These Fast Food Chains Have Drinks That Are Way Better Than the Food
Fast food chains have introduced novel drinks on their menus featuring bold colors, flavors, and textures. Many of these beverages draw inspiration from wider trends, including boba-style add-ins, seasonal flavor releases, and collaborations with well-known brands.
Limited-time availability also plays a major role in how chains present new drinks. We’ve curated 10 unique beverages that may surpass some core menu items.
Sonic – Picklerita Slush
Image via Facebook/Ninjacue
Sonic knows how to get reactions, and the Picklerita Slush delivers that jolt with its bright green color and pickle juice base. The chain partnered with Grillo’s Pickles to create a frozen mix of lime syrup, briny bubbles, and pickle chips. The drink attracts curious crowds, especially those seeking unusual treats.
KFC – Sweet Lightning
KFC introduced an exclusive Mountain Dew flavor. Sweet Lightning blends peach and honey, and stores later introduced a peach and cream version with vanilla cream added. Dew fans head to KFC for this drink because no other chain carries it.
Five Guys – Bacon Milkshake
Five Guys already ranks high for milkshakes, thanks to its hand-spun base and custom add-ins. The bacon version has crunchy, lightly sweetened Applewood bacon bits mixed right in. It outshines the burgers because bacon inside a shake simply hits the curiosity button harder than bacon on a sandwich.
Shake Shack – Mini Raspberry Popping Boba Lemonade
Shake Shack’s seasonal boba add-on changed its drink lineup in a fun way. The mini raspberry pearls burst with juice and pair well with the chain’s fruit lemonades and iced teas. While the burgers keep their loyalists, the popping boba drinks are also very popular.
Jollibee – Ube Coconut Freeze
Ube has become a breakout flavor across the United States, and Jollibee’s Ube Coconut Freeze attracts many people. The mix of ube sweet cream and coconut freeze delivers a smooth, tropical hit for customers.
McDonald’s – Shamrock Shake
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Todd Van Hoosear
Decades after its debut, the Shamrock Shake still sparks anticipation every spring. Its mint syrup and vanilla soft serve blend gives it a pale green color that people associate with the season. While the food stays consistent year-round, this shake boosts interest among a wide range of consumers.
Taco Bell – Baja Blast
Baja Blast became a cultural staple once Taco Bell launched it in 2004. The tropical lime soda had such strong demand that stores eventually sold it in bottles. The latest spin, Baja Midnight with passion fruit, keeps the momentum going.
Dairy Queen – Misty Freeze
Dairy Queen’s Blizzard may claim the fame, yet the Misty Freeze offers a lighter frozen option with its blend of vanilla soft serve and Misty Slush flavors. Fruit choices like strawberry, kiwi, or blue raspberry turn it into an easy summertime treat.
Burger King – Frozen Cotton Candy Cloud
Image via Reddit/AzulFlamez
The Frozen Cotton Candy Cloud delivers nostalgia with its blue raspberry and cotton candy flavor. Guests can add cold foam for extra creaminess, and promotions around the drink often include reward tie-ins. There was quite a buzz around its return in 2025 because people wanted that candy-shop sweetness more than another Whopper.
Whataburger – Banana Pudding Milkshake
Whataburger draws inspiration from Southern dessert culture with its Banana Pudding Shake. It blends vanilla shake mix with banana pudding flavor for a taste similar to classic candy. Seasonal timing makes it even more popular.