Obviously, it's exciting whenever a new fast food item lands on menus, however, the harsh reality of the restaurant industry is that to make room for the new, old entrées must go. Over the years, McDonald's has discontinued a number of a nostalgic bites. And while some have made their way back (the Snack Wrap's revival tour is coming this year), that can't be said for all of our favorites.
Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall? Here are all the discontinued McDonald's menu items that are gone but not forgotten.
Chopped Beefsteak Sandwich
Let's start with a real throwback: The Chopped Beefsteak Sandwich. If you're unfamiliar with the menu item that's probably because you weren't born yet. The OG sandwich, which included a long beef patty, long bun, onions, and steak sauce, was discontinued 45 years ago in 1980.
Onion Nuggets
The Onion Nuggets, which, like the Chopped Beefsteak, made their first appearance in the 1970s, were a popular side often paired with the bygone sandwich. And, they're exactly what it sounds like: An onion ring and McNugget hybrid that thrilled vegetarians but did not sell well enough to stick around on menus. They were discontinued in 1984.
Chicken Selects
Real ones remember Chicken Selects. While they're still available in certain markets (which means you can travel to them if you're that dedicated), they were discontinued from U.S. menus in 2013. "We are constantly evolving our menu and listening to our customers to meet their changing needs," a spokesperson told Reuters.
Good news, though: the chain is also reportedly working on chicken tenders. While they might not be the exact same as the ones from our youth, here's hoping they do the trick.
Super Hero Burger
ICYMI, the Super Hero Burger dropped in 1995 as a promotional launch tied to the movie Batman Forever. It included three beef patties, two types of cheeses, lettuce, tomato, onions, and mayo on a “superhero bun.”
Cheesy Bacon Fries
McDonald’s Cheesy Bacon Fries launched in 2019 and included cheddar cheese sauce and bacon bits for an indulgent spin on their classic side. RIP.
Donut Sticks
The Donut Sticks are another more recent launch that have since been discontinued. The deep fried doughy strips were coated in a cinnamon and sugar topping and prepared hot and crispy.
Arch Deluxe
The Arch Deluxe was, in fact, very deluxe, stacked with a quarter pound of beef, peppered bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and a special sauce. It hit menus in 1996 but didn't stick around for long.
Szechuan Sauce
McDonald's Szechuan Sauce has lore. It first made its debut in 1998 as part of a limited-edition Happy meal to promote Mulan. The sauce briefly made a return after it was featured on the show "Rick and Morty," however, it quickly caused major controversy. Stores were overwhelmingly understocked and met with public outrage when fans couldn't get their hands on the Szechuan Sauce.
The sauce made a third and most recent appearance on menus in 2022, but if you're still craving it, good news: You can get it on Ebay for a casual $750.
Fish McBites
Filet-o-Fish fans may remember the Fish McBites, which were basically the exact same thing (flaky Alaskan Pollock filet dipped in batter and fried) but without the bun. They even came with Tartar sauce for dipping. They dropped in 2013 and were discontinued that same year.
McSpaghetti
While the McSpaghetti sounds fake, it was a real thing on menus in the 1970s. The spaghetti dish included all the essentials: pasta, marinara sauce, meatballs, and a cheese topping.
Cinnamon Melts
The Cinnamon Melts were basically a deconstructed cinnamon roll, and while that sounds downright amazing, sadly they exited menus. Luckily, we have plenty of recipes for treats, from a cinnamon roll casserole and poke cake to cinnamon bun cookies.
McDonaldland Cookies
You likely remember these nostalgic cookies from your childhood. Unfortunately, they're no longer in happy meals, but you can fly all the way to Australia, where they're still on the menu.
Grilled Chicken Sandwich
The Grilled Chicken Sandwich left McDonald's menus in 2020, according to Insider, but hey, this is just your excuse to get the fried (and arguably better) version instead.
Salad
Last summer, McDonald's discontinued all of its salads in a move that, frankly, makes sense. Who's going to McDonald's for a salad??
"You know, our founder famously said in 1970, ‘I don't know what people are going to be eating in the year 2000, but we're going to serve more of it than anybody else," McDonald's U.S. President Joe Erlinger said in a statement in July. "And so if people really want salads from McDonald's, we will gladly relaunch salads. But what our experience has proven is, that's not what the consumer is looking for from McDonald's."
