As the nation's first major drive-thru hamburger chain, Jack in the Box has always been a leader in fast-food innovation. The company introduced the industry's first breakfast sandwich in 1969 and the first portable salad in 1982.
In the 1950s, a Jack in the Box hamburger sold for just 18 cents.
From 1963 to 1982, Jack in the Box produced several menu items in manufacturing facilities located at the chain's corporate headquarters in San Diego, including tacos and onion rings.
Gone, but not forgotten, the chain has a few renowned menu items that have gone the way of mood rings and shag carpeting, including a fish sandwich called the Moby Jack, introduced in 1970, and Frings, a combination of onion rings and french fries, introduced in 1979.
Unlike other quick-serve chains that stop serving breakfast before noon, Jack in the Box serves its breakfast sandwiches - and all other menu items - all day, every day!
The Jumbo Jack® got its name because it was considered one of the largest burgers in the fast-food industry when it was introduced in 1971.
In 1972, Jack in the Box introduced its signature Breakfast Jack® sandwich. It remains the chain's most popular breakfast item to this day.
In May 1999, Jack in the Box added ketchup to the Jumbo Jack, the first significant change to the chain's classic sandwich in 20 years. Ketchup bumped Jack's signature "special sauce" from the burger.
Jack in the Box is famous for its super-thick Real Ice Cream shakes. In 2006, Jack's shakes got a makeover that included serving them in a clear plastic cup with a dome-shaped lid designed to contain a heaping serving of whipped topping and a maraschino cherry.
In 2007, Jack in the Box introduced the 100% Sirloin Burger, the first all-sirloin burger offered by a major fast-food chain.
The Chipotle Chicken Ciabatta™ sandwich received a MenuMaster's award from Nation's Restaurant news in 2007.
Jack in the Box tacos, a permanent menu item since the mid-1950s, have developed a loyal, almost cult following among guests. Consider these facts:
- Jack in the Box is the first major hamburger fast-food chain to offer tacos in all its restaurants.
- 775 Jack in the Box tacos are eaten each minute for a total of 400 million tacos each year.
- Jack in the Box uses 20 million pounds of fresh, stone-ground, U.S.-grown corn each year to make tortillas - that's approximately 3,000 acres of corn.
- The pattern of brown flecks on the taco shell, a distinguishing characteristic of Jack in the Box tacos, are grill marks resulting from the chain-linked conveyor belt that moves the tortillas through a 700-degree oven.
- Jack in the Box hands out 600 million packets of taco sauce each year.
Promotions and Pop Culture
Jack in the Box jumped on the boy-band bandwagon with the fictional singing sensations - The Meaty Cheesy Boys®. Following the airing of their first commercial and launch of their own Web site, the fake fab five snagged an invite to the 1999 Billboard Music Awards where they performed their smash hit "Ultimate Cheeseburger."
Real Jack in the Box employees, not actors, are featured at the end of the chain's radio advertising spots.
Long before he was an "Easy Rider," actor Dennis Hopper worked at a Jack in the Box restaurant in La Mesa, Calif.
More than 28 million Jack in the Box antenna balls have been handed out to guests since Jack introduced them as his Sourdough Jack® sales force in 1995.
In addition to the original antenna ball featuring a pointy, yellow hat, the company has produced antenna toppers wearing party hats, fuzzy ear muffs, football helmets and batting helmets.
Since Jack was reintroduced in 1995, 27 different toys and three different holiday-tree ornaments have been produced in his likeness, including several depicting Jack's zest for extreme-sport adventure. More than 5 million of these toys and ornaments have been handed out to guests.
Jack in the Box introduced Jack Ca$h®, a reloadable, stored-value gift card in the fall of 2004.