McDonald’s has topped the fast-food chain hierarchy for decades, with its golden arches becoming a universal symbol for burgers, fries, and quick meals. But beyond the instantly recognizable logo, there’s a wealth of behind-the-scenes history and trivia that remains tucked away from the spotlight, surprising even regular visitors. Beyond the burger: secret stories from McDonald’s legacy.
From surprising chapters in its early history to a unique regal connection, here are 12 facts about McDonald’s you probably didn’t know.
Its First BBQ Restaurant Menu Featured PB&Js

Long before McDonald’s took over the world with burgers, the McDonald brothers’ 1940 restaurant, “McDonald’s Famous Barbecue,” included peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on the menu, alongside their main offerings of barbecued meats, tamales, and chili. The experiment didn’t last long, though—hamburgers quickly proved more popular, prompting a major menu overhaul in 1948.
The Largest Location Boasts an Arcade and Aquarium

Located near Universal Orlando Resort in Florida, this 19,000-square-foot behemoth McDonald’s known as Epic McD has three floors, a sprawling arcade with over 100 games, and even an aquarium—and it’s open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It also features unique menu items like custom pizzas, pasta, and a dedicated dessert bar. Talk about super-sized entertainment!
Onion Nuggets Paved the Way for Chicken McNuggets

In the late 1970s, McDonald’s test-marketed “Onion Nuggets,” — bite-sized pieces of onion coated in a crispy breading, as an innovative alternative to French fries. These golden-brown morsels featured a crunchy exterior that gave way to a sweet, tender onion center.
While it didn’t last long on the menu, they played an interesting role in McDonald’s history: after their discontinuation, the company’s executive chef René Arend adapted the nugget concept for chicken at the suggestion of chairman Fred Turner, ultimately leading to the creation of the now-iconic Chicken McNuggets.
Turquoise Arches in Arizona

In Sedona, Arizona, local building codes are designed to preserve the natural beauty of the red rock landscape, which means certain color schemes are required for businesses. As a result, the McDonald’s in Sedona doesn’t feature the iconic bright golden arches.
Instead, it showcases a set of turquoise arches chosen to blend harmoniously with the surrounding environment. This makes it the only McDonald’s in the United States—and reportedly the world—with turquoise arches, a unique feature that has become a popular tourist attraction since its installation in 1993.
The Big Mac’s identity crisis

When it was introduced in 1967, McDonald’s iconic double-decker burger went through several name changes before becoming the menu staple we know today. Created by Pittsburgh franchisee Jim Delligatti, the burger was first called “The Aristocrat,” then “The Blue Ribbon Burger,” before finally becoming the “Big Mac.”
The winning name was suggested by Esther Glickstein Rose, a 21-year-old secretary in McDonald’s advertising department, though executives initially laughed at her suggestion. Thankfully, that final name stuck—imagine asking for an “Aristocrat meal!”
More McDonald’s Than Hospitals in the U.S.

Ever feel like a McDonald’s is always around the corner? That’s not far from reality—there are approximately 13,600 McDonald’s across the country, which significantly outnumbers the roughly 7,378 hospitals as of April 2024 in the U.S.
This stark contrast between fast food accessibility and healthcare facilities has made McDonald’s an integral part of America’s landscape—so much so that the company is actually more of a real estate empire than just a restaurant chain.
The Recipe for Fries Was Altered to Address Health Concerns

McDonald’s used beef tallow in their fries until July 23, 1990, when they switched to vegetable oil due to pressure from Phil Sokolof, a businessman who became a health advocate after suffering a heart attack in 1966.
But customers missed the original taste, so the chain added “natural beef flavor” made from wheat and milk derivatives to mimic the original flavor. Ironically, the vegetable oil switch wasn’t necessarily healthier — the new oil contained trans fats, leading McDonald’s to change their oil twice more: first to a soy-corn blend in 2002 and then to a trans-fat-free oil in 2007. While the fries remain popular, many fans claim they never achieved the same crispy exterior and pillowy interior that made the original version legendary.
McNuggets Come in Only Four Shapes

Next time you chow down on Chicken McNuggets, notice their shapes: boot, ball, bone (also called bow-tie), and bell. McDonald’s molds them into these specific forms for two important reasons: food safety and consistency. The uniform shapes ensure each nugget cooks for the exact same time across all restaurants, as they’re designed to have identical thickness.
The shapes are created using a special rolling cookie cutter-like machine, after which the nuggets are coated in two layers of batter, partially fried, and frozen before shipping to restaurants. And while the shapes do keep your nugget snacking interesting, they’re also practical for dipping.
The Filet-O-Fish Was Created to Boost Friday Sales

The Filet-O-Fish was created in 1962 by Cincinnati franchise owner Lou Groen when sales dropped on Fridays in neighborhoods with Catholic populations abstaining from meat.
After winning a competition against Ray Kroc’s meatless “Hula Burger,” selling 350 sandwiches compared to just 6 Hula Burgers, the fish sandwich earned its spot as McDonald’s first non-hamburger menu item in 1965. Swapping out beef patties for fish created a Friday-friendly alternative that’s still swimming in success, with nearly a quarter of annual Filet-O-Fish sales occurring during the Lenten season.
Hamburger University Is a Real Thing

McDonald’s runs multiple Hamburger University campuses worldwide, where employees can earn a degree in “Hamburgerology.” It’s not your average college, but these programs help standardize operations in over 41,800 restaurants globally. The institution, established in 1961, now operates seven campuses worldwide, including Chicago (the main campus), Tokyo, London, Sydney, Munich, São Paulo, and Shanghai.
Students can earn up to 23 college credits that are transferable to over 1,600 colleges and universities. The program trains approximately 5,000 students annually in restaurant operations, leadership development, and business management. The Shanghai campus is particularly selective, with an acceptance rate of less than 1%.
A Major Force in Kids’ Toys

From Beanie Babies to movie and TV show tie-ins, McDonald’s is the largest toy distributor in the world, thanks to its Happy Meals. It reportedly hands out approximately 1.5 billion toys each year—making it a big name in the toy business, not just fast food. With around 5,000 Happy Meals sold every minute worldwide, the company’s toy distribution has become a significant part of its business model.
Since their introduction in 1979, Happy Meals has generated over $80 billion in sales (a conservative estimate). Through strategic partnerships with entertainment companies and exclusive promotional campaigns, McDonald’s has transformed its children’s meals into a global phenomenon that serves over 69 million customers daily across more than 100 countries.
The Crown Estate’s Connection to McDonald’s Restaurants

Yes, you read that right. Through the Crown Estate, which manages properties on behalf of the British monarchy, the late Queen Elizabeth II was technically connected to not just one but seven McDonald’s restaurants across its retail portfolio. While the Queen didn’t personally own these properties, they were held by the Crown Estate “in right of the crown,” with revenues going to the UK Treasury.
This connection made the British Crown one of the most regal property holders in fast food history, with the Crown Estate’s total property portfolio valued at approximately $17.6 billion. Today, under King Charles III’s reign, these McDonald’s locations remain part of the Crown Estate. The most notable location at Banbury Gateway Shopping Park in Oxfordshire features upscale amenities like leather sofas, Samsung tablets, and table service.