10 Fast Food Items Gone Forever

We have all had a few fast food menu items we wish that would come back. Here are 10 fast food items that are gone forever. Some of these items have been discontinued for a long time, some have been discontinued very recently. See if your one of your old favorite menu items has made this list.
10 fast food items gone forever

McDonald’s Hot Apple Pie – Fried Edition

McDonald's Apple Pie Image by Mouthful of Sunshine
Why back in 1992 McDonald’s removed the delicious fried pie and substituted it for the far less superior baked pie. While the baked pie may be a slightly healthier choice than its former pie, but if you are eating dessert anyway, why not go for the one that tastes better. I personally was a fan of the cherry pie.

McDonald’s Arch Delux

McDonald's Arch Deluxe
They tried to upgrade the burger, and we weren’t interested. They spend 100 million dollars on trying to tempt us with this upgraded burger and it’s own secret sauce, but we were still reaching for the Big Mac’s and the Quarter Pounders. No fancy stuff for us.

McDonald’s Hot Mustard

copycat McDonald's Hot Mustard and chicken nuggets
They pulled this sauce along with two others, and people have revolted, this addition may need to be yanked, I have heard reports that this sauce is making its come back out on the street, and if not, I have a copykat McDonald’s Hot Mustard for you.

McDonald’s McD.L.T.

McDonald's McD.L.T.

Long before we cared a great deal about the environment excess packaging was in abundance. Here a clever concept was born, keeping the hot food hot, and the cold food, well cold. Here no veggies were in endanger of becoming cooked before their time. Ah, those were the days when food was made to sit under the heat lamp. Modern advances in technology, or assembling the burgers after they are ordered help with this ordeal.

McDonald’s Salad Shakers

McDonald's Salad Shakers
It’s hard to find healthier options when dining out at McDonald’s. They used to offer fresh salad in a clear cup. So many folks drove away in bewilderment when this menu item was scrapped.

Taco Bell Bell Beefer

homemade Taco Bell Bell Beefer sandwiches
So it was around in the 1980s. It didn’t last long, but it is a tasty take on the burger. This sandwich is filled with seasoned taco meat and cheese. For a bonus you can add some fresh tomatoes and some shredded lettuce. Add a little Taco Bell sauce, and you are in business. Get the copycat recipe for the Taco Bell Bell Beefer.

Taco Bell Frito Burrito

Taco Bell Frito Burrito
Oh yes they did. Fritos made it into a wonderful burrito at Taco Bell. Red Sauce, cheese, seasoned ground beef, Frito corn chips, and sour cream. Why in the world they took this one away we don’t know. You can even join the Facebook Fan Page to help bring this one back.

Wendy’s Salad Bar

wendys super bar
Wendy’s had it all, a Mexican bar, an Italian Bar, and a regular salad bar. And for just 2.99 after 4 p.m. you could have it all.

Denny’s Fried Cheese Melt

Denny's Fried Cheese Melt
Oh yes friends, they put fried cheese sticks inside of a grilled cheese sandwich. One can only hope only those who are lactose tolerant enjoy this sandwich. Oh and if you want a recipe for this one, check out this copycat Denny’s Fried Cheese Melt, just in case you want to make one for yourself.

Burger King Chicken Fries

– Note these are back.
Burger King Chicken Fries
Yes, chicken strips for adults. You could munch on these dainty chicken strips. These were introduced in 2005 and discontinued in 2012.

Burger King Satisfries

We will remove the Chicken Fries, and put the Satisfries in their place. It seems like these failed it satisfy even though they were 40% less in fat, and 30% lower in calories than the standard French Fries that have been served everywhere. These are in the process of being removed from the stores during the fall of 2014.

So here are 10 fast food items gone forever that I wished they would bring back, or maybe not. What menu items do you wished would come back, drop me a comment down below and let me know which item you would like to see again.

