40 Throwback Fast Food Restaurant Photos That Pack A Comforting Punch

Pizza by the foot. Burgers sold from a giant barrel. A 56-foot-tall steel chicken. These were all actual things back in the day. We’ve rummaged through the archive to find 40 extraordinary photos that illustrate what the fast-food world was once like — so read on to be entertained and amazed. But a word of warning: after reading this, you might well experience an urgent craving for burgers, pizza, or fried chicken...

The first McDonald’s

Here’s a blast from the past — the very first McDonald’s restaurant. Actually it’s not quite that. Firstly, it’s a replica of the original, titled the McDonald’s Museum. Secondly, it’s not really the first McDonalds. It is the first one opened after Ray Kroc partnered with the actual McDonalds, brothers Maurice and Richard. Kroc launched the franchise system in 1955 and this was its first outlet in Des Plaines, Illinois. The McDonalds actually opened their original restaurant in 1940.

Yellow packaging

As any fan of the restaurant knows, the predominant color of Wendy’s cups and packaging is red. But there have been times, as this photo attests, when the color was flipped to yellow. Although as you can see, the trademark name and pigtailed girl were still picked out in red. So what was with the color change? We have absolutely no idea. Even Google doesn’t know.

Taco décor

If you weren’t a regular at Taco Bell back in the 1990s, you might struggle to recognize the restaurant’s trademark look of the time. But here it is in all its glory. A style mish-mash best consigned to history or an inspired use of color and form? You decide. At least the tacos looked more or less the same 30 years ago. 

Improbable pizza

“Pizza by the foot” this promo poster from Little Caesars promises. It sure seems a long way from the original circular version of the dough-based dish, which is said to have originated in the Italian city of Naples more than two centuries ago. Still, at 11 bucks for almost 3 feet of pizza, who’s complaining?