by
Sarah Schmalbruch
Taco Bell launched the Bell Beefer in the late '70s.
Taco Bell
Many fast food chains have come to be defined by their most timeless menu items — McDonald's has the Big Mac, Taco Bell the Crunch Wrap Supreme, and Wendy's its Frostys.
But there are probably some dishes you had no idea existed — and no longer do.
We took a trip down memory lane and unearthed 19 delicious fast food menu items that have unfortunately been discontinued.
Keep scrolling to see what was being served at your favorite chains in the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s.
McDonald's McSalad Shakers
McSalad Shakers.
McDonald's
Fast food salads have never sounded like a great idea, but we stand by the fact that the McSalad Shakers were the best iteration of the meal we've seen. Still, diners weren't enthused enough about the three options — chef, garden, and grilled chicken Caesar — for the cup-o-salads to stay on the menu for longer than three years.
However, a Facebook page now exists with the goal of bringing the shakers back.
Burger King's Cini-Minis
Cini-Minis.
Burger King/YouTube
Back in 1998, Burger King teamed up with Pillsbury to make magic that came in the form of Cini-Minis. These miniature cinnamon rolls were meant to be just the heart of the bun — ie the best part — and were served hot with a packet of icing that you could either use for pouring on top or dipping in.
We're not sure why they were discontinued, but we're definitely here for this Twitter account dedicated to bringing them back.
Wendy's Chicken Caesar Pita
Wendy's pitas.
Wendy's/YouTube
If you ate at Wendy's with any regularity during the late '90s, chances are you tried — and loved — the chain's Chicken Caesar Pita. Boasting low-fat Caesar dressing and warm bread, this dish (and the two others versions the chain introduced) was supposedly Wendy's answer to the "wrap craze" that was taking over fast food restaurants at the time.
This dinner favorite made it about three years before it was discontinued. But its legacy lives on on sites like Pinterest and Top Secret Recipes where many try to recreate it.
KFC's Chicken Littles
The new Chicken Littles.
Sarah Jacobs
Yes, Chicken Littles are currently available on KFC's menu, but this modern reprisal that was brought back in 2012 is nothing like the OG version from the '80s, according to die-hard fans. Diners found beauty in the original Littles' simplicity — the snackable sandwich consisted of a roll, a small breaded chicken patty, and a touch of a mayonnaise.
KFC fans argue that the chain ruined the classic when they added pickles to the sandwich and replaced the plain roll and chicken patty with a sesame seed roll and a chicken tender in 2012.
Jack in the Box's Cheesy Macaroni Bites
Cheesy Macaroni Bites.
Jack in the Box
Not many fast food restaurants offer mac and cheese, so there's no doubt that diners were excited when Jack in the Box launched its macaroni bites back in 2008. These little triangles were filled with Kraft mac and cheese "enveloped in a crunchy, tempura-style coating." Touted as "finger food" that was "convenient and portable," it's a mystery to us why these little bites didn't become a permanent fixture on the chain's menu.
Pizza Hut's Taco Pizza
The Taco Pizza.
Pizza Hut/YouTube
The best way to eat a taco in the '80s was to eat it on a Pizza Hut pizza, apparently. Introduced in the late '70s, the taco pizza was just what it sounded like: a regular pizza smothered in taco toppings. If you're still confused, take a look at the classically '70scommercial that introduced it.
Some call it the best pizza ever made. One couple even got engaged while eating a pizza taco in 1979. They ate one on the day of their engagement every year after and have been making their own version for decades since the pizza was discontinued. If that's not a sign of a good pizza, we don't know what is.
McDonald's Arch Deluxe
The Arch Deluxe.
McDonald's via Andrew Selvaggio
Despite being an undeniable flop, the Arch Deluxe sounds like it would have been a pretty tasty burger. Conceived as a way to get adults more excited about eating Mickey D's with their children, the burger was touted as a more "gourmet" and "complex" menu item featuring a quarter-pound beef patty, bacon, all the rest of the regular burger fixings, and the chain's special Arch Sauce (a mix of mustard and mayo).
