# Do Any Fast Food Joints Still Use Paper Hats?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 6, 2000, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288 "2000-12-06T10:25:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/1 "2000-12-06T10:25:51Z")
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- I can just barely recall seeing the slaves at McD’s wearing them during the twighlight of my youth. Haven’t seen any in quite a few years, but I don’t remember the exact last time (kinda like penny gumball machines…). Is there anywhere else left? Either local joints or corporate chains? - MC
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### Author:  [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/2 "2000-12-06T10:39:28Z")
BurgerVille USA in Oregon and Washington still uses paper hats. But their food sucks now and it’s all overpriced and overcooked. Damn e-coli whiners.
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### Author:  [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/3 "2000-12-06T10:42:37Z")
Some of the cheesier, dinky little local places here still use them. Also, some cafeteria workers at public schools use them as well… or at least they did 11 years ago. As inexpensive as they must be, I can’t see them dying out completely.
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### Author:  [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/4 "2000-12-06T10:52:11Z")
During my years as a McD’s employee, if a crew member forgot his or her hat, as punishment and humiliation-inspired reminder, he/she had to wear a paper hat. This was just a few years ago.
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### Author:  [@Hokienautic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokienautic)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/5 "2000-12-06T14:23:40Z")
I was in Blacksburg, VA (home of Virginia Tech) for a football game a few weeks ago, and after the game we stopped in a Burger King for a snack. Guy at the counter had on a paper hat. Dunno if it was punishment or anythng, but it was there.
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### Author:  [@LazarusLong42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LazarusLong42)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/6 "2000-12-06T14:46:16Z")
Maybe they don’t quite count as “fast” food, but Johnny Rockets and Steak ‘n’ Shake employees often are seen wearing paper hats. These are both national chains, AFAIK.
LL
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/7 "2000-12-06T18:41:29Z")
I’m pretty sure In’n’Out Burger in California still wears 'em. Incidentally, their Double Double with grilled onions is, IMHO, the best cheesburger on the planet.
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### Author:  [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/8 "2000-12-06T19:00:20Z")
I looked at the In 'n Out website and I couldn’t tell. There’s a picture of three employees, one of whom might be wearing a paper hat. The others are wearing caps.
I think I’m going to have to go there tonight and check my facts.
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### Author:  [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/9 "2000-12-06T19:45:34Z")
I am on my way to get a Double-Double right now, I will let you know after lunch!
Slightly off the subject, the employees at Hot Dog on a Stick may not wear paper hats, but they definetly wear really bad hats. Like a carnival corn dog vendor, only worse- tall, wide primary-colored stripes, some kind of beanie-thing on top as I recall. Fugly.
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### Author:  [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/10 "2000-12-06T20:49:59Z")
**Do Any Fast Food Joints Still Use Paper Hats?**
I’m sure that some fast-food employees, when they’ve forgotten their rolling papers, still use paper hats to make their joints.
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### Author:  [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/11 "2000-12-06T20:54:15Z")
The Varsity in Atlanta (World’s Largest Drive-In) still uses paper hats. They even have a supply to give customers. There’s on sitting on my desk right now. Wanna see what they look like? Poke around at:
[http://www.thevarsity.com](http://www.thevarsity.com)
Turn up your sound to here some of the catchphrases that have been used for decades.
What’ll ya have? A nekkid dawg walkin’ and a large FO. (translation: May I take your order, Sir? Yes, I’ll have a hotdog with no condiments and a large frosted orange shake, please.)
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### Author:  [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/12 "2000-12-06T20:57:05Z")
Oops, I explained the nekkid dawg and FO but failed to mention that “walkin’” means “to go”.
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### Author:  [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/13 "2000-12-06T21:01:11Z")
Ok, just scarfed my cheeseburger.
Yes, the employees at In-n-Out Burger wear both a red ball cap, and **silly paper hats**!
I’m not sure, but the woman wearing the ball cap might have been a manager. Perks.
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### Author:  [@Anachronism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anachronism)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/14 "2000-12-06T22:21:07Z")
I deliver to Burger KIng and very rarely I deliver a (very dusty) box of paper hats. Don’t know if anyone really wears them.
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### Author:  [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/15 "2000-12-06T22:27:32Z")
Steak ‘n’ Shake also passes them out to kids. They’re not a national chain though, just 11 states I think.
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### Author:  [@muffinman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muffinman)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/16 "2000-12-06T22:36:04Z")
I work in a Publix deli. We have paper hats available, but most choose to wear either a ball cap or net. The meat department wears them though, as their job is significantly messier.
Also, I don’t think they wear them at my local steak n’ shake, but I could be wrong.
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### Author:  [@schief2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schief2)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/17 "2000-12-06T22:49:38Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by mblackwell \*
> \*\*Steak ‘n’ Shake also passes them out to kids. They’re not a national chain though, just 11 states I think. \*\*
[Sixteen](http://www.steaknshake.com/location.asp), actually…primarily in the Midwest and South. **Steak ‘n’ Shake** is almost as common as dirt in St. Louis - there’s something like 37(!) in the metro area.
Does **Hardee’s** have paper hats? It’s been awhile since I’ve been masochistic enough to grab a meal there.
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### Author:  [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/18 "2000-12-06T22:58:38Z")
Doctor Jackson screws up thusly:
> [@](#):
>
> Turn up your sound to here some of the catchphrases…
and, so fast that no one evens notices, fixes it thusly:
Turn up your sound to _hear_ some of the catchphrases…
Ta da!
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### Author:  [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2000, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/19 "2000-12-06T23:54:13Z")
I think we’ve established that the answer to the OP is “yes.” Do we really need another list thread?
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### Author:  [@Pot\_o\_Gold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pot_o_Gold)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2000, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-fast-food-joints-still-use-paper-hats/44288/20 "2000-12-07T03:08:15Z")
Our McDonald’s uses them. I’m sure it’s an option at every franchise.
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