The First Fast Food Restaurant To Serve Bacon Cheeseburgers

Bacon undoubtedly elevates a classic American cheeseburger, but there were no fast food restaurants boasting bacon cheeseburgers on their menus until A&W did so in 1963.

Former A&W Restaurants chairman Dale Mulder reportedly noticed customers often requested bacon on their cheeseburgers, so in 1963, he officially added it to his A&W menu.

Some are skeptical that Mulder is truly the inventor of something as simple as a bacon burger, but A&W touts the connection, and no one else has contested the bold claim.

Today, it's more unusual to find burger joints that don't offer bacon. What was once a bit of a luxury has transformed into an everyday staple — and A&W is to thank.