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laura D

    I went to Penn State from 1978 to 1982. While I was there, I loved Roy Rogers’ thousand island dressing in the salad bar… it was my all time favorite. I’ve tried to recreate it (from that distant memory), but haven’t succeeded yet. Does anyone have any ideas, or maybe even a recipe that comes close?

    • stephaniemanley

      Let me update this. I will remove the chicken fingers and add their Satisfries. I appreciate you keeping me on my toes.

  2. Elba

    Know what else is gone? “Good” Del Taco food. They *used* to use skirt steak- it was marinated all day for their steak items. Now it’s this weird, very hard tasteless square shaped meat things. They also would never use that fake orange liquid cheese product- now its on everything. I used to work there as a teenager years ago, I hand grated cheeses for the quesadillas and nachos. Now they use this crappy liquid neon orange garbage. Too bad- I guess its when “YUM” brands bought them they cheaped out. Their food is disgusting now- all cheap crummy ingredients.

  3. Candace

    The spicy chicken burrito at Taco Bell! OMG! It was good and if I could ever find a good copycat recipe, I would make them all the freaking time!

  4. Gale

    I used to prefer Gino’s over McDonalds. The Gino Giant was MUCH better than the Big Mac. Since I like hamburgers rare, I usually avoid the fast food burgers, but Gino’s was tasty 🙂 We also used to have Cap’n Crab – fast food buckets of Garlic crabs that came with a wooden hammer.

  5. Snow Shen

    I m from china about three years ago, so far i know mc in china still serve pie that fried, but no longer apple pie, i have no idea why, but they do have great taste pies, like pineapple, redbean paste, cherry… i think american want to go heathy so no more fried pies, and no crispy jucie thigh meat sandwich in kfc( best seller in chinese kfc)… that’s sad…

    • stephaniemanley

      I have read that in other countries the pies are still fried. I don’t understand why we have the baked ones here. The others were much, much better. I bet the red bean one is wonderful.

  6. ginabissmeyer

    I miss the Carl’s Jr. California Roast Beef Sandwich. It was Roast Beef, swiss chees, and an ortega chili on a bun. to awesome for words. Their original fries were the best too, but only if they were fresh…after five minutes, you have to throw them out.

    • stephaniemanley

      Oh wow on the fries, seriously just five minutes and they were awful? I personally love cripsy hot fries too!

  7. fantasy01

    Years ago when I lived in Arlington, Texas every Friday I would stop by Sonic’s for their hamburger and onion rings. However, now that I live in Michigan the Sonic’s here have disappointe me by no longer serving their hamburger and onion rings. Do you by chance have a recipe of these 2 items as they were absolutely delisious.

    • stephaniemanley

      I do have the onion rings. https://copykat.com/sonic-onion-rings/ I’ll have to see what I can do about the burger. Thank you for your suggestion.

      • fantasy01

        In your ingredients you wrote, “Slice onions 12 inch thick.” Ya think maybe that was a typo as it would take a pretty large onion.

    • marie72

      If you try Sonic again now you will be disappointing there meat is not as good.I always end up taking a few bites and that’s it-if someone happens to go there.

  8. flower_petals

    The “fried” apple pie at Mc Donald’s been gone that long? Oh how I loved those, and the cherry. Those Burger King chicken fries we awesome as well.

    Mc Donalds pizza was good too when we were coming home after the bar. lol

    • stephaniemanley

      Thank you for your comments. It is amazing how long some of these have been gone. I was a big fan of the McDonald’s cherry pie. I thought those were simply amazing!

      • Gonzo

        Hah, they still have it here in New Zealand… now “another” reason to visit our wonderful country… ; p

    • stephaniemanley

      I never had the pleasure of eating there, I wished that I did. I am a major fan of Captain D’s though. Love the whole fish and chips.

