If you pine for the McPizza or fantasise about Satisfries, you've come to the right place. Fast food chains have debuted and discontinued more menu items than we dare to count – but some of them still live long in our memories. In some cases, loyal fans have even created petitions or social media accounts to demand them back. Here, we honour the tastiest fast food failures that fell by the wayside, counting down to the most missed menu item of all.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the fast food failures we'd love to see back on the menu. How many did you get to try before they were discontinued?
Our ranking is based on the enduring popularity of each menu item, taking into account sales and the reaction to the dishes at the time of their release (and discontinuation). This list is unavoidably subjective.
McDonald's launched Mighty Wings in 1990, even though bone-in chicken isn’t usually what the chain is known for. The crispy chicken wings, which came with a cayenne and chilli pepper seasoning (and a relatively high price), were sold until 2003. They returned briefly in the US in 2013, but they haven't been seen since. Wings are big business now, though, so perhaps a return is due.
Burger King USA added Satisfries to its menu in 2013, after what it called 'one of the biggest fast food launches' in history. The crinkle-cut fries were light and crunchy – plus, they contained 40% less fat and 30% fewer calories than regular fries. Ultimately, they failed to capture the market, and they were slowly phased out the following year.
In an attempt to give McDonald's breakfast offering a run for its money, Taco Bell released 'the highly anticipated and revolutionary' Waffle Taco in 2014. One of the first breakfast items ever debuted by the Tex-Mex chain, it was essentially a folded-over potato waffle stuffed with scrambled eggs, cheese and a sausage patty (or bacon), and it came with a side of syrup. Sadly, it was discontinued in 2015, to make room for the Biscuit Taco (which we'll come back to later).
Let’s be clear: we don’t want Styrofoam packaging to make a comeback. However, we do love the sentiment behind the McDLT, which graced McDonald's menus from 1985 until 1998. The idea was that the beef patty was kept separate from the lettuce, tomato, cheese, pickle and sauce, so the meat stayed hot, and the salad was kept from going soggy. The packaging was bad for the environment – but maybe all the McDLT needs is a 21st-century makeover?
Taco Bell's Cheesarito was a cult menu item in the 1980s, consisting of melted cheese, spring onions and taco sauce rolled up in a soft tortilla. In simple terms, it was a grilled cheese burrito, so it was a mystery when it was discontinued – because we know Taco Bell has all the ingredients in its kitchens. Nonetheless, there’s a secret menu hack you can try to recreate the Cheesarito: just order a bean burrito without the beans, then add extra cheese and Mexican Pizza sauce.
In 2010, Burger King USA introduced pork ribs as a promotional item – and they were an incredible success. The problem was that the chain didn’t anticipate just how wild its fans would go for its new ribs. In fact, Burger King ran out of ribs and packaging before the promotion was due to end. Which leaves us with one question: why haven’t they made a comeback yet?
A lobster roll complete with shredded lettuce and lobster sauce, this fancy fast food item was introduced to American McDonald's menus in 1993 – and it was served seasonally. Sadly, due to supply issues, you can now only get the McLobster at McDonald’s restaurants in Canada and New England in the summer, when lobsters are abundant.
“There’s no telling what’s inside a hot dog’s skin, and our standard of quality just wouldn’t permit that kind of item,” Ray Kroc, former CEO of McDonald’s, said in his 1977 autobiography, Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald’s. But the chain eventually caved, putting McHotDogs on the menu at select restaurants in the 1990s and 2000s. Customers didn’t take to them at the time, but we think they could be a hit nowadays.
The Priazzo was a cross between a deep-dish pizza and a quiche. The original was a double-layered affair that saw various pizza ingredients stuffed between two bases, then topped with tomato sauce and cheese. It was decried as inauthentic by pizza connoisseurs upon its official release in 1985, but customers seemed to like it once they got a taste. However, despite a hefty marketing spend – and the release of multiple versions – Pizza Hut couldn't convince fans that the long wait time for the Priazzo was worth it. People remember it fondly, though.
In 2013, McDonald's targeted its German fans with a Golden Arches spin on a local speciality. The unimaginatively titled McCurrywurst is essentially currywurst – sausage, fries and curry sauce – in a fast food container. Nonetheless, McDonald's hoped it'd be enough to lure in the locals and boost sales. Considering it's not on the menu in Germany anymore, it's safe to say that it wasn't a resounding success. That said, the dish is normally a safe bet, so perhaps it's due a comeback?
"Why have the same old thing? Have a Fring!" suggested a 1980s commercial for Jack in the Box's Frings. The catchily named product was a simple combo of French fries and onion rings – and it seemed like the sort of fast food menu item that everyone would love. However, not long after Frings launched in 1979, they disappeared off the menu. There's a similar product at Harvey's, so there's no reason why Jack in the Box couldn't also bring them back.
When Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 2021, Burger King launched the Coronation Chicken Royale. A royal spin on a classic menu item, it featured a crispy chicken breast topped with shredded lettuce and a sweet curry sauce. Burger King missed the chance to reintroduce the dish for King Charles III's coronation – but given the enduring popularity of the coronation chicken sandwich in the UK, this feels like low-hanging fruit for the chain.
In 2011, McDonald's wanted to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its first Spanish store by launching a new burger. The company plumped for the McIbérica sandwich – a toasted baguette filled with a beef patty, jamón Ibérico, Manchego cheese, olive oil, lettuce and tomato. It was supposed to honour the flavours of Spain, but the limited-edition burger seemingly came and went without much fanfare. The idea is solid, though, so it might perform better with another roll of the dice.
In 1979 – the heyday of Pizza Hut's dine-in restaurants – the chain launched a Taco Pizza: a regular pizza topped with beef mince (ground beef), tomatoes and lettuce, and covered in zingy taco sauce. The catchy advert said it all: it was a 'pizza-looking, taco-tasting pizza'. We really need it to return for those days when we can’t decide between the two.
Out of all the Taco Bell items that have been discontinued, none is talked about quite as much as the Seafood Salad. It was released in the 1980s to compete with McDonald's Filet-O-Fish and other 'healthier' options on rival chains’ menus. Consisting of shrimp, whitefish, snow crab, black olives and salad leaves, it could provide an exciting alternative to the chain's current (mostly beef mince–based) menu items.
You might recognise these little beauties, but know them by a different name. In 1987, Burger Bundles arrived – three or six sliders in a single box. However, they were quickly replaced by Burger Buddies, which came in pairs. After vanishing again, they returned in 2004 as Burger Shots: joined buns stuffed with a burger patty, ketchup and pickles (perfect for tearing and sharing). We don’t care what it's called, or what form it comes in; we just want it back.
Amazingly, the McLean Deluxe, which joined McDonald’s menus in the USA in 1991, was 91% fat-free. It contained 0.35oz (10g) fat – 0.56oz (16g) less than the contemporary Big Mac. A lot of work went into its creation, with manufacturers binding water to beef with seaweed extract to make the patty juicy. Unfortunately, it flopped and was dropped in 1996. We guess most people don’t head to McDonald’s for low-fat options, but there could be a market for it today.
Burger King boasted that Cini Minis included 'the best part of the cinnamon roll (the centre) in every bite'. Launched in 1998, a pack of four Cini Minis cost 99 cents (or $1.91/£1.51 in 2024 money), and they came with a little pot of icing. When they were discontinued in the 2000s, fans were understandably upset. An online petition demanding their return was signed by 2,730 people. Amazingly, Cini Minis did come back to Burger King menus in November 2024 – but only in restaurants in Florida.
Arby's added a winner of a Poutine Dip Sandwich to its menu in 2021. The hefty handheld was made by stuffing mountains of roast beef, curly fries, Quebec cheese curds and gravy into a toasted sub roll – with even more gravy on the side. It was enough of a hit to convince Arby's to bring it back in 2022, but it hasn't been seen since.
