The World of Secret Menu Items

Fast food chains are known for their delicious and affordable food. These days, they are also known for their (not-so-secret) secret menu items that are not listed on the menu. These items are often created by customers or employees who buy regular orders and try mixing and matching different dishes at home until a tastier treat is found. Then the customers advertise the new, customized item on their social media until enough people order it and a new trendy food item eventually takes over the restaurant! Sometimes the new food item even becomes advertised as a regular item by the restaurant. In case you're looking for a brand new treat to try on your next late-night fast food run, here are some of the best secret menu items:

Burger King

Frings: A side dish that combines their onion rings and fries in the same container. It’s so popular that it’s being tested as an actual menu item in select Florida locations.

KFC

Poutine: A Canadian dish of fries, gravy, and cheese curds. You can order KFC’s fries, sprinkle them with cheddar cheese, cover them in the chain’s signature gravy, and voila! You have your very own makeshift poutine. They actually have poutine on their menu now in seceral Canadian locations but the secret menu version is good for people looking for a budget dish. Or for people who want to control how much gravy is going on their fries instead of getting a dish already soaked in the stuff.

McDonald’s

McFloat: An ice cream float made by pouring fountain Coca-Cola over a small vanilla ice cream in a cup1.

Land, Sea, and Air Burger: A burger that combines beef, chicken, and fish patties. People who want this secret menu item should order a Big Mac, a Filet-O-Fish and any chicken burger and then combine the patties into one. The burger name is supposed to be about fish being a seaburger, beef being a land based meat and chicken being bird-based, air type meat. It certainly is a complicated burger but I find that it looks and tastes a lot better than it sounds!

Starbucks

Butterbeer Frappuccino: A Harry Potter-inspired drink made by ordering a Creme Frappuccino with three pumps of caramel syrup, three pumps of toffee nut syrup, and a caramel drizzle on top.

Cotton Candy Frappuccino: A sweet and fruity drink made by ordering a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino with raspberry syrup. Some people say that more than 2 pumps are needed to get the flavour but it depends on one's individual preferences and tolerances for sweetness too.

Taco Bell

Cheesarito: A vegetarian burrito made by ordering a cheese quesadilla and adding beans and onions.

Enchirito: A burrito that combines a beef enchilada with beans, cheese, and onions.

In-N-Out

Animal Style: A burger that comes with grilled onions, extra sauce, and pickles.

Flying Dutchman: Two beef patties with two slices of cheese in between.

Chick-fil-A

Spicy Char: A spicy version of the classic Chick-fil-A sandwich made by adding a spicy seasoning to the chicken.

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich: A sandwich made by adding buffalo sauce to the classic Chick-fil-A sandwich.

These are just a few examples of the many secret menu items that you can order at fast-food chains. If you’re feeling adventurous, try ordering one of these items on your next visit to a fast-food restaurant! The workers might not know what you mean at first if you refer to the item by it's name. Although explaining the ingredients that you would like in the burger or drink could lead to some pretty satisfying results! Who knows, you might discover your new favorite fast food item.