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How can you not love the fast food ads? First of all, it’s almost always a wild ride. Then, celebrities make frequent appearances to market your favorite burger. And great levels of creativity are there too. That’s why Kitcast gives you an annual update of the best fast food ads ever. Just don’t watch it if you’re hungry.
1. McDonald’s – Can I Get Uhhhhhhhhhhhh
Why: you have to go epic if you’re doing a Super Bowl commercial. McDonald’s understood the assignment and gave us one of the most memorable fast food ads ever. It features a simple phrase: “Can I Get Uhhhhhhhhhhhh.” Yes, the one you say before making that important decision of choosing what you want to eat.
But it’s McDonald’s we’re talking about. This brand knows how to craft good commercials. Apart from ordinary folk, some heavyweight stars make appearances here. We see the American professional stock car racing driver Bubba Wallace giving a rendition of “Can I Get Uhhhhh.” But the most surprising appearance is by none other than Ye (formerly known as Kanye West). The now-controversial rapper does the phrase with an autotune effect dressed all-black and ordering from The Sherp.
2. KFC – Lunchtime is coming…
Why: possibly, one of the best fast food ads referencing pop culture, KFC’s “Lunchtime is coming…” is a masterpiece. It stars HBO’s Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn who plays a KFC employee responsible for taking orders from the lunchtime crowd. He famously played Hodor on the show, you know, the friendly giant who only can say “hodor.”
The ad in question recreates the scene from GoT where the servant tried to prevent the White Walkers from hurting Bran Stark. But if on the show the words were “hold the door,” here it’s “chicken with fries.” Upon multiple repetitions, it becomes “chicken with rice” promoting KFC’s special proposition. Well, that’s a brilliant fast food commercial.
3. Burger King – The Moldy Whopper
Why: here’s one of the most controversial and smart campaigns in fast food advertising history. In 2020, Burger King decided to shock everyone by launching an ad that features a Whopper covered in mold. The goal? To prove that their burgers don’t use any artificial preservatives (and a dig at another very famous arched fast food brand).
The campaign puzzled everyone and it’s unknown to this very day if such a bold move was a commercial success for the company. Nevertheless, it has definitely struck a chord with consumers and made a relevant point in the era when sustainability and healthy food options are trending. That’s why we include the Moldy Whopper in our list of the best fast food ads ever.
4. Taco Bell – Viva Young
Why: there are fast food commercials that are a good vibe. Taco Bell’s “Viva Young” Super Bowl spot is one of them. Set to the Spanish version of Fun’s “We are Young,” the ad shows a regular night out in the city. But instead of the teenagers or twentysomethings, we see the elderly enjoying themselves to the max. Drinking, partying, having fun, kissing, and munching on Taco Bell. It’s just wholesome and it’s impossible not to love this commercial.
5. McDonald’s – Breakfast
Why: although giving uncanny valley vibes and a pre-apocalyptic Fallout atmosphere, this breakfast ad is still a marketing treasure. Released in 1975, it wants you to have breakfast at McDonald’s. Seeing how appetizing it looks, who are you to turn down such an offer? It’s the simplicity that works here.
The commercial doesn’t try to shock or aggressively sell you anything. It wins you over by promising a tasty and comfy start to the day. And then this tagline “We do it all for you.” How can you not feel special after such a joyful reception? Definitely one of the best fast food ads ever.
6. McDonald’s – Big Mac Introduction
Why: before becoming a staple on McDonald’s menu, the legendary Big Mac had to be introduced. And the brand showed how it’s done properly with this 1967 commercial. All you need is the classy narrator and a juicy showcase of the ingredients. The ad chooses a step-by-step ingredient reveal approach and it just feels good and makes you want to have a Big Mac yourself immediately.
7. That’s what a hamburger’s all about – In-N-Out
Why: can a jingle take you to California when you’re sitting next to the ocean at sunset enjoying an In-N-Out burger and living your best life? Well, maybe for different people it will be different, but this 1987 TV ad for the iconic Californian fast food chain has one of the best jingles ever created. “In-N-Out, that’s what it’s aaaaaall abouuuut.” You’re welcome, now this tune is stuck in your head for the rest of the day. In-N-Out doesn’t do much advertising these days. But when it did, the chain gave us pure quality.
8. Drive-Thru – Dunkin’
Why: you can have celebrities in your fast food ads, but you will never reach the level of perfection Dunkin’ did in 2023 with their “Drive-Thru” commercial featuring Ben Affleck as the chain’s employee. Oh, and it has J Lo in it too coming to the drive-thru to pick Ben up. The ad still rings relevant today when the press is obsessed with the pair’s relationship situation.
What makes this commercial stand out from the rest of the fast food ads is the masterful use of pop culture and a great understanding of what everyone is talking about.
9. Famous Orders – McDonald’s
Why: Here is the last of the best fast food ads 2024. You know the ad is good when you want to replay it. Famous Orders from McDonald’s is like that. The premise here is quite straightforward. It shows the tray with orders from different celebrities and fictional characters. But it’s a Super Bowl ad, so the whole thing is done really well. There are Kanye and Kim’s orders (this aged poorly), Julius Caesar, Marty Mcfly, the Hamburglar, and Dracula. It’s fun and it’s simple. Just the way we love it.
