Wendy’s is famous for square hamburgers and the slogan “Where’s the beef?”
Dave Thomas founded Wendy’s in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969 and named the chain after his daughter Melinda Lou “Wendy” Thomas. The company’s square patties became a visual point of difference: they were designed to extend beyond the bun, suggesting that the restaurant did not cut corners on portion size.
The “Where’s the beef?” advertising campaign debuted in 1984, with actress Clara Peller delivering the memorable line in a commercial criticizing a small burger bun. The phrase quickly became part of American popular culture.
Wendy’s square patties are not the same as White Castle’s small square sliders. Wendy’s burgers are larger, traditionally served in a conventional bun, and are associated with the chain’s fresh-beef positioning.