The oldest McDonald's restaurant that is still in business operation is a drive-up hamburger stand at 10207 Lakewood Boulevard at Florence Avenue in Downey, California, United States.

The outlet still retains the original, standardized Golden Arches façade design and is one of Downey's main tourist attractions.

Along with its sign, it was deemed eligible for addition to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, although it was not added at the time because the owner objected.

Its menu came to differ from that of other McDonald's restaurants, and lacked items such as the Big Mac that were developed by the corporation.

This simplified menu, and food preparation using assembly line principles, allowed them to sell hamburgers for 15 cents, or about half as much as at a sit-down restaurant.

The original hexagonal McDonald's hamburger stand in San Bernardino was demolished in 1953 and replaced by a building in the now familiar Golden Arches style.

The site of the original McDonald's was purchased in 1998 by Albert Okura, owner of the Juan Pollo outlet, for $135,000 in a foreclosure sale.

[6] The second outlet opened in North Hollywood, California on Victory Blvd on August 1, 1953, licensed by McDonald's and operated as Peaks, was demolished in 1986 for an Arby’s.

[8] The 11th McDonald's at 1900 South Central Avenue in Los Angeles, later a taco restaurant, was demolished in 2016.