What is the name of the fast food chain founded in Wichita, Kansas in 1921?

The fast food chain founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921 was White Castle.

White Castle was founded by entrepreneur Billy Ingram and cook Walter Anderson. Anderson had already been operating hamburger stands in Wichita, and the partnership turned the idea into a recognizable restaurant chain. Their first White Castle opened with only about $700 behind the venture.

The company helped establish the modern fast-food hamburger format. Its small, square burgers—later widely known as sliders—were cooked quickly and sold at low prices. White Castle also emphasized cleanliness, using bright white interiors, stainless steel equipment, uniforms, and castle-themed architecture to reassure customers at a time when many people distrusted ground beef.

A surprising detail is that White Castle no longer operates in Wichita or anywhere else in Kansas, despite originating there. The company expanded beyond Kansas early, opened a location in El Dorado in 1922, and later centered its headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. White Castle is therefore both a Wichita-born chain and one of America's oldest surviving fast-food brands.