Fast food is the one constant in our lives — conversely, it is also continually evolving, with new menu items popping up all the time to tantalize our taste buds. Chains are constantly testing, tweaking, and pivoting based on consumer trends, health concerns, and operational efficiency. But sometimes, in the pursuit of the next big thing, we lose sight of the classics that captured our hearts (and stomachs) in decades past.
The 1960s through 1980s were particularly experimental years for fast food, when chains were willing to take bigger risks and stray further from their core identities. McDonald’s served pizza, Taco Bell made hamburgers, and Wendy’s ran an all-you-can-eat buffet. Some of these ventures failed spectacularly, others were quietly phased out, but many left behind devoted fans who still lobby for their return decades later.
With that in mind, let’s take a stroll down memory lane and reminisce about some of the most beloved fast food items from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s that we wish would make a comeback.
McDonald’s Fried Apple Pie (1968-1992)
Before the baked version took over in 1992 (perhaps because at the time, as a country we realized fried isn’t as healthy as baked), McDonald’s served up a crispy, deep-fried apple pie that was the perfect blend of tart and sweet, all wrapped up in a crunchy goldeny crust.
Paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it was an unbeatable dessert that many would love to see return. But unless you live in Hawaii where the dessert is readily available, or Downey, California, which houses the only other McDonald’s location in the US that serves this deliciousness, that’s unlikely to happen.
Burger Chef’s Big Shef (1960s-1980s)
In its heyday, Burger Chef gave McDonald’s a run for its money with the Big Shef — a burger featuring two flame-broiled beef patties, a tangy special tartar sauce, cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed bun – the burger was the stuff of dreams, and it was delicious.
Despite its popularity, a combination of bad choices and unfortunate incidents led to Burger Chef being acquired by Hardee’s in 1982, and the Big Shef slowly became a relic of the past. That was until Hardee’s decided to bring back the Big Shef in 2001, 2007, and 2014 for a limited time. Whether the Big Shef will make a permanent comeback is anybody’s guess.
Taco Bell’s Bell Beefer (1970s-1990s)
Imagine a sloppy Joe, but with Taco Bell’s signature seasoned ground beef, served on a bun with cheese, lettuce, and tomato — this was the Bell Beefer, a messy but delicious mashup that we’d happily get our hands dirty for again.
Unfortunately, this menu favorite was discontinued in the 1990s, allowing Taco Bell to establish itself as a brand that specializes in Mexican food above all else. Despite all this, avid fans of the sandwich have, for years, requested that it be brought back to the menu permanently. Petitions have been filed, and Facebook pages and groups demanding its return have been making the rounds.
McDonald’s Onion Nuggets (1970s-1980s)
Who would have thought that Chicken McNuggets weren’t the original nuggets? In the 1970s, McDonald’s introduced deep-fried onion bits as a tasty alternative to French fries, featuring a crispy exterior and a soft, sweet onion interior – they were the perfect sidekick to any burger or sandwich. However, as all good things must come to an end, so did the Onion Nuggets when McDonald’s decided to focus on creating a chicken-based menu item instead, and thus was born the Chicken McNugget.
Although Onion Nuggets have not seen the time of day since, a legion of fans still hold out hope for the menu item’s comeback, to the point of recreating the recipe and setting up web pages petitioning for its return.
Jack in the Box’s Frings (1979-1980s)
Can’t decide between fries and onion rings? Jack in the Box solved that dilemma with Frings, a genius combination of both in one convenient package. Sadly, the snack didn’t gain enough popularity to stick around for long. Fortunately for us, other restaurant chains have popularized the idea, including Harvey’s “Frings”.
Burger King also allegedly sells something called “King Frings” on their secret menu, according to fans, while others argue that Burger King merely takes custom orders, allowing you to have equal amounts of fries and onion rings.
Burger King’s Yumbo (1971)
The Yumbo was a simple but satisfying hot ham and cheese sandwich served on a toasted hoagie bun. It’s proof that sometimes, less is more when it comes to fast food. The sandwich was discontinued in 1974 in an attempt to streamline the restaurant chain’s menu items to focus on burgers, since competition was high (as it always is) with Mickey D’s.
Come 2014, Burger King decided to reintroduce the Yumbo, but not in all its glory, apparently, because everyone who had a taste of the original Yumbo alleged that it just didn’t have the same kick to it. Unsurprisingly, the fast food chain discontinued the Yumbo that very year.
McDonald’s McPizza (1980s-1990s)
McDonald’s may be known for its burgers, but for a brief time in the 80s and 90s, it also served up a family-sized pizza, which later became personal-sized ones in the 90s. While the McPizza wasn’t exactly gourmet, it was a fun novelty item that we wouldn’t mind seeing again. The McPizza slowly disappeared from the menu in the late 90s until it was discontinued around 2000, likely because the wait times were a nightmare for a fast-food chain that prides itself on its short wait time policy.
