Even the most popular restaurants sometimes take risks to penetrate into new markets or serve a completely different audience and win their hearts. Some of these experiments became famous, while others completely failed. Let’s check out some of these once-popular restaurant foods that are now forgotten.
McDonald’s Arch Deluxe
Credit: Youtube
McDonald’s wanted to go fancy in the '90s, so they rolled out the Arch Deluxe. It had a whole grown-up vibe since it was made with peppered bacon and Dijon mustard. They spent a jaw-dropping $100 million on ads, but some people felt that the item was completely off-brand.
Taco Bell’s Bell Beefer
Credit: Instagram
Taco Bell once sold taco meat on a hamburger bun and called it the Bell Beefer. It hit menus in the '70s and stuck around for years. But in the end, people wanted tacos instead of a messy, slightly soggy meat sandwich.
Burger King’s Dinner Baskets
Credit: Reddit
In 1992, Burger King tried too hard to be something they’re not: table service. They introduced Dinner Baskets, complete with steak sandwiches, baked potatoes, and servers who brought your food. It was an attempt to feel more like a casual restaurant, but their customer base just wanted fast burgers.
McDonald’s McDLT
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This was the burger with a split personality. The McDLT came in special packaging that kept the lettuce and tomato cool while the patty stayed hot. It was clever but also incredibly wasteful. That foam container wasn’t exactly planet-friendly. McDonald’s dropped the item in the early ‘90s, mostly due to pressure over environmental issues.
KFC’s Potato Wedges
Credit: Reddit
Remember those thick, golden wedges from KFC that were crispy on the outside, soft inside, and seasoned to perfection? Fans loved them for decades, but in 2020, they were replaced by thin fries. KFC said it helped speed up service and matched customer trends. It’s a reminder that even fan favorites can get the boot when business shifts.
McDonald’s McPizza
Credit: Facebook
Yes, McDonald’s actually tried pizza. In the late '80s and early '90s, some locations even had full pizza ovens. The McPizza came in two sizes and tasted decent, but it took 11 minutes to cook. That wait clashed hard with their fast-food model, and it was off the menu in 2000.
Taco Bell’s Enchirito
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Enchirito was a saucy hybrid of enchilada and burrito. It was smothered in red sauce and packed with beef, beans, and onions. It first hit menus in the '70s but vanished in 1993. It made a brief comeback in 2000, but Taco Bell axed it again in 2013. Fans still beg for its return.
McDonald’s Chicken Selects
Credit: flickr
McDonald’s took a swing at upscale chicken in the early 2000s with Chicken Selects. They weren’t cheap, and sales lagged behind expectations. In 2013, they pulled them from most locations. Some markets kept them for a while, but the product couldn’t find its niche.
Burger King’s Crown-Shaped Nuggets
Credit: Reddit
Burger King served nuggets shaped like little crowns that kids loved in the 2000s. Eventually, BK swapped them out for standard shapes to cut costs and simplify production. The taste stayed the same, but the whimsy disappeared. Some fans still miss them just for the nostalgia. It turns out that shape matters—at least to 6-year-olds.
McDonald’s Fried Apple Pie
Credit: flickr
Once upon a time, McDonald’s served their apple pies fried to golden perfection. That crispy shell was iconic. But in the early ‘90s, they swapped it out for a baked version in a move toward “healthier” options. Some international locations still fry theirs, but in the U.S., the change stuck.
Taco Bell’s Volcano Taco
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As the name suggests, the Volcano Taco was made for spice lovers. It had a short run but built a strong following. The item was introduced in the late 2000s and gone by 2013. Occasionally, Taco Bell teases its return for limited runs. Until then, fans get their fix from knockoff recipes and Reddit threads.
Wendy’s Superbar
Credit: Youtube
Wendy’s once offered a full-on buffet called the Superbar in the late '80s and early '90s. It combined a salad bar, Mexican bar, and Italian bar—all in one fast-food setting. For a few bucks, you could load up on unlimited pasta, tacos, and salad. While beloved by budget-conscious families, it was a logistical nightmare for staff and made it tough to maintain quality, which led to its discontinuation.
McDonald’s McSalad Shakers
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McSalad Shakers were McDonald’s early 2000s attempt to make salads more fun. They came in clear plastic cups so you could dump in dressing, shake it up, and eat on the go. People liked the idea but not the execution. The lettuce was often wilted, and the shape made it hard to eat.
Burger King’s Whopperito
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Burger King really leaned into food mashups in 2016. The Whopperito wrapped all the usual Whopper ingredients in a tortilla. It sounded wild and tasted confusing. The item’s reviews were mixed, and sales didn’t justify a permanent spot.
McDonald’s Mighty Wings
Credit: flickr
McDonald’s tried bone-in wings in 2013. The Mighty Wings were spicy and had a good crunch, but they were pricey. At almost a dollar per wing, people weren’t sold. The chain overestimated demand and ended up with 10 million pounds of unsold chicken. They cleared it out with heavy discounts, then shelved the product.
Taco Bell’s Meximelt
Credit: Instagram
The Meximelt was one of those under-the-radar items that quietly earned a fanbase. It combined seasoned beef, melted cheese, and pico de gallo in a warm flour tortilla, kind of like a cheesy soft taco. It was comforting and totally unassuming.
McDonald’s Angus Third Pounder
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Launched in 2009, the Angus Third Pounder was McDonald’s answer to premium burger competition. It was bigger, pricier, and came with fancy toppings like sautéed mushrooms or Swiss cheese. However, in 2013, McDonald’s trimmed its menu and cut the Angus line.
KFC’s Double Down
Credit: Facebook
This one broke the internet in 2010. The Double Down ditched the bun completely and sandwiched bacon and cheese between two fried chicken fillets. It was wild, messy, and instantly viral. Though meant as a limited-time stunt, it returned multiple times due to demand.
