Top 20 '90s Menu Items Never Coming Back

#20: Italian Sausage Sandwich

Burger King

In the late '70s, Burger King started experimenting with a variety of specialty sandwiches, hoping to attract older consumers. This trend continued into the early '90s, with the Italian Sausage Sandwich being a standout. Hitting the menu in 1992, this grilled sandwich came in three variations. You could get it with just onions and peppers, although if you’re a true Italian, you’d have the sausage served parmigiana style with a mix of marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Of course, you could ask for all the toppings, which we think was the way to go. It might not have been authentic Italian cuisine, but for those craving a fast-food fix and a taste of Italy, BK knew how to make the sausage.

#19: The McJordan Special

McDonald’s

Michael Jordan appeared in some of the most memorable McDonald’s commercials, playing Larry Bird for his Big Mac. It only makes sense that Mickey D’s would name a value meal after the NBA All-Star. Along with a beverage and fries, the main course was a quarter-pound patty with cheese, mustard, and onions, although the barbecue sauce and bacon were what truly made it. The burger didn’t just bear Jordan’s name. He played a hand in cooking up the concept, suggesting a burger that reminded him of the ones his family made growing up. It was primarily sold in Chicago, but would branch out to other locations before being retired. Echoing the commercials, its removal from the menu had us singing the blues.

#18: The Dominator

Domino’s

Pizza chains were kind of obsessed with making their pies bigger in the '90s. A pizza measuring contest, if you will. Domino’s overcompensated a tad with The Dominator, which aimed to out pizza the Hut at an astounding 30 inches. Although longer than the pies that Pizza Hut and Little Caesars had, The Dominator’s defining feature was also the issue. The average delivery person couldn’t fit the pizza into their car. So, The Dominator was a pick-up exclusive. Customers who didn’t drive an SUV quickly realized that they didn’t think this through. While the Dominator didn’t dominate, 30 slices of $9-11 was a deal that not even the Noid could ruin. The Dominator name has since been reused, but the pizzas shrank significantly.

#17: The Colossus Burger

Jack in the Box

Making bigger burgers was another trend that went into overdrive during this era. Jack in the Box could satisfy a giant’s appetite with the Colossus Burger, which included three varieties of sliced cheese and two quarter-pound patties. Not enough meat for you? Don’t worry. The Colossus Burger came with not one, not two, but eight strips of bacon! You also might be familiar with Jack’s Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger, which essentially followed the same recipe. While that burger still exists, it’s been scaled down. The two patties and cheese remain, but it only comes with a measly three slices of bacon now. We used to be a proper country! Ah, well, we suppose our arteries will thank us for eating healthier.

#16: Monterey Ranch Chicken Sandwich

Wendy’s

Fast food is known for giving us gimmicky items, especially during this decade. Sometimes, though, fast food finds a winning combination in sheer simplicity. A chicken breast with melted Monterey Jack cheese might not sound like anything astounding. If you tried Wendy’s Monterey Ranch Chicken Sandwich, though, you’d know it was something special. This crispy, creamy sandwich surfaced a couple of times throughout the '90s, although it was always a limited-time offer. After a dry spell in the 2000s, the Monterey Ranch Chicken Sandwich made a mini comeback at the top of the following decade. Alas, it wasn’t meant to last. You can still get a chicken sandwich with ranch dressing and bacon, but you’ll have to bring your own Monterey Jack.

#15: BK Dinner Baskets

Burger King

We’re regulars at the drive-thru window, but when was the last time you ate a meal inside a fast-food location? For some, it was back in the '90s when they introduced BK Dinner Baskets. In an attempt to give Burger King the ambiance of a more traditional, sit-down restaurant, the chain began serving meals in basket form. Patrons could fill their basket with either chicken, shrimp, steak, a Whopper, or even the sorely missed Meatloaf Sandwich. Side options included fries, baked potato, salad, or cole slaw. Of course, the Dinner Baskets are mainly remembered for two things. 1) The complimentary popcorn that came to the table, and 2) Those commercials featuring Elaine’s “mimbo” boyfriend. We’re glad Tony rebounded from that rock climbing accident.

#14: McStuffins

McDonald’s

We sadly can’t include the McPizza here since it was introduced in the '80s. However, McDonald’s created a similar item in 1993. McDonald’s response to the rise of Hot Pockets, McStuffins consisted of French bread with a selection of fillings. The pepperoni pizza best complemented the baguette, although you could also order it with barbecued chicken, Philly beef and cheese, or teriyaki chicken. Despite being hyped as “the greatest thing since sliced bread,” the McStuffins barely lasted a year. It’s hard for a McDonald’s product to catch on if it doesn’t have a meat patty. If McDonald’s wants to bring a little more variety to their menu, though, maybe they should give McStuffins another shot. They could even get Jim Gaffigan to do a commercial!

