National Fast Food Day

The National Fast Food Day, celebrated every year on November 16, is a day to enjoy and appreciate the convenience, variety and cultural impact of fast-food dining.

History of National Fast Food Day

Fast food evolved from early 20th-century drive-ins and take-out windows, driven by the growth of the automobile, urban expansion and a demand for quick, affordable meals.
The first recognizable modern fast food chain, White Castle, opened in 1921 in Wichita Kansas, offering hamburgers for five cents and helping define the fast-food model.

Why is National Fast Food Day important?

This observance is important because it highlights how the fast-food industry has shaped eating habits, consumer expectations and global food culture. It invites reflection on convenience dining—its role in modern life, its benefits and its trade-offs.
It also provides a light-hearted occasion to explore food variety, local adaptations of fast-food formats and even healthier or more creative alternatives, acknowledging that fast food is more than just burgers and fries.

Here are five simple things this day encourages:

• Choosing your favourite fast-food meal and enjoying it without guilt or rush.
• Exploring a new fast-food offering or restaurant you haven’t tried before.
• Recognising the convenience that fast-food service brings in busy lives.
• Reflecting on how fast-food chains have adapted to local tastes and international markets.
• Considering healthier or more sustainable choices even within a fast-food context.

How to Celebrate (or Observe) National Fast Food Day

Treat yourself to a fast-food meal that brings you joy—whether that’s a classic burger and fries, chicken sandwich, taco, pizza slice or another speedy favourite. Consider making the outing social: invite someone else, pick a community spot and enjoy the moment of shared convenience and flavour. Use the day to not only indulge but also to appreciate the broader story of fast food—from innovation to globalization, convenience to challenge.
Here are five practical ideas to observe:

• Visit your favourite fast-food chain or try one you haven’t been to before.
• Order via drive-thru, take-out or delivery to embrace the “fast” in fast food.
• Try a menu item you don’t normally pick—expand your palate.
• Share a photo of your fast-food meal on social media with the hashtag #NationalFastFoodDay.
• After the meal, think about one small way you might make your future fast-food choices a bit healthier (e.g., grilled rather than fried, water instead of soda).

National Fast Food Day Dates Table