Mascots have been around for a very long time. They were made to represent a common public identity like sports teams, military units, brand names, and of course, fast food chains.
Fast food companies had mascots incorporated into their branding to get customers excited and invite them to eat at their restaurants. Over the years, several fast food mascots have come and gone. But a good mascot can have a lasting impact and will forever be remembered in popular culture.
So we’re here to give you the top 15 best fast food mascots ever.
15. Grimace – McDonald’s
Let’s address the elephant in the room; what exactly is Grimace? Is he a purple blob? Is he a monster? Is he a tastebud? The actual answer may surprise. McDonald’s officially announced that Grimace is actually the embodiment of a milkshake. First introduced in 1971, Grimace first debuted as ‘Evil Grimace,’ the bad guy who steals milkshakes in McDonaldland. This version of the character proved to be too mean for children so they changed his overall attitude and he became the friendly purple blob who is actually best friends with Ronald McDonald. Since then, he has been a fan favorite and considered to be the secondary mascot of Mickey D’s.
14. Oven Mitt – Arby’s
When we say Arby’s, what’s the first thing that pops into your mind? You’ll probably be thinking about their wide range of delicious sandwiches or you might even think about the iconic hat from their logo. But did you know that back in 2003, Arby’s came out with their own mascot to help improve sales? Yeah, they came out with Oven Mitt who was basically a cartoon oven mitt that found himself in hilarious misadventures. It was a bold move at the time and cost Arby’s nearly a hundred million dollars to promote. Despite it being a flop, Oven Mitt still managed to leave a good impression on everyone who’s watched his quirky ads.
13. Little Caesar – Little Caesars
Pizza! Pizza! Little Caesars can be best summed up by just one word repeated twice. Famous for their two for one pizza deals, Little Caesars is one of the best and most affordable fast food chains you can go to. Their mascot is actually a mini cartoon version of the real life Roman emperor, Julius Caesar. But what you might not know, is that they got the name Little Caesar from a nickname that the co-owner, Marian Ilitch, gave to her husband. Now, this iconic mascot perfectly represents Little Caesars brand and identity since 1971. Not bad for a guy sporting nothing but a toga.
12. The Noid – Domino’s Pizza
With Domino’s branding based around the famous game, you gotta be a little curious what kind of mascot they would probably have. Back in the 80s, Domino’s Pizza actually came up with a character that best portrays what they stand for: The Noid. The Noid is literally a man in a red, bunny suit who often goes through the challenges of delivering a pizza within 30 minutes. It got discontinued due to a controversy involving another man who shared the same name as Domino’s mascot. Despite this, Domino’s would consistently bring back The Noid for brief stints; most recently during 2021.
11. Spongmonkeys – Quiznos
I don’t even know how to describe what Spongmonkeys are. Quiznos came out with this bizarre mascot in the early 2000s and became instantly iconic. These rodent looking things with human teeth would often appear in ads and promotional materials declaring their love for Quiznos’ signature subs. They look offensive and weird but that’s what makes them stand out in particular. It all started when Joel Veitch, a British screenwriter, uploaded a video on the internet about a song featuring the Spongmonkey characters he was playing around with. Quiznos took note, gave him a call, and the rest is history.
10. Hamburglar – McDonald’s
Just like Grimace, Hamburglar first debuted as a mean-spirited bad guy that terrified children back in 1971. Thankfully, the creators over at Mcdonald’s figured that they should redesign him with a more child friendly approach. He went from a scary old man to the lovable rascal we know and love. Since then, this petty (or patty?) thief showed everyone just how much he loved hamburgers and what he’s willing to do just to get them.
9. Mac Tonight – McDonald’s
Back in the late 80s, McDonald’s was trying to establish itself as a great dinner restaurant and not just some fast food joint you go to for snacks. So how did they market this idea? By creating a smooth singing, moon headed man who loved burgers and played the piano. Yeah, it sounds like a fever dream but Mac Tonight was actually pretty well received and proved to be popular among fans and customers. The ad campaign took the nation by storm and the songs released during Mac Tonight’s heyday were actually pretty great. Mac Tonight only lasted until 1989 but received a CGI makeover in some parts of Asia in 2007. He hasn’t made a full comeback since but some McDonald’s locations still have plenty of Mac Tonight memorabilia.
