If you miss the 90s – and especially all the amazing fast food options that have disappeared since then…
Then know that you’re not alone.
Because let’s face it – the 90s were amazing for new and innovative food ideas.
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Unfortunately, many didn’t stand the test of time.
But they live on in our hearts – and I’ve gathered several that I think we all miss.
Starting with an old favorite:
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The Arch Deluxe (introduced in May 1996) was basically an elevated bacon cheeseburger. McDonald’s introduced a new “secret sauce” with mustard and mayo combined…plus all the usual toppings, finished off with “extra-fancy tomato ketchup” and a homestyle bakery bun.
It was delicious! And sadly there’s really no replacement for it on today’s McDonald’s menu.
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The triple deckeroni was introduced in 1996 and definitely was a pizza of a particular era!
More specifically, it was set up like two pizzas stacked on top of each other. You had a thin-crust pizza on the bottom with cheese, and then another whole pizza on top – all baked into a thick crust.
So – two crusts, six cheeses, and loads of meat (and other toppings).
Just delicious.
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I want you to picture Taco Bell nachos. That cheese sauce, the taco seasoning, ground beef, the works.
Got that?
Great, now swap in fries instead of chips.
There were a few options to pick from, so this doesn’t capture “every” version, but you get the idea.
They were fantastic. And today’s nacho fries are just not the same (although they’re not a bad consolation prize by any stretch).
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When it was introduced: 1995, then later came back (briefly) as a seasonal item in 2002. (Reportedly you can still get them at some Japanese locations.)
Why it will be forever missed: Ray Kroc hated the idea of selling hot dogs and forbade McDonald’s from selling them. About a decade after he died, they tried anyway.
They were not a huge hit! But, honestly, they were solid hot dogs – I think it was just that you could buy a six-pack of them at the store and heat them up in your own microwave for less. You know?
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BK introduced dinner baskets in 1993 as an attempt to “upscale” the dining experience for families looking for a sit-down meal.
While you waited for your basket meals to be delivered, you got free popcorn to eat.
And the baskets themselves were pretty radically new, too.
Of course, the Whopper was an option as a main. But you could also get:
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– Steak sandwich
– (Fried) chicken dinner
– Shrimp dinner
– Meatloaf sandwich
– And in New England, fried clams
Plus you got two side orders…fries or baked potato, plus either coleslaw or a side salad.
Sign me up for the shrimp dinner!
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The McLobster (basically McDonald’s take on a lobster roll) was first introduced nationwide in 1993, with brief revivals in 2005 and 2017.
It was pretty straightforward: Lobster roll, lettuce, hot dog bun, lobster sauce (whatever exactly that was).
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Wendy’s introduced its fresh stuffed pitas in 1997 as an alternative to the wraps that seemingly everyone else was marketing at the time.
(1997 felt like one long year of health crazes – maybe a backlash to the excesses of 1996, including the triple deckeroni?)
It had four options: The Greek, chicken caesar, garden veggie, and ranch chicken.
They tasted great, you felt pretty good eating them, what’s not to love?
Unfortunately, Wendy’s discontinued them in 2000, and they’ve never since returned.
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• For fun lists, healthy living tips, and bar conversation topics, make sure to follow The Coconut Mama. Click here to access The Coconut Mama’s profile page and be sure to hit the Follow button here or at the top of this article!
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The McStuffins (introduced – and then discontinued – in 1993) were kind of everything we hoped a hot pocket would be, but never quite achieved on its own.
With flavors like BBQ chicken, philly beef & cheese, pepperoni pizza (my personal favorite), and chicken teriyaki…all stuffed in oven-baked French bread…they were absolutely delicious. (And super cheap too.)
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I feel like popcorn chicken is one of those quintessential 90s foods, and KFC was of course a major mover and shaker in popularizing them.
Especially with the 1992 launch of its popcorn chicken!
These survived for a long time, and honestly KFC’s current nuggets aren’t all “that” different – but there’s still a difference! And I miss the popcorn chicken.
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So there you have it – nine wonderful fast food dishes from the 90s that we’ll unfortunately probably never see again.
They will be missed!
But here’s the big question…
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What fast food items from the 90s did I miss?
Which do you miss most?
Let us know in the comments!
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