Bonus fun fact: Jessica Biel was featured a commercial for it that ran in 1996 — the year the burger was introduced and discontinued.
Burger King's Ribs
Burger King's Ribs.
hagan.blount/Flickr
In the summer of 2010, Burger King debuted what turned out to be a wildly successful limited-time menu item: pork ribs. People loved them so much that the chain sold 10 million of them and ran out a week before the offer was meant to end.
The $8 per order ribs featured a light glaze, and fans speculate that their appeal came from the fact that they were real — not frozen — meat.
Wendy's Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty
Wendy's Twisted Frostys.
Wendy's
Wendy's has long been known for its answer to the milkshake: the Frosty. Back in 2009, the chain introduced a new flavor to its regular offerings of chocolate and vanilla. Dubbed the Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty, this treat lent itself well to the catchy music video it came to be known by. With lyrics like "Ooh baby, do you want to get frosty with me," it's no wonder we haven't forgotten about this menu item. Sadly, the frosty only made it two years before being discontinued in 2011.
Taco Bell's Spicy Chicken Burrito
Spicy Chicken Burrito.
Taco Bell
This burrito had quite the run before it was discontinued in 2011. Part of the Big Bell Value Menu for eight years, this flour tortilla came loaded with rice, spicy shredded chicken, salsa and an addictive creamy jalapeño sauce. Its replacement — the shredded chicken burrito— just doesn't boast the same combination of enticing flavors.
However, depending on how far you're willing to go for your cravings, you can allegedly still find the spicy chicken burrito at certain Taco Bells in Ontario, Canada.
Sonic's French Toaster Breakfast Sandwich
The French Toaster breakfast sandwich.
Sonic
Two breakfast classics molded into one? Yes please. Sonic had the genius idea of squeezing eggs, cheese, and bacon or sausage between two mega-slices of French toast back in 2015 — and there's never been a better breakfast of champions since.
The chain did come out with the Breakfast Toaster, which is similar but lacks the best part of the original: the French toast.
McDonald's onion nuggets
Onion nuggets.
McDonald's
A true fast food relic from the late '70s, these deep-fried onion bits, part of McDonald's dollar menu, were short lived. They were discontinued shortly after being introduced, though why remains a mystery.
Arby's Sourdough Melts
Arby's sourdough melt.
Arby's
Although some claimed that Arby's sourdough bread was more "chewy" than "crispy,"there's no debating that sourdough is the ideal bread for a melt. Introduced in the early 2000s, Arby's melts came with ham and Swiss or roast beef and Thousand Island dressing.
KFC's Double Down Sandwich
The Double Down.
KFC
KFC debuted what can only be called one of the unhealthiest fast food sandwiches in history in 2010 when they first put the Double Down on the menu. Made up of two filets of deep-fried chicken and bacon, cheese, and special sauce, it was a short-lived calorie bomb that we can only think would make the best drunk food ever.
The sandwich's artery-clogging ingredients didn't stop diners from loving it. KFC was only planning on selling the Double Down for six weeks, but decided to extend that period after selling close to 10 million sandwiches in the first couple months after the menu item debuted.
McDonald's Pizza
McDonald's Pizza.
Retrocade Podcast/Facebook
Although you may have heard this late-'80s-era menu item called the "McPizza," it was never actually named that by McDonald's. Instead, the chain just called it pizza and hoped that it would bring in customers who frequented other pizza chains like Domino's and Pizza Hut. Starting out as full-size pies, McDonald's pizza was then offered in individual sizes with toppings like sausage, peppers, onions, pepperoni, and mushrooms before it was discontinued.
However, two locations stayed faithful to the cheesey masterpiece — one in Spencer, West Virginia, and another in Pomeroy, Ohio, both of which were owned by the same franchisee. It wasn't until September 2017 that the locations stopped serving pizza, thanks to a decision made by McDonald's corporate team.
