10 Forgotten Fast-Food Items We Wish Would Return

Most fast food items may not be healthy, but they're convenient and delicious. There's something about the salty, and often, greasy flavor of a fast food burger and fries, or even a taco or burrito if that's more your style. Once you find a menu item you enjoy, you're likely to order it over and over again — but considering how often menu items are cycled out, it can be incredibly disappointing when your favorite burger, sandwich, or other item disappears from a restaurant's menu.

Whether you're a fan of McDonald's, Burger King, or Taco Bell, most fast food restaurants have certain menu items that we wish would return. From the famous McDonald's Apple Pies to Burger King's Cini-Minis, these are the forgotten fast food items we're still dreaming about.

This post was updated in July 2026 to include updated information about fast-food items and additional editorial enhancements.

• Discontinued in 2003

If you ate at McDonald's in the early 2000s, you may remember the iconic McDonald's McSalad Shakers. Although this meal was only around for three years, it made quite an impact on McDonald's fans and is still talked about today. The McSalad Shakers came in three varieties: Chef, Grilled Chicken Caesar, and Garden Salad.

• Discontinued in 2019

In the early 2000s, Taco Bell launched a memorable treat: the Caramel Apple Empanada. For about 15 years, fans could enjoy this sweet and gooey empanada, but it was discontinued in 2019. This pastry pocket reappeared for a limited time on Taco Bell menus in 2024 and 2025, but never made its way back to the permanent menu.

• Discontinued in 2012

Despite being known for menu items like the Whopper, Burger King also has many fans who come for the chicken. Items such as the Chicken Fries are popular options, and until 2012, the Chicken Tenders were a popular choice. However, that year, the franchise swapped its tenders for chicken nuggets — and many fans would like to see the return of the original BK tenders.

• Discontinued in 2012

The Volcano Taco from Taco Bell was initially a limited-time menu item — but it's one that Taco Bell fans still think about. This menu item was known for its bright red outer shell and was filled with beef, lettuce, and lava sauce. A version of the Volcano Taco has made its way back on the menu, although it's still a limited-time offer.

• Discontinued in 2000

The Wendy's Chicken Caesar Pita evokes such strong emotions that there's even a post about them on the r/nostaglia subreddit. This menu item was exactly what it sounds like — a chicken Caesar salad in a pita. Wendy's has always been known for having some of the best fast food salads, but nothing quite beats this discontinued menu item we still wish would return.

• Discontinued in 1992

If you're craving an apple pie, you can still get a handheld one at McDonald's. However, if you remember eating an apple pie at McDonald's before 1992, you may remember how different the original one tasted. The original apple pie at McDonald's was deep-fried, but that changed in the early '90s when it was replaced with a baked apple pie. As of June 2026, McDonald's has brought back the deep-fried apple pie nationwide for a limited time.

• Discontinued in 2014

Why use a bun for a sandwich when you can use fried chicken instead? The KFC Double Down Sandwich was originally introduced in 2010 and included bacon, cheese, and sauce sandwiched between two fried chicken fillets. This sandwich came back temporarily in 2023 but has only reappeared in limited-time runs.

• Discontinued in 2012

While Burger King has many delicious breakfast items, if you're looking for something sweet, you might crave a cinnamon roll. Before 2012, you could enjoy a breakfast or dessert that included miniature cinnamon rolls from Burger King. Although this tasty treat did make a comeback in 2025, it was only for a limited time, and the cinnamon rolls weren't added back to the permanent menu.

• Discontinued in 2008

While Domino's is mainly known for its pizza, the Chicken Kickers were also a popular menu item. Even though the Chicken Kickers were originally discontinued in the early 2000s, they still come up and bring a sense of nostalgia to those who remember them. One fan even started a petition on Change.org for Domino's to bring back the Chicken Kickers.

• Discontinued in 1998

The McDLT, or the McDeluxe, was a beloved burger at McDonald's in the 1990s. Unlike other McDonald's burgers, this one was divided into two and served in styrofoam packaging. However, it was discontinued in 1998, mainly due to how harmful the packaging was to the environment.