25 Discontinued Chain Restaurant Meals We're Probably Never Getting Back

Restaurant chains have been part of the United States landscape for more than 100 years, with numerous national names and beloved regional brands finding a place in the hearts of millions of customers. We all have our favorite (and comforting) menu items: Meals which, no matter what is happening in our lives, are familiar and taste amazing.

Unfortunately, popularity is no indication that a meal will remain on a restaurant chain's roster. Time and again, brands have shown that even the biggest hits can still be struck from the menu. While some get a second or even third chance, here are 25 discontinued chain restaurant meals we're probably never getting back.

In 1993, Taco Bell unveiled the 7-layer burrito, a hefty vegetarian combination of beans, rice, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, and sour cream, all enveloped in a flour tortilla. In an article for Medium, Thor&Hammer described it as: "The quintessential Taco Bell burrito ... akin to somewhere between the Big Mac and the Double Cheeseburger at McDonald's."

They and other diners were devastated when the 7 layer burrito was discontinued in 2020. CNN reported a statement from Taco Bell which said: "This evolved menu approach comes after months of analyzing the new way we are running our restaurants," adding the decision aimed to make ordering faster for customers.

In the 1980s McDonald's,seeking to boost evening business, invested a lot of time and money in a pizza that was part of a burger-free dinner menu. Apart from sparking a war with Domino's and Pizza Hut, the McPizza proved logistically disastrous for the fast food chain. 

In a Mental Floss article, Jake Rossen cited a post on the firm's Canada website, which read: "Every McDonald's has a busy kitchen and the pizza slowed down our game. And since speed of service is a top priority and expected by our customers, we thought it best to remove this menu item."

Wendy's burgers are known for being made of "fresh, never frozen" patties. The brand stepped away from beef in 2018 with the flavorful smoky mushroom bacon cheeseburger. It was packed with perfectly cooked portobello mushrooms and applewood-smoked bacon, smoky mushroom aioli, Asiago cheese, and fried onions, inside a brioche bun.

When Ian K reviewed it for Peep THIS Out!, he said: "It is very, very rich and I gotta say a little bit salty but very, very flavorful." Sadly for everyone who loved the burger, it was a limited edition. They had to wait until November 2024 for Wendy's to unveil another mushroom bacon cheeseburger, again for a short run.

The rivalry between McDonald's and other brands has led to moments of genius, and one appeared to be the Big N' Tasty. The quarter pounder with tomatoes, onions, lettuce, pickles, mayo, and ketchup was a 1997 gauntlet thrown down to Burger King's Whopper, but the royal brand would have the last laugh. 

McDonald's discontinued the Big N' Tasty in 2011, and although the company never officially explained why, they offered a hint when asked why a similar burger was withdrawn: "Unfortunately, though it's a customer favorite, we're unable to offer the Big Tasty all year round because of the limited capacity in our kitchens."

Popeyes has built an international business selling a taste of Louisiana, but not every menu item has survived over the years. One of its side dishes, Cajun rice, featured colorful bell pepper, garlic, cayenne, and celery. It was wildly popular among customers, who were baffled in 2021 when it vanished from outlets.

Popeyes said the menu changes were a result of customer feedback, but not all diners were prepared to let it go. A petition was launched begging for Cajun rice to be reinstated to Popeyes' menus, gaining 2,518 signatures. The side was briefly brought back for the chain's 50th anniversary in 2022, before disappearing again. 

In 2011, Taco Bell unleashed the triple steak stack, a massive, folded flatbread that was literally bursting with a combination of marinated steak meat and three cheeses.

Food reviewer Joey gave it a 9/10 on his YouTube channel JoeysWorldTour, and described the filling as "out of this world." One commenter on X admitted: "Ashamed to say I ordered so many of these I think I might be the reason why they ran out of the steak early at my location." Despite its popularity, the triple steak stack was discontinued in 2013, before resurfacing briefly in 2015. 

McDonald's is behind some iconic meals, as well as an epic fail. The Arch Deluxe was introduced amid much fanfare in 1996. Aimed at older diners and created by chef Andrew Selvaggio, it comprised a potato roll filled with beef, peppered bacon, lettuce, and a ground mustard-mayo sauce. Despite a $200 million ad campaign, nobody bought the Arch Deluxe.

The doomed burger's story, which McDonald's expected to generate $1 billion, was explored in Discontinued with Bruce Campbell. Contributor Joe Pickett said when the company discontinued the Arch Deluxe: "Sales just kept declining until 2000, they just gave up, and that's it. They pulled it, and I don't think anybody noticed."

Who would have thought a bite-sized morsel of deep-fried chicken would cause so much fuss? Perhaps KFC did, after it launched popcorn chicken in 1992. Despite being a popular food, it had been reintroduced three times by 2015. By 2023, popcorn chicken was among several menu items that fell victim to an efficiency drive. 

