Weirdest Fast Food Drinks Ever
Fast food menus usually stick to familiar drinks, but once in a while a chain rolls out something that leaves people staring at the cup. These odd creations show how far a brand will go to test new ideas and grab attention.
Not every attempt landed the same way. A few won over customers, while others disappeared almost as soon as they appeared. Here are some of the strangest drinks ever to make it onto a menu.
McDonald’s Bubblegum Squash (Australia)
Credit: Instagram
McDonald’s tried a bubblegum-flavored drink in Australia that stood out for its bright blue color. It was sweet, citrusy, and more of a novelty than a regular order. The trial run was short, and it never returned to the menu.
Sonic Pickle Juice Slush (US)
Credit: Facebook
Sonic used this pickle brine-based slush to tap into America’s love of pickles. It was sharp, salty, and ice-cold, and it split customers. People who really love pickles ordered it in large numbers, but most people went back to cherry limeade after the novelty wore off.
Burger King’s Frozen Fanta Scorcher (UK)
Credit: Reddit
Everyone thought that Burger King UK had lost its mind when they came out with this frozen fruit drink with cayenne pepper. This slush had a weird mix of tropical sweetness and creeping heat that made it hard to forget.
Starbucks Avocado Blended Drink (Japan)
Credit: Youtube
Starbucks blurred the line between smoothie and dessert by making a drink that mixed whole avocado, milk, and ice, and topped it with chocolate sauce. It was a sign of how far Starbucks will go to make menus more local.
Jack in the Box Bacon Milkshake (US)
Credit: Youtube
The early 2010s were peak bacon mania, and Jack in the Box went all-in. This shake contained bacon-flavored syrup that was swirled into vanilla ice cream. There were no bacon bits to chew, just the illusion of breakfast meat blended into dessert. It made headlines before fading away.
Taco Bell Mountain Dew Baja Blast (US)
Credit: Facebook
Baja Blast was created in 2004 as a Taco Bell exclusive, with a tropical lime flavor designed to pair with its food. It quickly became a customer favorite, leading Mountain Dew to release it in stores after demand grew beyond the restaurants.
Pizzaghetti Slushee (Canada)
Credit: Reddit
In Quebec, Couche-Tard once offered a “Pizzaghetti” Sloche, a frozen drink with a playful name. The flavors were actually strawberry and kiwi, unrelated to pizza or pasta, but the odd branding caught attention and turned it into more of a novelty dare than a regular choice.
Jones Soda Turkey and Gravy Soda (US)
Credit: Instagram
Jones Soda released a turkey-and-gravy flavor around Thanksgiving as part of its holiday packs. Most people bought it as a joke or gift rather than something to drink, and few made it through an entire bottle.
McDonald’s Grimace Shake (US)
Credit: Instagram
The flavor was simple, with berry syrup mixed into a classic McDonald’s shake. But the effect was huge. It came out on Grimace’s birthday in 2023 and became a viral hit thanks to TikTok videos. The experiment showed that a drink doesn’t have to be crazy to get people to notice it.
A&W Durian Shake (Malaysia)
Credit: Getty Images
People call durian the “king of fruits” because it has a strong smell and taste. A&W Malaysia took advantage of this daring local ingredient by mixing fresh durian into a creamy shake. Fans found their dream fulfilled. But for some, it was too much sensory input in a cup.
Burger King Japan Dr. Pepper Float (Japan)
Credit: X
In 2024, Burger King Japan changed things up by adding Dr. Pepper to its menu. One of the new items was a Dr. Pepper float with vanilla ice cream. It was a fun nod to the old-fashioned soda shop culture, and it was a rare chance for Japanese fans to enjoy this American classic.
Subway Green Tea Lemonade (South Korea)
Credit: True Creatives
Subway South Korea went in a lighter direction, blending freshly brewed green tea with lemonade. It stood out in a menu dominated by sodas. The slightly bitter, slightly sweet drink earned a quiet fanbase before quietly leaving menus years later.
Burger King Frozen Coke Float (Australia)
Credit: Instagram
Burger King, which is called Hungry Jack’s in Australia, served a frozen Coke with soft-serve ice cream on top. Some people thought it was crazy, but it was just a mix of two favorite treats. For many, the combo brought back memories and added something fun to a market full of simple drinks.
KFC Mojito Lemonade (Thailand)
Credit: X
KFC Thailand’s summer special mimicked a classic cocktail but without the buzz. Adding fresh mint leaves and lime to regular lemonade made it taste like a mojito. It was one of the few times a fast food chain went straight into bar culture and did it well. It didn’t have any alcohol, but it was full of flavor.
Taco Bell Pop Rocks Freeze (US)
Credit: Facebook
Taco Bell once tested a frozen drink with Pop Rocks mixed in, so the slush snapped and fizzed as you drank it. It was a short-run item that drew curiosity but never became a permanent menu choice.