The Legendary McRib Phenomenon
The most-searched-for discontinued fast food item is the McRib from McDonald’s, which has been searched well over 300,000 times in the past year. This item was searched on Google over 327,000 times and remains a popular limited-time offering at McDonald’s. This barbecue-flavored pork sandwich has achieved something few fast-food items ever do: genuine legendary status.
When the BBQ boneless rib sandwich slathered in tangy sauce and served on a hoagie-style bun was first introduced in 1981 it wasn’t an instant hit. In fact, it was pulled from national menus in 1985 due to low sales. However, McDonald’s brilliant marketing strategy of bringing it back sporadically turned the McRib into a cultural phenomenon. The McRib is known to return seasonally and remains a permanent menu item in Germany and Luxembourg.
Chipotle’s Brief Carne Asada Romance
At number two is Chipotle’s Carne Asada, with 132,680 searches. The ingredient was launched in 2019, but was removed from menus the following year despite becoming a fast favorite. This perfectly seasoned steak option captured hearts across America in record time, making its swift departure all the more devastating for fans.
The short-lived romance between Americans and Carne Asada represents a perfect storm of culinary disappointment. Hitting at around 130,00 Google searches, Chipotle’s Carne Asada did not last long on their menu as the item was discontinued within a year of being introduced, only being available 2019-2020. While fans of the Carne Asada got Chipotle to reintroduce the menu item a few times since being discontinued, it is not a mainstay item. Food historians note that Chipotle’s decision reflected the challenges of sourcing high-quality steak consistently across thousands of locations.
Domino’s Brooklyn Style Pizza Betrayal
Domino’s Brooklyn Style Pizza was discontinued in 2024 after 18 years on menus. It was removed to make room for the chain’s new New York Style Pizza. For nearly two decades, this thin-crust option satisfied pizza lovers who wanted something more sophisticated than traditional chain offerings.
Domino’s ruffled a lot of feathers – especially among Brooklyn’s local pizzerias – when they tried to play the ‘authenticity game’ and launched the Brooklyn Style Pizza in 2006. What made it worse was that people actually loved Domino’s version of the iconic foldable slice. Being first introduced in 2006, Domino’s Brooklyn Style Pizza was searched for on Google 127,000 times and was discontinued more recently in 2024. In place of the Brooklyn Style Pizza, Domino’s has introduced their New York Style Pizza as their permanent menu item, known as a fan favorite.
Taco Bell’s Enchirito Enigma
The Enchirito is the oldest item on this list, being first introduced in the 1970s. This item was discontinued in 2013, but over 110,000 people are still searching for it on Google. This innovative fusion of enchilada and burrito represented Taco Bell at its creative peak, combining the best of both Mexican-American classics into one memorable meal.
It makes sense that Taco Bell’s Enchirito has a massive fan base even years after it first disappeared from the menu in 1993. It was a staple for decades, created in 1970 and becoming a hit in the 1970s as a massive hit. The Enchirito came with its own reheatable tin and was topped with exactly three black olives, details that fans still remember fondly today. The fan-favorite enchilada-burrito hybrid was first introduced in 1970, discontinued in 1993, revived in 2000, and pulled again in 2013. In 2022, after a fan vote, it briefly returned from November 17 to November 30.
McDonald’s Fruit and Yogurt Parfait Health Kick
Coming in at over 106,000 Google searches, this parfait was a mainstay on the McDonald’s menu for over 20 years – with it being discontinued in 2020. This was one of the more healthier options on the McDonald’s menu. The parfait represented McDonald’s attempt to offer genuinely nutritious options during the height of America’s health consciousness movement.
Food historians point to the parfait as evidence of how even healthy menu items can develop passionate followings. Its layers of vanilla yogurt, fresh berries, and granola provided a guilt-free indulgence that busy Americans could grab on the go. The timing of its 2020 discontinuation particularly stung, coming just as many people were becoming more health-conscious following the pandemic.
