"Where's the beef?" is a catchphrase in the United States and Canada, introduced as a slogan for the fast food chain Wendy's in 1984. Since then it has become an all-purpose phrase questioning the substance of an idea, event, or product.
The picture sleeve of a "Where's the Beef?" single, recorded by Coyote McCloud and Clara Peller, based on her advertisement catchphrase
2020 Where's the Beef ad
Wendy's is an American international fast food restaurant chain founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio. Its headquarters moved to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006. As of December 31, 2018, Wendy's was the world's third-largest hamburger fast-food chain with 6,711 locations, following Burger King and McDonald's. On September 29, 2008, the company merged with Triarc Companies Inc., the publicly traded parent company of Arby's; Wendy's headquarters remained in Dublin. Triarc then became known as Wendy's/Arby's Group, and later as the Wendy's Company following the sale of Arby's to Roark Capital Group.
Flagship Wendy's in Dublin, Ohio
Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy's, in 1998
The first Wendy's, in Downtown Columbus, Ohio, on its last day of operation (2007)
A busy front counter at a Wendy's restaurant in Niagara Falls, Ontario