Why stick to the official menu at your favorite fast food joints? For clued-up customers, secret menus deliver unofficial, unadvertised dishes 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). So, 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 41 delicious fast food secret menu items you've probably been missing out on, counting down to our favorite.
We've based our ranking on the enduring popularity of each hack, and on the opinions of our well-traveled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.
If you're not sure the world of menu hacking is for you, this is the perfect one to get you going. It is, quite simply, the easiest way to make the glorious Sausage McMuffin with Egg even better than it already is. What's the secret? Order a hash brown and slide it into the McMuffin. Once tried, this trick is never forgotten.
This is less a 'secret' menu hack and more a general menu heads-up. After all, Panera Bread makes a big deal out of its You Pick Two meals, but its Value Duets options are buried further down the menu. This could be because it's a lot cheaper to order, say, a Classic Grilled Cheese and a Creamy Tomato Soup combo on the Value Duets menu than it would be if you ordered them separately. It's a good tip if you're looking to save some extra pennies on your fast food order.
KFC in Canada has poutine on the menu, as any self-respecting Canadian fast food joint should. But the dish is unavailable elsewhere in the world – unless you try this secret menu hack, that is. It won't be the same as KFC's real poutine (pictured), but combining sides of fries, gravy, and American cheese will get you pretty close.
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!
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.
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 make it themselves. Just ask for a Classic Roast Beef – the chain's famous roast beef in a sesame seed bun – with extra Cheddar cheese sauce to create this truly sensational sandwich.
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 when there isn’t a super long line. But when the Quesarito stars align? This is Tex-Mex heaven!
Though the official In-N-Out menu only offers a single hamburger or the 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.
Some menu hacks become so popular that restaurant chains are forced to actually acknowledge the make-your-own dishes. That's what happened to the Crunchy Double in January 2022, when McDonald's added the sandwich to an official limited-time-only hack menu. You can still recreate the dish today by ordering a Double Cheeseburger and stuffing it with six Chicken McNuggets and BBQ sauce.
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 off-menu order subs the crispy fried chicken from Chick-fil-A's classic Crispy Chicken Sandwich into the Grilled 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 Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich with original fried chicken instead of charbroiled.
Why limit your sandwich by playing by the rules? Thanks to Arby’s generous policies when it comes to sandwich customization, you can try a whole host of different secret fillings. 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. If you like, you can also double stack your Reuben with twice the normal amount of meat.
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.
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.
Burger King's Italian Original Chicken Sandwich is a much-loved item that comes and goes from the menu. When it's not available, though, fans have found a way to recreate (or perhaps even improve) its taste with an easy menu hack. Just order an Original Chicken Sandwich (holding the lettuce and mayo), then add a side of Mozzarella Fries with marinara sauce. Now, all that's left to do is top your sandwich with the fries and sauce – and make sure you have plenty of napkins to hand.
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.
A McDonald’s birthday party is a rite of passage for many, but did you know 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 (or check the app)!
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, and pickles. It's nice with a side of barbecue sauce, too! Such a simple trade, such a great result. The very similar Grilled Spicy Deluxe is pictured here.
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.
Surf 'n' turf is a classic order at steakhouses around the world, but it's not the kind of thing you expect to see at your local fast food joint. Of course, the McDonald's version isn't really proper surf 'n' turf, but it's probably as close as you're going to get at this price point. To see how it stacks up, order yourself a Double Cheeseburger and a Filet-O-Fish, put them together and prepare for a feast.
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 to add it to your regular order. Trust us: once you try coffee in your vanilla Blizzard, there’s no going back.
The Wendy's T-Rex Burger started as a joke in Sports Illustrated and ended up on the menu of a Wendy's franchise in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. It was like a Dave's Double... only with nine patties instead of two! Once the internet found out about the gargantuan burger, though, the higher-ups at Wendy's put a stop to anybody selling it. These days, if you want to try a T-Rex Burger, order a Dave's Triple with six extra patties or three Dave's Triples, then assemble it yourself.
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.
The internet went wild for this special McDonald’s hack following a viral TikTok video. Apparently, you can roll up to a drive-thru and ask for a ‘Dinner Box’ and leave 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.
Here’s a really tasty hack for when you don't want to stick to the Famous Bowl at KFC. Many locations will let you create your own bowl, adding pretty much anything you like from the menu. The holy grail is a recreation of the Hot Pocket Bowl that used to be available on the official menu. It involves asking for a hot pocket of dough with chicken and topping it with melted cheese, gravy, and corn – but this is rarely possible to order.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 might just 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!
In 2015, Burger King released the limited-edition Spicy BLT Whopper (pictured). It featured the signature Whopper patty, American cheese, hot bacon sauce, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pickles, and bacon. Unfortunately for BK, it didn't capture the public's imagination in quite the same way as the secret menu hack for a BK BLT. This involves customizing a Whopper Jr. so it has added bacon and only lettuce and tomato accompaniments. It's a beefy delight.
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?
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.
This secret menu order springs from the belief that one type of meat just isn’t enough. That's why Wendy's Barnyard Burger combines 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.
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.
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.
Burger King's Whopper and McDonald's Big Mac are two of the most iconic fast food burgers on the planet. So, what happens when you try to make a Whopper into a Big Mac? Yes, this menu hack brings you the intriguing Big Whopp. It's a DIY job that sees customers order a Double Whopper with cheese and an additional Whopper with a side of Stacker Sauce. Assemble it all to look like a giant Big Mac (with some leftover parts) and have at it.
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.
The age-old debate over which McDonald's sandwich is the best inevitably revolves around the Big Mac, the Filet-O-Fish, and the McChicken. It was only a matter of time, then, before someone tried to create a sandwich that combined all three menu items: the Land, Air, and Sea. This mighty sandwich contains a fish patty, a chicken patty, two beef patties, melted cheese, and all the Big Mac condiments. It's not one for the faint of heart – or small of appetite.
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.
Now discover the most iconic fast food items in history
Last updated by Luke Paton.