I was thinking about McDonald’s McDLT the other day, a sandwich I still cannot forget. (Mac lovers from the 80’s, I hope you know this sandwich.) You put a layer of lettuce and tomato on one side, a hot, juicy beef patty on the other, and you’d put a mouthwatering sandwich together yourself. It was so fun and different!
But then it stopped being made — as did so many other iconic sandwiches from the ’80s. Let’s have a look at 11 fast-food sandwiches of the ’80s that never made it — and why they disappeared.
Featured Image Credit: Chris Richards /Pexels.com.
Burger King’s Ham-Tastic Yumbo
Burger King’s Yumbo was a hot ham and cheese sandwich on a toasty croissant. The croissant was super nice, and the melting Swiss cheese with the tangy ham tasted absolutely fantastic. For a while, Yumbo was a nice change from their standard flame-grilled burgers, but not many people wanted it as their regular burgers, so the Yumbo died out.
Wendy’s Superbar: Build-Your-Own Everything
Wendy’s Superbar was like a salad bar but with more options- tacos, pasta and sandwiches of course. Superbar sandwiches were filled with everything from cold cuts to whatever you wanted. However, this concept was just too complicated for a burger-and-fries fast food chain, so Wendy’s decided to stick to their usual menu items.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
Taco Bell’s Bell Beefer: A Taco Without a Shell
Taco Bell’s Bell Beefer was an odd innovation – taco filling popped into a hamburger bun rather than a taco shell. These Beefers were filled with the flavored beef, lettuce, and cheese, almost as though it were a taco in a new kind of way. The Bell Beefer was never popular like Taco Bell’s signature tacos.
Hardee’s Massive Thickburger Experiment
Hardee’s Thickburger had a giant, juicy burger patty loaded with everything you want: lettuce, tomato, cheese, & a special sauce. We expected it to be extra-filled and a little bigger than what other fast-food restaurants were serving. But then the Thickburger went away. (Actually, It wasn’t that different from what other chains were already selling, so there wasn’t much to keep the customer coming back for.)
McDLT: Hot & Cool, but Not for Long
McDLT came in a plastic double-sided container – the hot fresh beef patty on one side and the cool lettuce, tomato, and pickles on the other. When it was first introduced, it was a great idea to keep hot and cold ingredients separately, which was pretty cool. Sadly, it didn’t last. The main reason was the styrofoam packaging they came in- (It was not eco-friendly at all.)
Arby’s Fancy Chicken Cordon Bleu
For me, Arby’s Chicken Cordon Bleu was a delightful dream — crisp chicken with ham and melty Swiss on a light bun. It was a good version of the chicken cordon bleu dish and a little bit more fancy than Arby’s normal roast beef sandwiches. Sadly, this sandwich didn’t stay around for long as it didn’t fit with Arby’s core line-up of roast beef sandwiches.
McDonald’s Short-Lived Onion Nuggets
These little fried onion bites (crunchy, and dip-able) were a fun twist on fries or regular onion rings. They were good, and we loved them as kids. But McDonald’s did not sell them for long because they weren’t as popular as their fries or burgers. Plus, Onion Nuggets also didn’t sit very well with their lower-calorie menu.
Sonic’s Sweet French Toast Creation
Sonic’s French Toast Sandwich was a great breakfast option. It was scrambled eggs, cheese, and bacon or sausage between two slices of buttery, golden French toast. However, it didn’t last because customers were more into quicker, and portable breakfast options, like breakfast burritos or croissant sandwiches.
Jack in the Box’s Taco-Burger Mashup
Jack in the Box’s Taco Burger was just that, a taco filling inside a hamburger bun. The ground beef, lettuce, and cheese made it more like a taco, but the bread created something else entirely. However, it was a little greasy and didn’t sit neatly with Jack in the Box’s classic burger and taco menu.
White Castle’s Chicken Rings Were a Swing and a Miss
While White Castle’s sliders are known, they tried something new with Chicken Rings in the 1980s. They were fried chicken nuggets but rings. They were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, but they never did much of a buzz.
Denny’s Club Sandwich: Forgotten or Just Replaced?
Topped with turkey, ham, bacon, lettuce and tomato between three pieces of toasted bread, Denny’s Club Sandwich was a hit back then. People loved this diner-style sandwich. But, this sandwich didn’t last long on Denny’s menu, though. It wasn’t a standout among their other menu items.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
Read More:
