12 Fast Food Toys from the ’80s That Are Worth Collecting

There were many great fast-food deals in the 1980s. For example, many restaurants gave away fun toys with kids' meals. Since then, these toys have become valuable collectibles that people love to show off when they remember their childhood.

Tricia Quitales
March 21, 2025
5 min read

12 Fast Food Toys from the ’80s That Are Worth Collecting — Nadin Sh on Pexels

Fast food restaurants like McDonald’s, Burger King, and Taco Bell gave kids a lot of fun and creative toys with their meals in the 1980s. Kids and adults were interested in these toys, which were often based on well-known movies or characters. After many years, these toys have become very valuable to collectors and are now loved items that remind people of a simpler time. We’ll look at 12 famous fast food toys from the 1980s and talk about their history, how they affected culture, and why they’re still worth collecting today.

1. McDonald’s “Happy Meal” Star Wars Figures

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In 1980, McDonald’s released a line of Star Wars figures as part of its Happy Meal promotion. These small, detailed toys featuring characters like Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Yoda reflect the growing popularity of the Star Wars franchise. These days, original figures from this set can fetch hundreds of dollars, especially if they’re in good shape and still in their original boxes.

2. Burger King “The Empire Strikes Back” Glasses

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Kids and adults loved Burger King’s 1980 glass collection, which came out at the same time as The Empire Strikes Back. Each glass had a bright, collectible design of a character, such as Han Solo, Princess Leia, or Darth Vader. These glasses have become very valuable. On the secondary market, rare ones can fetch $100 or more.

3. McDonald’s “Furby” Happy Meal Toys

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Even though they were made after the 1980s, many collectors still associate McDonald’s “Furby” toys from 1998 with the late 1980s. These robotic toys were all the rage in the late 1990s, but they had much to do with tech culture in the 1980s. The original Furby Happy Meal toys are still very popular, especially the ones that haven’t been opened.

4. Taco Bell “Beanie Babies”

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While Taco Bell’s Beanie Babies campaign took place in the late 1990s, the show was a direct response to the 1980s collectibles craze. Kids’ meals at Taco Bell came with limited-edition Beanie Babies, which catered to kids’ desire for one-of-a-kind toys.

5. McDonald’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” Toys

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In 1989, McDonald’s worked with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise to add a different set of action figures to Happy Meals. Kids liked these toys, with figures of artists like Michelangelo, Donatello, and Leonardo. Collectors now want these figures, especially ones that are brand new or still in their original boxes.

6. Burger King “The Simpsons” Toys

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Figures of popular Simpsons characters like Homer, Marge, and Bart were used in a Burger King ad in 1990. These toys were part of a bigger plan to cash in on the popularity of the animated show, which was just starting to grow. These toys are now highly sought-after collectibles, with some rare figures selling for a lot of money.

7. McDonald’s “My Little Pony” Toys

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In 1983, McDonald’s added a set of My Little Pony toys to its Happy Meal line. Little girls who liked the animated show loved these brightly colored plastic ponies right away. People who missed the toy craze of the early 1980s now collect these ponies, especially ones still in their original boxes.

8. Wendy’s “Super Mario Bros.” Toys

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Many video games were in the late 1980s, so Wendy’s made a line of Super Mario Bros. toys in 1989. Fans of the Nintendo game series were meant to like the toys, which featured characters like Mario, Luigi, and Princess Toadstool. People still want these toys, and some sell for very high prices because they are hard to find and bring back memories.

9. McDonald’s “Disney Princesses”

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The Disney Princess toys McDonald’s sold in 1989 were part of a larger campaign to introduce people to Disney’s animated characters. The set included princesses like Cinderella and Snow White, bringing Disney magic to the fast food table. People today really want these toys, especially brand-new ones with all their parts.

10. Burger King “Batman Returns” Toys

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Burger King made a toy set based on Tim Burton’s Batman Returns in 1992. Figures from the movie came to life in these toys, like Batman and the Penguin. They were fun to collect. These toys have become valuable because they are from a popular movie series. This is especially true if they are still in their original boxes.

11. McDonald’s “Barbie” Dolls

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Back in 1987, McDonald’s added a line of Barbie dolls to their Happy Meal menu. These little Barbie dolls wore trendy clothes and came with little extras. Collectors really want them these days, especially ones in great shape or still in their original boxes.

12. Taco Bell “Pokémon” Toys

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Even though they came out right after the 1980s, Taco Bell’s Pokémon toys in 1999 took advantage of how popular the Pokémon franchise was. Many young Pokemon fans liked these toys because they had characters like Pikachu and Charizard on them. Because they are from one of the most popular franchises, these toys are still worth a lot, especially if they are still in their original boxes.