1

Big Mac (McDonald's)

Image: amirali mirhashemian

Two beef patties, shredded lettuce, dill pickles, onions, cheddar cheese, and a special sauce, all topped with two seeded buns. That's the Big Mac, McDonald's flagship product and one of the world's best-selling fast food dishes.

The idea of the Big Mac as we know it today was originally conceived in the mid-1960s by entrepreneur Jim Delligatti, owner of one of the brand's first franchises. The name of the iconic burger, however, was suggested by a 21-year-old secretary working in McDonald's advertising department.

2

Classic Pretzel (Auntie Anne’s)

Image: Pierre Gui

If we talk about the best fast food snacks, pretzels must be included. In the United States, "pretzel" is synonymous with Auntie Anne's. This franchised chain, founded in 1988 , now boasts more than 1,300 stores across the country.

Everyone has followed the scent of these freshly baked pretzels at the mall or the airport at least once. It’s impossible to resist their buttery, salty, and delicious flavor that transports us to another world entirely. No wonder their slogan is "Pretzel Perfect"!

3

Curly fries (Arby’s)

Image: Chait Goli

Fries never disappoint, but if they come in a novel spiral shape, well-seasoned, and perfectly sized to devour in one bite, we're looking at one of the most incredible fries ever created.

While Arby's may not have invented curly fries, it was certainly the company that brought them to fame. Arby's introduced these crispy and delicious Cajun-style seasoned fries in 1988, and they have been a hit ever since.

4

Chicken tenders (Popeyes)

Image: Samuel Isaacs

Many fast food chains offer their version of the chicken nugget, but since Popeyes specializes in fried chicken, it's no surprise that they have one of the best versions of chicken tenders on the market.

If you haven't tried Popeyes' take on this classic American dish, you should. Their tenders are famous for their juicy chicken and their secret blend of crunchy coating. Pair them with the dipping sauce of your choice, and you’re good to go!

5

Cajun fries (Five Guys)

Image: hansbenn

Five Guys is best known for their delicious burgers, but perhaps the dish that sets them apart from other chains is their Cajun fries.

Tender on the inside and crunchy on the outside, these fries are truly unique. Once fried, they are tossed in a special blend of Cajun spices —garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, onion powder, and more! They are flavorful with just the right amount of spice. Have a kick with Five Guys' cajun fries!

6

Glazed doughnut (Krispy Kreme)

Image: No Revisions

Krispy Kreme has been around since 1937, and in those many years of history, it has created hundreds of different doughnut flavors. Yet, the glazed doughnut remains a classic that never fails to impress.

Its light, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth texture paired with that crackly glaze transports anyone back to their childhood in an instant—especially if you're lucky enough to get them fresh out of the oven!

7

Fried chicken (KFC)

Image: Aleks Dorohovich

One of Popeyes' biggest competitors is, without a doubt, Kentucky Fried Chicken. While Popeyes is known for its chicken tenders, KFC is famous for its giant buckets of fried chicken.

KFC's signature dish is fried, on-the-bone chicken pieces seasoned with Colonel Harland Sanders' "Original Recipe" of 11 herbs and spices—and we all love it. Whether you have them at a Fourth of July celebration or during a football game, KFC's fried chicken has that nostalgic effect that keeps you going!

8

Whopper (Burger King)

Image: Servetphotograph

If there's one thing we've always associated with Burger King, it's that distinctive grilled flavor. And the best representation of that flavor is its signature dish, the Whopper burger.

Although the ingredients of this gigantic sandwich, created in the late 1950s , are quite simple—one beef patty, lettuce, tomato, and pickles—it’s a favorite among fast food lovers around the world.

9

Italian B.M.T. (Subway)

Image: mandarinMD

Subway is one of the largest fast-food chains in the world, specializing in submarine sandwiches. While everyone can create their own custom sandwich with fresh ingredients of their choice, Subway has a best-selling sandwich that has become an all-time classic.