Burger King’s Vanishing Salad Selection
At 105,000 Google searches, the salads at Burger King have been discontinued since 2022, after first being introduced in 1990. While they still offer one salad option on their current menu, they quietly discontinued the rest of the salad options on their menu. This represented a massive shift away from healthier options that had been available for over three decades.
Florida-founded fast food chain Burger King dropped salads from its menu in 2022, but some say there are still ways to order from the salad menu at some locations and that Burger King salads haven’t gone away for international Burger King locations. Burger King in the United States stopped offering salads, including Caesar salad, in early 2022. The quiet nature of this discontinuation particularly frustrated health-conscious customers who relied on these options for quick, nutritious meals.
Arby’s Beloved Potato Cakes Catastrophe
While we don’t know when Potato Cakes were initially introduced at Arby’s, we do know they were officially discontinued in 2021. Around 87,000 people have searched for this item on Google and they will be happy to know that Arby’s reintroduced Potato Cakes to their menu These thick, triangular potato patties were essentially supersized hash browns that offered something completely different from typical fast-food fries.
Additional potato recipes on a menu are always a good thing and potato cakes were essentially giant super thick hashbrowns. The dish was a glob of shredded potato shaped into a thick triangular piece, and fried. They were crunchy, buttery, and delicious. Unfortunately, Arby’s has replaced the potato cakes with crinkle-cut fries, a decision that no one is happy about. The passionate fan response ultimately led to their return, proving that customer voices can make a difference.
KFC’s Potato Wedge Tragedy
KFC’s Potato Wedges were unique, they were one of the only wedges in the fast food landscape and they were seasoned with the same blend of seasonings that make up KFC’s Original Recipe chicken. The wedges were tender, crispy in all the right places, and had a wonderful complex flavor that combined various spices and fluffy buttery potato flavor. These weren’t just any potato wedges – they were seasoned with the Colonel’s secret blend of herbs and spices.
Which is exactly what happened when KFC swapped out their thick, crispy potato wedges for basic fries in 2020 – because, you know, that year wasn’t hard enough without axing beloved menu items. And not even for great fries – just fries. The wedges had a perfectly seasoned, crunchy exterior and a mashed potato-like center. KFC’s potato wedges were the perfect ratio of piping hot potato and crispy chicken batter. The batter kept the wedges nice and hot for way longer than fries, and the fried battered potato skin on the back was perfectly crispy.
Taco Bell’s Fiesta Veggie Burrito Farewell
Taco Bell has bid farewell to the Fiesta Veggie Burrito. You won’t find it anywhere on the menu. Instead, the fast-food chain recommends the Black Bean Crunchwrap or the Blackbean Chalupa Supreme. This affordable vegetarian option represented something increasingly rare in fast food: a meatless meal that didn’t cost significantly more than traditional options.
On Reddit, rumor has it the changes took effect as early as January 11, 2024, and reading through the thread, it’s obvious customers were not happy about it. Many noticed that vegetarian options seem to be disappearing across all fast-food menus, with one noting, “Taco Bell was one of the last remaining fast food places that had a reasonably-priced veggie option.” There’s even a Change.org petition to bring it back. And who knows – if it reaches its goal and Taco Bell obliges the request, we might have to throw a fiesta in its honor.
Wendy’s Chicken Caesar Pita Paradise
This gem – a pillowy pita piled high with chicken, lettuce, Caesar dressing and Parmesan cheese – hit menus in 1997, along with three other Fresh Stuffed Pitas. After all these years, Gen Xers and millennials alike are still longing for their revival. The pita represented Wendy’s brief experiment with Mediterranean-inspired fast food during the late 1990s health food trend.
Food historians note that the Fresh Stuffed Pitas arrived during a period when chains were desperately trying to appeal to health-conscious consumers without sacrificing flavor. PureWow VP of editorial Candace Davison writes. The combination of warm, soft pita bread with crispy chicken and authentic Caesar flavors created a unique texture experience that regular wraps simply couldn’t match. The fact that people still search for these items nearly three decades later speaks to their lasting impact on fast-food culture.
