No matter how you slice it or dice it, the ever-growing popularity of burgers is surely
in part thanks to the sheer number of options available. But some of them aren't so readily
available anymore, so here are the discontinued restaurant burgers that need to make a comeback.
McDonald's is a bit of an industry pioneer in experimentation when it comes to new menu
items and limited offerings. This is the company behind the McRib, after all. Unfortunately,
though, not all of its creations can be raging successes. Sometimes it boils down to failed
marketing schemes, worldwide recessions, and even ethical issues. In 1988, McDonald's introduced
our palates to the beloved Cheddar Melt burger. Basically the grilled cheese of our dreams,
it consisted of a grilled beef patty glazed with teriyaki sauce, caramelized onions, and
ooey gooey melted cheddar cheese sauce piled between a pillowy burger bun.
That sounds pretty awesome, doesn't it? Alas, the 80s were an odd time in the fast food
industry. McDonald's was constantly switching things up, introducing new items and axing
others at a rapid pace. The Cheddar Melt had a short life and was cut in the early 90s,
thereby melting our hearts at the same time. It's since seen the light of day again a few
times, including a brief comeback in the early 2000s. Fans went crazy in 2014 when a McDonald's
in Wisconsin started selling it again, but that proved to be fleeting as well. We'll
be waiting with bated breath for its long-overdue full-fledged return.
We love the convenience factor of a fast food burger, but sometimes our hearts insist on
something with a little gourmet flair. There was a time not that long ago that artisan
cheese was a popular culinary trend, and Wendy's was quick to hop on board. In 2010, the chain
introduced us to the Bacon and Blue Burger. The Mercedes-Benz of fast food burgers, this
vessel of tantalizing mouth-joy was loaded with a quarter-pound beef patty, four strips
of applewood-smoked bacon, sauteed onions, steakhouse sauce, and Wisconsin blue cheese
crumbles all on a brioche bun.
"Blue cheese? What, do you think you're better than me?"
It was both delicious, and a big ol' mess. Wendy's fans praised the premium burger and
its robust, artisan blue cheese. They also loved the price tag, a mere $4.29 for basically
an entire meal in and of itself. Despite those high marks, this topping-loaded sandwich proved
to be quite difficult for the drive-thru crowd, as it basically instantly disintegrated after
one bite. High-end isn't always convenient.
Our heads were spinning in 2016 when Burger King introduced the Whopperito, a part-burger,
part-burrito Frankenstein of a meal. With a side of Tex-Mex flair, the Whopperito used
seasoned ground beef combined with creamy queso, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and pickles
stuffed inside of a flour tortilla.
This was an attempt by BK to build on its uber-popular flame-grilled burger, and it
proved to be a delight to fans, as customers specifically praised the beef's spicy flavoring.
With the average Chipotle burrito clocking in at over seven bucks, we'd love to see the
return of the Whopperito setting our wallets back only $2.99. Sometimes, the best way is
the cheapest way.
And now, for another entry courtesy of the Golden Arches. It should come as no surprise
that McDonald's should frequently appear on this list, as they have taken many risks since
their inception in 1955. Some have failed, but with great risk comes great reward. While
we're all familiar with standbys like the Filet-O-Fish and the Big Mac, there are quite
a few other McDonald's favorites that have seemingly vanished from existence. Case in
point: the McDLT. On paper, it looks like there's nothing wrong with this blast from
the past that was introduced in the 80s, as it consisted of a reliable combination of
patty, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and pickles.
"Could be the best-tasting lettuce-and-tomato hamburger, ever!"
But unfortunately there were some shortcomings. The issue wasn't in the taste but in how the
burger was prepared and packaged. In an effort to keep the warm components separate from
the cool components, the McDLT was served in a double-sided Styrofoam container. That's
one small step for taste buds, but it's also one giant leap back towards total mindlessness
when it comes to producing waste. Activists were quick to point out this pretty major
flaw, and the McDLT was ultimately pulled from the menu. There's nothing worse than
soggy lettuce and tomato on a burger, but it can't be at the expense of Mother Earth.
Nevertheless, we're still holding out hope for a more environmentally friendly version
of the McDLT.
Nothing is more frustrating than fast food chains selling limited-time-only menu items
specific to a certain region or country. We always want what we can't have, and there
was one particular release that we would've been willing to travel the distance for. Wendy's
Southern-inspired Carolina Classic Burger was introduced to only the chain's Charlotte-area
restaurants, which has us wondering if you can ask delivery apps to travel across state
lines.
Comprised of Wendy's signature quarter-pound beef patty, zesty chili, diced onions, mustard,
and tangy coleslaw, the Carolina Classic burger left Carolinians swooning, and for good reason.
With a bold taste that led to a legion of loyal fans, this limited release made its
return in the fall of 2019, this time to all restaurants across South and North Carolina.
We wouldn't be surprised if this one eventually makes a national rollout, as we could see
it being a massive success just about anywhere.
Restaurants occasionally rely on the shock-and-awe factor when marketing their new products.
Such was the case with a limited-time offering from Uno Pizzeria & Grill known as the Whole
Hog Burger. Introduced in 2016, it was made up of four types of meats: bacon, prosciutto,
pepperoni, and sausage. It also had four types of cheese, onion rings, garlic mayonnaise,
and a whole lot more. It made headlines quickly and earned some notorious recognition, like
Grub Street's unhealthiest dish at a restaurant and the Center for Science in the Public Interest's
yearly Xtreme Eating Awards.