Subway's Italian B.M.T.—short for "Biggest, Meatiest, Tastiest"—is served on freshly baked bread and filled with a combination of three types of deli meats: salami, pepperoni, and ham. According to lore, the name also references the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit subway line. Did you know that?

10

Blizzard (Dairy Queen)

Image: ROMAN ODINTSOV

A list of the best fast food items wouldn't be complete without including at least one ice cream product. Many chains offer incredible alternatives, but Dairy Queen is, well, the queen of soft serve.

Dairy Queen's staple product, the Blizzard, was introduced in 1985 , and that same year, the company sold more than 100 million desserts. Today, there are almost 20 different Blizzard flavors, each with the best toppings. From cookies to candy, there's a delicious option for everyone!

11

Baconator (Wendy’s)

Image: Batu Gezer

Wendy's is an American fast-food restaurant, founded in 1969, famous for its square patties. It offers a large number of products, all equally delicious. But even though it was only introduced in 2007, the Baconator has become one of its flagship products, helping the company increase its sales.

A perfect combination of beef, American cheese, and crispy smoked bacon makes this burger a favorite among consumers across the country.

12

Onion rings (Burger King)

Image: Alejandro Aznar

French fries are the ultimate fast food side dish, but every once in a while, it's nice to switch things up and try something new. Burger King's onion rings are definitely a safe bet.

Tender and sweet on the inside, and crunchy on the outside, this classic American treat consists of sliced onions covered in batter and breadcrumbs, then deep-fried. Overall, it's the perfect snack for dipping into your favorite sauce!

1

Tiger salamander

Image: Anastasia Pirri

Meet the tiger salamander—one of the largest terrestrial salamanders in North America. While its size is certainly impressive, the tiger salamander also has other traits that make it stand out. Take its appearance, for example: its dark brown body with bright yellow blotches resembles tiger stripes, which is why it has such a peculiar name. But there's more! Unlike many other salamanders, this one spends much of its time underground, using its large, powerful limbs to dig.

Fun fact: Some states, like Colorado and Kansas, have named it their official state amphibian!

2

Eastern Hellbender

Image: laura adai

Although the tiger salamander is impressively large, another salamander stands out for its huge size: the Eastern Hellbender.

Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis is its scientific name (quite a mouthful, right?). It holds the title of the largest salamander in North America. In fact, it's sometimes nicknamed "snot otter" due to its large body and the slippery texture of its skin.

3

Amphiuma

Image: Wolfgang Hasselmann

When you first see this creature, you might mistake it for a snake or an eel. But it's actually an amphibian—more specifically, an aquatic salamander known as the amphiuma. Its appearance, let’s just say, isn’t exactly what most would call "cute."

This unusual amphibian can grow up to 3 feet long! And while not immediately noticeable, it has tiny legs with only one, two, or three toes, depending on the species. Its limbs aren't very useful, but they do make the amphiuma look just a bit creepier.

4

Colorado River Toad

Image: Crystal McClernon

The Colorado River Toad may not be the cutest or most dazzling creature out there, but it's certainly one of the most fascinating. Native to the southwestern United States, this amphibian is one of the largest toads in North America, but what sets it apart isn't its size. So, while it may look slow and harmless, this toad is capable of releasing a dangerous, highly psychoactive toxin that acts as a defense mechanism and can be fatal to many species, including dogs.

5

Common Mudpuppy

Image: Tommy Bond

Now, it's time for an amphibian whose cuteness is one of its most distinctive features; even its name reflects that! We're talking about the Common Mudpuppy, an aquatic salamander that inhabits streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. It's also one of the few salamanders that remain fully aquatic throughout their entire life. And that’s precisely why it sports a pair of large, red external gills on the sides of its head, giving it an almost 16th-century European look!

