Step right up, folks, and feast your eyes on the colorful cast of characters that have been tempting our taste buds and raiding our wallets for decades! We’re talking about those lovable (and sometimes slightly unnerving) fast food mascots that are as much a part of our culture as the greasy, delicious food they’re hawking. From the golden arches of McDonald’s to the finger-lickin’ goodness of KFC, these animated pitchmen have wormed their way into our hearts faster than you can say “supersize me.” They’ve made us laugh, occasionally made us cringe, and more often than not, made us inexplicably crave a burger at 2 AM. So, grab your favorite value meal and get ready for a nostalgic trip down fast food memory lane as we rank the best fast food mascots. Trust us, this list is more stacked than a triple-decker burger!
If fast food mascots feel like old friends, you aren’t alone. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the top best fast food mascots from 10 expert websites. Did your favorite make our list? As always, we’d like to see your own recommendations in the comments below!
The Consensus Best Fast Food Mascots, Ranked
1. Colonel Sanders – KFC
Who doesn’t love a heaping bucket of fried chicken? “One of the most popular and recognizable fast food mascots is KFC’s Colonel Sanders. Not only is this a mascot and symbol for the brand, it directly represents the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken — Colonel Harland David Sanders,” notes Restaurant Clicks.
What makes him stand out? “As a character, Colonel Sanders is a lovable, sweet old man with plenty of personal ties to KFC. He’s often portrayed by comedians, which gives the brand plenty of room to create funny and innovative commercials,” adds Ranker.
“Dressed in a white suit and black bow tie, accessorized with glasses and a cane, the Colonel’s image has become synonymous with the brand’s finger-licking good fried chicken. His face, etched in the memories of countless fried chicken fans, carries an aura of professionalism, quality, and trustworthiness,” suggests Sixstoreys.
2. Ronald McDonald – McDonald’s
One of the most recognizable fast food mascots, Ronald McDonald even has his own balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. The mascot, “was first introduced to audiences in 1963, when actor Willard Scott (who played the immensely popular Bozo the Clown at the time) took on the persona of the red-haired clown for three TV ads promoting McDonald’s. He was referred to as ‘Ronald McDonald – the hamburger-happy clown’ and sported a drink cup on his nose as well as a food tray as a hat,” according to Lovefood.com.
Ronald is the perfect combination of fun and odd for a mascot. “He has Wendy’s red hair, The King’s freaky appearance, and the Colonel’s kindly character. Put it all together and you have a master of the mascots,” adds WatchMojo.
Thrillist writes: “Ronald is without a doubt the most polemic fast-food mascot. He’s friendly and instantly recognizable, but he’s also a clown. Most normal people are terrified by clowns regardless of nostalgia, so whether he reminds you of Saturday mornings spent watching cartoons and eating Happy Meals or the scariest moments or Stephen King’s ‘It’ is all on you.”
3. The King – Burger King
Who remembers going into Burger King as a kid and getting one of those paper crowns? “The first iteration of the Burger King was an unsuspecting fellow with a lopsided crown sitting atop his burger throne, cradling a soda. Today, he’s a life-size dude with a massive plastic head. He’s always smiling, giving him an almost menacing air — he might be outside your bedroom window right now,” points out The Daily Meal.
You know who we are talking about. “That unsettling-yet-unforgettable maniacal grin has been producing nightmares across the U.S. since 2004, when the current, plastic-costumed incarnation was introduced to the world,” says Mashed.
Restaurant Clicks writes: “Sometimes creepy and odd is what restaurants need to make people pay attention. It’s also fitting that he’s wearing a paper crown, similar to the ones kids can get in-store.”
I had to ask my 9-year-old if she thought The King was creepy. Her response? “A little, but I like him.”
4. Wendy – Wendy’s
Consider Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas as the ultimate girl dad. His daughter, Melinda was the idea behind the smiling, freckled, red-headed girl that the fast food chain still embraces.
You don’t think of Wendy’s without conjuring up an image of this red-haired sweetheart. “She’s been the primary logo of Wendy’s since the beginning and her image is irrevocably tied to the restaurant chain. Her personality is a central part of the fast food chain – that of a sweet young girl with plenty of pep and enthusiasm. Plus, her association with her father gives the brand a family feel, even though it has grown into a huge corporation,” notes Ranker.
Sixstoreys adds, “the character has remained a consistent symbol of the all-American, wholesome cuisine that Wendy’s seeks to provide. Her warm and approachable demeanor instantly evokes a sense of familiarity and family, resonating with customers who appreciate the brand’s commitment to quality, freshness, and friendliness.”
“She isn’t animatronic, she doesn’t have any particular peculiarities, but she is one of the most famous faces in all of fast food,” points out WatchMojo.
5. Jack Box – Jack in the Box
Rounding out our top five is Jack Box, from (you guessed it) Jack in the Box. “An adaptation of the fast food chain’s original clown head mascot, the geometrical character has become a classic American mascot. The franchise has employed Jack in its advertising since 1994 – part of a larger rebranding effort after a 1993 food contamination scandal,” according to The Drum.
Source: https://studyfinds.org/best-fast-food-mascots/?nab=0