Why stick to the official menu at your favorite fast food joints? For clued-up customers, there are some amazing lesser-known dishes on offer. Secret menus are unofficial, unadvertised options recommended via word of mouth. They range from well-known insider picks (hi, In-N-Out secret menu) to popular ways you can hack what’s on offer – we're looking at you, McDonald's dinner bundle box. Listed A-Z by restaurant chain, here's what to ask for next time you're in the mood for something a little different from your usual order...
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover 34 delicious fast food secret menu items you've probably been missing out on.
This secret menu order is actually a way to enjoy an old favorite. The Arby’s Melt used to be on the regular menu – and when it was removed, fans figured out they could just keep asking for it. The Melt features the chain's famous roast beef and a sesame seed bun, but it's the tasty Cheddar cheese sauce that makes this item truly sensational.
Now this is a sandwich. Apparently clocking in at 1,275 calories, the Meat Mountain is made with two chicken tenders, roast beef, corned beef, sliced roast turkey, pit-smoked ham, 13-hour smoked beef brisket, bacon, and Angus steak. Oh, and both Cheddar and Swiss cheeses. Talk about a protein punch! Arby’s servers should be pretty familiar with this secret menu item, so go ahead and order it whenever those meat cravings hit.
Why limit your sandwich by playing by the rules? Thanks to Arby’s generous policies when it comes to sandwich customization, there’s a whole host of different secret fillings you can try. Upgrade your BLT to an ultimate BLT by opting for eight slices of bacon rather than five, or bring back the classic Turkey ‘n’ Cheddar sandwich (officially gone since 2012) by swapping turkey into a Beef ‘n’ Cheddar version. If you like, you can also double stack your Reuben with twice the normal amount of meat.
This off-menu order subs the crispy fried chicken from Chick-fil-A's classic Crispy Chicken Sandwich into the Chicken Club Sandwich. The result is an addictive combo of deep-fried chicken, lettuce, tomato, smoked bacon, and Colby Jack cheese. To get in on the action, just ask for the Chicken Club Sandwich with original fried chicken instead of charbroiled.
One of Chick-fil-A’s most popular secret menu items, the Spicy Char takes the famous Grilled Chicken Sandwich and swaps the regular charbroiled chicken for a spicy version. In return, you get a sandwich zinging with heat and flavor: succulent spiced chicken, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and a side of barbecue sauce. Such a simple trade, such a great result. The very similar Grilled Spicy Deluxe is pictured here.
One of the most popular ways to deviate from Chipotle’s menu is to order yourself a hot, cheesy dose of loaded nachos. Sure, this item isn't officially on offer, but all the ingredients are. Just ask your server if they can do a burrito bowl with tortilla chips as the base, then load it up with all your favorite fixings. Oh, and to really nail this order, opt for queso rather than regular cheese.
Another popular Chipotle hack is the Quesarito: basically, a regular burrito wrapped inside a cheese quesadilla. Cheese in every bite? Yeah, it tastes as good as it sounds. Unfortunately, not every Chipotle restaurant will agree to make this for you. And, since it’s more complicated than a regular order, it’s worth asking at a time when there isn’t a super long line. But when the Quesarito stars align? This is Tex-Mex heaven!
Coffee lovers have got to try this one. While Dairy Queen doesn’t offer a specific coffee-flavored Blizzard, savvy fans figured out that the chain keeps a coffee syrup to hand, meaning you can ask for it to be added to your regular order. Trust us – once you try coffee in your vanilla Blizzard, there’s no going back.
Made by blending an Arctic Rush slush, cocoa fudge, and ice cream, this summer-appropriate hot chocolate alternative is officially only available on a seasonal basis – but don't let that stop you. Most Dairy Queen locations have the ingredients to make Frozen Hot Chocolate year round; if the store isn’t too busy, go ahead and ask for it whenever you want.
This secret menu trick is especially fun. Next time you’re at Del Taco, try asking to 'go bold' with your order. Those simple words will see crinkle cut fries and special sauce (from Del Taco’s Chicken Soft Tacos) added to whatever you ordered – think the Del Beef Burrito with added fries and creamy, tangy sauce. It really works – but, let’s be honest, half of the appeal is saying the words.
