Sonic is the U.S. restaurant chain associated with the slogan “Service with the speed of sound.” The phrase was introduced in 1958, when the drive-in restaurant company was still building its identity around fast service and car-side dining.
Sonic began as Top Hat Drive-In in Shawnee, Oklahoma, in 1953. Founder Troy Smith developed the concept after observing successful drive-in restaurants, and the business later adopted the name Sonic to emphasize speed and modernity. Customers typically parked in individual stalls, ordered through an intercom, and received food delivered by carhops.
The wording is a pun on the company's name: “sonic” relates to sound and suggests exceptional speed. Sonic has used several later slogans, including “America's Drive-In,” so the older phrase is sometimes confused with its more familiar branding. The chain is also known for menu items such as hamburgers, chili dogs, tater tots, milkshakes, and its extensive range of flavored drinks. Despite its drive-in roots, many Sonic locations now combine traditional car stalls with indoor or takeaway service.