{"id":80812,"date":"2024-01-04T12:33:58","date_gmt":"2024-01-04T19:33:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moneyppl.com\/?p=80812"},"modified":"2024-01-06T09:49:28","modified_gmt":"2024-01-06T16:49:28","slug":"discontinued-mcdonalds-menu-items-you-probably-never-knew-about","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.moneyppl.com\/discontinued-mcdonalds-menu-items-you-probably-never-knew-about\/80812\/","title":{"rendered":"Discontinued McDonald\u2019s Menu Items You Probably Never Knew About"},"content":{"rendered":"
Let’s be honest – we’ve all gorged at McDonald’s more times than you’d like to admit. It’s the most popular fast food establishment in the world and played a role in many of our childhoods. Some of their iconic menu items like the Big Mac and Chicken McNuggets are staples of pop culture in America and have expanded to be worldwide phenomena. <\/span><\/p>\n But did you know McDonald’s previously had tons of menu items, many of which you probably never knew existed? That’s right, the McDonald’s menu used to contain <\/span>products<\/span><\/a> that were far off the beaten path from their regular everyday hits. Some of them were adored by fans while others quickly left the menu because they just didn’t resonate with customers. Either way, however, they were all unique. Check out the discontinued McDonald’s menu items that you never knew about right here. <\/span><\/p>\n Back in 2013, McDonald’s featured Fish McBites. If you didn’t enjoy the Fish O’Filet, then you probably wouldn’t have enjoyed these fried pieces of whitefish. Some saw them as the perfect fast food version seafood as they were fried, and bite-sized, but they were taken off the menu quickly after they were put on. <\/span><\/p>\n They were originally introduced to the Cincinnati area as a “meatless” option for Christians who couldn’t eat meat on Fridays. The company even went so far as to release a “Fishy Fishy Groove” that they played in various commercials. The users of Reddit remember the tune, saying, “I remember the fish mcbites because I was a child when they were being promoted and the little “fishy fishy” fish mcbites ad was a really popular thing in my school.” After three months, they were taken off the menu (via <\/span>The Daily Mail<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This discontinued item is one many McDonald’s fan just don’t know. Fried onions taste good, and nugget-sized options are always a good choice, so putting them together should have been a good idea. Mcdonald’s introduced them along with the Chopped Beefsteak Sandwich as a side dish of fried onions. They were onion rings without the circle shape. Perhaps people liked the circle shape so much that they never became a hit.<\/span><\/p>\n People on a McDonald’s subreddit said, “This isn’t that weird if you think about onion rings, but thumb-sized chunks of fried onion still seem like a bit much. Perhaps that’s the reason that this product only hit four test markets in the 1970s. Or maybe customers just went ‘onions? That’s a vegetable! That is NOT what I come to McDonald’s for, folks.” They decided to further pursue the other fried alternative, which was a Chicken McNugget (via <\/span>Mashed<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Back in 2005, customers at McDonald’s briefly saw the rise and fall of hot mustard sauce. When it was discontinued, many customers felt angry at the sudden shift. They loved it because it reminded them of sauce you’d find at a Chinese restaurant. <\/span>You can still find the sauce in select markets. <\/span><\/p>\n Don’t give up hope on the delicious sauce just yet, since it’s entirely possible you’ll come across it during your next road trip at an unassuming McDonald’s. According to a customer interviewing with The Takeout, “I believe it is available in certain regions, but the owner-operators in these regions vote on if they want it on their menu. Since McD is in super simplification mode as you can tell by their marketing initiatives, sauces are the most simple items to bring in and out of restaurants, but it’s all based on supply and demand.” If you’re lucky, you still might come across this delicious sauce (via <\/span>The Takeout<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n McDonald’s doesn’t skimp on the healthy options. In 2005, they attempted to bring in healthier options to their menu with the fruit and walnut salad. Many people came back for the delicious, fresh option, which had candied walnuts, yogurt, apple slices, and grapes. Unfortunately, its popularity dwindled in 2013. <\/span>The franchise realized people come to McDonald’s for the burgers, not the salads, and discontinued the item (via <\/span>Business Insider<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the early 2000s, McDonald’s sold a Spanish Omelette Bagel. Many people didn’t like the omelet and found it tasteless and bland even though it was aesthetically pleasing. But users of the internet lamented the loss of the bagel and missed it, even though it wasn’t one of their favorites on the menu. <\/span><\/p>\n One Reddit user said, “I will do unholy things for the steak egg, and cheese bagel. A combo meal in the morning and I don’t have to eat lunch and a very light dinner will do.” It sounds like they revolved their day around this bagel in the hopes of saving money and having a filling meal (via <\/span>The Sun<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you were lucky enough to eat McDonald’s in the 1990s and loved lobster rolls, then you probably indulged in the McLobster. However, after issues with supplies and the realization that it