Studying fast food is a fairly fascinating hobby if you dig deep into it. Fast food is a mixture of culture, economics, and flavor. In other words, it's yummy. It also tends to be a nexus point of culinary invention. A lot of famous dishes started as fast food options or were popularized by them -- including fried clam strips. Today, let's dive into the world of fast food and some of the most delicious meals that have come from the minds of fast food gurus.
Rob Wilson | Shutterstock
If you're a Taco Bell fan, you probably have heard about the Enchirito. This was a blend between an enchilada (complete with drool-worthy sauce) and a burrito.
It was a smash hit when it was first introduced in the 1970s and used to be topped with black olives. However, the recipe eventually dropped the olives and turned into a streamlined, melty, delicious meal. It was discontinued after a while.
Enchiritos are still a popular secret menu item, according to Wikipedia, and for a short time, the dish was brought back in 2022. Unfortunately, the powers that be at Taco Bell decided to drop it since then.
RELATED: Wife Convinces Husband To 'Pay It Forward' In A Drive Thru Line To 'Make Someone's Day' But The Amount Is Ridiculously High
Huu Huynh | Pexels
For a brief period of time, fast food companies were bent on trying to outdo one another when it came to bizarre decadence, fatty foods, and crazy headline-grabbing recipes. The Double Down was the king of this movement.
This monstrosity of a meal involved a chicken sandwich that used breaded chicken pieces as the "bread" between two other pieces of chicken, along with cheese and bacon.
Some folks loved it. Others hated it. Regardless, it was discontinued once the hype ran out. Like others on this list, the Double Down occasionally makes a return to meals as a limited-edition treat.
RELATED: 5 Unique Ways To Celebrate Christmas Like They Do In Japan -- KFC For Christmas Dinner, Anyone?
Monica Escalera | Pexels
Perhaps one of the most famous misguided discontinued items to ever appear at McDonald's is the Hula Burger. Founder Ray Kroc wanted to create a meatless burger that was ideal for people who skipped meat for religious reasons.
His idea of a good meat substitute was...*drumroll* a slice of grilled pineapple topped with cheese. The meal was available for a short time, though it flopped so terribly, it remains a cautionary tale against pineapples.
RELATED: Drive-Thru Worker Tells Elaborate Lie To Get Long Line Of Customers To Leave
Erik Mclean | Pexels
Considering how popular McDonald's grilled burgers are, it shouldn't be surprising that one of the older menu items from the Golden Arches was the humble, all-American hot dog.
The McHotDog was a rare, briefly available menu item added to certain restaurants' offerings during the 1990s, according to sources. The delectable dog did not fare as well as executives hoped.
After a brief attempt at making it big, execs decided it just wasn't a good fit for the brand. It was pulled, now only making occasional re-releases in select stores.
RELATED: Company That Makes McDonald's Constantly Broken Ice Cream Machines Hit With Restraining Order
Summer_Wind | Shutterstock
Wendy's is not immune to discontinued items, though their menu has stayed a bit more stable than others. This was a mid-80s attempt at showing the world that Wendy's can deliver more meat, more flavor, and more fun for a bargain price.
The concept was fairly straightforward. Rather than build "up," the Big Classic built out -- by using a slightly larger burger patty and an elongated Kaiser roll. It was delicious, but it never quite became the classic its name suggested.
RELATED: Dad Refuses To Place A Wendy's Order For His Socially Anxious Teen Daughter -- 'She Needs To Start Doing This On Her Own'
Gonzalo Carlos Novillo Lapeyra | Pexels
A&W and Burger King both had burgers that featured 1/3 a pound of meat. The idea was simple: more meat means more money. In theory, advertising a third-pounder would be wise. In practice, they forgot how bad people are with math.
The burgers kept flopping because people couldn't figure out whether or not 1/3 pound was more than 1/4 pound. As it turns out, people couldn't figure out whether it was a money saver.
RELATED: Dad Refuses To Place A Wendy's Order For His Socially Anxious Teen Daughter -- 'She Needs To Start Doing This On Her Own'
John Hanson Pye | Shutterstock
Chipotle is one of those fast-casual chains that everyone loves to hate these days, but it does have its perks. One of the biggest draws to the chain is the brand's famous dislike of artificial ingredients.
Queso was one of those dishes that Chipotle fans kept clamoring for. So, Chipotle did it...but with a catch. The OG Queso recipe didn't use too many additives, making it taste a little funky to those with sensitive tastebuds.
The texture and taste was off. And Chipotle fans loathed it. The company redid the recipe with standard additives and called it Queso Blanco, to much fanfare. The original Queso, though? It's gone with the wind.
RELATED: Woman's Card Continuously Declines Because The Bank Thought It Was Odd She Had Chipotle 6 Times In 3 Days
Mikhail Nilov | Pexels
During the 2010s, there were two major battles going on in fast food: the battle for the craziest recipes and the battle for health-conscious consumers. Bigger was better with some, but some just wanted a modest meal.
Long John Silver's did not partake in the battle for the biggest, most extreme meal in America. This seafood fast food chain generally tried to keep things pretty mainstream, simple, and old-fashioned with generous portions.
The problem: the Big Catch was a bit too big. It was so calorie-laden, so fatty, it was named the "Worst Restaurant Meal in America" and it was promptly wiped off the map.
RELATED: Husband Orders Shrimp At A Restaurant Despite His Wife Having A Major Allergy
ready made | Pexels
If you are a Rick and Morty fan, you might remember the episode where Rick Sanchez goes nuts about the Szechuan sauce released by McDonald's. Shocker: it's a real thing.
McDonald's released the Szechuan sauce as part of a limited-time celebration for the release of the hit Disney film, Mulan. After it was mentioned in Rick and Morty, it came back for another brief period of time.
Word has it that it was really, really good. Maybe it's time for a round three?
RELATED: McDonald's Worker Shares Video Of Woman Climbing Through Window To Make Food After Being Denied Service
Luis Rosero | Pexels
Onion rings are a fairly classic all-American staple, and McDonald's is aware of this. For a short period in the 1970s, McDonald's was experimenting with using onions in their fried foods. It was a trend at the time.
They created onion nuggets: a mixture of onion rings and McNuggets. They flopped, but the idea of deep-fried onions in a nugget shape lives on as a bit of fast food lore.
RELATED: Man Caught On Video Destroying A McDonald's With Axe Claims He Isn't 'Unhinged' And Loves 'Camping'
Connor McManus | Pexels
RELATED: America Has A Terrifying Fast-Casual Food Problem No One Is Talking About
Ossiana Tepfenhart is a writer whose work has been featured in Yahoo, BRIDES, Your Daily Dish, Newtheory Magazine, and others.