22 Limited-Edition Fast Food Items We Wish Would Become Permanent
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Fast food chains have perfected limited-edition menu items: delicious, buzz-worthy items that come out for a short time, fuel massive hype, and then are gone, leaving us screaming for more. Limited-time offerings are one of the largest drivers of sales and excitement in the fast-food world. According to research by the National Restaurant Association, limited-edition promotions can even raise up to 23% of restaurant traffic.
These food items often spike conversations on social media, and petitions, hashtags, and TikTok trends keep their memory alive long after they fade away. Here are 22 of the most iconic limited-edition fast-food items we wish would come back on the menu.
McDonald’s McRib
Perhaps the most iconic limited-edition fast-food item of all time is the McRib. Introduced in 1981, the cult following for this saucy pork sandwich with pickles and onions was inevitable.
Its inconsistent demand forced it off the regular menu, but when it comes back, it makes waves. Nostalgia is so potent that when McDonald’s revealed its ‘farewell tour’ in 2022, sales spiked by 12%.
Taco Bell Nacho Fries
Boldly seasoned with Mexican spices, Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries—served with warm nacho cheese sauce—have been one of the chain’s biggest hits. The magic won in 2018 and has returned nearly a dozen times due to popular demand.
Nacho Fries became the most successful product launch in Taco Bell history, with the chain, selling 53 million orders in its first five weeks. Fans wonder why these can’t just stay the menu item permanently.
Burger King Mac n’ Cheetos
Mac and cheese, coated in Cheetos, dusted, then fried until it’s golden screams indulgence. In 2016, Burger King brought Mac n’ Cheetos to its customers, attempting to combine two old-school comfort foods in one.
They weren’t on the menu for long, but they gained a dedicated following. Cheetos themselves have a massive following, with Statistica reporting that 5.17 million Americans ate eight or more bags in 2020.
Popeyes Chicken Waffle Tenders
In its finest Southern sense, Popeyes combined chicken with waffles, making it convenient. The 2013 crispy chicken tenders were coated in a bit of waffle batter and served with maple dipping sauce.
Popeyes received a huge increase in foot traffic in the summer of their initial release. Fans remember their perfect blend of sweet and savory and have called for a permanent return of these on the menu.
Arby’s Venison Sandwich
In 2016, Arby’s Venison Sandwich was intended for hunters and willing eaters, but it got national attention. It featured tender venison steak topped with crispy onions and juniper berry sauce, and it sold out in most locations.
The sandwich was only available in certain states through Arby’s, but its cult following has continued to grow, with customers begging for its return.
McDonald’s Shamrock Shake
McDonald’s has been selling the Shamrock Shake, a minty green milkshake, for St. Patrick’s Day every year since 1970. During its limited shelf time, its bright color and creamy texture make it an instant hit.
People magazine reported that in 2020, when the Shamrock Shake celebrated turning 50, McDonald’s claimed over 60 million shakes had been sold since the treat first appeared in 1970. It may only be available for a short time, but fans are always counting down until this nostalgic treat is back in March.
KFC Double Down
The KFC Double Down is one of the few fast food items that’s stirred up as much publicity if not controversy, and intrigue. It’s a “sandwich,” but instead of bread, you get two fried chicken fillets with cheese, bacon, and sauce in the middle.
The Double Down was first launched in 2010 and sold over 10 million sandwiches in just the first month. Its critics questioned the nutritional benefits, while fans raved over its garish excessiveness, making KFC’s Double Down one of the brand’s most buzzed-about creations.
Pizza Hut P’Zone
Pizza Hut’s P’Zone is the chain’s version of a calzone: pizza dough stuffed with cheese, pepperoni, and more, baked to golden perfection. It was first launched in the early 2000s but returned for a limited run in 2019, just ahead of the NCAA March Madness tournament.
The nostalgia trip paid off—Pizza Hut saw an increase in same-store sales during the promotion. Fans are still hoping for it to return permanently.
McDonald’s Cheddar Melt
One of the most beloved burgers during its limited run in the 1980s and 1990s was the Cheddar Melt—a burger smothered in melty cheddar cheese and caramelized onions.
It was a fan favorite but hasn’t seen a return since. Fans nostalgic for the treat continue to beg to have it back, and many are replicating the recipe at home to relive their nostalgia.
Dairy Queen S’mores Blizzard
Dairy Queen’s Blizzard lineup is legendary, but S’mores Blizzard takes a special place in the fans’ hearts. Debuting as a summer special, it is a combination of marshmallow-filled chocolates, graham cracker pieces, and creamy vanilla soft serve.
Dairy Queen says that Blizzards make up over 75% of dessert sales at the fast food franchise. S’mores Blizzard is a flavor customers continue to ask for to return. Fans get excited on social media over its return but wish it could stay for all seasons.
