Before apps and kiosks took over the counter, fast food workers had their own catchphrases that made the dining experience somehow fun. But as the industry modernized, many of those lines faded into history. Let’s take a nostalgic trip through the 10 fast food phrases that have quietly vanished.
10. Smoking or Non-Smoking?
For decades, this was the first question you’d hear upon entering almost any restaurant. This simple question has been almost entirely erased from the restaurant lexicon due to changing social attitudes and public health initiatives. Starting with California in 1995, smoking bans in restaurants spread across the country and the world, fundamentally transforming the dining experience.
9. For Here or To Go?
This classic fast food question is rapidly fading from the modern fast food experience. The phrase was essential for employees to determine whether to place an order on a tray or pack it in a bag. But with the rise of drive-thrus, which now account for the majority of fast food sales, and the popularity of mobile ordering, the question has become redundant.
8. Make a Run for the Border
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Taco Bell’s catchy slogan, “Make a run for the border” was everywhere. It was a call to adventure and indulge in Tex-Mex-inspired offerings. However, by 1992, the slogan was retired as the chain shifted its marketing focus. While Taco Bell had many successful campaigns after that, none have quite captured the same spirit of playful rebellion as the call to “make a run for the border.”
7. Adam and Eve on a Raft
Step into a time machine and visit a 1950s diner, and you’d hear a secret language between the waitstaff and cooks. “Adam and Eve on a raft” was a poetic way of ordering two eggs on toast. This coded language was a fun way to call out orders in a noisy kitchen, and it added to the unique charm of the diner experience. Variations included “wreck ’em” for scrambled eggs or “on a log” for eggs with sausage.
6. Sandwich Artist
For years, Subway employees weren’t just sandwich makers; they were “Sandwich Artists.” This job title, which is still in use but rarely spoken with a straight face, was an attempt to add a touch of prestige to a minimum-wage job. However, the term became a source of ridicule. The disconnect between the grandiose title and the reality of the work made it feel more patronizing than empowering.
5. Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame-seed bun
No, this wasn’t just a list of ingredients. It was part of the Big Mac jingle, introduced in 1974, which became a national tongue-twister. The jingle was so successful it was used in McDonald’s advertising for decades. While the Big Mac remains an icon, the jingle has faded from the company’s marketing and is now a piece of nostalgia.
4. 86
In the fast-paced world of a restaurant kitchen, communication needs to be quick and clear. “86” is a restaurant slang that means an item is sold out or needs to be removed from the menu immediately. The origins of the term are murky, but nonetheless, “86” was a vital piece of information that prevented the awkward situation of taking orders that couldn’t be fulfilled.
3. Would you like to Biggie size that?
In the early 1990s, Wendy’s had its own upselling phrase: “Would you like to Biggie size that?” The “Biggie” option offered a larger portion of fries and a drink, and it became a standard part of the Wendy’s ordering process. However, the “Biggie size” came under fire for its role in promoting oversized portions and contributing to the obesity epidemic. In 2006, Wendy’s dropped the “Biggie” name, rebranding its sizes as small, medium, and large.
2. Where’s the Beef?
This phrase was the centerpiece of a successful advertising campaign for Wendy’s. In the 1980s, the chain had a commercial featuring three elderly women examining a competitor’s hamburger with an oversized bun and exclaiming, “Where’s the beef?” It was a humorous way to highlight the generous size of Wendy’s hamburgers compared to those of its rivals, and it resonated with consumers who felt they were getting shortchanged elsewhere.
1. Would you like to Supersize that?
“Would you like to Supersize that?” was part of McDonald’s upselling strategy for nearly two decades. Introduced in 1987, the “Supersize” option offered customers a huge portion of fries and a drink for a small additional cost. The phrase became a symbol of American excess and a target for health advocates. In 2004, weeks after the release of Morgan Spurlock’s documentary “Super Size Me,” McDonald’s phased out the Supersize option, citing a need to simplify its menu.
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