Discover What McDonald's Originally Served 86 Years Ago Before Burgers Took Over

McDonald's. That's all I have to say. It needs no introduction.

The ubiquitous fast food chain and global symbol of American capitalism and comfort food turns 86 today. On May 15, 1940, brothers Dick and Mac McDonald opened the first McDonald's location in San Bernardino, Calif. - but it was nothing like the McDonald's we know today.

Most people know that McDonald's originally started as a drive-in with carhops, not unlike Sonic. But what most people don't know is that McDonald's didn't serve burgers at first. The original McDonald's even had a suffix attached: McDonald's Bar-B-Q.

That's right. Before they pioneered slinging cheap, speedy burgers, the McDonald brothers slung cheap plates of barbecued meat, along with sandwiches. The original menu more closely resembles Arby's than it does modern McDonald's.

A menu from 1943 highlighted the joint's "Famous" barbecue sandwich, made with your choice of either ham, beef, or pork, and served with a side of fries - all for just 35 cents. Those were the days!

McDonald's Bar-B-Q also prided itself on actually smoking its meat the proper way. "Don't be misled," the menu read. "Other places advertise their meat as 'barbecued' when it is merely cooked in a stove... You are welcome to see our meat while it is actually being barbecued in our Barbecue Pit."

The barbecue joint also had a full soda fountain, as they were super popular during that time.

McDonald's did pretty well serving barbecue. According to the Library of Congress, the store "would often see 125 cars crowding the lot on weekends," and annual sales regularly exceeded $200,000 - pretty impressive when you're serving 35 cent sandwiches. For reference, that's $4.72 million in 2026.

Despite the success, the McDonald brothers faced stiff competition and thin margins, leading them to rethink their entire concept. They closed for a few months in 1948 and relaunched the first modern McDonald's, serving burgers and fries made with the signature Speedee Service System.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 10:25 AM.