Time Traveling Menu

Fast-food menu prices rose 6.9% last month. It seems that the prices keep going up and the degree of excellence keeps going down.

This new information is placing many tired and hungry people back in their own hot kitchens when their tummies begin to rumble. This truly sucks because I for one do enjoy a nice, greasy, artery clogging meal more often than not.

I began to wonder just how far that a person would have to travel in order to find a cheap (not so quality) meal. I wasn't surprised to find that we would have to venture far back in time or to a completely different land in order to accomplish this mission.

It's time to hop into those time machines and go back in time.

First, we're going to Finald for some Burger King and a steam!

If you’ve ever felt that eating a burger isn’t quite as relaxing as it could be, then you’re in luck. Head to the Finnish capital of Helsinki, and you can enjoy a Burger King and a steam at the same time. The chain opened up a branch inside a sauna in the city, meaning you can consume burgers, fries, and even alcohol from the comfort of the spa.

Set your dials for 1960 - When Hardee's founders was proud to play illicit gambling games in order to get ahead! Leonard Rawls and James Gardner played a winning game of poker, staking a controlling interest in the burger business! According to Wilbur Hardee (founder), Gardner and Rawls won a controlling share of the company from him during a drunken game of poker. After realizing that he had lost control over his namesake company, Hardee sold his remaining shares to them as well.

Back to the time of 1955 - When a burger at McDonalds was only 15 cents! And while we're there, we might as well grab a few of those hard to find, vintage, retro McDonald's 1955 purple contour glasses which are worth a nice amount of money in todays collectable market! ($100 and up for one glass!)

Moving right along to 1976 - When Wendy's was still yellow and old fashioned. The shorthand logo with the "Old Fashioned Hamburgers" tagline was completely revamped. Also re-introduced was a proper skin-tone for the Wendy Portrait. But are the burgers still old fashioned? - We may never really know unless we try one.

Reposition those dials to 1973 - Where we can score a tostado or a burrito at Taco Bell for a measly 29 cents and wash it down with a 15-cent root beer. Those were the days!

Fast Forward to 1996 - When Little Caesars sold Pizza by the foot! In 1996, they introduced Pizza by the Foot, which was a three-foot-long rectangular pizza. The product has since been discontinued; however, its equivalent Pizza by the Meter has been sold in the Saudi Arabian market since the 90s and is a very popular product.

Head back to 1978 - When we could go to this place and get a cahuama for only 25 cents. (the spanish word for any 40 oz size beer.) We'll fly right through the "take some home" window before we move on to our next location.

Moving on back to 1957 - When the Whopper, with flame-grilled patties of course, cost just 37 cents. The Insta-Burger King Whopper appeared on the menu at this time.... The larger burger came with a larger price tag too: a whopping 37 cents. "How did they ever survive?"

Shift those knobs back to 1950 - When there was actually a KING of the dairy - and he was also the king of the cone. On a hot, sunny day a frosty ice cream cone would only cost you 10 cents!

Relocate your positions to 1976 - When you could buy burgers in a barrel and nobody considered it sketchy or strange that the burgers actually looked more like some type of weird pie.

Transpose to 1970 - When creepy clowns actually served your food at a place called Jack-in-the-box and nobody got arrested for causing a public -panic.

"Can you imagine the horror and outrage if these two characters approached your vehicle in this day in time!"

Shift your gears to 1990 - When we could go to "Pinks" for a Pinkie-Dog and nobody thought that it was primitive or rude.

Are they actually telling people to "Yell Pinky Dog!"? - Oh sure, that would go over wonderfully in today's society. (sarcastic laughter here).

Transferring ahead to 2000 - When Dunkin' Donuts had wheels! The chain has grown to include over 1,000 items on its menu, including doughnuts, bagels, other baked goods, and a wide variety of hot and iced beverages. However, the Dunkin' Donuts mobile food truck only offered a very small variety of those items. (samples really)

The truck was only mildly popular along the mid-west and was quickly surrendered due to irrecoverable profit-loss.

Repositioning way back to 1939 - Ham and eggs and a cup of joe for 25 cents! When a ramshackle- shack on the side of the road was agreeable.

It seems that only seven people could tightly squeeze into this little shanty. For some odd reason, I bet the food was delicious.

Onward to 1977 - When you could order a hamburger, fries, shake and a pie "from The Bucket" and it actually arrived - in a little, plastic bucket.

Wait just a moment..... We might be on to some classified, restricted information.

The Chum Bucket is an unsuccessful fast food restaurant that is located right across the street from the Krusty Krab. It is owned by Sheldon J. and Karen Plankton. - Coincidence? I think not!

Finally, we'll be arriving in Japan for Christmas Dinner! - (after this long trip, we deserve it!) All over America on Christmas day, families sit around a table to gorge on a roasted turkey and all the sides that come with it. But for households in Japan, the traditional Christmas dinner is a little different. Rather than spending hours slaving in the kitchen, they simply run down to KFC for some of the Colonel’s finest chicken. It's a Chirstmas tradition.

Now that we've finally arrived back to our current time and location, I hope that you found this trip to be fun and entertaining. I worked up quite the appetite on our venture for a simple, time saving meal.... "Did anyone think about bring home a doggie bag?"