#13: Popcorn Chicken

KFC

Eugene Gagliardi, the food technologist behind Steak-umm frozen meat, is also known for creating popcorn chicken. The Colonel could never resist an item like that. Gagliardi reportedly sold his recipe to KFC for $33 million in 1992. Made of boneless white meat, KFC’s popcorn chicken went off in our mouths like flavorful firecrackers. The popcorn chicken popped up on the menu sporadically throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s. Since then, KFC has phased out their Popcorn Chicken in favor of chicken nuggets. We know what you’re thinking. Aren’t they basically the same thing? A true finger licker knows better! Not only do they taste different, but it’s much harder (and less satisfying) cramming a handful of bulky nuggets into your mouth.

#12: The Triple Deckeroni

Pizza Hut

Stuffed crust is one thing, but what if Pizza Hut stuffed their pizza with… more pizza! That’s the best way to describe the chain’s Triple Decker Pizza, aka the Triple Deckeroni! According to the ads, this hulking pie was comprised of 90 pepperoni pieces, six cheeses, and two crusts. How is this accomplished? Essentially, they took one pepperoni pizza and put another on top. The Triple Deckeroni was short-lived. The same could probably be said for anyone who tried to eat a whole one in a single sitting. Nevertheless, if the idea sounds enticing to you, it doesn’t seem that hard to replicate. Just take two slices of thin-crust pepperoni pizza and stack them. Shouldn’t it be called a Double Deckeroni, though? It’s two decks!

#11: McLobster

McDonald’s

Lobster at McDonald’s? No, you didn’t dream it. For people with expensive tastes but limited funds, the McLobster only cost $3.99 when it rolled around in the early 90s. McDonald’s acquired real lobster from American and Canadian waters, although they maintained a low price by using cheaper meats from the claw, knuckle, and leg. That’s what insiders call C.K.L. meat. It was otherwise a straightforward lobster roll, but this remains one of the most unique menu items in McDonald’s history. It’s occasionally resurfaced throughout the past thirty years. Since lobster is a seasonal cuisine, it was always unlikely that the McLobster would be a permanent fixture. Still, we wish McDonald’s could at least give it the McRib treatment.

#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 wasn’t 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 recently made available in limited capacity, they need to become menu mainstays again.

#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 we’re 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 Spike’s stature. Speaking of stature, Lee brought along Shaquille O’Neal 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 wasn’t 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 didn’t 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 wasn’t nearly long enough, but a comeback could bring things full circle.

#7: Colonel’s Rotisserie Gold

KFC

KFC was already the first name in Kentucky Fried Chicken. We mean, it’s literally in the name. Having enjoyed such success with crispy poultry, it made sense for the Colonel to experiment with rotisserie. Colonel’s 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 weren’t high enough to justify the headache. It wouldn’t 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 that’s what we call more bang for your buck and your bucket! We guess those buckets are collectors’ items now, as they’re all that remains of this menu item.

#5: The McHotDog

McDonald’s

Richard and Maurice McDonald started with a hot dog stand before shifting their focus to burgers. Ray Kroc eventually took control of the McDonald’s empire, although few were more apprehensive about hot dogs than him. Kroc was iffy about the ingredients in hot dogs, believing such a product wasn’t up to McDonald’s standards. About a decade after Kroc’s death, McDonald’s went against the founder’s judgment, launching the McHotDog in 1995. Seemingly proving Kroc right, the McHotDog didn’t 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 Japan’s breakfast menu. McDonald’s 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 aren’t anything new, they’ve 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 they’re 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

Wendy’s

While we’re on the subject of alternatives to red meat, Wendy’s 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 Wendy’s 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, there’s a vocal online community pleading with Wendy’s to give their pitas a second chance. Why not try something different by revisiting something old… yet fresh!

#2: Arch Deluxe

McDonald’s

Wanting to bring in an older demographic during the mid-90s, ​​McDonald’s embarked on what was said to be the fast food industry’s most expensive advertising campaign ever. The product behind this costly endeavor? The Arch Deluxe, “the burger with a grown-up taste.” The taste wasn’t the issue, as this mixture of beef, bacon, cheese, veggies, and sauce appealed to those with a more sophisticated palate (by McDonald’s 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 didn’t catch on as McDonald’s had hoped. If you’re going to spend that kind of money, maybe it’s better to target adults and kids.

#1: Bigfoot Pizza

Pizza Hut

Give Pizza Hut credit, they’ve 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 Hut’s 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 you’d eat? Let us know in the comments.