At a whopping 2,850 calories, it's clear that the Whole Hog burger is about as far from
healthy as you can possibly get. While we would typically never recommend anyone eating
this much meat in one sitting, sometimes you have to indulge. This burger was ultimately
short-lived, but at least it lasted long enough to be one hell of a photo opp.
In the 90s, Burger King was riding high on the enduring popularity of the Whopper. It
debuted back in the 50s, and it's been a smash success ever since. And with its recent incarnation
as the Impossible Whopper, it's becoming ever more relevant in a highly competitive sea
of options. While McDonald's was certainly also doing A-okay in the 90s, they were also
dreaming up some competition for the Whopper. So in 1997, they tested the Big N' Tasty in
the California market. It consisted of a seasoned quarter-pound beef patty topped with ketchup,
mayonnaise, slivered onions, two dill pickle slices, leaf lettuce, and a tomato slice on
a sesame seed bun.
McDonald's went big for its advertising by partnering with the Walt Disney Company and
debuting the sandwich on a grand scale in coordination with the opening of Disney's
California Adventure theme park. They even snagged NBA superstar Kobe Bryant for their
national ad campaigns. But even with captive eyeballs and mega marketing dollars, it failed
to leave a lasting impression on consumers. The Big N' Tasty was ultimately downgraded
to the dollar menu and eventually removed altogether in 2011.
Working with Kobe Bryant on the Big N' Tasty wasn't McDonald's first foray into appealing
to the sports-obsessed fan. As far as '90s pop culture icons go, there's none more larger-than-life
than Michael Jordan. The most famous man of the decade was a star on and off the court.
It's no wonder that McDonald's wanted to snag a partnership with this powerhouse Chicago
Bulls legend. The McJordan debuted in Chicago-area McDonald's to great fanfare for a limited
time. This cheeseburger was served on a sesame seed bun with pickles and raw onion, like
the slices found on the quarter pounder, not the diced variety. And the burger featured
bacon and barbecue sauce. We would jump through hoops to taste the McJordan just one more
time.
If you never had a chance to try it yourself, don't fret.. Just ask for a regular cheeseburger
with bacon and a side of barbecue sauce, hold the ketchup, and swap out the regular bun
for a sesame seed bun. It won't be exactly the same, though, as the bacon used back then
was circular, so you'll have to settle for the standard strips used today.
In an effort to win over its more well-to-do clientele, McDonald's launched the Arch Deluxe
in 1996 with a reported $150 million advertising campaign surrounding it.
"Introducing the burger with the grown-up taste: McDonald's Arch Deluxe."
The New York Times reported that at that time it was the most expensive promotion the company
had ever undertaken. Along with the massive ad campaign came a high price tag for the
burger itself, as it was set to sell for between $2.09 and $2.49, depending on the variety.
That might not sound like much now, but it could put a dent in your pocket a few decades
ago. The Arch Deluxe consisted of a quarter-pound fresh beef patty, bacon, all the expected
burger fixings, and the chain's new sauce, a combo of mustard and mayo.
While the burger was pretty tasty and customers seemed to approve, the sales just weren't
there, likely because of the stark contrast in price compared to other menu offerings.
McDonald's tested a similar version in 2018 known as the Archburger at a select number
of locations for a price that was more on par with the rest of their menu.
Burger King's Whopper has shown little signs of slowing down ever since its introduction
in the 50s. CNBC reported in 2020 that the chain sells approximately 234 beef Whoppers
a day per restaurant. Now with the addition of the Impossible Whopper, that number has
gone up astronomically. And back in 2016, BK kicked the spice factor up a notch with
the release of the Angriest Whopper.
This burger was a bit aggressive as it featured a hot sauce-infused red bun, flaming onion
petals, spicy angry sauce, and jalapeno. We're all about the heat, but we actually prefer
the Angry Whopper to the Angriest Whopper, as the former cuts the intensity back a bit
by using a normal bun as opposed to the infused bun. The Angry Whopper is available from time
to time, and we're holding out hope that this hunk of heat heaven makes a permanent return
to the menu someday soon, or else we're going to be the ones who get angry.
"You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."
The words "organic," "all natural," and "grass-fed" are tossed around so much that it can leave
a lot of consumers scratching their heads. But that didn't stop Chili's from getting
in on the action with the 2016 debut of its Grass-Fed Burgers, whether they were doing
it for actual health reasons or as a clever marketing ploy. Available in two varieties,
Chili's claimed that the patties were free of antibiotics and contained no added hormones.
The Sunrise Burger option featured a cage-free egg, pepper jack cheese, applewood-smoked
bacon, lettuce, red onion, tomato, and Chili's signature sauce. The Ultimate Bacon Burger
featured a double portion of applewood-smoked bacon, aged cheddar cheese, jalapeno aioli,
Buffalo sauce, pickles, lettuce, red onion, tomato, and honey-chipotle sauce. They were
both served with homestyle fries on the side. So far, so delicious.
While the burgers were absolutely drool-worthy, it's no surprise that Chili's marketing toward
the health-conscious didn't quite pan out as they'd anticipated. The burger patties
themselves seemed harmless, but the rest of the ingredients were questionable at best,
as they packed quite a punch in the calories, saturated fat, and sodium departments. They
were quietly cut from the menu in 2017, along with a slew of other items when the company's
president admitted that they were trying too hard to chase the trends. But we'd still welcome
a return of these to see what we missed out on.
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