Currently, only one Mc D’s location serves the McPizza on its menu, so if you happen to be in Orlando, Florida, you know what to get your hands on first! While that singular location keeps the dream alive, McDonald’s has also been testing the waters elsewhere.
In June 2025, McDonald’s Canada rolled out McPizza Bites—crispy, snack-sized pockets of mozzarella and tomato sauce that capture a bite of the original magic after three decades away. It’s a tantalizing tease that suggests the company hasn’t completely forgotten about pizza, but until the full pie makes a global comeback, the longing lives on.
Wendy’s Superbar (1988-1998)
The Superbar was an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring a salad section, a Mexican fare section, an Italian section, a dessert section, and more. This meant feasting on endless amounts of pasta, cheesy nachos, burritos, fruit, and vanilla/chocolate pudding, you name it! This was all enjoyed inside a beautiful sun room, of all things.
It was a great value and a welcome change of pace from the usual fast food that customers were used to. Ultimately, the Superbar was too much work for employees and was by no means sustainable long-term, so here we are…
KFC’s Chicken Littles (1980s)
These mini chicken sandwiches by KFC were a hit with kids and adults alike, thanks to their cute square size (almost like a slider), crispy and flavorful chicken fillet, mayonnaise, and pickles on a soft roll, all for just 39 cents. They’ve since been replaced by bigger or different-tasting sandwiches (which nostalgic fans are not happy about), but we’ll always have a soft spot for the original Chicken Littles.
McDonald’s Chopped Beefsteak Sandwich (1979-1980s)
This hearty, scrumptious sandwich featured a super long grilled beef topped with onions and a tangy steak sauce on a toasted French-style roll. The Chopped Beefsteak Sandwich was a more substantial option for those with a bigger appetite, and it was only available after 4 pm as part of the dinner menu.
But like other experimental menu items of McDonald’s, the Chopped Beefsteak Sandwich was slowly phased out, likely due to operational inefficiencies and the fact that it was super pricey – $1.20 to $1.80 in those times is no joke. Many YouTube and Reddit users who’ve had a taste of the elusive sandwich say that it’s one of the best sandwiches offered by Mc D’s.
McDonald’s Cheddar Melt (1988)
In 1988, McDonald’s introduced the Cheddar Melt for a limited time – it was a quarter-pound burger featuring a beef patty garnished with grilled onions and cheddar cheese sauce on a rye bun. The unique combination of flavors and the rye bun made it stand out from other burgers on the menu — and what do you know, folks loved it. Too bad it was never made into a permanent menu item. However, the Cheddar Melt did make a brief comeback in 2012, but that was the last we saw of the exquisite burger.
Dairy Queen’s Breeze (1990)
The Breeze was Dairy Queen’s entry into the frozen yogurt market. It was advertised as low-fat since it was all about the “fat-free” lifestyle at the time. The refreshing dessert featured a vanilla-flavored frozen yogurt base in flavors such as orange, cranberry, and lime, along with the same toppings offered with the Blizzard.
It was meant to be a lighter alternative to the rich Blizzards and shakes offered by the fast food chain – perfect for a hot summer day. Sadly, Dairy Queen phased out the Breeze, citing the lack of demand for the dessert. We wonder what the fast food chain would have to say about the Change.org petition calling for the return of the Breeze.
McDonald’s McD.L.T. (1984-1991)
The McD.L.T. took the classic burger and split it in two—literally—with a clever Styrofoam tray that kept the sizzling beef patty, cheese, and mayo on one scorching side while the lettuce, tomato, and pickles chilled out on the other. It was a win against the scourge of warm, wilted veggies that turn your standard burger into a soggy mess, delivering every bite with that perfect contrast of heat and crunch on a toasted bun.
Environmental pressure over the non-recyclable packaging forced it off menus in 1991, a casualty of the green wave that hit fast food hard. These days, old ads starring Jason Alexander fuel endless Reddit recreations, and more than a few would trade their nuggets for a tray that actually works as advertised.
Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips
Long before every pub had a fish and chips special, Arthur Treacher’s brought the British seaside classic to Main Street America. Their signature was impossibly crisp, golden batter wrapping flaky North Atlantic cod, served with hearty “chips”—a simple formula that offered a perfect transatlantic taste trip.
The chain’s downfall came during the mid-70s “Cod Wars” between Iceland and the UK, when skyrocketing fish prices crippled their business model. By 2021, only one location survived in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where owner Ben Vittoria earned a mayoral proclamation for “Arthur Treacher’s Day” as nostalgic pilgrims pinned their hometowns on his wall map.
A brief revival sparked hope—Cleveland Heights opened in April 2025, joining the Garfield Heights survivor to make three Ohio locations. But a planned Columbus expansion fizzled by August 2025, leaving just these three Buckeye State holdouts. For anyone who unwrapped those paper-lined boxes in the chain’s heyday, the memory remains a treasured taste of simpler times.