Taco Bell’s Double Decker Taco
The Double Decker was a beef-filled crunchy taco wrapped inside a soft refried bean–covered flour tortilla, creating an experience that felt almost architectural in its construction. It was brutally expelled from the permanent menu in 2019 and has only made limited return appearances in Taco Bell restaurants in 2023 and 2024. Taco Bell granted a limited time fulfillment to their wishes in 2023, and again in 2024, for just 20 days, which honestly felt like a cruel tease for fans who’d been waiting years. Here’s the thing: Locations have all the necessary ingredients, so why not just make the Double Decker permanent?
McDonald’s Arch Deluxe
Launched in 1996 and marketed toward adults in what happened to be the largest advertising and promotional budget (a whopping $300 million equivalent to $601 million in 2025) in fast food history at the time, the Arch Deluxe was McDonald’s ambitious attempt to grow up. The chain ultimately discontinued the Arch Deluxe in 2000 due to disappointing sales, but the nostalgia factor runs deep. Many fans argue that the Arch Deluxe was simply ahead of its time, possibly misunderstood in its era but perfect for the diverse and adventurous eaters of today. Multiple petitions exist online demanding its return, and Reddit threads regularly light up with memories of that distinctive pepper bacon and mustard-mayo sauce combination.
Burger King’s Original Chicken Tenders
Let’s be real, these weren’t just any chicken tenders. One commenter complained the chicken tenders from BK were so good back in the day but now they’re just generic and boring, while another agreed the tenders were nice and peppery and full of flavor. Burger King’s Chicken Tenders made their debut in a menu revision and expansion in 1985 to address the absence of a chicken fingers product akin to McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets. The recipe was changed to help Burger King compete with McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets, replacing those lightly peppered beauties with something decidedly more forgettable. Many people on social media clearly want them back, with fans noting there were no chicken tenders like these.
Taco Bell’s Bell Beefer
First called the chili burger, the item that would become the Bell Beefer was one of the chain’s five original menu offerings, alongside tacos, burritos, frijoles, and tostados, and remained on the menu until the 1990s. Think of it as a sloppy Joe in disguise, with seasoned taco meat piled onto a bun with lettuce, onions, and mild sauce. The original removal of the Bell Beefer was met with “Stank Festivals,” organized sit-ins at Taco Bell locations, though these protests proved unsuccessful. The item reappeared on Taco Bell’s dollar menu at a smattering of locations in 2012, and was apparently especially popular in the Bay Area, but the petitioners’ victory was short-lived, as the Bell Beefer vanished soon after. The same year, it revived the Taco Bell Mexican Pizza at the behest of supporters and a Change.org petition, just like the one that exists for the Bell Beefer today.
McDonald’s Pizza
Yes, you read that correctly. McDonald’s Pizza gained fans at some restaurants in the US and UK in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s. The tasty personal pizza treat had four slices with toppings that included cheese, pepperoni, green peppers and onions, but it never truly caught on, partly because of slower cooking times and the box being too big for drive-thru windows. There’s now just one location (in Orlando, Florida) that serves pizza, but it’s not quite the same as this throwback pie. To this day, there are still online petitions circulating in an effort to bring back McDonald’s pizza, and according to MenuData research, nostalgia-forward limited-time offers peaked significantly in late 2024, with leading QSRs launching 139 LTOs revolving around nostalgia, tradition, and seasonality over the last year. The evidence suggests chains are listening to these cravings for simpler times, so maybe there’s hope yet for that crispy crust to make another appearance.
