The First Fast Food Restaurant To Add Bacon Cheeseburgers To Its Menu

A&W's roots and the bacon craze

A&W Restaurants is among the oldest fast food chains in the United States. What started as a modest root beer stand in California in 1919 has evolved into a significant restaurant franchise with approximately 850 locations. Renowned not only for its root beer and floats, A&W has also gained a reputation for its convenient comfort food with an all-American twist, including hot dogs, burgers, and chicken. The increasing popularity of A&W prompted Dale Mulder to open his own franchise in Lansing, Michigan, in 1961. He frequently received requests from customers for bacon on their cheeseburgers, leading him to introduce a bacon cheeseburger to his A&W menu in 1963. While some may doubt that Mulder truly invented the bacon burger, A&W proudly claims this connection, even featuring him in a 2014 advertising campaign. To date, no one has come forward to challenge this bold assertion.

The appetite for bacon on burgers has only intensified over the years. While A&W may have been the first franchise to popularize the bacon cheeseburger, it has become increasingly rare to find burger establishments that don’t offer bacon. This trend extends beyond burgers; major chains like Burger King, Carl's Jr., and McDonald's have all introduced new bacon-centric menu items in the past year. Most restaurants now allow customers to add a slice of bacon to nearly every dish (there's even a scientific explanation for bacon's ability to complement various foods). What was once considered a luxury in a casual dining experience has now become a common staple across the nation — and now you know who to credit for it.