wasn’t very profitable, they discontinued it. Sometimes, it’s still available in the New England region during summertime, especially when it’s doused in butter sauce. At the very least, it’s a strange McDonalds creation. <\/span>Kirsten Hunter, a spokesperson within the company, said, “Unfortunately, the increased price of lobster per pound means we are currently unable to offer this menu item at a reasonable price for our guests.” The price of lobster was just too hefty at the end of the day (via <\/span>MacLeans<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Back in 2013, McDonald’s introduced the Mighty Wings to its menu, which were chicken wings covered in spicy breading. Unfortunately, they never really got off the ground, and the franchise had to drop its prices to sell them. Afterward, they were discontinued and deemed not popular. It could never compete against the McNugget, and the franchise could never really find a way to make it work. <\/span>When it was on the menu, you could get a box with five bone-in wings (via <\/span>Insider<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Back in 2013, McDonald’s tried to make fancy burgers, though they didn’t end up working out. They introduced the Angus Burger to their menu, but less than a year later they discontinued it. One of the reasons has to do with the increase in the price of beef. <\/span><\/p>\n For a McDonald’s menu, the price was too high which deterred people away from buying the burgers. McDonald’s consultant Richard Adams said, “When you can get four or five burgers off the Dollar Menu, nobody’s going to buy the Angus burger. The Dollar Menu has become a real problem for these chains.” Since the burgers from the dollar menu were just as good, people never considered buying the more expensive burgers (via <\/span>Business Time<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This menu item was inspired by the one and only Michael Jordan, the iconic 1980s and ‘<\/span>90s basketball superstar. Because he was so famous, he had his own sandwich at McDonalds. But the McJordan was exclusive only to Chicago. The item didn’t last a very long time. The marketing team didn’t do a good enough job to let everyone know about this special menu item. To be fair, it wasn’t anything remarkable and was simply a cheeseburger on a sesame seed bun, with pickles, circular bacon, raw onions, and a tangy, delicious barbecue sauce.<\/span><\/p>\n Luckily, because it was so simple, it was easy to recreate by adjusting one of the burger options on the menu. The only thing you won’t get is the circular bacon, but you’ll get strips instead (via <\/span>Mashed<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You might have wondered why McDonald’s tried selling chicken fajitas despite being a burger joint. In the 90’s, they introduced the chicken fajita and breakfast burritos, but soon after discontinued them. It was probably a good idea.<\/span><\/p>\n No one craving a chicken fajita will first head to McDonalds. But some users of Reddit even remember the fajitas fondly and <\/span>wrote<\/span><\/a> how “they were so tasty, and unique AND only 99 cents!! They were a much healthier option to have at McDonald’s too! I DO wish they would bring them back. Honestly, nothing on their current menu is even edible to me. But if they brought chicken fajitas back… I would go for that!” They went so far as to have a slogan that read, “a taste of Mexico… without the sunburn,” and bright, colorful commercials boasting the fajitas (via <\/span>The 80s and 90s<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This burger is also known as the Superhero Burger, which joined the menu in 1995. They purposefully coordinated it with Batman Forever’s release and filled the burger with delicious flavors and a lot of toppings. It had three beef patties, two slices of cheese, and other random assortments. <\/span>Even though it had a lot of protein, it was removed from the menu in 1995. It didn’t even last a full year (via <\/span>Cosmopolitan<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Another time McDonald’s tried to add another cuisine to their menu was when they added the McPizza. It was introduced in the 1980s and lasted quite a long time. Originally, it was a family-sized pizza and then scaled down to personal size. Preparation took a whopping 11 minutes, which is a long time compared to other food. <\/span><\/p>\n In 2000, they discontinued it because it was out of sync with the fast food preparation, taking as long as sixteen minutes to make. According to the McDonald’s Wiki, “By 1991, the McDonald’s test markets for pizza had grown to over 500 locations before being placed on hold. McPizza was discontinued in almost all restaurants by 2000 because the eleven to sixteen-minute cook was out of sync with the restaurant’s reputation for fast service.” It was nothing in comparison to Pizza Hut (via <\/span>The Street<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Before they had their Premium Salads, McDonald’s tried to introduce the McSalad, which was pretty much a salad in a cup. They introduced it 20 years ago and then discontinued it after three years of poor sales. They had several options, including Garden, Chef, and Grilled Chicken Caesar. <\/span><\/p>\n According to <\/span>Reddit<\/span><\/a>, “These disappeared in a matter of weeks following the report that, with the package of dressing that they always included, they ended up being more calories than a Big Mac and fries.” That healthiness sounds pretty misleading. Some options were the southwest chicken salad, fruit and walnut salad, a fiesta salad, and more, but