While KFC may have hoped chicken nuggets could fill the void, not everyone agreed. One Redditor said: "The popcorn chicken was one of my favorite safe foods and I'm so sad I could cry. I'm actually distressed about it." And this prompted someone to reply: "This is exactly how I was feeling when KFC discontinued their potato wedges."

There are some chain restaurant meals that immediately hit the bullseye, and Taco Bell's double decker was one. Inside a hard shell beef taco nestled a soft version, filled with refried beans and topped with lettuce, peppers and cheese. It initially launched in 1995 as a limited edition menu item, but became a permanent fixture in 2006. 

Fans were appalled when, in 2019, Taco Bell shook up its menu and dropped the double decker. In 2024, it returned for a short run, as the company posted on Instagram: "Be like the double decker taco. here for a good time not a long time."

"If it ain't broken, don't fix it." For devotees of KFC's potato wedges, it was a rallying cry for their discontinued favorite. In 2020, Business Insider reported that the beloved side was going to be replaced across the United States by 'secret recipe' French fries, whose recipe had been 60 years in the making. The public response was not good.

One Redditor moaned: "Why on earth they would discontinue a menu staple like this is beyond me. My mom used to bring home KFC semi-regularly when we were kids, those wedges were fire," while on Threads, a commenter said: "You have no idea how much this hurt. They were the best fast food potato out there. @kfc I will never stop reminding you how bad you messed up."

Most restaurant chains shuffle their menus to keep things fresh. Arby's did things a little differently in 2021 when its entire range of sliced ham was eliminated. The move affected several products, from the humble ham slider to the chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich, originally unveiled in 1994. 

One Redditor said about the move: "Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich was literally the only thing I would get when I went to Arby's, absolutely loved that sandwich! Found out a few days ago that they no longer can make it at my local location! Ugh!! I won't be back." 

Created in 1984 and rolled out nationwide the following year, the McDonald's McDLT was supposed to rival Travis Kelce's fave: The Burger King Whopper. But it was less the meal and more the packaging that really set the McDLT apart.

One side of the huge styrofoam container held the cold ingredients — sesame seed bun top, with mustard, ketchup, sliced onions, pickles, lettuce, mayo, a slice of American cheese and two slices of tomato. The other side held the hot beef patty and the bottom of the bun. Sadly for Mickey D's, the Styrofoam packaging fell foul of a growing environmentalist trend. The McDLT was discontinued after around five years. 

Many restaurant chains test new products regionally before a wider roll out. That's exactly what Chick-fil-A did with their Spicy Chick-n-Strips. In 2017, they were a big success with customers in Central and South Texas, and Philadelphia, before being expanded to Phoenix the following year. 

In 2021, YouTuber theendorsement gave them an 89/100 review, saying he enjoyed them but they could have used a little more spice. However, worse news was to come: the Spicy Chick-n-Strips were merely a marketing exercise. The company said on its website: "The Spicy Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Strips were only available for a limited time at participating restaurants. As of June 12, 2023, they will no longer be served in the test markets."

"There's something very unusual going on at Taco Bell," according to a 1988 advert. It wasn't kidding. Originally dubbed 'Pizzazz Pizza' when it first emerged in 1985, it was renamed Mexican Pizza three years later. Customers went wild for the double tortilla-crust treat, before it was discontinued in 2020.  

One fan launched a petition to bring it back. When Doja Cat and Dolly Parton pledged their love, CEO Mark King told Fortune the pizza would return permanently in the fall of 2022. However, fans' joy was short-lived, as questions soon swirled about the taste. "One thing is for sure: It is most definitely not the same," wrote The Street's Colette Bennett.

When Wendy's founder Dave Thomas talked lovingly about his ma's country fried steak, you have to wonder why it took until 1990 for it to make it to the restaurant's menu. Luckily for devotees of the classic Southern dish, it became part of the $0.99 menu, where it worked its way into many people's hearts. 

Unfortunately, despite the loyal following, Wendy's yanked the country fried steak sandwich in 1994. While some speculated the fatty, unhealthy profile was the reason, it wasn't the only popular item to be pulled. In 2023, the brand's grilled chicken sandwich was permanently discontinued.

Between 2015 and 2021, this signature side graced many an Arby's order. Customers loved them so much, some believed it was the OG of curly fries (that was Dolores Restaurant & Drive-In in Oklahoma, according to the Idaho Potato Commission). 

Topped with the unparalleled flavor duo of cheddar cheese and bacon bits, and a drizzle of ranch dressing, they were a huge hit. Despite that, Arby's pulled the plug in the United States – though Canadian loaded curly fries with sour cream remained on sale. 

Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwich, a delicious mix of chopped chicken, sweet pickle relish, hard-boiled eggs and celerywas a winner for many customers. Sadly, demand wasn't strong enough to prevent it from being swept off the menu in 2017. 

People took to social media to express anger. When one Redditor suggested the sandwich's prep time was the reason it was yanked, others commented: "I got it everyday and I'm still not over it and it's been years." Although Chick-fil-A refused to bring the sandwich back, they did provide a recipe so fans can make the iconic chicken salad dish at home.

In 2019, Chipotle unveiled the Carne Asada — a dish of marinated beef seasoned with oregano and coriander, among other spices, served with cilantro and a dash of lime.  "Over the past few years, our fans' passion for Carne Asada has rivaled any other Chipotle menu item," said brand officer Chris Brandt.

Despite orders from more than 10 million customers,  Carne Asada was pulled from menus, only to resurface again in 2020 and 2023 as a quesadilla for limited runs. One poster on X said: "Carne asada was the best thing to ever happen to Chipotle." 

While $4 doesn't buy much, back in 2010 it would get you a Denny's Fried Cheese Melt. As artery-clanging as it sounds, the 895-calorie, value menu item comprised four sticks of fried mozzarella and grilled American cheese slapped between two slices of delicious sourdough bread.

It may not have been the lightest of bites but people loved it. One commenter on X said: "This was grade-A comfort food. My local Dennys kept it a bit longer as a secret menu item, since they still had everything needed to make it." Although many were shocked when the Fried Cheese Melt was discontinued with no explanation in 2013, a petition launched the following year gained just 154 signatures. 

The pandemic was a watershed moment for many people, businesses, and some of the most popular restaurant chain meals. Devotees of Applebee's tasty grilled chicken wonton tacos watched them vanish from menus in 2020, and in 2023, it was reported that they would not be coming back. 

Like many eateries after Covid, the restaurant chain had to deal with some tricky supply chain issues, blaming them for the menu shake-up, and refusing to say whether fans would see their beloved wontons again. On Reddit, a poster said: "These were my only reason to go to Applebee's and it's really unfortunate they're possibly gone."

When Arby's decided to pull the plug on its iconic potato cakes in 2021 after 55 years and switched to crinkle-cut fries, they soon realized they may have underestimated the public's affection for the side. The triangular, hash brown-style snack ranked alongside the Jamocha milkshake for helping Arby's stand out from the crowd –and by 2024, the potato cakes had cropped up more than 10,000 times on social media. 

That same year, the restaurant chain teamed up with Kyle MacLachlan for a hilarious advert posted to Instagram announcing a limited run of the much-missed side, featuring the tagline: "Every vocal Arby's potato cake lover on the internet manifested this."

If there's one thing that restaurant chains do exceptionally well, it's breakfast items. In 2015, Sonic Drive-In launched its French toaster sandwich, described in a Facebook ad as: "Fluffy Egg, American Cheese, your choice of Bacon or Sausage in between two pieces of Maple Syrup flavored French Toast."

The brand's Breakfast Toaster sandwich (made with French rather than Texas toast), was a hit. Sadly, it was also just a limited run and before people knew it, the French toast was out and the Texas toast was back. Those who adored the blend of sweet-meets-savory are counting the days until it returns.

Restaurant chains often mess around with the savory elements of their menus — but the dessert section isn't immune. Popeyes' demonstrated their ruthless side when they cut their Mardi Gras cheesecake around 2019. It had a graham cracker crust flavored with ginger and nutmeg, while the vanilla cheesecake was topped with purple, yellow, and green sprinkles.

Some diners thought the dessert too sweet, but for others it was a slice of sugary heaven, and removing it from menu was a step too far. One fan posted on X: "Popeyes discontinued the mardi gras cheesecake and I will be mourning this travesty for the next few years."

Starting in 2004 customers seeking a sugar rush could chow down on Taco Bell's caramel apple empanadas. These flaky pastry morsels were a hit, only to be discontinued in 2019. One customer on X wrote: "I miss these so much! And hear me out on this one — they were absolutely incredible dipped in the nacho cheese!"

In 2024, Taco Bell revived the caramel apple empanadas for a "Through the Decades" menu. Sadly, the sweet treat was only available to loyalty members in the app, according to an advert on X. One commenter said: "Hiding the empanadas behind the app is criminal."

Cracker Barrel had one of the mightiest breakfast items in the restaurant chain pantheon: Strawberries n' cream french toast. Described in a Facebook post as: "Sourdough bread griddled to a golden brown and filled with a mix of sweet cream cheese, fresh strawberries, powdered sugar and strawberry syrup." 

Although advertised as a limited-run meal it didn't prevent devotees from taking to social media when it was discontinued. One customer posted on X: "Cracker Barrel doesn't have my strawberries and cream french toast anymore. I'm never returning."