Introduction
Fast food has been a staple of the American diet for decades, and while some items have become iconic, others have been discontinued due to lack of popularity or health concerns. From the McPizza to the Burger King Enormous Omelet Sandwich, here are 10 bizarre fast-food items that have been discontinued. From the strange to the downright disgusting, these items are sure to make you wonder what the fast-food industry was thinking.
10 Bizarre Fast-Food Items That Were Discontinued
Fast-food restaurants are always coming up with new and innovative menu items, but sometimes they don’t always hit the mark. Here are 10 of the most bizarre fast-food items that have been discontinued.
1. Burger King’s Enormous Omelet Sandwich
Burger King’s Enormous Omelet Sandwich was a breakfast sandwich that was released in the early 2000s. It was a massive sandwich that featured a three-egg omelet, two slices of cheese, bacon, and sausage, all on a toasted bun. It was a bit too much for most people, and it was eventually discontinued.
2. McDonald’s McPizza
McDonald’s McPizza was a pizza that was released in the late 1980s. It was a large pizza with a thick crust and a variety of toppings. Unfortunately, it took too long to cook and was eventually discontinued.
3. Taco Bell’s Bell Beefer
Taco Bell’s Bell Beefer was a sandwich that was released in the late 1970s. It was a hamburger-like sandwich that featured a beef patty, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese, all on a toasted bun. It was a bit too messy and was eventually discontinued.
4. Burger King’s Satisfries
Burger King’s Satisfries were a healthier version of their classic French fries. They were made with a special batter that was supposed to make them less greasy and more nutritious. Unfortunately, they didn’t catch on and were eventually discontinued.
5. McDonald’s McDLT
McDonald’s McDLT was a sandwich that was released in the mid-1980s. It was a hamburger-like sandwich that featured a beef patty, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese, all on two separate buns. The idea was that the top bun would stay cool while the bottom bun would stay warm. Unfortunately, it was too complicated and was eventually discontinued.
6. KFC’s Double Down
KFC’s Double Down was a sandwich that was released in the early 2010s. It was a sandwich that featured two pieces of fried chicken instead of a bun, with bacon, cheese, and sauce in between. It was a bit too unhealthy and was eventually discontinued.
7. McDonald’s McHotDog
McDonald’s McHotDog was a hot dog that was released in the late 1990s. It was a large hot dog that was served on a bun with ketchup, mustard, and onions. Unfortunately, it didn’t catch on and was eventually discontinued.
8. Burger King’s Onion Rings
Burger King’s Onion Rings were a side dish that was released in the early 2000s. They were large, thick-cut onion rings that were deep-fried and served with a side of ranch dressing. Unfortunately, they didn’t catch on and were eventually discontinued.
9. Taco Bell’s Waffle Taco
Taco Bell’s Waffle Taco was a breakfast item that was released in the early 2010s. It was a waffle that was filled with scrambled eggs, sausage, and cheese, and served with a side of syrup. Unfortunately, it was a bit too messy and was eventually discontinued.
10. McDonald’s McLean Deluxe
McDonald’s McLean Deluxe was a hamburger that was released in the early 1990s. It was a hamburger that featured a patty made from seaweed and soy protein, and was served with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. Unfortunately, it didn’t catch on and was eventually discontinued.
All that glitters is not gold, and nowhere is that Shakespearean insight more evident than when you open the archives of fast food menus over the past few decades. These 10 discontinued fast-food menu items didn’t last the test of time, and when you take a look at them in all their culinary hybrid, oversized, oddly named glory, you’re bound to see why.
And for more, here are 8 Worst Fast-Food Burgers to Stay Away From Right Now.
We have Pizza Hut to thank for the rise of stuffed crust pizza, but this development is proof that not all good ideas need to be improved upon. Canada, Australia, the U.K., and South Korea all had this mash-up pizza before we got a stateside rendition that contained 28 mini hot dogs baked into the crust. However, the item was quietly discontinued soon after its launch in 2015. Check out some other crimes against pizza on our Unhealthiest Pizzas in America list.
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This is what results when you take mac and cheese, form it into a log, and coat it with stop-light-colored Cheetos dust. The idea may be nice, but it defeats the purpose of fast food because it can’t truly be eaten on the go, as you need to be in the vicinity of a sink at all times to clean up your hands to do anything else. So while these were originally available at Burger King in 2016, you can now find a boxed version at some stores.
“I’d like this latte to taste a bit like chicken wings,” said no one ever. While lattes made with beetroot or mushroom adaptogens are still riding the crest of their trend wave, this savory latte from Tim Horton’s was understandably short-lived. In addition to the normal players like espresso and steamed milk, this creation also included Buffalo sauce flavor and a final sprinkling of Buffalo seasoning.
This McDonald’s fast-food fail might tie onion rings for the title of worst food to eat on a first date. Onion nuggets were exactly what they sounded like and were around briefly in the 1970s but never took off. Their only redeeming quality is that they looked exactly like chicken nuggets, but if that’s the aesthetic you’re going for, just order chicken nuggets.
Consider this short-lived Burger King offering one reason why fast-food joints should stay in their lanes. By swapping the hamburger bun for a flour tortilla and ketchup for neon queso, it was one part burger, one part burrito, and 100% unnecessary. Reviews called it “as disgusting as it looks” and bluntly avowed that, with this release, Burger King had “no regard for basic decency.”
Rule of thumb: If the name doesn’t flow, it’s not going to last. Exhibit A is this unfortunate 2012 hybrid from Cinnabon, the company that quickly learned it should stick to beloved sweet staples and leave savory to the pizza pros. Luckily, their original cinnamon buns are so good that the public was willing to forgive them. Check out these 13 Foods That Were All the Rage in the ’90s.
Sure, it may just look like a normal burger on the surface. But that’s exactly why this new “healthy” option was such a disappointment. McDonald’s is one place that didn’t need to get in on the low-fat trend of the ’90s, and customers preferred tried-and-true Big Macs to this 91% fat-free burger made with beef and seaweed extract.
This confusing name was Pizza Hut’s fancy way of saying Chicago style–inspired pizza. It apparently took quite a long time to cook (probably because it’s at least six times taller than an average pie) which goes against the concept of “fast food.” Plus, with multiple layers of crust and fillings, it was more pizza lasagna than deep-dish pie and seemed destined to leave you with a stomach ache.
The name itself doesn’t raise any red flags—until you add in the context that this was an offering at Subway, not Taco Bell. While it seems like every fast food place tries a chip-based menu item to earn their stripes, the combination of pulled chicken, melted cheddar, and Frito bits just didn’t quite fit in with the “eat fresh” ethos.
KFC’s gut bomb of a chicken sandwich may have a loud and loyal following, but for the sake of everyone’s arterial linings, we’re glad that this all-fried-chicken, no-bun menu item is no longer listed. Word on the street is that you can still hack your way to a secret menu version of the sandwich if you truly can’t resist the pull. Plus, don’t miss 11 Secrets KFC Doesn’t Want You to Know.
Abby Reisner