Everyone must be familiar with the golden arches that the famous McDonald’s has been using for several years now. About 80 years ago, the first-ever McDonald’s franchise was opened to the public. It was proudly presented by the McDonald’s brothers, Dick and Mac, back in 1940, in San Bernardino, California.
Before McDonald’s became world-renowned, its original menu was simple. In fact, the Mac Burger we loved today was flogged for just fifteen cents. Back then, McDonald’s drinks were equally simple. Their first store offered drinks such as coffee, milk, orange shake, coke, root beer, or malt shakes. With such a limited menu, customers were able to get their menu much quicker. Consequently, their assembly line was soon dubbed “the Speedee Service System,” which had paved the way for modern-day fast-food culture. Over the years, the items on their menu have then expanded.
Today, it is unbelievable how this brand has become one of the most renowned fast-food chains that are now serving about 68 million customers every day!
McDonald’s Earliest Menu Only Contained Nine Items!
Years before the world was introduced to the song “I’m Lovin’ It” and before the Golden Arches became one of the most well-known logos in the world, McDonald’s was just a small restaurant testing out an emerging concept known as “fast food.” When the McDonald brothers opened their first restaurant in 1940, they offered a limited menu of only nine items. This menu served as the foundation for the McDonald’s that we know and love today.
McDonald’s early “Amazing Menu” was as full of enticing adjectives as its fries are packed with salty goodness. In fact, the very first McDonald’s cheeseburger wasn’t just any cheeseburger; it was called a “Tempting Cheeseburger.” Aside from that, the root beer was absolutely “delightful.” The prices, on the other hand, have to be the most appealing aspect of this menu.
A whopping twenty cents was charged for the “Triple-Thick Shake,” which was the most expensive item on the menu. There were three flavors available: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, which is why it has the word “triple” on its name.
Alternatively, you could order a “Refreshing Cold Milk” for only twelve cents if you just wanted the milk without the shake. McDonald’s tempting items are now available almost everywhere in the world, but not in the nine countries where the fast-food giant has been banned.
Each of their five most affordable items on the menu was ten cents less expensive than the most expensive item on the menu. In addition to the classic Pure Beef Hamburger at the top of the menu, there were several other ten-cent items, including fries, root beer, coffee, a “Full-Flavor Orange Drink,” and their good old “Thirst-Quenching Coke.”
Modern fast-food culture can be traced back to these nine items. McDonald’s iconic menu items such as Frappuccino, Big Mac, and Egg McMuffins would not exist if it weren’t for these nine delectable. So, appreciate and think about the evolution of McDonald’s the next time you visit your local Golden Arches.
McDonald’s Menu Today
Because of the “Amazing” but a limited menu that was introduced in the 1940s, both the number of available items and the prices have increased. Today, you can get anything from Egg McMuffins to Filets-O-Fish to a vegan burger at McDonald’s.
And, of course, there’s the McDonald’s in Orlando, Florida, where you can get pasta, pizzas with your own personalization, and they have waffles, too!
As a glance at this vintage menu reveals, many of the franchise’s most popular items have been around since the beginning. Some of the original offerings that are still popular today include hamburgers, cheeseburgers, coffee, and, of course, those delectable fries.
McDonald’s has introduced and discontinued dozens of different menu items over the years in order to keep up with consumer demand.
Despite the fact that the original McDonald’s menu was limited in comparison to the vast array of options available today, the McDonald’s burger has stood the test of time throughout it all.