Before-and-after photos show how much fast-food restaurants have changed over the years

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Mary Hanbury,Erin McDowellJul 8, 2020, 21:18 IST
Before-and-after photos show how much fast-food restaurants have changed over the years

Back in 1955, McDonald's offered 15-cent hamburgers.Tim Boyle/Newsmakers/Getty Images

To stay competitive, fast-food chains across America have to revamp their menus and redesign their stores almost as quickly as they prepare their food.

These days, top chains are doing everything possible to stay current and keep their customers coming back. That includes adding mobile ordering, self-service kiosks, and even alcohol at some locations.

Take a look at how some of America's most popular chains have evolved over the years.

Marina Nazario contributed to an earlier version of this post.

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Back in 1955, McDonald's offered 15-cent hamburgers.

Back in 1955, McDonald's offered 15-cent hamburgers.
McDonald's in 1955. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

At the time, its menu only offered nine items — hamburgers, cheeseburgers, french fries, milkshakes, milk, root beer, orangeade, Coca Cola, and coffee.

McDonald's packaging has gone through noticeable changes over the years.

McDonald's packaging has gone through noticeable changes over the years.
McDonald's vintage packaging. Ralf-Finn Hestoft/Corbis/Getty Images

This is what it looked like in 1955, complete with its old mascot, Speedee, a chef with a burger for a head.

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Ronald McDonald made his first appearance in 1963, and he has been around ever since.

Ronald McDonald made his first appearance in 1963, and he has been around ever since.
Ronald McDonald. Mike Fuentes/Getty Images

In his first ad appearance, Ronald McDonald pulled hamburgers out of his belt and had a McDonald's cup for a nose. His hat was a tray with a Styrofoam hamburger, fries, and a milkshake on top of it.

Now McDonald's offers over 170 menu items across the world.

Now McDonald's offers over 170 menu items across the world.
A patron enters a McDonald's restaurant on September 2, 1998, in Tokyo, Japan. Gilles Mingasson/Liaison/Getty Images

According to the McDonald's website, the company now operates a total of 36,525 restaurants worldwide. It's been called the "most valuable" fast-food restaurant chain and the biggest quick-service restaurant in the world.

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McDonald's is continuing to make changes in order to improve customers' experiences.

McDonald's is continuing to make changes in order to improve customers' experiences.
Kiosks at the new Solar Disney McDonald's. BlogMickey.com

Kiosks have been added in most restaurants in order to make ordering even faster.

The company promoted Steve Easterbook to CEO in 2015, changed up the menu, and started serving breakfast all day.

The company promoted Steve Easterbook to CEO in 2015, changed up the menu, and started serving breakfast all day.
McDonald's breakfast. Irene Jiang / Business Insider

The CEO of McDonald's is now Chris Kempczinski, and all-day breakfast could be in danger of disappearing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Burger King was founded in 1953, but back then, it was called Insta-Burger King.

Burger King was founded in 1953, but back then, it was called Insta-Burger King.
Burger King in the 1950s. Burger King

The restaurant chain was founded in Jacksonville, Florida, by Keith Kramer and Matthew Burns. Then, in 1954, the company was taken over by David Edgerton and James McLamore, who decided to expand its locations.

The Whopper was introduced to the menu in 1957, and the sandwich has been on the menu — with its many variations — ever since.

The Whopper was introduced to the menu in 1957, and the sandwich has been on the menu — with its many variations — ever since.
Burger King Whopper. Katherine Frey/The Washington Post/Getty Images

The Whopper was 37 cents compared to Burger King's original burger, which cost 18 cents.

The Whopper came with sauce, cheese, lettuce, pickles, and tomato, all piled on top of a larger patty. Today, Burger King still broils and flame-grills its burgers.

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Roadside stands like this Burger King Express in Valdez, Alaska, began popping up in the '80s.

Roadside stands like this Burger King Express in Valdez, Alaska, began popping up in the '80s.
Burger King Express in Valdez, Alaska. Jack Smith/AP

They offered faster service and convenience.

Today, Burger King is launching multiple initiatives to compete in the latest fast-food wars.

Today, Burger King is launching multiple initiatives to compete in the latest fast-food wars.
Burger King restaurant today.. Dave Rowland / Stringer / Getty Images

Today, Burger King has approximately ‎18,838 locations worldwide and is regarded as a leader in plant-based fast food due to its introduction of the Impossible Whopper, a meatless version of its signature burger.

Burger King has also begun focusing its advertisements on showcasing its food's high-quality ingredients with no preservatives added, namely through one infamous commercial that shows a Whopper decomposing over time.

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The first-ever Wendy's opened in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969.

The first-ever Wendy's opened in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969.
Wendy Morse, daughter of Wendy's fast-food chain founder Dave Thomas. Will Mcintyre/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

It closed its doors in 2007, and the building has since been torn down.

In 1970, Wendy's pioneered the first drive-thru window.

In 1970, Wendy's pioneered the first drive-thru window.
Wendy's founder Dave Thomas visits one of his locations in 1989. Getty Images

It had a separate grill for quick service.

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In 2012, Wendy's underwent a brand transformation. It redesigned its restaurants, innovated its menu, and improved its ad campaigns.

In 2012, Wendy's underwent a brand transformation. It redesigned its restaurants, innovated its menu, and improved its ad campaigns.
Wendy's now. Wendy's

In 2017, the chain announced that it would invest $30 million in improving the quality of its chicken.

In March 2020, Wendy's launched its breakfast menu nationwide and was met with great success despite the pandemic.

