15 Fast Food Commercials from the ’90s You Totally Forgot About
The ’90s were packed with fast food commercials that were loud, weird, and way too unforgettable to stay buried in your memory forever.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
Fast food commercials in the 1990s weren’t just about burgers and fries. They were strange, funny, and sometimes a little bit creepy, but that’s what made them stick. Whether it was a moon-headed man or a talking dog, these ads definitely left a mark.
1. McDonald’s: “Mac Tonight”
Dirk Tussing on Wikimedia Commons
McDonald’s created a character with a giant moon head who played the piano and sang smooth jazz. He was supposed to make eating a Big Mac at night feel cool and classy. Instead, it was weirdly hypnotizing and left kids entertained and slightly disturbed.
2. Burger King: Kids Club
grassrootsgroundswell on Wikimedia Commons
Burger King introduced a group of cartoon-like kids to promote their meals to younger customers. Each kid had a different look and personality, and they all looked like they came straight from a Saturday morning cartoon. It made Burger King feel more fun, like a club you wanted to be part of just to get the toys.
3. Taco Bell: Gidget the Chihuahua
Medelam on Wikimedia Commons
This tiny dog with a big personality became famous for saying “¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!” in a deep voice. The ad became a cultural hit, showing up on T-shirts, plush toys, and commercials all over the country. It was funny and totally random, and somehow made tacos seem way more fun.
4. Pizza Hut: Bigfoot Pizza
Mike Mozart on Wikimedia Commons
Pizza Hut rolled out the Bigfoot Pizza and made sure everyone knew it was huge. The commercials treated the pizza like a star, with dramatic music, loud voices, and a ton of hype. It was oversized, cheesy, and unforgettable—just like the ad.
5. Wendy’s: “Where’s the Beef?”
Nheyob on Wikimedia Commons
Even though the line came from the ’80s, Wendy’s kept it alive in the early ’90s because people couldn’t get enough of it. The tiny, no-nonsense lady demanded answers, and it somehow made burgers feel more serious. The catchphrase stuck so well, it even popped up in politics.
6. McDonald’s: Michael Jordan & Larry Bird
Phillip Pessar on Wikimedia Commons
These commercials showed two basketball legends doing impossible trick shots to win a Big Mac. They turned a fast food ad into a mini sports showdown, full of insane moves and bragging rights. Kids everywhere tried copying the shots, even if it meant breaking a lamp or two.
7. Domino’s: The Noid
Mtaylor848 on Wikimedia Commons
The Noid was a weird claymation villain who tried to mess up your pizza order. Domino’s told people to “Avoid the Noid” by ordering from them, promising speed and no mistakes. He was strange, annoying, and somehow unforgettable—like the cousin of the Kool-Aid Man who got kicked out of art school.
8. Hardee’s: Frings
Missvain on Wikimedia Commons
Hardee’s solved a real problem—choosing between fries and onion rings—by giving you both. The Frings ad made it seem like a revolutionary idea, even though it was literally just two sides in one box. It was bold, fun, and made indecisive eaters feel seen.
9. Arby’s: 5 for $5.95
Minnaert on Wikimedia Commons
Arby’s came out shouting with this deal and made sure you didn’t miss it. Five roast beef sandwiches for under six dollars felt like a fast food jackpot. The commercial was loud, fast, and full of pride in cheap meat.
10. Little Caesars: “Pizza! Pizza!”
Mrmiscellanious on Wikimedia Commons
Little Caesars made it simple: two pizzas for one price, and a short guy in a toga yelling “Pizza! Pizza!” repeatedly. The ads were goofy and cartoonish but easy to remember. That little chant stuck in your head like a pop song you didn’t even like.
11. Jack in the Box: Return of Jack
George on Wikimedia Commons
Jack returned with a big round plastic head and a serious mission to take over the burger world. The commercials were full of office jokes, fake firings, and sarcastic humor. It was weirdly grown-up for a fast-food ad and made Jack into a fast-food icon with attitude.
12. KFC: Rotisserie Gold
Dinkun Chen on Wikimedia Commons
KFC wanted to look healthier, so they introduced Rotisserie Gold chicken with dramatic flair. The ads had golden lighting, slow pans of juicy meat, and serious music. It felt like a chicken trying to win an award at a film festival.
13. McDonald’s: Batman Forever Tie-In
Emilius123 on Wikimedia Commons
When McDonald’s teamed up with Batman, it turned your regular meal into a superhero adventure. The commercials were dark, full of flames and shadows, and made it feel like ordering fries could save the city. You probably didn’t care about the food—you just wanted the cool toys.
14. Dairy Queen: Moo-latte Mania
N-Lange.de on Wikimedia Commons
Dairy Queen decided to mix coffee and ice cream and gave it a wild name: Moo-latte. The commercials featured cows doing silly things and music blasting like it was a party. It felt like DQ was trying to win over teens before they discovered Starbucks.
15. Subway: Jared’s Story
Ser Amantio di Nicolao on Wikimedia Commons
In the late ’90s, Jared became famous for losing weight by eating Subway sandwiches. The ads showed him holding up old jeans and talking about how he did it. It felt real and inspiring back then, but now the whole thing feels uncomfortable.