Sarah Schmalbruch
Taco Bell launched the Bell Beefer in the late '70s.
Taco Bell
Many fast food chains have come to be defined by their most timeless menu items — McDonald's has the Big Mac, Taco Bell the Crunch Wrap Supreme, and Wendy's its Frostys.
But there are probably some dishes you had no idea existed — and no longer do.
We took a trip down memory lane and unearthed 19 delicious fast food menu items that have unfortunately been discontinued.
Keep scrolling to see what was being served at your favorite chains in the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s.
McDonald's McSalad Shakers
McSalad Shakers.
McDonald's
Fast food salads have never sounded like a great idea, but we stand by the fact that the McSalad Shakers were the best iteration of the meal we've seen. Still, diners weren't enthused enough about the three options — chef, garden, and grilled chicken Caesar — for the cup-o-salads to stay on the menu for longer than three years.
However, a Facebook page now exists with the goal of bringing the shakers back.
Burger King's Cini-Minis
Cini-Minis.
Burger King/YouTube
Back in 1998, Burger King teamed up with Pillsbury to make magic that came in the form of Cini-Minis. These miniature cinnamon rolls were meant to be just the heart of the bun — ie the best part — and were served hot with a packet of icing that you could either use for pouring on top or dipping in.
We're not sure why they were discontinued, but we're definitely here for this Twitter account dedicated to bringing them back.
Wendy's Chicken Caesar Pita
Wendy's pitas.
Wendy's/YouTube
If you ate at Wendy's with any regularity during the late '90s, chances are you tried — and loved — the chain's Chicken Caesar Pita. Boasting low-fat Caesar dressing and warm bread, this dish (and the two others versions the chain introduced) was supposedly Wendy's answer to the "wrap craze" that was taking over fast food restaurants at the time.
This dinner favorite made it about three years before it was discontinued. But its legacy lives on on sites like Pinterest and Top Secret Recipes where many try to recreate it.
KFC's Chicken Littles
The new Chicken Littles.
Sarah Jacobs
Yes, Chicken Littles are currently available on KFC's menu, but this modern reprisal that was brought back in 2012 is nothing like the OG version from the '80s, according to die-hard fans. Diners found beauty in the original Littles' simplicity — the snackable sandwich consisted of a roll, a small breaded chicken patty, and a touch of a mayonnaise.
KFC fans argue that the chain ruined the classic when they added pickles to the sandwich and replaced the plain roll and chicken patty with a sesame seed roll and a chicken tender in 2012.
Jack in the Box's Cheesy Macaroni Bites
Cheesy Macaroni Bites.
Jack in the Box
Not many fast food restaurants offer mac and cheese, so there's no doubt that diners were excited when Jack in the Box launched its macaroni bites back in 2008. These little triangles were filled with Kraft mac and cheese "enveloped in a crunchy, tempura-style coating." Touted as "finger food" that was "convenient and portable," it's a mystery to us why these little bites didn't become a permanent fixture on the chain's menu.
Pizza Hut's Taco Pizza
The Taco Pizza.
Pizza Hut/YouTube
The best way to eat a taco in the '80s was to eat it on a Pizza Hut pizza, apparently. Introduced in the late '70s, the taco pizza was just what it sounded like: a regular pizza smothered in taco toppings. If you're still confused, take a look at the classically '70scommercial that introduced it.
Some call it the best pizza ever made. One couple even got engaged while eating a pizza taco in 1979. They ate one on the day of their engagement every year after and have been making their own version for decades since the pizza was discontinued. If that's not a sign of a good pizza, we don't know what is.
McDonald's Arch Deluxe
The Arch Deluxe.
McDonald's via Andrew Selvaggio
Despite being an undeniable flop, the Arch Deluxe sounds like it would have been a pretty tasty burger. Conceived as a way to get adults more excited about eating Mickey D's with their children, the burger was touted as a more "gourmet" and "complex" menu item featuring a quarter-pound beef patty, bacon, all the rest of the regular burger fixings, and the chain's special Arch Sauce (a mix of mustard and mayo).