In March 2020, Wendy's launched its breakfast menu nationwide and was met with great success despite the pandemic.
Wendy's Breakfast sausage egg and cheese biscuit. Irene Jiang / Business Insider

The chain is now a front-runner in the "breakfast wars."

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Taco Bell was founded in 1962. Here the restaurant is pictured in 1996.

Taco Bell was founded in 1962. Here the restaurant is pictured in 1996.
Taco Bell in 1996. Quade/ullstein bild/Getty Images

Glen Bell opened his first Taco Bell restaurant in Downey, California, the same site as the oldest McDonald's in the country.

Here's one Taco Bell location 58 years after the chain was founded.

Here's one Taco Bell location 58 years after the chain was founded.
Taco Bell today. Irene Jiang / Business Insider

Today, the chain has remained committed to bringing out exciting new menu items and expanding its breakfast offerings.

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The chain has expanded to offer upscale dining at its new "Cantina" restaurants, which also serve alcohol.

The chain has expanded to offer upscale dining at its new "Cantina" restaurants, which also serve alcohol.
Taco Bell "Cantina." Abigail Abesamis

The restaurants offer unique, modern interiors and a specially curated menu.

Colonel Harland Sanders has been the face of KFC since it was founded in 1952.

Colonel Harland Sanders has been the face of KFC since it was founded in 1952.
Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Getty Images

However, the Colonel had been perfecting his chicken recipe for years before he opened his first restaurant. According to KFC, Harland Sanders first started cooking for hungry travelers at a gas station in 1930.

By 1940, he had his recipe for fried chicken perfected.

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This is what the restaurants looked like in 1975.

This is what the restaurants looked like in 1975.
Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in London, April 24, 1975. Reveille/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

Sanders visited KFC restaurants around the world up until his death in 1980, at the age of 90, in Louisville, Kentucky.

KFC has been rolling out a new design in its restaurants.

KFC has been rolling out a new design in its restaurants.
KFC today. FRCH Design Worldwide

The brand began testing the renovated restaurants in 2014, and thousands of locations were updated over the following few years.

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The original Dunkin' Donuts was founded in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1950.

The original Dunkin' Donuts was founded in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1950.
The first Dunkin Donuts, located in Quincy, Massachusetts. Wendy Maeda/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

Founder Bill Rosenberg's goal was to "make and serve the freshest, most delicious coffee and donuts quickly and courteously in modern, well-merchandised stores."

In 2018, the chain announced it would drop the "Donuts" from its name and simply go by "Dunkin'."

In 2018, the chain announced it would drop the "Donuts" from its name and simply go by "Dunkin'."
Dunkin' Donuts. Nick Ut / AP Images

Today, there are more than 12,400 Dunkin' restaurants worldwide. The chain serves approximately 2 billion cups of hot and iced coffee every year around the world.

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This is a White Castle in the 1960s, although the first White Castle was established in 1921.

This is a White Castle in the 1960s, although the first White Castle was established in 1921.
White Castle restaurant in 1963. Marvin Lichtner/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

When the restaurant first opened, the family-owned business sold its 5-cent sliders by the stack. White Castle is now regarded as the first fast-food hamburger chain.

This is a White Castle in 1977, pictured in the movie "Saturday Night Fever."

This is a White Castle in 1977, pictured in the movie "Saturday Night Fever."
White Castle in the movie "Saturday Night Fever." CBS/Getty Images

In 1961, White Castle became the first fast-food hamburger chain to sell over 1 billion burgers. One year later, the chain brought out a brand new menu item: the cheeseburger slider.

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Today, White Castle looks slightly more modern, but the logo remains largely unchanged.

Today, White Castle looks slightly more modern, but the logo remains largely unchanged.
White Castle restaurant in 2018. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The menu also now features the plant-based version of its famous, "crave-able" slider: the Impossible Slider. White Castle was the first fast-food chain to do so.

Arby's was founded by Forrest and Leroy Raffel in 1964.

Arby's was founded by Forrest and Leroy Raffel in 1964.
Arby's in 1996. Quade/ullstein bild/Getty Images

The chain debuted its now-iconic roast beef sandwich — made with the exact same recipe still used today — in 1971.

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Today, Arby's is shaping up its menu and getting a whole new look to resemble fast-casual restaurants.

Today, Arby's is shaping up its menu and getting a whole new look to resemble fast-casual restaurants.
Arby's. Arby's

The sleek, modern new look can be found in many restaurants nationwide.

Jack in the Box opened in San Diego in 1951.

Jack in the Box opened in San Diego in 1951.
Jack in the Box. David F. Smith/AP

The burger chain now has over 2,200 quick-serve restaurants in the US and Guam.

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The fast-food chain has kept the same mascot for over 65 years.

The fast-food chain has kept the same mascot for over 65 years.
Jack in the Box mascot. Jack in the box

While the restaurants may look more modern now, the chain's mascot "Jack" goes to show that if it isn't broken, don't fix it.

Founded in 1972, Popeyes wasn't always called Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.

Founded in 1972, Popeyes wasn't always called Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.
Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits. Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Instead, it used to be called Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, and after that, Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken & Biscuits.

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Today, Popeyes restaurants are slated to be completely redesigned.

Today, Popeyes restaurants are slated to be completely redesigned.
Popeyes today. Courtesy of Popeyes

The chain has a brand new logo, and the official brand colors are now orange and white. The company is also looking towards expanding its restaurants globally following the smash success of its new chicken sandwich.

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