When I was a kid in the 1970s, my family and I made it a weekly tradition to visit Burger Chef. The food was absolutely fantastic. As a child, I loved the Skippers Treat kid’s meal, and as I got older, I couldn’t wait until I was finally grown enough to order the Big Chef and eventually the Super Chef sandwich. Those were the days. We could feed all four of us for less than five dollars.

But then McDonald’s came to town, and before we knew it, Burger Chef vanished. It disappeared as quickly as it had arrived, leaving nothing but memories in its wake.

Throughout history, one constant remains true: businesses come and go. Even those ranked among the very best in their industry are not immune to this cycle. That’s precisely what happened to Burger Chef, once home to the very first open-flamed burger. At its peak, Burger Chef was second only to McDonald’s in the fast-food world, boasting almost as many locations across the country.

It all began in 1954 when two brothers, Frank and Donald Thomas, opened the first Burger Chef in Indianapolis. What set them apart was the introduction of an open flame broiler conveyor system, a setup that allowed them to cook and serve an impressive 800 burgers per hour. This efficiency helped the business grow rapidly, as the restaurant could easily meet customer demand.

In a few short years, Burger Chef expanded at an incredible pace, opening new locations across the country. By 1968, the General Foods Corporation saw its potential and bought the brothers out. Under new ownership, Burger Chef grew to over 1,000 locations in the U.S. and even a few in Canada. By the 1970s, Burger Chef had become the second-largest fast-food chain, trailing only behind McDonald’s.

Then, in 1973, Burger Chef revolutionized the fast-food industry by introducing the first-ever kid’s meal. It was a game-changer. The meal, designed for children, included a smaller portion of food and a toy, making it an instant hit with families. In fact, McDonald’s famous Happy Meal was directly inspired by this innovative idea from Burger Chef.

Burger Chef didn’t stop there. In 1978, they struck another massive deal—this time with Star Wars, the blockbuster film taking the world by storm. As part of the promotion, Burger Chef included branded Star Wars toys in their kid’s meals, which became a major attraction for children. They also launched marketing campaigns featuring characters from the movie, solidifying Burger Chef’s status as a cultural icon of the time.

Despite all its successes, Burger Chef couldn’t maintain its rapid expansion. By the early 1980s, they had grown too large, too fast. Unable to keep up with fierce competition—primarily from McDonald’s—the company began to struggle financially. Eventually, Burger Chef was sold to the owners of Hardee’s, marking the end of an era for the beloved fast-food chain.

While Burger Chef may no longer be around, its legacy lives on. From pioneering the open-flamed burger to creating the first kid’s meal, Burger Chef left an undeniable mark on the fast-food industry and in the hearts of those who remember its heyday.