Subway’s Garlic Bread
These limited-time offer buttery, aromatic garlic bread sandwiches rolled out in 2018. What used to be classics—meatball marinara and spicy Italian subs—dared to be something bolder.
The garlic bread was so famous that in many locations it sold out days after its release. Despite regular pleas from garlic lovers who argue that it’s a flavor upgrade worth keeping, it has continued to be missed.
Popeyes Cajun Rice
Popeyes Cajun Rice was one of Popeyes’s well-known staples. It was a Chicken side dish with rice, bell peppers, onions, and Cajun seasonings. However, when it was removed in early 2021, loyal customers erupted in an uproar on social media.
That dish has a loyal fan base, as proven by the more than 17,000 signatures on a Change.org petition. The return of Popeyes Cajun Rice was short-lived when the chain celebrated its 50th anniversary on June 21, 2022.
McDonald’s Stroopwafel McFlurry
As part of McDonald’s international menu promotion in 2019, the Stroopwafel McFlurry introduced a taste of the Netherlands in the U.S. Featuring vanilla soft serve swirled with caramel and chewy Stroopwafel cookie bits, it was a customer favorite.
During the promotion, McDonald’s experienced an increased dessert sale, especially among younger demographics, which was exciting.
Jack in the Box Mini Sirloin Burgers
In 2009, Jack in the Box first unveiled its Mini Sirloin Burgers as a gourmet version of sliders. They were an instant hit, with juicy sirloin patties, sauced-up griddled onions and soft mini buns. Even the accompanying commercial jingle went viral.
Even though sliders are trendy, they were inexplicably yanked from the menu, and fans suddenly needed a fix for their mini burger jones.
Taco Bell Lava Sauce
Taco Bell’s Lava Sauce was a fiery fan favorite that added a welcome blast of heat and creaminess to classics like the Volcano Taco. The sauce was launched in 2008 but discontinued in 2013, and spice lovers fumed.
Online petitions with thousands of signatures from Taco diehards have cried foul as the chain has privately teased its return during limited promotions. According to many customers, it’s one of the chain’s best innovations.
Taco Bell’s Cheesy Chicken Crispanada
This item provided a crunchy, cheesy shell with shredded chicken and Mexican spices, adding a twist to the classic empanada.
This was available as a limited-time offer in 2024, with fans hailing its convenience and taste but hoping it would last forever.
McDonald’s Snack Wraps
McDonald’s Snack Wraps were an odd combination of convenience and flavor, tame, light, and portable. In 2006, they introduced a crispy grilled chicken wrap with lettuce, cheese, and sauce wrapped in a soft tortilla.
They became popular among millennials looking for healthier options but were discontinued in 2020 due to operational challenges. Although they’re nowhere among the most ordered items on McDonald’s menu, they still remain one of the most demanded items.
Burger King Ribs
Barbecue ribs were added to Burger King’s menu in 2010, and, to our surprise, they were a success. The smoky ribs with the tangy barbecue sauce sold 10 million servings in their limited run.
In fact, the success was so good that even some of Burger King’s locations ran out of inventory well before the promotion finished. They never brought back the ribs, but fans still loved them to this day, and for good reason.
Taco Bell Beefy Crunch Burrito
Seasoned beef, rice, nacho cheese, and crunchy Fritos chips make the Beefy Crunch Burrito the perfect example of texture-and-flavor marriage. It first began in 2010 and quickly became a fan favorite.
Internet campaigns and online petitions were formed around the rumor that Taco Bell would return to limited markets. The rumor was so popular that over 35,000 fans joined a Facebook group devoted to bringing it back.
Wendy’s Pretzel Bacon Pub Cheeseburger
This premium treat featured a soft pretzel bun, beer cheese sauce, smoky bacon, and crispy fried onions on a burger. As a limited-time item, it became one of the most interesting flavor profiles the restaurant has ever offered.
Wendy’s teased the burger in 2020, and sales spiked dramatically, indicating its popularity. Although it pops up sporadically, fans insist it belongs on the menu—for good.
Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino
No one can forget the Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino, which was one of the biggest hits on the internet in 2017. Available only for five days, from April 19 to April 23, 2017, the colorful change in flavors from sweet to tangy as it melted made the drink an Instagram sensation.
At its brief run, stores that carried the drink sold out in hours. Critics may quibble about its taste, but there’s no doubt it has been a cultural phenomenon, and people were clamoring for another magical mixture.
Domino’s Chocolate Lava Crunch Cake
This dessert, which has a crispy chocolate shell topped with gooey molten chocolate, periodically disappears from menus, to great fans’ dismay.
Whenever it’s gone, fans clamor for its return.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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