Delicious, convenient, and readily available fast foods have become a staple in today’s fast-paced world. Most popular fast food chains have stood the test of time and continually evolve to keep up with changing culinary trends.
Here are 21 of the oldest fast-food restaurants that rose from humble beginnings to become iconic brands in the fast-food landscape.
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1. Dunkin’
Dunkin’ is America’s largest coffee and donut brand. Founded in 1950 in the U.S., Dunkin’ comprises 13,200 restaurants in 41 countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and China. Popular menu items in this American chain include coffee, donuts, croissants, sandwiches, muffins, bagels, and sandwiches.
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2. Wendy’s
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Wendy’s is the 3rd largest hamburger chain in the world after McDonalds and Burger King. The American fast-food chain restaurant was founded in 1969 and operates more than 7,100 locations globally. It’s famous for its square-shaped burgers, and the menu comprises hamburgers, French fries, and chicken sandwiches.
3. Burger King
Founded in 1953 in Jacksonville, Florida, Burger King is an American fast-food restaurant chain. It operates 19,789 restaurants in 100 countries, making it the world’s 2nd largest fast-food chain after McDonalds. Burger King’s primary offerings include burgers, French fries, milkshakes, and specialty regional offerings.
4. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)
Popularly known as KFC, Kentucky Fried Chicken is an American fast food chain founded by Colonel Harlander Sanders in 1952. Currently, the chain restaurant is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands and operates more than 25,000 outlets in 145 countries. KFC’s signature product is pressure-fried chicken seasoned with trademarked spices and herbs. Other menu items include chicken fillet wraps and sandwiches, pies, French fries, desserts, and soft drinks.
5. Domino’s Pizza
Simply known as Domino’s, this American pizza chain restaurant was founded in 1960 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The chain is the world’s largest pizza delivery service, operating over 20,000 restaurants in 90 countries. While pizza remains the primary product, the restaurant offers specialty pizza to cater to different needs. Other menu items include chicken, sandwiches, desserts, and soft drinks.
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6. Taco Bell
Taco Bell is an American fast-food restaurant chain that serves a Mexican-inspired thoroughfare. It was founded by Glen Bell in 1962 and operates 8,564 locations in 32 countries. Tacos remain Taco Bell’s signature offering alongside other delights such as burritos, nachos, quesadillas, and specialty items.
7. McDonald’s
McDonald’s is the largest fast-food restaurant chain in the world. It was founded by the McDonald brothers in 1940 and started franchising in 1955, headed by Ray Kroc. Currently, McDonalds operates over 41,800 locations in over 100 countries. The chain is renowned for its hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and French fries.
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8. Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American pizza chain restaurant chain founded by the Carney brothers in 1958. It’s headquartered in Plano, Texas, and operates 19,866 locations in over 100 countries. Pizza remains the restaurant chain’s primary offering, alongside chicken wings, pasta, desserts, and beverages.
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9. Subway
Subway is an American fast-food restaurant chain founded by Fred DeLuca in 1965 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. With over 37,000 locations in 100 countries, Subway is the world’s largest sandwich franchise. The fast food chain specializes in submarine sandwiches, wraps, salads, and soft drinks.
10. Starbucks
Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse chain in the world. It was founded in 1971 and currently operates 35,711 stores in 80 countries, of which 15,873 are located in the U.S. Specialty coffee remains the chain’s signature offering alongside lunch sandwiches.
Related: 17 Things You Didn’t Know About Starbucks
11. PizzaExpress
PizzaExpress is a British pizza restaurant chain founded in 1965 by Peter Boizot in London. The chain operates over 500 locations in the U.K. and 100 restaurants internationally. The PizzaExpress menu includes pizza and other Italian cuisine, such as pasta and salads.
12. Tim Hortons
Going by the moniker Tim’s, Timmy’s, or Timmies, Tim Hortons is a Canadian coffeehouse and restaurant chain headquartered in Toronto. It was founded by Tim Horton and Jim Charade in 1964. It’s Canada’s largest quick-service restaurant chain and operates 5,701 locations in 13 countries. Menu offerings include coffee, sandwiches, donuts, and other fast foods.
13. Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee is the largest coffeehouse chain in the U.K. and 2nd largest worldwide. Sergio Costa founded the British coffeehouse in 1971, and the chain has since grown to 3,401 locations in 31 countries. Coffee is the restaurant chain’s primary offering, alongside sandwiches, pastries, cakes, and snacks.
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14. Little Caesars
Dating back to 1959, Little Caesars is America’s 3rd largest pizza chain after Domino’s and Pizza Hut. It was founded by Mike and Marian Ilitch in Garden City, Michigan. The privately held chain operates over 5,000 locations in 28 countries. Pizza is the restaurant’s core offering, alongside entrée options such as Caesar Wings, bread, and brownies.
15. Popeyes
Formerly known as Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, Popeyes is an American fried-chicken restaurant chain headquartered in Miami. It opened in 1972 in Arabi, Louisiana, and currently operates 4,178 restaurants in 30 countries. The restaurant chain is renowned for its signature fried chicken and chicken-based items.
16. Sbarro
Sbarro is an American fast food chain founded by Italian immigrants Gennaro and Carmela Sbarro in 1956. The pizza chain operates over 700 locations across 28 countries. Its signature offering is a New York-style pizza sold in slices, pasta, and salad.
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17. Sonic
In 1953, Sonic started as Top Hat Drive-In in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Now, it has over 3500 locations around the United States but their headquarters remain the same. Besides their burgers and endless drinks, they also offer hotdogs, chicken sandwiches and sliders, grilled cheese, and ice cream.
18. Whataburger
The first Whataburger opened in 1950 as a little roadside burger shop in Corpus Christi, Texas. Its HQ is in San Antonio, with over 750 outlets across 10 states. Besides their hamburgers, =the Texas institution has other popular items such as apple pie, chicken tenders, specialty sandwiches, taquitos, and their famous ketchup.
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19. White Castle
White Castle, well-known for its sliders—tiny, square-shaped hamburgers—was founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921. The family-run enterprise has now expanded and currently has over 400 locations nationwide. They’re still famous for their hamburgers which have become an iconic menu item but they’ve also expanded their range to include onion rings, hashbrown nibblers, loaded fries, and a whole breakfast selection.
20. A&W
Starting in 1919, A&W is known for its root beer, hot dogs, fries, and cheese curds. Originally started as a rootbeer stand, A&W now boasts over 1,000 locations around the world.
21. In-N-Out
A cult classic, In-N-Out started as a drive-thru hamburger stands in California in 1948. They have about 400 locations despite the fact that they don’t do franchising. Their secret menu features items like the grilled cheese sandwich, the bunless “protein-style” burger, Animal-style fries, and the famous Double-Double, which comes with two beef patties and all the toppings.
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