Top 10 '90s Menu Items Never Coming Back

Top 10 '90s Menu Items Never Coming Back

Welcome to MsMojo, and today were looking at fast food items from the 90s thatve since been discontinued, remaining widely unavailable to the masses.

#10: Cini-Minis

Burger King

In 1967, Burger King fell under the ownership of Pillsbury, which in turn was acquired by Grand Metropolitan in 1989. Despite the corporate connections, it wasnt until 1998 that BK and Pillsbury collaborated on Cini-Minis. Despite being miniature, these bite-sized breakfast items encompassed the best part of a cinnamon roll: the heart. Dunking these bad boys into an icing container was a satisfying, not to mention delicious, way to start your morning. You can imagine our disappointment that fateful day in 2012 when we pulled up to the BK drive-through and learned that these drops from heaven were no longer available. While the Cini-Minis briefly returned in 2018 and were made available at a couple of Florida locations in 2024, they need a global rollout.

#9: The Double Decker Taco

Taco Bell

On the heels of Mo' Better Blues, Jungle Fever, and Malcolm X, Spike Lee gave us arguably his finest work from the 90s: this commercial for the Double Decker Taco. It might sound like were joking (and to an extent we are). When you wrap a soft flour tortilla in a crunchy tacho shell with refried beans in the middle, though, the results deserve a director of Spikes stature. Speaking of stature, Lee brought along Shaquille ONeal and Hakeem Olajuwon to emphasize just how towering this fusion of flavors and sounds was. Following its introduction in 1995, the Double Decker Taco became a permanent staple. And by permanent, we mean it vanished from the menu in 2019, only seeing a couple of limited runs since.

#8: Four-Inch Round Sandwiches

Subway

Subway is synonymous with the footlong, although not everyone has the appetite to conquer twelve inches in one sitting. Even the six-inch is more than some can handle. For those looking for a slightly smaller option, Subway served four-inch sandwiches in the 90s. It wasnt just the size that made these sandwiches stand out. It was the shape. They were round, which might sound standard for any other eatery. At Subway, though, this was like walking into a parallel universe. If one didnt quite fill you up, the ¢79 pricetag made seconds and thirds irresistible. They were also ideal for younger patrons, briefly replacing the six-inch on the Kids Pak menu. Their lifespan wasnt nearly long enough, but a comeback could bring things full circle.

#7: Colonels Rotisserie Gold

KFC

KFC was already the first name in Kentucky Fried Chicken. We mean, its literally in the name. Having enjoyed such success with crispy poultry, it made sense for the Colonel to experiment with rotisserie. Colonels Rotisserie Gold was every bit as appetizing as it sounds, blending special spices and herbs before being slow-roasted to perfection, as the ads read. KFC invested $100 million into marketing the product. It seemed to pay off, as sales reportedly exceeded $100 million by October 1993. However, Rotisserie Gold items were reportedly a nightmare to execute, and sales apparently werent high enough to justify the headache. It wouldnt be the last time KFC tested out grilled and roasted chicken, but we all know the gold standard.

#6: Big! Big! Bucket of Spaghetti

Little Caesars

Two words define Little Caesars: Pizza! Pizza! Okay, that was technically one word repeated twice, but for a brief window in the early 90s, this chain also tried to make Spaghetti! Spaghetti! happen. While there was a side option, the best way to consume spaghetti is in bucket form. The Big! Big! Bucket of Spaghetti could feed your family for just under $10. The best part is that after slurping up every last ounce of pasta and licking the marinara sauce dry, customers still had a giant bucket they could use for storage. Now thats what we call more bang for your buck and your bucket! We guess those buckets are collectors items now, as theyre all that remains of this menu item.

#5: The McHotDog

McDonalds

Richard and Maurice McDonald started with a hot dog stand before shifting their focus to burgers. Ray Kroc eventually took control of the McDonalds empire, although few were more apprehensive about hot dogs than him. Kroc was iffy about the ingredients in hot dogs, believing such a product wasnt up to McDonalds standards. About a decade after Krocs death, McDonalds went against the founders judgment, launching the McHotDog in 1995. Seemingly proving Kroc right, the McHotDog didnt last long, but the item gained something of a cult following. So much so that it can still supposedly be found at select central Pennsylvania locations and on Japans breakfast menu. McDonalds might be a burger joint first and foremost, but we say throw this dog a bone.

#4: The BK Broiler

Burger King

Although chicken burgers arent anything new, theyve reached new levels of popularity as of late, spearheaded by customers seeking healthier options. Burger King, of all places, was ahead of the curve, launching their first chicken burger in 1990. The BK Broiler stood out at a time when most chicken fast food products were fried. This broiled chicken sandwich presented a leaner alternative, and a mouth-watering one at that. Despite initially selling well, the BK Broiler was phased out in favor of the Chicken Whopper in 2002. Burger King went on to produce other grilled chicken products, but if theyre gonna give Chick-fil-A a run for their money, it might be time to finally bring the BK Broiler back.

#3: Fresh Stuffed Pitas

Wendys

While were on the subject of alternatives to red meat, Wendys added Fresh Stuffed Pitas to their menu in 1997. Options included Chicken Caesar, Classic Greek, Garden Veggie, and Ranch Chicken. The pitas were promoted as salads-in-a-sandwich for, as founder Dave Thomas put it, those whose mobile lifestyles require more portable, convenient foods. The Fresh Stuffed Pitas were suddenly (and sadly) removed from Wendys menu at the turn of the century. Despite only being available for three years, fans can still taste those fresh ingredients in their mouths. To this date, theres a vocal online community pleading with Wendys to give their pitas a second chance. Why not try something different by revisiting something old yet fresh!

#2: Arch Deluxe

McDonalds

Wanting to bring in an older demographic during the mid-90s, McDonalds embarked on what was said to be the fast food industrys most expensive advertising campaign ever. The product behind this costly endeavor? The Arch Deluxe, the burger with a grown-up taste. The taste wasnt the issue, as this mixture of beef, bacon, cheese, veggies, and sauce appealed to those with a more sophisticated palate (by McDonalds standards). The problem was that ad campaign, which was reported to be between $150 million and $300 million. Even with a then-unknown Jessica Biel popping up in one of the commercials, the Arch Deluxe didnt catch on as McDonalds had hoped. If youre going to spend that kind of money, maybe its better to target adults and kids.

#1: Bigfoot Pizza

Pizza Hut

Give Pizza Hut credit, theyve never been afraid to experiment. Sometimes this leads to long-lasting staples like their stuffed crust. Other innovations now exclusively live in our memories. The Bigfoot Pizza certainly left a lasting impression with its taste, size, and that commercial featuring Haley Joel Osment. Pizza Huts answer to Little Caesars, this 21-slice, rectangular pie could feed a party at 12 inches by 24 inches. The Hut went all in on Bigfoot, not only spending millions on marketing, but also offering customers free Blockbuster Video rentals and HBO trials. Like the Arch Deluxe, Pizza Hut bit off more than they could chew. The Bigfoot Pizza thus fell into the stuff of legend, although we can only hope it resurfaces someday.

If you traveled back to the 90s, what could be the first thing youd eat? Let us know in the comments.