Burger King, along with McDonald's (see entry under 1940s— Food and Drink in volume 3), has created the image of the American "hamburger chain." It mostly serves up hamburgers (see entry under 1950s—Food and Drink in volume 3), French fries (see entry under 1950s—Food and Drink in volume 3), and shakes. The chain lures customers with clever marketing campaigns and, starting in the 1970s, with what became perhaps the company's most famous jingle: "Have it your way at Burger King."

The first Burger King was opened by James McLamore (1926–1996) and David Edgerton in Miami, Florida, in 1954—a year before McDonald's was franchised—selling hamburgers for eighteen cents. Three years later, Burger King introduced what would become its most famous burger, the Whopper, for thirty-seven cents. The chain was eventually nicknamed the "Home of the Whopper."

As of 2002, there were 11,730 Burger Kings in the United States and 57 countries...