Top 10 '90s Menu Items That Came Back for a Limited Time Only

#10: Monterey Chicken Ranch Sandwich

Wendy’s

Before the chicken sandwich craze swept across the United States, Wendy’s offered a well-received burger alternative. Released for a limited time in 1993, this sammy contained fried chicken, Monterey Jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, bacon, and ranch on a kaiser roll. It popped back up again in 1995, disappeared, and then was back by popular demand in 1999—but again, only for a limited time. Ken Hoffman’s “Drive-Through Gourmet” column called it “Wendy’s best sandwich yet.” It made another limited-time comeback in 2011, but then vanished again. With the fried chicken sandwich scene now booming more than ever, it could be a good time for Wendy’s to bring back the Monterey Chicken Ranch Sandwich.

#9: Potato Wedges

KFC

Fries are obviously the number-one fast-food side. But KFC’s thicker potato option—Potato Wedges—offered an alternative. Introduced in the mid-1990s, Potato Wedges quickly became a menu staple—a perfect complement to the fried chicken entree. Clearly they were loved, as they lasted all the way until 2020. Many customers weren’t thrilled with their discontinuation. After a five-year hiatus, they returned in August 2025. As the chain’s website put it in the announcement, “People called, and the Colonel is answering.” The press release highlighted the thousands of social media posts and petition signatures calling for the Potato Wedges’ comeback, describing the demand as “obsessive.” Unfortunately, KFC’s announcement didn’t commit to a long-term return, labeling the Potato Wedges as only “available while supplies last.”

#8: Volcano Menu

Taco Bell

Many spicy-food fans erupted with excitement when Taco Bell’s Volcano Menu returned in 2023. And they probably erupted with anger when it went away soon after. The Volcano Menu debuted in 1995, offering heat-loving customers new fiery flavors. In 2008, it was revived for a limited time. It was then inactive again for 15 years before once more rising from the ashes. The Volcano Burrito and Volcano Taco were back. You could tell that taco’s hot just by looking at it. It has a red shell! And of course as part of the Volcano Menu revival, they had to bring back the iconic Lava Sauce. Surprise, surprise—it’s hot.

#7: Rodeo Burger

Burger King

Topped with barbecue sauce and onion rings, this cheeseburger wasn’t your run-of-the-mill fast-food burger. Burger King’s Rodeo Burger dates back to 1998, when it was introduced as part of a promotion for the movie “Small Soldiers.” It wasn’t just appealing for its unique flavor profile; it was also a major value, sold for just 99 cents. It didn’t stick around long-term, but it made a brief comeback in 2013. This time, the base $1 version came without cheese, though you could add it for 50 cents. That’s half the price of the burger itself! But it’s still undeniably a great deal. In 2021, the Rodeo Burger reappeared on the dollar menu for a limited time only.

#6: Big Bacon Classic

Wendy’s

Of course Wendy’s is known for its Baconator, which came out in 2007. Before that, the fast-food giant had another popular bacon burger: the Big Bacon Classic. Think of the Dave’s Single—which has two slices of cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, ketchup, and mayo—but also with three slices of bacon. After Wendy’s introduced the Big Bacon Classic in 1992, it became a mainstay favorite. That was until 2007, when the Baconator replaced it. In 2020, the throwback ‘90s burger was brought back for a limited time, appearing on the Made to Crave menu; and many long-time cravings were finally satisfied.

#5: Mighty Wings

McDonald’s

They might not be the first thing you think of when you hear “McDonald’s,” but the Mighty Wings certainly left their mark on the franchise. Launched in the early ‘90s, Mighty Wings gained a decent fanbase over the decade, especially for those who like some spice to their wings. But detractors often pointed to the high price point compared to other menu items. That likely contributed to the low sales that led to the removal of Mighty Wings from the menu in 2003. Longer cooking times and McDonald’s desire to simplify the menu were likely also factors. In September 2013, Mighty Wings came back, but vanished from the menu again before the end of the year.

#4: The Big New Yorker

Pizza Hut

This 16-inch New York-style pizza was a hit after it was launched at Pizza Hut in 1999. With its fluffy crust, parmesan oregano seasoning, and classic marinara sauce, the Big New Yorker had its fair share of fans—but not enough to keep it around permanently. However, after thousands of petition signatures, it made its long-awaited return in 2023. It was officially back on February 1, just ahead of the Super Bowl, which is of course a big day for pizza. It wasn’t available for long, though. On the thin-crust side, The Edge, a discontinued tavern-style pie released at Pizza Hut in 1997, made a brief comeback of its own in 2021. But we’re giving the nod to the Big New Yorker for this list.

#3: Cini Minis

Burger King

These bite-sized cinnamon rolls first hit the BK menu in 1998. And they made a lasting impression. Cini Minis were made with cinnamon sugar and served with a sweet icing for dipping. Obviously this sort of treat wasn’t something you could get at just any fast-food place. Perhaps that’s part of why they were so beloved. But in 2012, they were taken away from us. Fast forward to 2018, and they were briefly back as a Grubhub exclusive. In 2024, they made another limited-time comeback, but only in select locations in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. The resulting online fan chatter, and 6,000 plus signature petition, clearly convinced Burger King the love was real, and a limited nationwide return was announced in August of 2025

#2: Double Decker Taco

Taco Bell

In 1995, director Spike Lee teamed up with NBA stars Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon to promote this new limited-time offer at Taco Bell. The Double Decker Taco later returned in 2006, becoming a permanent menu item. It was a slam dunk. No need to decide between hard shell and soft flour tortilla, because this thing had both—with refried beans in between. And of course you’d get the classic seasoned beef, lettuce, and cheddar cheese combination on the inside. This item lasted on the regular menu for 13 years. After its removal in 2019, the Double Decker Taco was brought back by popular demand for a limited time in 2023, and then again in 2024. Maybe there’s a pattern developing.

#1: Szechuan Sauce

McDonald’s

This sauce, made with soy, garlic, ginger and mild vinegar notes, was released for a limited time to promote the 1998 Disney film “Mulan.” Nearly two decades later, McDonald’s reintroduced Szechuan Sauce thanks to the massive influence of the Adult Swim cartoon series “Rick and Morty.” After Rick reminded people of the nostalgic sauce in a 2017 episode, fans joined him in expressing their desire for a comeback. It didn’t take long for one petition to rack up well over 20,000 signatures. And in October 2017, Szechuan Sauce returned—but only for one day, and in very short supply considering the high demand. McDonald’s ran out fast. And fans went crazy. Four months later, it was brought back in greater supply… temporarily.

Is there an item on here that you wish would be a part of the permanent menu? Let us know in the comments below!