Burger King introduced its first plant-based burger to the UK in 2020, but there was one major problem: the Rebel Whopper wasn’t suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Even though the patties were plant-based, they were grilled right next to the chain's meaty Whoppers – so they weren't strictly vegan. The Vegan Society labelled the launch a ‘missed opportunity’, yet Burger King still doesn't have a fully certified vegan Whopper. Surely the time is ripe for a relaunch?
This Whopper-like burger from McDonald’s joined menus in California in 1997 – and it was rolled out nationwide in 2000. Not to be confused with the UK’s Big Tasty, the Big N' Tasty was a quarter-pound beef patty with tomato, lettuce, onions and 'new sauce', served in a sesame seed bun. It was moved on and off the dollar menu for a while before eventually being culled in 2011. Variants of it can still be found in other countries around the globe, but the original Big N' Tasty is nowhere to be found in its homeland.
Burger King introduced the Bacon Sundae – vanilla soft-serve ice cream topped with chocolate sauce, caramel sauce and thick-cut smoked bacon – as part of its US summer menu in 2012. A 500-calorie treat, it was described by some as a monstrosity, but fans adored its sweet and savoury flavours. That said, it hasn't been seen since.
One for the fried chicken fanatics, the Double Down was released by KFC USA in 2010. It was a sandwich with fried chicken pieces in place of a burger bun, and bacon, cheese and sauce in the middle. It was considered a failure on launch as it only accounted for 5% of KFC's quarterly sales, according to CNN. But it did get a lot of attention, and it's since appeared on menus all over the world. They're especially popular in Australia, making their most recent appearance in June 2024 with three variations, including a Waffle Double (filled with waffle and bacon) – but are yet to feature as permanent menu items.
The Grilled Stuft Nacho arrived on Taco Bell menus in late 2013 – but it disappeared only a few months later, in March 2014. During the short time it was available, it garnered a small but vocal fanbase; after all, we're talking about a flour tortilla stuffed with beef, cheesy jalapeño sauce, sour cream and red peppers, folded into the shape of a nacho. It briefly returned in 2015, but the chances of it coming back again are slim. When asked about the menu item in 2022, a Taco Bell spokesperson said there were no plans for a comeback.
At the start of 2015, Sonic Drive-In released the limited-edition French Toaster. The enormous sandwich was made by stuffing sausage or bacon, egg and American cheese between two pieces of French toast. Available all day, it came with a side of syrup, making it the ultimate weekend indulgence. It was available for a limited run and never came back.
It shouldn’t have worked, but it really did. In 2016, Burger King USA started selling the Whopperito, a Tex-Mex burger. It had all the Whopper ingredients – beef, onions, lettuce, tomato, cheese and pickles – minus mayonnaise, plus spicy cheese sauce, in a flour tortilla, and people loved it. However, they clearly didn't love it enough to keep it on menus for a meaningful amount of time.
In May 2023, Dairy Queen confirmed rumours that its Cherry Dipped Cone had been removed from menus with immediate effect. The iconic sweet treat, which saw the brand’s signature soft serve dipped in a bright red, cherry-flavoured coating, was a long-time fan favourite. News of its demise hit Dairy Queen cone lovers hard, with some even claiming that summer would never be the same again. It made a brief return in early 2024, due to popular demand – but it was for a limited time only.
After the Waffle Taco vanished in 2015, Taco Bell tried out something new with the Biscuit Taco: a flaky biscuit taco shell stuffed with the likes of fried chicken, eggs and cheese. It also came with a jalapeño honey glaze, mixing sweet with heat – and patrons loved it. Taco Bell had high hopes for the launch, but the Biscuit Taco eventually went the way of the dodo.
It might feel like a faint memory, but from the late 1980s to the late 1990s, pizza was available at select McDonald's locations in the USA and UK. It came with toppings like cheese, pepperoni, green pepper and onion, but it was eventually phased out due to issues such as slow cooking times. However, people still miss it – and there was much excitement when it briefly returned to a couple of stores in the US in 2017. The only place you can get a pizza at McDonald's these days is at the Epic McD outlet in Orlando, Florida; however, it's not quite the same thing.
Now read all about the strangest limited-edition versions of your favourite foods
Last updated by Luke Paton.