4. Burger Chef: The Pioneer of the Kids’ Meal

In the early 1970s, Burger Chef was an absolute juggernaut in the fast-food industry, trailing only behind McDonald’s with more than 1,200 locations nationwide. The chain was famous for its flame-broiled “Big Shef” and “Super Shef” burgers, as well as the innovative “Works Bar,” which allowed customers to customize their own hamburgers with a variety of fresh toppings.

Burger Chef’s most lasting legacy, however, is the kids’ meal. In 1973, they introduced the “Funmeal”—a combo that included a small burger, fries, a drink, a dessert, and a plastic toy—predating the McDonald’s Happy Meal by several years.

Despite its innovations, the company struggled to maintain momentum and was sold by its parent company, General Foods, to Hardee’s in 1982 for $44 million. The locations were gradually converted into Hardee’s, and the final holdout Burger Chef in Tennessee closed its doors in 1996.