Retail

7 Fast Food Items That Need to Return in 2016

By Michal Addady
Jamie Oliver And Victoria Government Announce Partnership To Tackle Obesity
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 06: Junk food sits on a table as British Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver announces a partnership to attack state-wide obesity on March 6, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. The Victorian Government and the Good Foundation will pledge together over AUD5 million to bring Oliver's 'Ministry of Food' to the state to help teach cooking techniques and nutrition to participants and help combat obesity as part of the Victorian Healthy Eating Enterprise. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Photograph by Scott Barbour—Getty Images

In 2016 we’ve already been introduced to McDonald’s mozzarella sticks, Burger King hot dogs, and Taco Bell’s Quesalupa. But no matter how many new things these chains add to their ever-growing menus, it won’t diminish the memory of what once was. Here are the discontinued fast food items we’re hoping will make a comeback this year.

KFC’s Popcorn Chicken

https://www.instagram.com/p/BA1LXGQvyWh/

 

These KFC classics have a long history—they were first introduced in 1992, reintroduced in 1998, re-reintroduced in 2001, and then spent 10 years on the chicken chain’s permanent menu. KFC supposedly “reintroduced” them last year as “Popcorn Nuggets,” but they’re just not the same.

 

Taco Bell Beefy Crunch Burrito

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This is a beef burrito with rice, nacho cheese, sour cream, and Flamin’ Hot Fritos. It first became available in 2010 and was sadly short-lived, but even in that brief period of time it amassed a cult following and even inspired the Beefy Crunch Movement. Brand Eating reported last year that Taco Bell was testing its return, so here’s to hoping it makes it back to the menu permanently.

Burger King Ribs

 

When you crave ribs, I’d guess you don’t immediately think of fast food. But when Burger King offered ribs in the summer of 2010, they were so successful that the chain began running low a week before the limited time offer was supposed to end.

Wendy’s Chicken Caesar Pita

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQXUlyK-MV4

 

Wendy’s introduced its Chicken Caesar Pita in 1997 alongside three other pita variations. They lasted about three years, but it’s the chicken caesar that is still sorely missed. Though it doesn’t seem they’ll be making a comeback, hopefully you can be consoled by one of the various copycat recipes.

McDonald’s Chicken Selects

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Like KFC’s Popcorn Chicken, these were a pleasant alternative to regular old chicken nuggets. McDonald’s launched Chicken Selects in 2002 and left them on the menu for over a decade. Fans were excited by their return in March 2015, but had to experience the pain of loss all over again when they were swiftly removed.

Jack in the Box Brunch Burger

 

This was offered as one of the chain’s four “Munchie Meals” in 2013 and was basically a breakfast sandwich with a burger patty. Weighing in at more than 1,700 calories, we probably don’t really need it. But damn if we don’t want it.

Burger King Bacon Sundae

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Fast food places don’t always do bacon well, but Burger King’s Bacon Sundae did bacon very well. It was offered for a limited time in 2012 as part of the chain’s summer menu. A Huffington Post review shows that it doesn’t look quite like the advertisement, but the bacon was surprisingly both crispy and plentiful.