Paper crowns, onion ring-laced French fries, hours of laughter, and a place where language barriers dissipate in the presence of a universal word: “Whopper,” Burger King is a place that evokes powerful memories for immigrants, as many are sharing in a pair of social media posts. Commenters from social media who spoke to New Times agreed that the Miami-based burger joint is an essential part of the American Dream; it’s where a meal signifies that you’ve made it.
The realization for many began where all major modern trends spawn: TikTok, where users began sharing stories of their parents’ love for Burger King. Americana buffs may recall that Burger King actually began as Insta-Burger King in Jacksonville in the early 1950s, before moving its headquarters to Miami in 1959, where it completed its transformation into the Burger King we know today. According to Miami culinary savant Burger Beast, the first Insta-Burger King in Miami opened on December 4, 1954, at 3090 NW 36th St.
Nine more locations opened in then-Dade County during that decade, establishing a sizable foothold in South Florida just before scores of Cuban immigrants arrived. But proximity to immigration hotspots is only part of the equation, according to those who spoke to New Times. After all, McDonald’s has, in many cases, been in the same markets longer than Burger King (which did not respond to New Times‘ request for comment)…