonald's, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, In-N-Out, White Castle, Taco Bell, and Popeyes have evolved over time.

Here's how fast-food menus have changed over the years.

When the McDonald brothers opened their first restaurant, it served barbecue food.

The exterior of a McDonald's drive-in fast-food restaurant, which advertises 15-cent hamburgers, Chicago, Illinois. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

In 1948, the McDonald brothers reduced the restaurant's offerings down to just nine items to make their Speedee Service system even more efficient.

McDonald's menu. Tim Boyle/Getty Images

The addition of milkshakes to the McDonald's menu in 1949 would completely shift the future of the chain.

McDonald's milkshake cups in the McDonald's museum. Ralf-Finn Hestoft/Corbis/Getty Images

In 1965, McDonald's introduced the Filet-O-Fish sandwich nationwide.

An ad for the Filet-O-Fish. Mike Blake/Reuters

McDonald's added the now-iconic Big Mac to its menu in 1967.

Product shot of a McDonald's Big Mac hamburger in 1977. Henry Groskinsky/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

Chicken McNuggets were added to menus in 1983.

McDonald's Chicken McNuggets. Irene Jiang / Business Insider

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic and trying to streamline their operations, McDonald's is now offering a limited menu.

McDonald's drive-through during the coronavirus pandemic. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Burger King opened its doors in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1953, as "Insta-Burger King."

An early Burger King restaurant. Burger King Facebook

In 1957, Burger King released its signature burger, the Whopper.

Burger King Whopper. Reuters

More recently, Burger King revolutionized its menu with the addition of the Impossible Whopper, a meat-free version of its iconic sandwich.

Close-up of Burger King menu board with an advertisement for the Impossible Whopper. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

The Dwarf Grill in Hapeville, Georgia, opened in 1946. It would eventually become what we now know as Chick-fil-A.

Dwarf Grill menu. Business Insider/Hayley Peterson

However, everything changed when Chick-fil-A created its original chicken sandwich in 1964.

Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich. Shutterstock/rblfmr

In 1989, Chick-fil-A added a grilled chicken sandwich to its menu.

Chick-fil-A grilled chicken club sandwich. Hollis Johnson

Today, the menu has more than 40 different menu items, but you certainly won't find burgers.

Chick-fil-A restaurant. Mark Lennihan/Associated Press

In-N-Out became California's first drive-thru hamburger stand when it opened in 1948.

In-N-Out in the 1960s. In-N-Out

In 1961, In-N-Out added "animal style" burgers to its menu.

In-N-Out animal style burger. Yelp

In 1963, In-N-Out began serving its famous Double-Double burger.

Double-Double burger on the menu. Irene Jiang/Business Insider

White Castle is regarded as the first fast-food hamburger chain in America. It opened its doors in 1921.

White Castle. White Castle

In 1962, White Castle began selling cheeseburgers.

White Castle sliders on a grill. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Today, White Castle still sells its iconic sliders.

White Castle food. Hollis Johnson

Taco Bell offered just five menu items when it opened in 1962.

Taco Bell's original menu, with its first franchisee, Kermit Becky. Taco Bell

In 2014, Taco Bell officially launched its breakfast menu nationwide.

Taco Bell breakfast burrito. Hollis Johnson

Today, Taco Bell has an expansive menu that offers a lot more than it did in the 1960s.

Taco Bell menu. Irene Jiang / Business Insider

Popeyes first opened in 1972 as "Chicken on the Run" in the New Orleans suburb of Arabi, Louisiana.

Popeyes restaurant in 2000. David McNew/Newsmakers/Getty Images

In 1983, Popeyes began selling buttermilk biscuits.

Popeyes restaurant. Brad Kemp / AP Images

Before its famous chicken sandwich hit the menu, Popeyes mainly sold fried chicken and seafood.

A Popeyes restaurant takeout order menu is seen on February 21, 2017, in Miami, Florida. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Popeyes changed its direction — and, perhaps, the entire face of fast food — when it launched its now-famous chicken sandwich in 2019.

A sign indicating that chicken sandwiches are sold out at a Boston Popeyes in 2019. Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

33 fast-food menu items you will never be able to order again

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