15 Iconic West Coast Chains That Got Their Start In California
California has given birth to some of America’s most beloved restaurant chains. From humble beginnings as hot dog stands and burger joints, these Golden State originals transformed how Americans eat.
Beyond just feeding hungry customers, these pioneering businesses revolutionized fast food culture and spread California’s laid-back vibe across the country.
1. In-N-Out Burger: The Secret Menu Sensation
Harry and Esther Snyder launched California’s first drive-thru hamburger stand in 1948, creating a sensation that still draws hour-long lines today. Their commitment to never-frozen beef and hand-cut fries created an almost cult-like following.
The legendary “secret menu” featuring Animal Style and Protein Style options keeps fans coming back. Despite expanding to several states, In-N-Out maintains its quality-over-quantity approach, refusing to franchise or compromise on freshness.
2. McDonald’s: The Fast Food Revolution
Brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald revolutionized restaurant service in San Bernardino with their “Speedee Service System” in 1948. Their assembly-line approach forever changed how Americans eat, though it was businessman Ray Kroc who ultimately expanded their vision worldwide.
The original McDonald’s featured a simple menu of hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, and milkshakes. Today, with over 38,000 locations globally, this California-born chain serves roughly 69 million customers daily in more than 100 countries.
3. Taco Bell: Americanized Mexican Food Pioneer
Glen Bell opened the first Taco Bell in Downey after studying Mexican restaurants and perfecting the hard-shell taco. His innovation? Making Mexican food accessible to American palates while streamlining preparation for fast service.
The chain’s purple and pink color scheme became instantly recognizable nationwide. Taco Bell continually reinvents itself with quirky marketing and menu innovations that keep its primarily young customer base returning for “Fourth Meal” late-night cravings.
4. Baskin-Robbins: 31 Flavors of Innovation
Brothers-in-law Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins merged their ice cream shops in 1945, pioneering the concept of 31 flavors—one for each day of the month. Their Glendale-born business revolutionized dessert variety when most shops offered only chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.
The pink spoon tradition began as a way for customers to sample flavors before committing. With more than 8,000 locations worldwide today, they’ve created over 1,300 flavor variations, including quirky options like “Beatlenut” during Beatlemania and “Lunar Cheesecake.”
5. Jack in the Box: Drive-Thru Innovation
Robert Peterson’s burger stand with the clown-topped intercom revolutionized fast food when it opened in San Diego in 1951. As the first chain with two-way intercom ordering, Jack in the Box forever changed drive-thru convenience.
The chain weathered a devastating 1993 E. coli outbreak by completely reinventing itself with edgy advertising centered around the rehabilitated Jack character.
Known for its anything-goes menu philosophy, Jack in the Box serves everything from tacos to egg rolls alongside burgers, making it the maverick of fast food.
6. Carl’s Jr.: From Hot Dog Cart to Burger Empire
Carl Karcher started with a hot dog cart in Los Angeles in 1941, purchased with his wife’s $311 wedding ring as collateral.
This humble beginning grew into one of America’s most recognizable burger chains, known for its smiling star logo and hefty portions. The Western Bacon Cheeseburger became its signature item when introduced in the 1980s.
Carl’s Jr. later stirred controversy with provocative ads featuring Paris Hilton and other celebrities, deliberately targeting young male customers with its “If it doesn’t get all over the place, it doesn’t belong in your face” slogan.
7. The Cheesecake Factory: Decadent Dining Experience
Evelyn Overton’s cheesecake recipe became the foundation for a restaurant empire when she and her husband, Oscar, opened their first location in Beverly Hills in 1978. Their son David transformed the concept into a full-service restaurant with an encyclopedic menu.
Famous for its novel-length menu featuring over 250 items and massive portions, the chain pioneered the upscale casual dining category.
The ornate Egyptian-inspired décor and signature brown bread have become as recognizable as their legendary 30+ cheesecake varieties that keep diners coming back despite the calorie counts.
8. Panda Express: Fast Food Chinese Revolution
Andrew and Peggy Cherng transformed Chinese cuisine in America when they opened the first Panda Express in the Glendale Galleria mall in 1983. Their fast-casual approach made Chinese food accessible to shopping mall crowds across America.
The Orange Chicken, created in 1987, became their signature dish, selling over 90 million pounds annually.
