Fast food chains like McDonald’s revolutionized the restaurant industry in the 1950s and 1960s. During these years, more people were working so they had less time to cook at home or eat at a sit down restaurant. As a result, fast food chains became an easy solution to getting food quickly and inexpensively. This is why we have National Fast Food Day today!
Billy Ingram and Walter Anderson founded White Castle in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas. It rapidly became the home of sliders and birthday cake on a stick. Much like today’s food trucks, Anderson first began selling hamburgers out of an old streetcar body at a known intersection in Wichita and they were a hit. As the hamburger popularity grew, Anderson partnered with Ingram to open the first brick and mortar White Castle, selling hamburgers for a mere five cents. Some consider this endeavor to be the first true fast food restaurant.
Here are some other fast food eateries with a long standing history and incredible growth!
- Burger King 1953, Current Locations – 15,200
- Sonic 1956, Current Locations – 3606
- Jack In the Box 1970 – Current Locations 2200
- Dunkin Donuts 1955 – Current Locations 12,400
- In-N-Out Burger 1948 – Current Locations 342 (All company owned)
- Dairy Queen 1940 – Current Locations 6800
- McDonald’s 1940 – Current Locations 37241
- Kentucky Fried Chicken 1930 – Current Locations 20,925
- White Castle 1921 – Current Locations 420 (All company owned)
- A & W 1919 – Current Locations 1100
The most effortless way to celebrate National Fast Food Day is to grab a meal at your favorite fast food restaurant. So go satisfy that guilty pleasure and give in to that fast food craving. Don’t forget to get your receipt!