6

Gray Tree Frog

Image: Aurora K

The small Gray Tree Frog inhabits the forests and woodlands of the eastern United States. And while it's true you might find it on trees and plants, its nickname isn't entirely accurate when it comes to color. Yes, it can be gray, but this amphibian has the ability to change its color to blend in with its surroundings! It also has another superpower: the ability to survive freezing temperatures. By producing a natural antifreeze, it protects its organs during cold conditions that most of us couldn’t begin to handle.

7

Spotted Salamander

Image: Kristina Kutleša

As its name suggests, what distinguishes the Spotted Salamander is its shocking look. But beware, its mottled appearance isn't just for show. It also acts as a warning to ward off predators! If you've ever seen one in the wild, consider yourself lucky because although it’s fairly widespread, this salamander spends most of its time underground.

8

Pacific Giant Salamander

Image: wallace Henry

If you venture into the mountainous regions of the Pacific Northwest, you might come face-to-face with the Pacific Giant Salamander, one of the largest terrestrial salamanders in North America.

Reaching up to 14 inches in length, this amphibian is striking to see—but it’s even more surprising when you hear it. That’s right: unlike most of its kind, the Pacific giant salamander can make audible barking sounds!

9

Barking Tree Frog

Image: José M. Alarcón

We have a contestant that could go head-to-head with the Pacific Giant Salamander in a barking contest: the aptly named Barking Tree Frog.

Let’s just say the frog’s striking features are perfectly summed up by its name. In states like Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, you can find this little amphibian calling from the treetops or near freshwater shores.

10

Dusky Gopher Frog

Image: Geraldine Dukes

Finally, we have the most mysterious and elusive of all: the Dusky Gopher Frog. As one of the rarest frog species in the U.S., the Dusky Gopher Frog is incredibly elusive and critically endangered, with fewer than 200 individuals left in the wild. The dusky frog spends most of its life hidden underground and only comes out during the mating season.

1

The Roaring Twenties

Image: Carrie Borden

We’ll begin with one of the first fads invented right here in America. The 1920s in America were characterized by a period of prosperity and well-being that resulted in a dynamic and distinct cultural rise in major American metropolises. There’s a reason why this period was known as "The Roaring 20s": It signified an upheaval in American music, arts, and fashion.

The 20s saw the birth of avant-garde art forms like jazz music, as well as groundbreaking novels by authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. This era is also remembered for the surge of the "Flapper" subculture: Modern, young women with a more carefree attitude toward entertainment.

2

Pin-up models

Image: Florida Memory

Who do you think about whenever you think of the word "pin-up model"? Chances are your answer is Marilyn Monroe or Betty Grable : After all, they both got their start as pin-up models, portrayed in thousands of mass-produced photographs. However, these actresses helped cement the notion of what defines a pin-up model, now considered to be an essential icon in American pop culture history.

Pin-ups defined the aesthetic of an entire period, present in everything from movies to advertisements. Not only that, pin-up models were often depicted on the side of American fighter planes during World War 2, helping raise the morale of our troops.

3

Greasers

Image: Sümeyye Candan

Although the word "greaser" definitively got its start as a derogatory term for this subculture, it ended up being the name of one of America’s most beloved periods. The 1950s are still revered as a golden age by millions of Americans, particularly because of the surge of many icons that make our country so wonderful: Things like Cadillacs, Rock N’ Roll music, and soda fountains were all born in this era.

In that sense, the "Greaser" look was heavily influenced by musicians and actors like Elvis Presley and James Dean . Greasers would showcase their fast motorcycles, stylish hairstyles, and leather jackets wherever they went. By the 1970s, this style was so well-known that it provided the basis of one of America’s favorite TV characters: Fonzie, perhaps now considered the quintessential greaser.

4

The Hippie movement

Image: Jamie Street

The Hippie movement is synonymous with 1960s America: This subculture influenced almost every art form during this period, from music to television, film, and literature. While it is nowadays mostly looked at as an aesthetic or cultural movement, the influence of hippies in American politics and society shouldn’t be overlooked.

