Whenever I go through old fast food menus, I’m amazed at how much awesome food that has just…disappeared!
So many great dishes forgotten.
It’s a shame.
Especially because so many of them were genuinely innovative.
Follow The Coconut Mama
• 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!
• Have feedback? Add a comment below!
Shutterstock
Of course, we all know that many restaurants have perfectly good reasons to trim down their menus.
Sometimes the foods aren’t all that popular.
Sometimes they’re overly complex (as was the case with McDonald’s McPizza – it took over 10 minutes to cook!)
Sometimes it’s just easier to keep a smaller menu, because it reduces training and inventory costs.
But by the same token…
Shutterstock
It’s also kind of boring!
And there were some truly amazing side dishes that have just been totally forgotten.
So I did something about it.
More specifically, I compiled a list of these sides that absolutely deserve another shot.
And I think you’ll particularly enjoy the first one…
Shutterstock
Who made them: KFC
When were they around: Roughly three decades – the 90s, 2000s, and 2010s. They were discontinued a few years ago.
Why they deserve a comeback: The potato wedges were WAY better than KFC’s original recipe fries. Don’t just take my word for it; talk to literally anyone who ate at KFC when potato wedges were available and has tried their fries since.
They were so popular that KFC recently even tested bringing them back in a handful of stores.
Shutterstock
Who made them: Burger King
When were they around: Mid-2000s, with limited returns in 2013 and 2016.
Why they deserve a comeback: I mean, come on. Cheese and tater tots. What could be better? This is another fan favorite that Burger King heard a lot about back when they discontinued them, so I’m hopeful they’ll come back at least one more time.
Even if almost everyone seems to have forgotten about them!
Shutterstock
Who made them: McDonald’s, obviously
When were they around: 1968-1990s
Why they deserve a comeback: Don’t get me wrong, McDonald’s baked apple pie is perfectly fine. But we’re looking for better than “perfectly fine” in a dessert, aren’t we?
Fortunately, you can still get fried apple pie at McDonald’s in Mexico and the Phillippines.
Shutterstock
Who made them: Popeyes
When were they around: Up until 2021
Why they deserve a comeback: Popeyes has been getting away from its Cajun roots and becoming more and more of a generic chicken place.
And that’s a shame, because their Cajun food was delicious, and it served as a genuine differentiator!
Especially their Cajun rice.
Shutterstock
Who made them: McDonald’s
When were they around: parts of the 1970s and 1980s.
Why they deserve a comeback: Onion nuggets were a precursor to chicken nuggets, and they were delicious.
I mean, they weren’t Bloomin’ Onion level delicious, but they were still pretty good!
And nobody talks about them anymore.
That’s a shame. We should bring them back.
Shutterstock
Who made them: Sonic
When were they around: They were phased out around 2022.
Why they deserve a comeback: Imagine for a moment a pocket of dough that’s been dusted with cinnamon sugar.
Then fill that pocket with a warm, gooey, thick cinnamon filling.
Congrats – you’ve found Cinnasnacks. They were absolutely fantastic, but nobody talks about them anymore.
That should change!
Follow The Coconut Mama
• 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!
• Have feedback? Add a comment below!
Shutterstock
Who made them: Pizza Hut
When were they around: 2002-2012, with a few brief returns since then
Why they deserve a comeback: The p’zone was essentially a calzone made with a parmesan crust, then stuffed with cheese and toppings.
It was just absurdly good. And of course, Pizza Hut has loads of other stuff, so nobody talks about it – but that’s a shame, because it was awesome.
Shutterstock
Who made them: Chick-fil-A
When were they around: Chick-fil-A served coleslaw as a side option until 2016.
Why they deserve a comeback:
Chick-fil-A’s coleslaw was popular. Very popular. So popular, in fact, that Chick-fil-A gave away the recipe so distraught customers could make it at home.
It’s been nearly a decade! Bring it back!
Shutterstock
Who made them: Taco Bell
When were they around: They were discontinued in Fall 2020.
Why they deserve a comeback: I mean, it’s a little bit like the cheesy tots, right? Cheese, carbs, deliciousness. Taco Bell would be better for having them back!
Shutterstock
So there you have it – nine awesome forgotten fast food sides that should absolutely get another shot.
Each has a story to tell, a time when they really mattered, and…sadly they seem to be mostly forgotten!
For now.
Let’s bring them back.
And speaking of which…
Shutterstock
I have a big question for you:
What fast food sides have I forgotten? What else should be on the list?
Let us know in the comments!
Shutterstock
Leave a Comment