Bonus fun fact: Jessica Biel was featured a commercial for it that ran in 1996 — the year the burger was introduced and discontinued.
Burger King's Ribs
Burger King's Ribs.
hagan.blount/Flickr
In the summer of 2010, Burger King debuted what turned out to be a wildly successful limited-time menu item: pork ribs. People loved them so much that the chain sold 10 million of them and ran out a week before the offer was meant to end.
The $8 per order ribs featured a light glaze, and fans speculate that their appeal came from the fact that they were real — not frozen — meat.
Wendy's Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty
Wendy's Twisted Frostys.
Wendy's
Wendy's has long been known for its answer to the milkshake: the Frosty. Back in 2009, the chain introduced a new flavor to its regular offerings of chocolate and vanilla. Dubbed the Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty, this treat lent itself well to the catchy music video it came to be known by. With lyrics like "Ooh baby, do you want to get frosty with me," it's no wonder we haven't forgotten about this menu item. Sadly, the frosty only made it two years before being discontinued in 2011.
Taco Bell's Spicy Chicken Burrito
Spicy Chicken Burrito.
Taco Bell
This burrito had quite the run before it was discontinued in 2011. Part of the Big Bell Value Menu for eight years, this flour tortilla came loaded with rice, spicy shredded chicken, salsa and an addictive creamy jalapeño sauce. Its replacement — the shredded chicken burrito— just doesn't boast the same combination of enticing flavors.
However, depending on how far you're willing to go for your cravings, you can allegedly still find the spicy chicken burrito at certain Taco Bells in Ontario, Canada.
Sonic's French Toaster Breakfast Sandwich
The French Toaster breakfast sandwich.
Sonic
Two breakfast classics molded into one? Yes please. Sonic had the genius idea of squeezing eggs, cheese, and bacon or sausage between two mega-slices of French toast back in 2015 — and there's never been a better breakfast of champions since.
The chain did come out with the Breakfast Toaster, which is similar but lacks the best part of the original: the French toast.
McDonald's onion nuggets
Onion nuggets.
McDonald's
A true fast food relic from the late '70s, these deep-fried onion bits, part of McDonald's dollar menu, were short lived. They were discontinued shortly after being introduced, though why remains a mystery.
Arby's Sourdough Melts
Arby's sourdough melt.
Arby's
Although some claimed that Arby's sourdough bread was more "chewy" than "crispy,"there's no debating that sourdough is the ideal bread for a melt. Introduced in the early 2000s, Arby's melts came with ham and Swiss or roast beef and Thousand Island dressing.
KFC's Double Down Sandwich
The Double Down.
KFC
KFC debuted what can only be called one of the unhealthiest fast food sandwiches in history in 2010 when they first put the Double Down on the menu. Made up of two filets of deep-fried chicken and bacon, cheese, and special sauce, it was a short-lived calorie bomb that we can only think would make the best drunk food ever.
The sandwich's artery-clogging ingredients didn't stop diners from loving it. KFC was only planning on selling the Double Down for six weeks, but decided to extend that period after selling close to 10 million sandwiches in the first couple months after the menu item debuted.
McDonald's Pizza
McDonald's Pizza.
Retrocade Podcast/Facebook
Although you may have heard this late-'80s-era menu item called the "McPizza," it was never actually named that by McDonald's. Instead, the chain just called it pizza and hoped that it would bring in customers who frequented other pizza chains like Domino's and Pizza Hut. Starting out as full-size pies, McDonald's pizza was then offered in individual sizes with toppings like sausage, peppers, onions, pepperoni, and mushrooms before it was discontinued.
However, two locations stayed faithful to the cheesey masterpiece — one in Spencer, West Virginia, and another in Pomeroy, Ohio, both of which were owned by the same franchisee. It wasn't until September 2017 that the locations stopped serving pizza, thanks to a decision made by McDonald's corporate team.
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