A&W
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A&W

All American Food
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Established in 1919
A&W has been a pioneer in the fast-food industry. It all started when Roy W. Allen opened a roadside root beer stand in Lodi, CA. From there, Allen partnered with Frank Wright, and together they coined the name A&W, which has become synonymous with root beer ever since. In 1963, A&W Franchisee Dale Mulder made history, serving the first Bacon Cheeseburger in a restaurant.

Updated October 2024
Posted April 2024

A&W Inside

A&W Menu

A&W Menu Burgers
Burgers

A&W Menu Hometown Favorites
Hometown Favorites

A&W Menu Root Beer
Root Beer


A&W BBQ Bacon Crunch Burger
BBQ Bacon Crunch Burger
  • It's Crunch Time
A&W Chicken Tenders
Hand Breaded Chicken Tenders
  • Feeling Saucy?
A&W French Onion Double Cheeseburger
New French Onion Double Cheeseburger
  • & then you asked for extra napkins
A&W Strawberry Watermelon Cream Freeze
Strawberry Watermelon Cream Freeze
  • & then it felt like summer

A&W One and Only Papa Burger
One and Only Papa Burger
It's our signature 1/3 pound double, an A&W favorite for decades. Two juicy 100% U.S. Beef patties, two slices of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and our signature A&W Papa Sauce on a lightly butter-toasted bun. It doesn't get much better than this!

ORIGINAL BACON CHEESEBURGERWe Should Be Famous For This
That's right. In 1963, our very own A&W Franchise Partner Dale Mulder made history, serving the first Bacon Cheeseburger in a restaurant. We're pretty proud of that. So next time you're enjoying an Original Bacon Cheeseburger, just know that it all started here, and we have our good friend Dale to thank!

A&W Papa Burger
The One and Only Papa Burger
  • 1/3 Pound Double
A&W Mushroom Onion Melt
Double Mushroom Onion Melt
  • Mushroom Lovers this one's for you
A&W Pubstyle Cod Sliders
Pubstyle Cod Sliders
  • One Fish
  • Two Fish
A&W Collector's Mug Logo
Help Rooty Choose Our 2025 Collector's Mug Logo

A&W Root Beer Fountain

A&W Water Cup

A&W Root Beer Tap

A&W Hamburger Box

A&W Puzzles

A&W Papa Burger and Fries
Papa Burger and Fries



A&W Tables

A&W Booths

A&W Since 1919

A&W Restaurants

WIKIPEDIAA&W Restaurants
American fast food restaurant chain distinguished by its burgers, draft root beer and root beer floats. The oldest still existing restaurant chain in the United States.

On June 20, 1919, Roy W. Allen opened his first root beer stand in Lodi, California, the first day was for a homecoming celebration of soldiers who returned from battle in World War I. The following day, his stand was open for regular customers, selling root beer glasses for 5 cents (equivalent to $0.88 in 2023).

  • The following year, Allen opened a second stand in Stockton, California. Shortly afterwards, the effect of the period of prohibition that existed in the United States from 1920 to 1933 gave Allen and his stand with a beverage with "beer" in the name a heavy rebound.
  • Four years later, A&W began when Allen and Frank Wright opened their drive-in restaurant in Sacramento, California, combining both of their initials for the name, and selling the root beer from Allen's stand. Curbside service was provided by tray boys and tray girls.
  • In 1924, Allen purchased Frank Wright's stake in the business.
  • In 1925, Allen began franchising the root beer, while the franchisee added the other menu items and operated at their discretion. Most of the restaurants that opened under this scheme were in the highways of the Central Valley region, mainly to travelers. This may have arguably been the first successful food-franchising operation.
  • Allen sold the company in 1950 and retired.

A&W is the only major fast-food chain in the United States to be owned entirely by franchisees, since the 2011 sale from Yum! Brands to A Great American Brand, LLC., which is mostly under the control of the National A&W Franchisee Association (NAWFA). The current owners rely heavily on single-brand restaurants, in contrast to combined, co-branded restaurants, which came from prior administrations. As of December 2021, there were 900 restaurants in the US and Asia. In the United States alone, the states with the most restaurants are California, followed by Wisconsin and Michigan.

Other Wikipedia Citings

A & W Mentone
A&W Open 24 Hours

A&W The Great Root Bear
The Great Root Bear
A&W Rooty
Rooty

A&W Mugs

A&W Clock

A&W Restaurant

A&W Drive Thru

A&W Root Beer Float Away

A&W Float Away

A&W