8. Taco Bell Dog – Taco Bell
“¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!” This was the iconic catchphrase of the legendary Taco Bell Dog in Taco Bell’s advertising during the late 90s to the early 2000s. The Taco Bell Dog was a chihuahua named Gidget who not only starred in commercials, she went on to star in movies as well. The dog was universally loved by fans but this popularity came with a controversy. Certain Hispanic advocacy groups asked for a boycott of Taco Bell due to its use of latino stereotypes in the advertisements featuring Gidget. Despite this, everyone can agree that Gidget was a cute little dog who made a mark in popular culture.
7. Cows – Chick-fil-a
You’d expect that a restaurant called ‘Chick-fil-a’ would probably have a chicken for a mascot since they serve chicken, right? Well that’s not exactly the case. Chick-fil-a had a more clever idea for a mascot. They chose cows. As in black and white Holstein cows. Their whole marketing campaign that began in 1995 was based around these cows getting you to “Eat Mor Chikin” instead of beef to ensure their survival. It’s a pretty funny concept that worked really well and resulted in one of the most recognized ad campaigns in Chick-fil-a history.
6. Chuck E. Cheese
Chuck E. Cheese is the go to family entertainment center and the best place to host a child’s birthday party. With a reputation like that, you bet that they have a pretty iconic mascot. Charles Entertainment Cheese or Chuck E. Cheese for short is a fun loving rat who enjoys pizza and hitting the arcade with his friends. He would often host kids parties and perform with an animatronic band. He went through several redesigns over the years and at one point, he even looked like a gangster! His current design has got to be the best one and looks like they’ll be sticking with this for years to come.
5. Jollibee
What was once a humble fast food chain in the Philippines is now a global phenomenon and at the forefront of the Jollibee takeover is none other than Jollibee himself. First introduced in 1980, Jollibee represents the company’s values of being hardworking and to epitomize Filipino optimism. His whole design was actually based on Mickey Mouse and if you take a closer look, you can actually see the resemblance. Since then, Jollibee has been loved by customers all around the world and definitely warrants his place on a list like this.
4. Wendy Thomas – Wendy’s
Did you know that Wendy’s iconic pigtail wearing mascot was actually based on the founder’s, Dave Thomas, daughter? That’s right, Wendy Thomas was the namesake for the popular burger chain and the primary inspiration for the company’s mascot. Wendy’s first began in 1969 and its original locations had several photographs of Wendy displayed on the walls. This caused a bit of distress as it ruined her privacy when people started assuming she was the spokesperson. Over time, she embraced the role and actually became the company’s official representative and eventually learned to accept the fame that came with being the face of one of the biggest fast food chains in the world.
3. The King – Burger King
It’s only fitting that the mascot for Burger King is an actual King. The King, as he is more fondly addressed, has been the main mascot of the fast food giant since 1955. Since 1960, he’s been featured in most of Burger King’s ads and at one point in the 80s, he was known as the “Marvelous Magical Burger King.” Despite being a little creepy because of his really stiff face, he still managed to bring a sense of nobility to the esteemed franchise and became one of the most instantly recognizable fast food mascots.
2. Colonel Sanders – KFC
Colonel Sanders was the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken in 1952. He’s more than just the founder, he was basically the brand ambassador and mascot for the entire franchise. Not only did he create KFC’s patented recipe, he also carried the brand and made it into the fast food juggernaut we know today. His likeness is probably the most recognizable icon in all of fast food. Except for one. There’s one more fast food mascot that’s even more popular than the good ol’ colonel.
1. Ronald McDonald – McDonald’s
Could it have been anyone else? Ronald McDonald is basically interchangeable with the McDonald’s brand itself. Anyone who’s ever had McDonald’s can instantly tell you who Ronald McDonald is. He isn’t just some clown; he’s one of the most famous clowns in the world! First introduced in 1963 as the “Hamburger-Happy Clown,” Ronald quickly made his mark and became a fan favorite. He has the iconic smile that is known around the world with a whopping 96% of school children knowing who he is. For this reason and the joy that he brings into the franchise, he definitely earns the top spot in our list of the best fast food mascots ever.