- In 1953, the very first Burger King, then called "Insta-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.
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When Burger King first opened in 1953, it served 18-cent flame-broiled burgers, milkshakes, and fries. By the 1980s, the fast-food chain had a well-established brand identity.
After opening its first location in Jacksonville, Florida, the chain quickly grew to become the second-largest fast-food chain in the country, behind McDonald's. The chain now consistently ranks among the top 10 biggest fast-food chains in the world.
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.
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Burger King locations in the 1980s offered both drive-thru and dine-in service.
Drive-thrus proved to be an essential element for the success of fast-food chains.
According to Encyclopedia, drive-thru sales accounted for 60% of fast-food sales by 1987.
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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 like the Whopper, fries, and burgers that customers were able to customize and "have it your way" are still on the menu today, Burger King restaurants in the 1980s also had a customizable salad bar.
Employees wore hats and striped polo shirts.
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, Business Insider previously reported.
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They also wore red dresses over red plaid shirts.
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, the university in south Miami was where Burger King's managers went "to learn the holy grail of the perfect burger," UPI reported in 1983.
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In the 1980s, customers could line up to try the chain's iconic Whopper and eat in the adjoining dining room.
TheWhopper, which was released in 1957, cost 37 centscompared to Burger King's original burger, which cost 18 cents. The Whopper came with sauce, cheese, lettuce, pickles, and tomato, all piled on top of a larger patty.
Today, Burger Kingstill broils and flame-grills its burgers.
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