What was McDonald's first restaurant called when it opened in San Bernardino in 1940?

McDonald's first restaurant was called McDonald's Bar-B-Q when it opened in San Bernardino, California, in 1940.

Brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald opened the drive-in restaurant on May 15, 1940. Its original menu centered on barbecue, reflecting the drive-in restaurant style that was popular in Southern California at the time. The name identified both the family and the barbecue-focused concept.

In 1948, the brothers reorganized the business around a smaller menu and faster counter service. Hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, milkshakes, and soft drinks became more important than barbecue, and the restaurant later became known for its Speedee Service System.

The original name is often confused with later McDonald's branding. Speedee was a mascot and service symbol, while the golden arches became the lasting visual identity. The San Bernardino site is now associated with the McDonald's history museum and replica restaurant, although the original building itself no longer operates as a normal McDonald's.