Perhaps the biggest representatives of the hippie movement are those groundbreaking bands and musicians aligned with this movement, like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, or Jefferson Airplane. Hippies were also characterized by their groundbreaking fashion, which featured bell-bottom jeans, sunglasses, and colorful shirts.

5

Beatnik movement

Image: Pereanu Sebastian

Speaking of hippies, let’s take a little detour and focus on an American artistic movement that laid the foundation from which the hippie movement emerged. Much like with "greaser," the term "beatnik" was first coined as an insult, aimed at followers of the "Beat Generation," a literary movement that included names like Jack Kerouac or William S. Burroughs.

The beatnik subculture had a defining image, often exaggerated by detractors: Think about the caricature of a modern poet, complete with a black turtleneck, beret, and bongos, and you’ll be thinking about a stereotypical beatnik. Regardless, historians believe that the term "hippie" comes from "hipsters," which is a term first used to describe the beatnik subculture.

6

The 80s

Image: Eric Nopanen

Fashion during the 1980s can be best summed up by this phrase from Charles Dickens's "A Tale of Two Cities": "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." While it can’t be denied that this decade brought forward groundbreaking styles to music, films, and culture, it should also be noted that some of these changes were extreme, to say the least. At the end of the day, whether the 80s were good or bad will ultimately depend on who you are asking.

Personally, we would like to focus on those 80s things that we absolutely love: Things like synthesizer music, mullet hairstyles, and neon-bright clothing. This decade was also the birthplace of several subcultures, including the post-punk, preppy, and new-wave movements.

7

The 90s

Image: Panos Sakalakis

If the 70s and 80s were characterized by their loud and flamboyant styles, the 90s were defined by a more minimalist approach: Bands like Nirvana or Pearl Jam helped promote the "grunge" aesthetic, which featured simple items of clothing like jeans, flannel shirts or hoodies.

Although definitively minimalist, the 90s were also the birthplace of subcultures like the goth movement. During this era, numerous extreme sports like skateboarding gained popularity, in line with this decade’s alternative outlook on culture.

8

Disco

Image: Dustin Tramel

Ready to dance "The Hustle"? The late 60s and early 70s were determined by the emergence of one of America’s most remembered subcultures. While disco music first appeared in New York City and Philadelphia, it quickly swept over the nation: Think of a tornado filled with disco balls, roller skates, and nightclubs, and you might be able to paint a picture of how influential this subculture was.

Although disco got its start in iconic nightclubs like Studio 54, it soon expanded to other mediums like movies and television. Most notably, shows like "Soul Train" helped promote this genre’s appeal, while films like "Saturday Night Fever" cemented the ultimate aesthetic of the disco subculture.

9

Digital age

Image: Xiong Yan

We have now arrived at our modern times ! The advent of the internet represented such a groundbreaking innovation in our everyday lives that it stands to reason that the digital age also influenced many of our fads and movements. The late 2000s and early 2010s were determined by this new massive access to information, which completely changed the way we consume culture and entertainment.

In that sense, this new, instant way to share information immediately meant that culture was now not only limited to geographical locations: Your favorite band or fashion icon could easily live on the other side of the world. This cultural exchange resulted in a rich and diverse movement, which is still developing to this very day.

10

All those wonderful memories…

Image: COSMOH LOVE

We have reserved the final entry on this list for the many objects that defined each of these decades. It is sometimes easier to picture an era through a specific item: Think about the 50s and their timeless jukeboxes, or the 90s and the above-mentioned flannel shirts.

In that sense, we have selected a few of our top picks. Some, like the Hula Hoop or the Frisbee, have truly transcended time: Although they were created decades ago, they are still thoroughly enjoyed by children and adults alike. Time hasn’t been that kind with others, though, like with the now practically extinct Tamagotchi. This digital pet was all the rage during the late 90s and early 2000s, but it ultimately fell into obscurity thanks to other digital mediums.