Which fast-food chain created the first kids' meal, the Funmeal?

Burger Chef created the first kids' meal, the Funmeal.

Burger Chef introduced its Funmeal in 1973, making it an early example of a fast-food meal designed specifically for children. The offering combined a child-sized food portion with a toy or promotional element, helping establish a format that later became common across the industry.

The concept appeared before McDonald's introduced the Happy Meal in 1979. McDonald's version became much more famous and is often mistakenly credited as the first children's fast-food meal, but Burger Chef's Funmeal came earlier.

Burger Chef was an American fast-food chain founded in Indianapolis in 1954. It expanded substantially during the 1960s and 1970s but ultimately disappeared after its restaurants were sold and rebranded. Its Funmeal remains an important part of fast-food marketing history because it connected food, toys, and family-focused promotion.