Top 10 Y2K Fast Food Menu Items

#10: Ocean Water

Sonic

Sonic has been known to get impressively creative in the beverage game. And they certainly have no shortage of options either. When it comes to Y2K-era vibes in particular, Ocean Water is the drink that steals the show. While it has technically been around since the ‘80s, it was trademarked in 1996 and only picked up steam from there. Obviously, Sonic’s Ocean Water is not literally ocean water. It’s a sweet and refreshing combination of Sprite and Blue Coconut flavor, which gives the drink its ocean-blue color, as well as a kick-back-and-relax, beachy aura that few fast-food items can match.

#9: Chicken Strip Basket

Dairy Queen

While Dairy Queen is of course known for, well, delicious dairy products, the franchise also has gained a solid fanbase for other menu items. Exhibit A: the Chicken Strip Basket, consisting of chicken strips, Texas toast, and whatever dipping sauce floats your boat. This meal came out in 1995, and with the start of a new millennium, it really began to carve its way toward becoming a classic. The 2001 launch of DQ Grill & Chill restaurants only brightened the spotlight. And while DQ’s Chicken Strip Basket has stuck around to this day, there’s no denying its strong Y2K connection.

#8: Popcorn Chicken

KFC

The bite-sized pieces of chicken we call popcorn chicken haven’t been around for as long as you might think. KFC was the franchise that introduced popcorn chicken to mainstream food culture in the ‘90s. It launched in 1992, but not as a permanent menu item. The Colonel then brought it back in 1998 for a limited time and then again in 2001. People didn’t just find out they love KFC’s Popcorn Chicken around the Y2K era; they found out they loved popcorn chicken in general because of KFC. That sort of fast-food pioneering has to be worth bonus points. And that’s why KFC Popcorn Chicken lands a spot on our list.

#7: Sourdough Jack

Jack in the Box

While it’s become a mainstay token on the Jack in the Box menu, the Sourdough Jack is rooted in Y2K history. It’s essentially a patty-melt-spin on a traditional burger, with the beef placed on toasted sourdough bread, along with Swiss-style cheese, bacon, tomato, mayo, and ketchup. The Sourdough Jack hit the menu in 1997. It was obviously the bread that made it innovative and different from your run-of-the-mill fast-food burger. While Jack in the Box may not be a fully mainstream national fast-food chain, the Sourdough Jack definitely made its mark, with its rise taking form right around the turn of the century.

#6: Spicy Chicken Sandwich

Wendy’s

Chicken sandwiches have become a force in American food culture. Wendy’s had an important place in the early stages of the rise. Their Spicy Chicken Sandwich was introduced nationwide in the mid ‘90s, before other chains started to catch on to the allure. It comes with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and of course a blend of peppers and spices to provide the heat. While this classic is still available in our chicken-sandwich-loving society, other chains’ spicy chicken sammies may get more buzz. But Wendy’s version really was ahead of the trend, picking up tons of fans in the late ‘90s and early 2000s.

#5: Coolata

Dunkin’ Donuts

The name of this frozen beverage encapsulates its refreshingness. From the late ‘90s into the 2000s, the Coolata at Dunkin’ Donuts established itself as one of the most iconic frozen beverages out there. Coming in all sorts of flavors, including coffee, as well as a variety of fruity options, the chain gave its customers plenty of tasty ways to cool off. Coolatas are still available at Dunkin’, but only in a select few flavors. Other flavors are purely delicious memories from the past, with their legacy firmly tied to Y2K nostalgia.

#4: Stuffed Crust Pizza

Pizza Hut

For many people, when they think of Pizza Hut they think Stuffed Crust Pizza. Of course it’s still a menu staple to this day. But there’s no questioning its firm ties to the Y2K era. After debuting in 1995, the Pizza Hut Stuffed Crust Pizza changed the game with its pizza crust loaded with warm, melted mozzarella cheese. There were multiple now-nostalgic commercials around the turn of the century, bringing this menu item to light for countless people. And sure enough, it did not take long at all for the Stuffed Crust Pizza to become one of the chain’s most popular items.

#3: Chalupa

Taco Bell

In 1999, Taco Bell expanded its menu with the Chalupa, featuring a deep-fried flatbread shell that offered a chewier, semi-crispy twist on the classic taco format. Since then, the chain has introduced a variety of Chalupa spin-offs, including one as soon as a year after the original came out. Another noteworthy Taco Bell item that came out close to the turn of the century was the Gordita, which, like the Chalupa, has a soft flatbread shell—though not deep-fried. However, the Chalupa earns the spot on our list thanks to its more iconic status.

#2: Cini Minis

Burger King

These bite-sized cinnamon rolls served with icing for dipping were a welcome sight—and taste—for sweet teeth. Burger King’s Cini Minis came out in 1998 and went on to gain quite the cult following. But in 2012, they were discontinued. Years later, people didn’t forget them. They were clearly missed, probably in part because they were just so different from other fast-food items—and because they were obviously good. Petitions racked up signatures in an effort to revive some Y2K fast-food nostalgia. That’s exactly what ended up happening in 2025, when BK brought back Cini Minis for a limited time.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Six Dollar Burger, Carl’s Jr. & Hardee’s

Introduced in 2001 at Just $3.95, Designed to Mimic Pricier Burger Options

Various Blizzard Flavors, Dairy Queen

Old Y2K Flavors & Throwback DQ Commercials Evoke Sweet Nostalgia

Cherry Limeade, Sonic

A Refreshing Lime & Sweet Cherry-Flavored Drink That Became a Mainstay Hit

P’Zone, Pizza Hut

A Pizza-Calzone Hybrid That Changed the Game in the 2000s

Twister, KFC

A Chicken Wrap That Swept the Nation Around the Turn of the Century

#1: McFlurry

McDonald’s

No matter how long this delicious fast-food dessert sticks around, its Y2K aura and legacy will continue to follow it. McDonald’s iconic McFlurry was created by a Canadian McDonald’s franchisee in 1995, and was rolled out in the United States two years later. In 1998, it became available nationwide in both countries. While both the Oreo and M&M McFlurries remain permanent menu items, we can’t say the same for throwback classics like Heath, Nestlé Crunch, and Butterfinger. Whichever way you cut it, those old cups and commercials from the early days are nothing short of nostalgic. The McFlurry is the epitome of the Y2K fast-food dessert scene.

Do any of these items bring back Y2K memories for you? Feel free to let us know in the comments!