Sonic Drive-In is only in 45 states, but you’ve probably heard of it because it advertises all over the country, even if you don’t live near one. This fast food chain is unlike other drive-thrus, as it still has a classic drive-in setup. If you go to the restaurant, you can park under an awning and be cool. Then, you can use a speaker to order your food, and a carhop will bring it to you on roller skates. The place feels like it’s from the past, but the fast food on the menu is straight out of the future.
There are many things you might not know about Sonic, even if you live close to one. Read on to discover more about the true history of this fast food joint. It will give you something to chew on the next time you have to wait for a carhop to bring you food.
A juicy Sonic burger, sandwiched between soft buns and topped with melty cheese, tangy onions, and crisp lettuce is the stuff of drive-in dreams. But for all those devoted Sonic fans out there, one burning question remains – just where does that mouthwatering burger beef actually come from?
As your resident Sonic scholars, we’re going behind the scenes to trace the complex supply chain that puts the beef in your Sonic bacon cheeseburger. Grab a Route 44 drink and settle in as we uncover what makes Sonic’s beef stand out from the crowd.
Made With 100% Pure Ground Beef
The first stop on our beefy expedition is examining what goes into a Sonic burger patty. Unlike some fast food chains, Sonic uses absolutely no fillers, additives, or extras in their beef. Their patties are crafted from nothing but pure, 100% ground beef.
This commitment to using high-quality actual beef – no tricks or shortcuts – delivers a patty that is wonderfully juicy, packed with authentic flavor, and satisfying to bite into. So you can rest assured your Sonic burger is the real, no-fuss deal.
Sourced From Trusted USDA-Inspected Suppliers
Delving deeper into the supply chain, we discover Sonic sources its prized beef from a carefully chosen network of USDA-inspected processors and packers. By partnering with reputable establishments that meet rigorous federal standards, Sonic ensures its beef adheres to all specifications for safety and purity.
Sonic also focuses on working with suppliers that are committed to sustainable practices, This attention to environmental impact means you can feel good about the burger you’re biting into
The Perks of Traceability
Today’s consumers rightly want to know where their food comes from, and Sonic has answered the call by implementing full traceability across its beef supply chain. Through high-tech tracking methods, they can pinpoint the precise journey of their beef from pasture to patty.
This traceable system gives Sonic enhanced oversight into the origins of their beef products. It also enables rapid response in the unlikely case of a recall or contamination issue. Bottom line – Sonic’s traceable beef gives you confidence in every tasty bite.
Safety First Across the Supply Chain
At each stop along the beef’s route to your burger, Sonic prioritizes rigorous safety protocols and processing standards. The chain exclusively uses beef from plants regulated by USDA’s stringent requirements, ensuring pathogen and contamination risks are minimized.
Within Sonic restaurants, strict procedures for safe raw meat handling, storage, and prep aim to eliminate cross-contamination risks. When you chomp into a juicy Sonic burger, you can take comfort in the multiple safety checks it has undergone.
How Sonic Stacks Up to Other Chains
Unlike some other fast food chains that add fillers, preservatives or binders into their beef, Sonic keeps things clean with 100% pure ground beef Their burgers are also made strictly to order, so you always get a fresh, hot-off-the-grill patty.
Sonic also offers options like specialty buns and an expansive list of toppings to customize your perfect burger – a level of flexibility that gives them an advantage over many big name competitors.
What’s Next for Sonic’s Beef?
As consumer preferences evolve, Sonic appears willing to adapt. Recent moves like blending mushrooms into burgers and eliminating gestation crates for pork suggest the chain is ready to respond to the growing demand for transparency, quality, and sustainability.
Though Sonic has not yet publicized any upcoming changes to their beef supply chain, we may see shifts towards sourcing beef raised more humanely and sustainably. Alternatives like blended beef-mushroom patties could also be expanded.
One thing is for sure – Sonic will continue providing the satisfying all-American taste their fans crave by sticking to high standards for quality and safety every step of the way.
So next time you’re debating cheeseburger vs. chili cheese Coney at the Sonic drive-in, you can feel good knowing your beef has followed a wholesome, responsible journey right to your tastebuds. Now step on the gas and let’s get eating!
It started out as a root beer stand
Today Sonic Drive-In is known for its insane selection of beverages, but back in the day it kept things simple with one soft drink thats fallen a bit by the wayside: root beer.
The first Sonic was actually a root beer stand. Founder Troy Smith had just come back from fighting in WWII and was looking for a new way to make money. He bought a root beer, hot dog, and hamburger stand on the edge of town. In the mornings, he drove a bread delivery truck, and in the afternoon, he went back to the drive-in to work until the end of the night.
Root beer was the drink of the moment during the turn of the 20th century and remained hugely popular for the first half of it. The first A&W root beer stand was opened just after World War One, with similar stands (including the first Sonic) opening up through the 50s, when cola became more popular, and stands started focusing on their food as the main draw instead of their soda.
The onion rings are fresh — and they have a strange ingredient
“Fast food” and “fresh” arent exactly synonymous, but there are a few exceptions. Just like In-N-Out cuts their potatoes fresh every day in the store, Sonic makes their onion rings by hand.
The rings are covered in a crunchy cornmeal, and most stores have someone whose job it is to cut up onions, coat them in batter, and fry them. Sonic’s rings have a unique sweet taste that mixes with the salt to make you want to order more before you finish the first batch.
According to one former employee, the secret to their sweetness is vanilla ice cream. Instead of a traditional egg mix, the onions are dipped into liquid vanilla soft serve mix, dipped in flour, dipped back in the soft serve mix, dipped into cornmeal, and then fried. Its a strange combination, but if youve ever tasted their onion rings, you have to admit that it works.
WHERE the Heck Does Sonic Live?
FAQ
What beef does Sonic use?
What grade of beef does McDonald’s use?
Which fast food uses real beef?
Are Sonic burgers processed?
What is a burger made of at Sonic?
The burger is made with beef, 25-30% mushrooms, and seasonings, and served on a brioche bun with mayo, onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles. [Photo: courtesy Sonic]
Does Sonic cut beef with mushrooms?
By cutting beef with mushrooms, Sonic is also lowering the fat content, sodium content, and overall calories of their burgers, making the Slinger patties healthier and just as tasty as a regular beef patty.
Are Sonic Slingers better than ground beef?
Thus, through their Slingers, Sonic is directly decreasing the land and water needed to maintain our current levels of beef production while putting out a more nutritious and equally delicious burger. Theoretically, the Sonic Slingers could also lower cost, since mushrooms fetch for a significantly lower price than ground beef does per pound.
Does Sonic have a Mushroom Burger?
The chain’s new Signature Slingers will contain 25 percent mushrooms, NPR reports. In a news release, Sonic says it “revamped the traditional American cheeseburger” to offer “all the flavor with none of the guilt.” The new burger debuted on the menu Monday and starts at under 350 calories.