Despite criticism from purists about authenticity, Panda Express introduced millions of Americans to Chinese flavors through its streamlined menu, becoming the largest Asian restaurant chain in the country with over 2,200 locations.
9. Del Taco: Mexican-American Fusion Pioneer
Ed Hackbarth and David Jameson created a unique hybrid when they opened the first Del Taco in Yermo in 1964. Their revolutionary concept? Serving both American burgers and Mexican tacos under one roof—a true California fusion before fusion was trendy.
The chain distinguished itself with fresh-grated cheddar cheese and hand-chopped ingredients when competitors used pre-packaged components.
Their 24-hour drive-thrus became legendary for satisfying late-night cravings, while menu innovations like the Epic Burrito and Beyond Meat options keep them relevant to changing consumer tastes.
10. Fatburger: The Last Great Hamburger Stand
Lovie Yancey, a Black female entrepreneur, opened “Mr. Fatburger” in Los Angeles in 1947 (dropping the “Mr.” after separating from her partner).
Her late-night burger joint became a Hollywood favorite, with celebrities like Ray Charles becoming regulars. Fatburger’s custom-built burgers with unlimited toppings predated today’s gourmet burger trend by decades.
The chain’s commitment to made-to-order food and its vintage jukebox atmosphere created a distinctly California vibe that eventually spread to over 200 locations worldwide while maintaining its authentic roots.
11. California Pizza Kitchen: Gourmet Pizza Reinvented
Attorneys Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax traded law for pizza when they opened the first CPK in Beverly Hills in 1985. Their revolutionary BBQ Chicken Pizza challenged Italian tradition and created a new California cuisine category overnight.
The chain’s open kitchens showcased pizza as theater while introducing Americans to toppings like Thai chicken and Jamaican jerk.
CPK pioneered the casual-upscale restaurant segment with its innovative menu and modern atmosphere, later expanding into frozen pizzas that brought their unique California flavors to supermarket freezers nationwide.
12. Wienerschnitzel: Hot Dog Empire
John Galardi learned the food business from Taco Bell founder Glen Bell before opening the first Wienerschnitzel in Wilmington in 1961.
Despite the German name, the chain specialized in American-style hot dogs served from distinctive A-frame buildings painted chili red. The chain’s quirky commercials featuring the “Der Wienerschnitzel” jingle became cultural touchstones.
Today, as the world’s largest hot dog chain with over 300 locations, they sell more than 120 million hot dogs annually, maintaining their California roots while expanding their menu to include burgers and breakfast items.
13. Round Table Pizza: Medieval-Themed Pizza Pioneers
William Larson opened the first Round Table in Menlo Park in 1959, creating a medieval-themed pizza experience complete with swords, shields, and references to King Arthur.
His “Share a Little Pizza with Someone You Love” slogan emphasized the communal nature of pizza dining. They pioneered three-cheese blend toppings and were among the first to offer delivery.
Their commitment to quality ingredients—like real cheese instead of cheaper alternatives—helped them expand to over 400 locations while maintaining their reputation for premium pizza in an increasingly competitive market.
14. El Pollo Loco: Flame-Grilled Chicken Revolution
Juan Francisco Ochoa brought his family’s fire-grilled chicken recipe from Mexico to Los Angeles in 1980, creating an instant sensation with marinade-soaked birds cooked over open flames. Lines wrapped around the block as word spread about the citrus-marinated chicken.
McDonald’s briefly owned the chain before selling it, allowing El Pollo Loco to maintain its authentic Mexican roots.
Their signature orange salsa and fresh tortillas complement the flame-grilled chicken that’s still prepared the same way today across more than 480 locations, offering a healthier fast food alternative.
15. Jamba Juice: Smoothie Revolution
Kirk Perron, a cycling enthusiast, opened the first Juice Club in San Luis Obispo in 1990, later rebranding as Jamba Juice. His vision of healthy fast food centered around blended fruit drinks was revolutionary when burger joints dominated the landscape.
The vibrant stores with whirring blenders created a distinctive sensory experience. As smoothies went mainstream, Jamba expanded nationwide with over 800 locations, adding bowls and plant-based options while maintaining their California wellness ethos.
Their colorful drinks became Instagram favorites before social media even existed, pioneering what would become a global health food movement.