Vintage photos show what it was like to eat at Burger King in the 1980s

Fri, 07/26/2024 - 12:00

A crew member at Burger King holds up a double cheeseburger in 1989.
Glen Martin/The Denver Post/Getty Images

In 1954, the very first Burger King opened its doors.
An early version of the Burger King logo featured curved letters sandwiched between two yellow buns.
The Whopper, which has been around since 1957, was still popular well into the 1980s.

Burger King has grown from a small-time burger joint to a major American corporation.

When Burger King first opened in 1954, it served 18-cent flame-broiled burgers, milkshakes, and fries.

The chain quickly grew to become the second-largest fast-food chain in the country, behind McDonald's, and now it consistently ranks among the biggest fast-food chains in the world.

The 1980s was a time of growth for the brand, as well as multiple menu changes. However, some aspects of visiting the restaurants, such as the chain's salad bars, haven't stood the test of time.

Here's a look back at what it was like to visit Burger King in the 1980s.

By the 1980s, Burger King had expanded across the US and had a well-established brand identity.

A Burger King restaurant in October 1986.
Gaby Schumann/picture alliance/Getty Images

The first iteration of Burger King was called Insta-Burger King and opened to the public in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1953. But the company says the first real Burger King opened a year later.

By the 1980s, the chain had opened 2,000 restaurants and had expanded to every state, according to a timeline published in FLAME magazine, a publication for Burger King's franchisees, in 2004. By 1986, the company had 4,743 restaurants, including locations in 25 countries, per the timeline.

As the above photo shows, an early version of the Burger King logo featured curved letters sandwiched between two yellow buns. The chain is now using a very similar logo that embodies the same nostalgic, vintage feel.

Burger King locations in the 1980s offered both drive-thru and dine-in service.

A Burger King drive-thru sign and cars in 1982.
Bernard CHARLON/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Drive-thrus, which the company introduced in 1975, has proven to be an essential element for the success of fast-food chains.

According to Encyclopedia.com, by 1987, drive-thrus were responsible for 60% of sales in the fast-food industry.

In 1982, Burger King's drive-thru lanes started offering "late-night" service, according to the company timeline in FLAME magazine.

Customers could line up to try the chain's iconic Whopper and eat in the adjoining dining room.

Customers stand in line at a Burger King restaurant in 1987 — Customers stood in line at a Burger King restaurant in 1987.
Denver Post/Getty Images

By 1985, customers could also grab their own drinks from self-service machines, per FLAME's timeline.

There were some new additions to Burger King's menu in the 1980s, including its bacon double cheeseburger and chicken tenders.

An employee makes burgers at a Burger King restaurant in 1982 — An employee made burgers at a Burger King restaurant in 1982.
John van Hasselt/Corbis/Getty Images

While not much about Burger King's brand identity has changed since the 1980s, there have been updates to its menu.

While many menu items, such as the Whopper, fries, and burgers that customers could customize and "have it your way," are still on the menu, Burger King restaurants in the 1980s also had a customizable salad bar, according to a vintage photo posted on X.

After years of testing, breakfast items were also added to the menu in the '80s.

1980s burger king — A young girl ate a bagel sandwich in a Burger King fast-food restaurant in 1988.
Ted Kirk/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

Other items that debuted in the 1980s included breakfast items: The Croissan'wich was first offered in 1983 and French Toast sticks were released in 1985, BI previously reported.

Its menu has since expanded further to include breakfast items such as hash browns and pancakes.

Employees wore hats and striped polo shirts.

Burger King employees in 1982.
John van Hasselt/Corbis/Getty Images

Burger King's uniforms have changed drastically during the chain's lifetime.

In the 1980s, the brand started experimenting with plaid, stripes, and baseball caps to give a relaxed, approachable feel.

They also wore red dresses over red plaid shirts.

1983 Burger King Uniform — A Burger King employee learned how to fill a cup.
Bettman / Getty Images

In this image from 1983, Burger King University dean Al Jesness shows an employee how to fill a soft drink cup.

As the company grew, Burger King's managers were trained at the Miami-based university "to learn the holy grail of the perfect burger," UPI reported in 1983.

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Food, Retail, Features, fast-food, burger-king, History, vintage-photos, fast-food-restaurants

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Vintage photos show what it was like to eat at Burger King in the 1980s