Want your Five Guys burger extra cheesy? Just ask for a grilled cheese sandwich with an added hamburger patty. Picture it: a crispy bun, melty cheese, and a succulent beef patty – and, since it’s Five Guys, you can add as many free toppings as you want. Just make sure your server grills the buns like they would with a normal grilled cheese.
In-N-Out Burger arguably invented the concept of the secret menu, and 'animal style' fries might just be the most famous ‘secret’ item of them all. For those not yet in the know, asking for your fries ‘animal style’ will get them topped with cheese, In-N-Out secret sauce, and grilled onions. Messy, but so good. Take note: you can also get these toppings in a burger by uttering those same magic words.
Though the official In-N-Out menu only offers a single hamburger or Double Double (two patties and two slices of cheese), servers will happily make you a 3x3 – or even a 4x4 – burger if you ask for it. Yep, that’s four patties and four slices of cheese. Not for little appetites! Want more hacks? Asking for your burger to be mustard grilled will see the cook squirt mustard on the patty as it sizzles away on the grill.
On a keto diet? This In-N-Out order is for you. You’ll be familiar with the chain’s standard regular and ‘Protein Style’ (with lettuce leaves replacing the bun) burger options pictured here, but the Flying Dutchman is something else. Order this and you’ll receive two slices of cheese melted between two burger patties – literally, a burger sandwich. Pickles and spread will come on the side for you to add yourself, since it’s too messy for the cooks to do so.
Can’t decide between In-N-Out’s chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla shakes? Why not have all three? Simply ask for a Neapolitan shake, and you’ll get every flavor in one cup, just like the classic ice cream variety. Keep them separate or give them a stir to experience all three flavors together. You can also try asking for a root beer float to get root beer mixed with any shake flavor you like.
Did you know that there’s a ton of ways to customize your Jamba Juice order? Once you start experimenting with your own creations, there’s no going back. Try a smoothie take on Fruity Pebbles cereal by ordering 12oz soy milk with a scoop each of lime, raspberry, pineapple, and orange sherbet. Alternatively, sip away on a drink that tastes like Sour Patch Kids by mixing that same sherbet order with 12oz lemonade and a scoop of blueberries.
Here’s a really tasty hack. Did you know that there’s no need to stick to the Famous Bowl at KFC? A lot of locations will let you DIY your own bowl, adding pretty much anything you like from the menu at the same time. Our top tip? Recreate the Hot Pocket Bowl, which used to be available on the official menu, by asking for a hot pocket of dough with chicken and topping it with melted cheese, gravy, and corn.
If you don’t think KFC’s Double Down is already hefty enough, the Triple Down might be right up your alley. The Double Down (pictured) replaces a burger bun with two pieces of chicken, and the Triple Down goes one step further by making it a triple-decker – adding another layer of chicken, cheese, and bacon.
What’s better than a McDonald’s Apple Pie? Easy: a McDonald’s Apple Pie blended into a McFlurry. Once you get a taste of this dessert, it'll become your new go-to. We’re talking creamy, cold ice cream melting around hot, flaky chunks of pastry and apple filling. Some servers will agree to blend the pie into the McFlurry for you. If they don’t, it’s easy enough to break the pie up and stir it in yourself. Trust us, the extra effort will be worth it.
A McDonald’s birthday party is a rite of passage for many, but did you know that you don’t have to celebrate at the restaurant to get a cake? McDonald’s franchises have the option of selling birthday cakes if they want to, although they're not on the official nationwide menu. The cakes, which come in vanilla and chocolate flavors, could be available to take home at a location near you. It doesn’t hurt to ask!
The internet went wild for this special McDonald’s hack following a viral TikTok video from @xolovelei. It showed a family rolling up to a drive-thru asking for a ‘Dinner Box’ and leaving with a box stacked with two Big Macs, two cheeseburgers, four small servings of fries, and a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets selection. Its availability varies from location to location, along with prices and contents, but it’s a great way to feed a group on a budget.
Sometimes, all you want is that familiar combination of toasted bread and warm, gooey American cheese. This crowd-pleasing vegetarian hack gives you just that: slices of cheese melted between two grilled burger buns. Since it’s so simple, it’s a great option for kids or fussy eaters. If your server’s reluctant to make it for you, just ask for a cheeseburger without the burger and with extra cheese.
