Here’s What Was on the McDonald’s Menu (And What It Cost) the Year You Were Born

McDonald’s is the most well-known fast-food restaurant chain in the world and was founded in 1940 by two San Bernardino brothers. Richard and Maurice McDonald were sole owners before franchise expert Ray Kroc bought them out later.

Its first 1940 restaurant served barbecue food, chili, and even tamales, later switching to burgers in 1948. The flagship burger restaurant had a Spartan menu containing only three food choices. Patrons then could order Golden French Fries, Pure Beef Hamburgers, Tempting Cheeseburgers, and Triple-Thick Shakes.

As it grew, McDonald’s introduced many different products; some stayed for good, while others became limited edition. We have compiled a list of some items from yesteryear — complete with historical prices where possible.

1. Filet O’ Fish (1962)

The McDonald’s Filet O’ Fish burger appeared on menus in 1965 at 29 cents. It was the first non-hamburger sandwich on the menu and it has an interesting origin story.

It won a contest with another non-meat burger, beating its rival 350-6, winning a permanent spot in McDonald’s culinary canon. The Filet O’ Fish was born during Lent 1962, though it didn’t appear on menus until 1965.

2. The Kahuna Burger (1962)

Chase Shustack wrote in Mashable how McDonald’s franchisee Lou Groen was concerned customers had no meat-free choices during Lent. Kroc proposed a “Kahuna Burger,” which was merely grilled pineapple and cheese between two buns. Groen proposed a fish option: the first Filet O’fish.

Convinced his Hawaiian-inspired sandwich would be a success, Kroc put them both on the menu for a day — the rest is history. The Kahuna Burger never stood a chance. Its price is unknown, though it likely cost 29 cents, the same as its rival that day.

3. The Big Mac (1968)

Who knew that the Big Mac came after the Filet O ‘Fish? It arrived in 1968: the same year that Vietnam War protests erupted, Elvis Presley married Priscilla, and race riots spread through many cities. It would first cost 49 cents, according to TasteofHome.

Featured first in Pittsburgh franchisee Jim Delligatti’s restaurant, the burger joined the national menu the following year. I guess we have Pennsylvanian steelworkers’ appetites to thank for this one.

4. The Apple Pie (1968)

Knoxville, Tennessee, is where the first McDonald’s Hot Apple Pie found its way to the backlit menu, priced in 1968 at 20 cents. Hot Apple Pies, became the subject of numerous variants over the years, such as strawberry, pumpkin, and pineapple.

Like the french fry, the pie took a hit on flavor when the new baked version arrived in 1992, though several restaurants have kept the fried version.

5. The Shamrock Shake (1970)

If you transported Americans from 1970 to 2024 and showed them the “Grimace Shake trend,” they might think you had lost your mind. However, kids today might try a Shamrock Shake and think the same — who puts lemon and lime in a milkshake?

It turns out McDonalds on St. Patrick’s Day, 1970 did. Shamrock Shakes make a comeback through March in some regional restaurants. ShamrockShakeFinder is a great search resource for those who can’t wait for their next one. Shakes at the time were around 35 cents, so this must be close to the original price.

6. The Egg McMuffin (1971)

This product is not available in Spain, where I live, which is annoying — there are few morning joys like an Egg McMuffin. We all have the aptly named Herb Peterson to thank for this one.

In 1971, Peterson first designed the McMuffin to mimic eggs benedict, switching out hollandaise sauce for a cheese slice, priced at 63 cents. Come on, Spain — it’s been over 50 years already.

7. The Sausage McMuffin (1972)

The Sausage McMuffin appeared on menus in 1972, becoming an official item menu later on in 1977 with other breakfast menu items. It was a spin-off of its Egg McMuffin forebear and became the first product containing sausage.

While it is hard to find the original price point for the oldest versions of this offering, it would have been somewhere around 65 cents or 70 cents.

8. The Quarter Pounder (1973)

California is to thank for the McDonald’s Quarter Pounder sandwich —my go-to choice if I ever grace the golden arches. It first arrived in Fremont, California — preceding the Silicon Valley boom the decade later.

A photo of a 1973 McDonald’s menu shows a Quarter Pounder to cost only 60 cents. The only variation was with cheese, costing an extra dime. Just imagine these prices today!

9. Ice Cream Sundae (1979)

Ice cream sundaes are on the earliest McDonald’s menu, costing 20 cents. They have evolved throughout the years, however, becoming the Hot Fudge Sundae in 1978, with other flavors such as caramel and strawberry.

The Avocado published a 1979 photo showing these treats price at the time: 50 cents. Though the ice cream sundae is still a menu mainstay in some places, the calorific McFlurry has taken over since as a global favorite.

10. The Happy Meal (1979)

Young Gen-Xers and their millennial peers will have fond memories of McDonald’s birthday parties or take-out Fridays. Invariably, a Happy Meal was involved, providing a moment of magic with a McDonald’s- themed toy.

Inspired by cereal boxes with toys, Happy Meals first joined the menu in 1979, priced at $1.10. The company has since given Happy Meals an upgrade to include fruit and vegetables — on top of a healthy price hike.

11. The McRib Sandwich (1982)

The McRib has become somewhat of an enigma in the sandwich game, making a brief appearance before disappearing like Bigfoot. Not many restaurant items get a farewell tour — unless they are the McRib.

Finding the original McRib price isn’t easy, though The Flintstones (1994) franchise McRib meal cost around $3.00 to $4.00. Many food experts point to a chicken shortage at the time, making a pork-based burger a financially viable choice.

12. Chicken McNuggets (1983)

Who can’t resist a side order of Chicken McNuggets with their sandwich meal? Now, these come as an individual meal or Happy Meal option, with sauces ranging from barbecue to sour cream and lemon in Japan.

While prices in 1983 are obscured by time, a recent TikTok video suggests a 20-piece nuggets set cost $3.90. For comparison, GrubHub lists a 20-piece Chicken McNugget box at $8.59 in 2024.

13. The McDonald’s Salad (1987)

In the late ’80s, U.S. consumers turned toward more healthier options. Following other fast-food outlets’ lead, McDonald’s brought salad to the menu in 1987. Photos of the first attempts looked like any salad you might find in a small-town diner: lettuce, boiled eggs, shredded cheese, and tomatoes, with sticks of ham.

While 1987 prices are hard to locate, a TikToker named the80stimemachine posted video footage of a 1989 McDonald’s menu board. Back then, it cost $2.69 for a Chicken Salad and $2.59 for a Chef’s Salad.