With a seemingly endless stream of television and movie franchise reboots, the resurgence
of popular 90s fashion trends, and even the return of some of our most treasured childhood
snacks, it's clear that nostalgia is one of the major cultural forces of the 21st century.
Naturally, some of the major players in the restaurant industry are getting in on the
trend: like Pizza Hut, which has re-introduced its 1997 menu classic The Edge, and Burger
King, which is currently toying with the idea of bringing back those iconic crown-shaped
chicken nuggets. Of course, the most famous fast-food chain in the world, McDonald's,
has followed suit as well, delighting fans by bringing back a number of classic menu
items, including the McRib and the Bacon McDouble.
All this talk about revitalizing former drive-thru staples might have you reminiscing about a
few other fast food gems that have yet to make a comeback. But while you may be dreaming
of the return of the Snack Wrap or McDLT, there's one other beloved McDonald's sandwich
that you probably haven't thought about in a long time: the 1980s classic Cheddar Melt.
Drawing a blank? Nobody could blame you. This sandwich was introduced to the chain's menu
more than 33 years ago in 1988, only to be quickly removed the following year.
"Cheddar Melt. For a limited time… to go."
"At McDonald's."
It was a quarter-pound burger topped with creamy cheddar cheese sauce and grilled onions,
served up between a soft, rye bun — and it seemed to make quite the impression on
patrons at the time. In a Reddit thread dedicated to the late-80s delicacy, one user wrote:
"I was 7 years old when this came out. I won't give away how I feel about this burger, but
I light a candle to St. Kroc every 4th of McDonald's in honor of this tasty treat."
Meanwhile, another Redditor suggested that the Cheddar Melt didn't stick around because
it was simply too good for McDonald's. They wrote:
"Loved this when it launched but knew full well that it was too fancified for the McD's
crowd. Same with Arch Deluxe. Great burger but too fancy."
A commenter on a separate Reddit thread, however, reassured everyone that the Cheddar Melt wasn't
that fancy after all, writing:
"I worked at McDonald's back then. The cheese came in a caulk gun."
After its brief stint on the McDonald's menu in the late 80s, the Cheddar Melt made a return
in 2004, only to be quickly discontinued yet again. Those lucky enough to live in certain
parts of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin were also able to get a taste of the sandwich
in 2014 — for a while, at least. And while your McDelivery driver may not be willing
to travel quite this far, McDonald's Brazil has something extremely close to the Cheddar
Melt: the Cheddar McMelt. Although this version of the sandwich comes on a dark sesame seed
bun rather than rye and features a shot of shoyu sauce, it's pretty much the same as
the classic original.
For now, though, non-Brazilian fans of the McDonald's Cheddar Melt can only hope for
a revival of their favorite sandwich. The good news, at least, is that McDonald's seems
to be listening to its customers. When the chain announced last fall that the McRib was
coming back, it sounded like the choice was made after giving in to customer demand. McDonald's
wrote:
"It's taking the internet by storm. That's why this year, we're proud to serve the McRib
nationwide for everyone to enjoy."
And there's been an internet storm brewing over the Cheddar Melt, too. One Twitter user
wrote:
"Hey @McDonalds, still wondering when you're going to bring back the cheddar melt. There's
a whole generation who hasn't tasted this perfection. Do it for the kids!"
Meanwhile, another user said:
"When is the Cheddar Melt coming back??? We have like 20 states with legal weed and no
Cheddar Melt. It's just wrong."
While yet another wrote:
"McDonald's should bring back the Cheddar Melt, and I should probably spend more time
thinking NOT about this."
Your move, McDonald's. Maybe it's time to give the people what they want.
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