Here’s our previous list of the best fast food ads ever
There are just so many awesome fast food ads. That’s why we’re extending our list to deliver you more iconic marketing moments and bring even more inspiration. McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, Dunkin’ are all here. Watching these ads you’re transported to the era when they were first aired so there’s quite a historic value too. Check out these best fast food ads ever!
1. McDonald’s – Introducing…The Happy Meal
Why: can you imagine that there was a time when there was no Happy Meal in McDonald’s? It was in 1979 that the company introduced this kid-tailored menu. The Happy Meal was a huge success, reportedly the menu brought the company more than $80 billion in sales since the start. The commercial for its launch is in the golden fund of the best fast food ads ever.
Simplicity is key in the 30-second advert. McDonald’s presents a new menu item and it’s a presentation for the guidebooks. The highlighting of the products is done synchronized with the music, there are feel-good snippets of the satisfied clients, and a “Nobody can do it like McDonald’s can” earworm jingle at the end.
2. McDonald’s – Big Mac Commercial
Why: we remember the 80s as the era when jingles were at their peak in advertising. McDonald’s went full choir mode to promote the Big Mac in a 1984 commercial. And it’s definitely among the best fast food ads ever, you simply can’t escape the “beef, patty, special sauce, lettuce, cheese” flow. It hits you like some kind of Ronald McDonald-orchestrated Carol of the Bells. There’s something uplifting about this composition too, like you’re in a church of burgers and fries or something. But wait for the ending, “it’s a good time for the great taste of McDonald’s” line sounds like Bohemian Rhapsody, no less.
3. Burger King – Have it Your Way
Why: whopper, whopper, whopper, whopper… oh, wrong era. While you may know the unescapable and somehow very pleasurable to listen to Burger King’s present-day jingle, the origins are in the 70s. It all started with the 1974 commercial and a “Have it Your Way song”. The timelessness is what makes this commercial one of the best fast food ads ever.
The family wants to eat. They choose Burger King. But they have demands, no pickle and no lettuce. Would it be a problem for Burger King? Certainly not. The charming counter lady sings a hit song to the happy family and everyone is happy. You can have it your way at BK. Pure marketing genius and extremely well-made commercial it is.
4. KFC – Sunday Dinner
Why: 1968 was a long, long time ago. But even then KFC fried them chickens. And delivered some of the best marketing game on the market with Colonel Sanders shining bright. Sunday Dinner is a commercial with fantastic exposition and perfect plotting. People in 1968 had a problem. They wanted to have their Sunday dinner but it was hard to take it out, for example, to “church socials, parties, or ball games”. But don’t worry, Colonel has your back. He’s tirelessly frying for you to be able to enjoy your chicken-heavy Sunday dinner wherever you go.
5. Pizza Hut – Pizza to Go
Why: there’s one thing that you definitely going to learn from this commercial. Pizza Hut is the pizza to go. That’s indisputable. The jingle simply doesn’t let you go easily. It’s intensified with the images of retro-phones and blips of the button-pressing. That’s exactly how you do it to stay in the customer’s memory. And Pizza Hut needed to make that point in 1984 when the competition with Domino’s for deliveries was reaching its peak. As we know, rivalry makes for the best creative outcomes. That’s why this Pizza Hut entry is among the best fast food ads ever.
6. Dunkin’ – Time to make the donuts!
Why: in 1984 Dunkin’ not only made one of the most memorable and best fast food ads ever, it gave us an existential piece of art too. It follows the everyday journey to work and back of the company’s beloved character Fred (played by Michael Vale). He only says two phrases: “Time to make the doughnuts” and “I’ve made the doughnuts”. No matter the weather or his mental state, he’s up every day to make these doughnuts.
And while the main goal of the campaign was to show that Dunkin’s produce was always made fresh, intentionally or unintentionally the company produced something else. It depicted the hamster wheel of our mundane lives where work is inescapable no matter how you feel. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is powerful. And sad.
7. Taco Bell – Yo Quiero Taco Bell
Why: it’s 1997 and we’re graced with this hilarious piece of marketing. Taco Bell employs cute Gidget, the Mexican chihuahua who wants some Taco Bell. Yes, he speaks. And, as a Mexican, he speaks Spanish. The campaign was so successful that there’s now a Wikipedia page devoted to Taco Bell chihuahua which speaks a lot about the pop culture impact of this ad.
8. McDonald’s – Can’t Stop
Why: McDonald’s gives it all in Cant’s Stop. The song is just next level for an ordinary ad jingle. The singers, the musicians, the actors, everyone is just loving it. If there weren’t “McDonald’s” background chants you could have mistaken it for a well-regarded 80s hit a la Abba or Whitney Houston. As for the video, it’s “euphoric” as one of the YouTube commenters aptly mentioned. People are moving, everything is in motion. “You deserve a break,” says the slogan in the end but the break is nowhere in sight for anyone involved in the video.
Here’s our previous list of the best fast food ads ever.
Fast food ads have been there since the dawn of time. Provocative, colorful, funny, stupid, and weird, they have indicated what’s wrong and what’s right with the business. Not everyone succeeded but we’ve seen some of the best advertisement pieces ever that have formed some kind of a golden fund for the marketing videos. Let’s see the best of the best.
1. Simpsonize me – Burger King
Why: the royalty of best fast food ads, this one from Burger King is brilliantly done. Taking one of the most popular animated shows ever and getting it to work for your brand is a thing of beauty.
In this 1-minute commercial everything works right. The jokes are on point, the crossover between real life and animated does magic, and the execution is flawless. Basically, you’ve got a full-fledged Simpsons episode watching experience. Burger King nailed that one making it one of the most popular fast food ads ever.
2. Where’s the beef – Wendy’s
Why: how about a crazy commercial from the 70s? Here’s a determined grandma driving her relatives (?) that keep comically bumping at the doors with every turn to find the burger with beef. Not only it’s one of these proto-dig commercials that throw shade on competitors (McDonald’s and Burger King), but it’s also a fantastic ad that is fun to watch.
The music is truly psychedeliс, the 70s designs are easy on the eyes, and the main question is still as relevant as always. Where’s the goddamn beef? Probably, it’s at Wendy’s. But who knows.
3. Yo Quiero Taco Bell – Taco Bell
Why: where to begin with this one. It’s perfect. The chihuahua dog is adorable. His name is Gidget and as it is 1997 here you may understand his fate in 2022. But he’s always with us as a hero of this iconic Taco Bell ad. You’re guaranteed to rewatch it. And then rewatch it once again.
The music is addictive, and the way Gidget ignores a pretty chihuahua she-dog deserves respect. After all, the dog knows exactly what it wants and many people should learn from this determination. And that thing is a Taco Bell. Which Gidget pronounces to the slightly stoned taco vendor in the end.
Yo Quiero Taco Bell. Don’t we all after this ad?
4. The Noid – Domino’s Pizza
Why: the Noid is a character created by Domino’s in the height of the 80s to illustrate the challenges of pizza delivery and juxtaposition it with the way Domino’s does things. But along the years it has become much more than a character, for many it has become a spirit of the 80s, a piece of nostalgia, and eventually a pop culture fix. And that’s exactly the way mascots should work.
It’s one thing to introduce a character. It’s a whole another level to create something that persists on and on. The Noid even made a return in the 21st century in another Domino’s ad (to mixed results though). But still, watch and learn.
5. “The Showdown” Bird vs. Jordan – McDonald’s
Why: You can’t get bigger than this McDonald’s commercial. One of the greatest and best fast food ads of all time it follows a battle between two titans of basketball for a Big Mac menu lunch. Larry Bird vs Michael Jordan, 1993, Super Bowl spot. A perfect combination for a win.
Two athletes challenge each other to score from unexpected angles and it’s an amusing fight to follow. The commercial proved to be so successful that McDonalds chose to repeat the trick by filming another similar-formatted video in 2010 pitting Dwight Howard and LeBron James against each other. Larry Bird makes a cameo in the end eating the Big Mac. Fast food perfection it is.
6. Little Sister – McDonald’s
Why: while this classic ad from McDonald’s may seldom make any millennials or Gen Z people tear up, the people in the 80s cried a river to the somewhat clunky but earnest tune of the “Little Sister” commercial. It follows a brother singing about her sister growing up and becoming a homecoming queen.
It’s very American, very beautifully made and very heartwarming. Who knew that a decade after, there would be commercials of Paris Hilton washing cars half-naked for Carl’s Jr. Burger (that actually started a discussion about sexism in ads). The 80s was a puritan place of a brother singing his heart out to celebrate the life of his sister. Aided by some fries and Coca-Cola from McDonald’s of course. So let’s dully enjoy this kind of fast food restaurant ad.
7. The BTS Meal – McDonald’s
Why: Yes, McDonald’s again. But what can we do if their advertising game rarely disappoints? That video is all about using star power. BTS are one of the most popular bands in the world at the moment and such a grande chain as Mc couldn’t miss a chance to make them their own.
By introducing a special meal “blessed by the band”. The commercial is simple but it does the job right. Expect millions of BTS fans around the world to become McDonald’s fans too after this ad. It’s not the first time the company does the special celebrity meal advertising stint. But this one seems the be most powerful to date.
8. Crossroads – KFC
Why: Ennio Morricone’s music in a KFC commercial, one of the best fast food ads ever? We’re all in for it. The video follows a lonely chick going through the snowy countryside to encounter a turkey in the end. WTF you may say. But wait for it. The chick scares the turkey off and the text reads “Turkey comes and goes. But chicken’s here to stay”.
Did we need such information? Probably not. Is it a fantastically done creative fast-food ad? Absolutely. And it’s always great to see brands going cinematic with their ad endeavors. The sad part is that the chick becomes what KFC sells. But hey, at least the turkey “comes and goes”.
