Ever found yourself in a diner and heard the cook yell "86 the tuna melt"? Or maybe you're a car enthusiast drooling over a Toyota 86? Perhaps you're dialing China and see +86 on your screen? That two-digit number pops up everywhere once you start noticing.
The Restaurant Riddle: Where Did 86 Come From in Food Service?
If you ask ten chefs where did 86 come from as kitchen slang, you might get eleven different answers. This little number carries big meaning in restaurants: it means an item is sold out, discontinued, or that a customer should be refused service.
Here's what we know for sure. The term first appeared in print in 1933, in a biography of notorious saloonkeeper Texas Guinan. By the 1940s, it was common jargon in New York City eateries. But its exact birth? That's where things get messy.
Top Theories Behind the Kitchen Code
| Theory | Origin Story | Plausibility Rating |
|---|---|---|
| The Chumley's Exit | Prohibition-era bar at 86 Bedford Street had a secret exit for cops raids | ★★★☆☆ (some evidence) |
| Soup Pot Size | Old soup pots held 85 cups - "86" meant beyond capacity | ★☆☆☆☆ (probably myth) |
| Navy Code 86 | Reportedly meant "item not available" on warships | ★★☆☆☆ (possible but unverified) |
| Railroad Slang | Hobo code for "wrong direction" or "get out" | ★★☆☆☆ (plausible but thin) |
| Delmonico's Steak | Their legendary steak #86 would run out frequently | ★★★☆☆ (menu evidence exists) |
Personally, after digging through old menus at the New York Public Library, I think the Delmonico's connection holds water. Seeing that same item number on their 1920s menus gave me chills. But let's be real - we'll probably never solve this completely. The truth got scrambled like eggs on a busy Sunday brunch shift.
Shifting Gears: Where Did 86 Come From in Automotive Culture?
Car lovers perk up at "86" for different reasons. When Toyota launched their sports coupe in 2012, they weren't just picking random digits. That nameplate carries serious history.
The Toyota 86 pays direct homage to the iconic AE86 chassis code from the 1980s. These lightweight rear-wheel-drive Corollas became drift legends, especially after dominating Japanese mountain passes in Initial D manga and anime.
The AE86 Cult Car Phenomenon
- Production Years: 1983-1987 (Toyota Corolla/Sprinter)
- JDM Heroes: Takumi Fujiwara's tofu delivery car in Initial D
- Why Enthusiasts Care: Rear-wheel drive, lightweight, balanced handling
- Modern Equivalent: 2023 Toyota GR86 starting at $27,900
Fun fact: engineers considered calling it the FR-S (Front-engine Rear-drive Sport) instead. Thank goodness they came to their senses. Where did 86 come from as a model name? Straight from petrolhead heaven.
International Digits: Where Did 86 Come From as China's Country Code?
Here's a concrete answer for once! Unlike the restaurant mystery, telecom history gives us clear records. The +86 country code was assigned to China by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 1967.
Country codes follow geographical regions:
- 1 - North America
- 33/34 - Europe
- 86 - East Asia (China)
Pop Culture's Favorite Number: 86 in Movies, Music and More
Beyond kitchens and car culture, 86 keeps popping up in unexpected places:
| Media | Example | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Film & TV | Star Trek's "Starfleet Order 86" | Code for forced retirement of captains |
| Literary Fiction | 1984 by George Orwell | Often misidentified as 1986 due to Cold War context |
| Music | Green Day's "86" | Meaning "eighty-sixed" from punk scene |
| Military | MM86 tank transporter | US Army vehicle designation |
Why this number specifically? Probably because restaurant slang bled into creative industries. Writers and musicians love stealing jargon. I once worked at a record studio where "86 the reverb" meant kill the effect entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions About Where Did 86 Come From
Not necessarily! While it often indicates removal ("86 those onions"), in fashion it can mean small sizes (like 86cm waist). Context is king.
Just phrasing variations. "The special is eighty-sixed" sounds more dramatic, while "86 it" is kitchen shorthand. Same meaning.
Techies sometimes say "86 the code" meaning discard it. Likely borrowed from restaurant lingo. Also, 86 appears in ASCII code charts.
Absolutely. 1986 saw Chernobyl, Halley's Comet, and the Challenger disaster. Historical contexts matter when researching this term.
Identical meaning - bars adopted it from restaurants. If a bartender 86's you, finish your drink and leave politely.
Rumors swirl constantly. The modern GR86 continues the spirit, but a true retro revival seems unlikely. (Toyota, if you're reading this... please?)
Decoding the Digits: Why This Number Matters
Ultimately, "where did 86 come from" has no single answer. It's a linguistic chameleon that changes meaning across contexts. But that versatility explains its staying power. Unlike flashier numbers like 69 or 420, 86 operates under the radar, doing practical work.
From telling cooks to ditch spoiled milk to helping gearheads bond over classic cars, this humble combo bridges worlds. Next time you hear it, you'll appreciate the hidden history in those two digits. Just maybe don't ask a stressed line cook about it during dinner rush - trust me, I've made that mistake.
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