  9. Tammy Knight

    I used to work at Burger King and Wendy’s. I remember when BK came out with the BK Broiler, which was a charbroiled chicken sandwich with it’s own special sauce. I HATED the Wendy’s Salad Bar………….. The only reason why I hated it was because I had to Break it down !!!! LOL My husband says he misses Arby’s 5 for $ 5.00!! and he misses Arthur’s treature’s Fish and Chips!!!

    • stephaniemanley

      Tammy, I too have had more fast food experience than I care to 😉 I worked at DQ, to this day, I really dislike soft serve ice cream. The sticky sensation you always went home with was too much.

  10. GeriGreene

    Not “fast food” but a dish I fell in love with ten years ago at Olive Garden. Fortunately they have discontinued recipes on their website ~ Chicken Castellini – http://www.olivegarden.com/recipe/chicken-castellina/man-imp-reci-prd-29

    • stephaniemanley

      Good to know 😉 I appreciate you sharing the link. We all have favorite dishes that are pulled from menus.

    • Gonzo

      Ha ha, read that as they no longer had recipes on their website rather than the have “discontinued recipes” on their website. Had to go and have a look to verify… LOL

      • stephaniemanley

        I will say one thing about Olive Garden I think the recipes they post online are close to what they serve, but I don’t think they are exactly what they serve.

      • Sherry

        The Yumbo was hot ham and cheese sandwich with gooey,drippy cheese. Very good! I feel so old.lol!

      • stephaniemanley

        When I was a kid my Dad and I would go on Saturdays to Burger King. Can’t say I go much any more. I remember their international delight chicken sandwiches. I remember that they used to taste a bit better than they do now.

      • Jeff

        I worked at Burger King in 1979. They had a hot ham and cheese then that came with 3 onion rings on the sandwich. I would love to be able to replicate that !

  11. kalynskitchen

    I really miss the salad bar at Wendy’s. That was probably my top fast food choice when they still had it.

      • Sushi Cue

        That was a good salad bar! Do you remember the “garlic bread” was their hamburger buns run through a toaster with just butter and garlic powder on them? So simple, yet so good for some reason.

      • stephaniemanley

        I do remember that garlic bread. This just goes to show you, good food doesn’t need to be complicated.

    • Elba

      The “ham” that they had was turkey ham, by the way- and the grated cheese “wasn’t”- it was fake! Ask to see my collection of fast food name badges from the ’80s… sighs…

  12. Kimberley Rodgers Lynam

    McDonalds just brought back the hot mustard sauce, they have a sticker in the drive thru window to let you know

    • stephaniemanley

      I thought they had started to bring it back, I was getting random comments from people saying they could find it, while others it wasn’t there yet.

  13. Andrew McCormack

    Well not really a named item but Burger King hasn’t had a decent french fry since they introduced the King fry’s about 25 or 30 years ago. Thats a long time to not buy a combo meal and drive across the street to get your fries from McCdonald’s

    • stephaniemanley

      Wow that is a long time. I personally love Culver’s french fries. Theirs are a crinkle cut that crisp up very well I sometimes think the food court is the best place to go for dinner, as you can get anything you want from any place you want.

    • GeriGreene

      Someone mentioned “all beef patty, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onion on a sesame seed bun” ~ had not had one in years. They are now smaller and fairly awful…….

      • stephaniemanley

        I don’t like the burgers at McDonald’s the meat has a weird texture that I can’t get past. Now, I will admit I did some traveling in the last 10 days, and I went to McDonald’s most every day. They have free internet, and iced tea that costs a dollar.

    • GeriGreene

      And Taco Bell used to have a sauce packet they no longer have – mesquite perhaps? It was really good but it’s no more. Also a verde packet. Also gone

      • stephaniemanley

        I don’t recall that packet, but I generally only have gotten the mild and the fire. I should venture out of my comfort zone while there.

    • Timothy Locke

      How about the Gino’s Giant? Why aren’t there any more Gino’s around? I’ve heard the rumors about someone serving someone a Kentucky Fried MOUSE and being sued, but that isn’t enough to shut down ALL the Gino’s restaurants.

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