This money-saving secret menu item is pretty smart. It did the rounds on social media in 2023 as a way to get (essentially) a Big Mac at a much cheaper price. By ordering a McDouble but asking for it ‘like a Mac’, you get almost the same burger; the staff will add special sauce, lettuce, cheese, and pickles to your order. This secret item does come with a warning, though: some locations may charge extra for alterations.
It might make for a slightly messier experience, but Raising Cane’s fans say this is the best way to enjoy the chain's chicken sandwich. Ask for the bun to be replaced with Texas toast, and your crispy chicken will be embraced by a buttery, garlicky taste sensation. Yes, it will fall apart a little, but who cares when it tastes so good?
It’s time to give the root beer float a grown-up twist by adding real alcohol into the mix. The Beer Float is on the actual menu at certain Shake Shack locations in Las Vegas, but elsewhere it’s super easy to create your own. To make it happen, order a beer and ask for a scoop of frozen custard to be added in.
Peanut butter lovers, this one’s for you. For one glorious weekend in 2010, Shake Shack trialed a Peanut Butter & Bacon ShackBurger (with cheese, a burger patty, chopped cherry peppers, Applewood smoked bacon, and peanut butter sauce) – and it was phenomenal. Don't have a time machine? Just order a Bacon ShackBurger with a side of peanut sauce, then drizzle the good stuff all over.
Sonic's pickle fries are spear-shaped pieces of pickle, seasoned and fried to create a tangy taste sensation. They’ve officially been on the menu a few times, but it turns out that you can ask for them even when they’re not – your server will batter and deep-fry some pickles for you. They're just the thing to order if you're craving a dippable snack with a difference!
Can't choose between a dessert and a drink? Why not combine the two? At Sonic, you can get a delicious mix of cream, coconut, and lime added to the drink of your choice (think Coke or Dr Pepper) by asking your server to 'make it dirty.' The chain's servers have even been caught topping the drinks with pickles on Sonic's social media channels.
This tasty sandwich hasn’t been a permanent menu option at Subway since 2010, but there’s nothing stopping you from hacking your way to ordering it today. To do so, ask for herb and cheese bread with oven roasted chicken, meatball sauce, and mozzarella or provolone, toasted with Parmesan and oregano. If you like the Italian dish this sub is based on, you’re guaranteed to love this combo.
The outrageously delicious offspring of an enchilada and a burrito, the Enchirito is stuffed with beef, beans, and cheese, then topped with diced onions and smothered in red sauce. Once a regular menu order, it’s been relegated to Taco Bell's secret menu for years (though it was briefly brought back in 2022, and again in 2023). Since it takes a few steps to assemble, it’s worth ordering when the store is quiet – with luck, your server will be happy to whip one up for you.
Another fan favorite that’s sadly been taken off the menu, the Cheesarito consisted of a flour tortilla stuffed with melted cheese, scallions, and Mexican pizza sauce. While it wasn't exactly a looker, it was an oozy, cheesy delight. To recreate it today, just ask for a Cheese Roll-Up with Mexican pizza sauce and scallions added. Simple? Sure – but sometimes simple is exactly what you want.
This secret menu hack has been trending all over TikTok, and for good reason. Waffle House has a ton of great sandwich options, and do you know what makes them even better? Asking for waffles instead of bread. A particular winner is the waffle-heavy version of the Texas Cheesesteak Melt, which sees thinly sliced cheesesteak, grilled onions, and American cheese layered between two waffles. We call that breakfast done right.
Not unlike Arby’s Meat Mountain, this secret menu order springs from the belief that one type of meat just isn’t enough. Wendy's Barnyard Burger is a little more manageable than its Arby’s compatriot, though, combining beef, chicken, and bacon. To sample one for yourself, add a burger patty to the Asiago Ranch Chicken Club. Alternatively, if you like things spicier, add bacon, a beef patty, and cheese to the Spicy Chicken Sandwich.
Chicken and waffles? So passé. This secret menu item is bringing sweet and savory food into a new realm: the wonderful world of chicken and pancakes. Think crispy, salty fried chicken piled onto a fluffy stack of griddlecakes, all drenched in either maple syrup or honey butter. To get it, all you need to do is order pancakes and a side of chicken strips, then combine the two with your chosen drizzle. Yep, it’s that simple!
Now discover the new fast food items destined to become classics
Last updated by Laura Ellis.