1940 Menu
In 1940, McDonald’s opened its first restaurant in San Bernardino, California, and the original menu was quite limited compared to today’s offerings. You could easily feed the whole family for under $1.
The menu you see pictured above is often referred to as the original 1940 menu. It’s likely not the case, and here is why:
- Menu Items and Descriptions: The use of adjectives like “tempting” for cheeseburgers and “triple thick” for milkshakes suggests a marketing style more typical of later decades, possibly indicating that the menu is from the 1960s rather than the 1940s.
- Size of Burgers: The original hamburgers and cheeseburgers were only 1.5oz before cooking, which contrasts with the larger sizes seen in later menus. This discrepancy raises questions about the authenticity of the menu being from 1940.
- Arches: The iconic golden arches were not incorporated into McDonald’s restaurant design until 1953 and did not become part of the advertising logo until 1962. This timeline suggests that any menu featuring those elements would be from a later period.
- Historical Context: The first franchise McDonald’s opened in 1955, which indicates that earlier menus might not have had the same marketing strategies or item descriptions that emerged as the brand grew.
McDonald’s Amazing Menu
- Pure Beef Hamburger: 15c
- Tempting Cheeseburger: 19c
- Triple-Thick Shakes: 20c
- Golden French Fries: 10c
- Thirst-Quenching Coke: 10c
- Delightful Root Beer: 10c
- Steaming Hot Coffee: 10c
- Full-Flavor Orange Drink: 10c
- Refreshing Cold Milk: 12c
The first ever McDonalds menu from the 1940s was very short featured just nine items, primarily focused on simple and affordable fast food. Here’s a breakdown of the original items:
- Hamburger – Priced at $0.15
- Cheeseburger – Priced at $0.19
- Barbecue – Priced at $0.18
- French Fries – Priced at $0.10
- Milkshake – Priced at $0.20
- Soft Drink – Priced at $0.10
- Orange Drink – Priced at $0.10
- Coffee – Priced at $0.10
- Root Beer – Priced at $0.10
1943 Menu
This McDonald’s menu from 1943 shows different items, and nothing costing more than 60 cents.
I loved McDonald’s as a teenager. When I upgraded to the large french fries and soft drink it was heavenly. That was the start to a lifetime of fighting my weight. I remember thinking to myself at their drive through “I need those fries biggie size.’ My mom was no help. She said, ‘this stuff is making you fat.” Again, I didn’t listen. That was during the 1980’s. I’m working forward to repair the damage. Loving it!
Wow! I ate my 1st fast food around 1964-65. I never knew that “food” existed until my first boyfriend, 3 yrs older, took me to McDonald’s. I liked the food but not the ‘ambiance’…eating IN THE CAR in a parking lot! Never again! I haven’t eaten that food again in about 40 years.
Mcdonalds is trash since that one guy found maggots in his bigmac🤢
I remember in the 1960s, standing out in the cold (-20 Fahrenheit) in Minneapolis waiting in line to get my burger at McDonalds. There was no inside seating back then. Just go up to the window and make your order. By the time I got back to the car with my order my burgers were stone cold. I had to hold them up to the car heater to warm them up before eating them. Of course my drink was always cold.