unfortunately, we will never see them on the menu again (via <\/span>The Daily Meal<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Back in 1997, McDonald’s introduced the Big N’ Tasty to compete with the Whopper. Ultimately, it was a seasoned quarter-pounder that had mayonnaise, onions, lettuce, tomato, and pickle slices. In 2011, the American locations discontinued it, but it still sold outside of the USA. <\/span>There were several reasons they discontinued it, including wanting to simplify the menu, deal with the obesity problem, and initiatives that did not align with a huge burger, including “Eat Smart. Be Active” (via <\/span>Quora<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Everyone loves cheese, especially cheddar. People thought this one would go well, but there was no such luck. It came to fruition in 1988 and was made of cheddar cheese sauce, grilled onions, and meat, all on a rye bun. People couldn’t get around this one, and it never really stuck around. <\/span>In 2000, it made a brief comeback, and then in 2014 McDonalds in Wisconsin brought it back. But if you want a sandwich topped with cheddar cheese sauce, you’ll have to head to your nearest Arby’s (via <\/span>Mashed<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The McStuffins was a 1993 version of the McDonald’s hot pocket. It was French bread stuffed with toppings like teriyaki chicken and pepperoni pizza. It pretty much sounds like a calzone. But McDonald’s should probably just stick to one cuisine. Unfortunately, it was discontinued shortly after it was released. <\/span>A 1993 article from AP News wrote it was a “baked French bread sandwich with sauce and a choice of flavorings including teriyaki chicken, barbecued beef, pepperoni pizza, and cheesesteak” and was sold for only $2 (via <\/span>Mashed<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is something that never gained any popularity, and for good reason. It did not last and shouldn’t have even been on the menu. In the 1960s, the franchise created the hula burger, which was a pineapple slice and cheese. It was a perfect alternative for the Catholics who did not eat meat on Fridays. <\/span>McDonald’s has plenty of other alternatives that are meat-free. Many people preferred the Filet O’ Fish over the Hula Burger (via <\/span>AOL<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Strawberry mixed with vanilla soft serve sounds like the a delicious combination. For a short time, it was released in the USA. Even though customers loved it, it was eventually removed. Since then, McDonald’s replaced the strawberry shortcake McFlurry with the Strawberry Shortcake Sundae. It was a strawberry shortcake after all, so how could you not love its deliciousness? <\/span><\/p>\n Some users of Reddit disliked it, however, writing, “I’m disappointed. I thought it was going to have a strawberry topping with it like the sundaes used to have. The pieces are really sweet and almost taste like cereal.” It was the perfect combination of sliced strawberries in a sweet and tart strawberry topping (via <\/span>The Sun<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It’s simple but delicious. This spicy chicken sandwich was taken off the menu in 2006, even though people liked the taste. Unfortunately, it was flavorless. Some franchises kept the McChicken, but it never had the pull that some of their other items have. Spicy lovers missed the spices. <\/span>But recently, McDonald’s released three new spicy McChickens, each with its unique flavor. Even though they’re different than the discontinued item, at least there’s a little bit of flavor to look forward to (via <\/span>Delish<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This bizarre McFlurry made its way to the McDonald’s menu quite a few years ago. It was aptly named the Bubblegum McFlurry and was especially loved by Bubblegum fanatics. Like many other McFlurry’s, this flavor was canceled. But people are distraught that their favorite McFluury is gone, and some are even signing petitions to bring them back. <\/span><\/p>\n The petition reads, “The classic Oreo and MnM McFlurry’s are outdated. We need to bring back this magical McFlurry filled with ice cream, blue bubblegum sauce, and marshmallows!” Hopefully, it’ll come back onto McDonald’s menus (via <\/span>Change<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This huge lean burger, made with less fat and less grease, was called dry by some McDonald’s customers. The burger had mustard, lettuce, ketchup, pickles, tomato, and a slice of cheese, though many people didn’t understand why this burger wasn’t as juicy as the others on their menu. <\/span><\/p>\n Mainly, the franchise wanted to create this fat-free burger because of the obesity issues of the 90s and people’s attempts to live a healthier life. The burger had seaweed extract, and the combination with water helped take out the fat, though it still didn’t have much success (via <\/span>Fish McBites<\/span><\/h2>\n
Onion Nuggets<\/span><\/h2>\n
Hot Mustard Sauce<\/span><\/h2>\n
Fruit and Walnut Salad<\/span><\/h2>\n
Spanish Omelette Bagel<\/span><\/h2>\n
The McLobster<\/span><\/h2>\n
Mighty Wings<\/span><\/h2>\n
The Angus Burger<\/span><\/h2>\n
The McJordan<\/span><\/h2>\n
Chicken Fajitas<\/span><\/h2>\n
The Triple-Double Burger<\/span><\/h2>\n
McPizza<\/span><\/h2>\n
McSalad Shakers<\/span><\/h2>\n
The Big ‘N Tasty<\/span><\/h2>\n
Cheddar Melt<\/span><\/h2>\n
McStuffins<\/span><\/h2>\n
Hula Burger<\/span><\/h2>\n
Strawberry Shortcake McFlurry<\/span><\/h2>\n
The Hot ‘N Spicy McChicken<\/span><\/h2>\n
Bubblegum McFlurry<\/span><\/h2>\n
McLean Deluxe<\/span><\/h2>\n