16 Fast Food Combos from the ’80s That Were Gone Too Soon
These 16 fast food combos from the ’80s vanished too soon, but they left behind a delicious legacy of bold flavors and quirky nostalgia that fast food fans still crave today.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
The fast food scene of the 1980s was a playground of bold experiments and unforgettable flavor combos that today’s menus rarely capture. From McDonald’s quirky McDLT to Taco Bell’s unconventional Bell Beefer, these vanished items reflect a time when fast food dared to be different and delightfully messy. Exploring these lost combos reveals not just forgotten tastes but a slice of cultural history that still sparks cravings and memories decades later.
1. McDonald’s McDLT (McDonald’s Lettuce & Tomato)
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The McDLT was McDonald’s attempt to keep the hot side hot and the cool side cool — literally. It came in a two-compartment Styrofoam container, separating the burger from the veggies. Environmentally controversial packaging aside, it was a crunchy, juicy oddity people still talk about with weird nostalgia.
2. Burger King’s Yumbo Hot Ham & Cheese
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Originally launched in the 1970s and still going in the early ’80s, the Yumbo was a warm ham and cheese sandwich on a sesame seed bun. It was the anti-burger — soft, salty, and oddly satisfying in its simplicity. Discontinued for decades, it briefly returned in 2014 but never stuck around.
3. Wendy’s Superbar
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Not a combo, but a wild buffet experience in a fast food joint. The Superbar let you load up on pasta, salad, Mexican food, and other strange-for-Wendy’s fare for one low price. It was chaotic, unsanitary, and utterly beloved.
4. Taco Bell Bell Beefer
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The Bell Beefer was Taco Bell’s stab at a burger — a sloppy joe-style bun stuffed with seasoned ground beef, lettuce, and cheese. Basically, it was taco filling in a hamburger outfit. It compromised the brand identity but delighted many people with its messiness.
5. McDonald’s Onion Nuggets
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Before Chicken McNuggets stole the spotlight, McDonald’s tried onion nuggets in the early ’80s. These were battered and fried chunks of onion — kind of like onion rings’ rebellious cousin. They quietly disappeared, but those who remember them swear they were superior to anything McDonald’s fries up today.
6. Burger King’s Burger Bundles
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A precursor to today’s slider craze, Burger Bundles were tiny burgers sold in sets of three or six. Kids loved them, adults saw them as a snack, and the marketing practically begged you to share. Unfortunately, they vanished before mini-meals became a full-blown trend.
7. Arby’s 5 for $5 Deal
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This wasn’t just a combo — it was a fast food power move. You could get five roast beef sandwiches for five bucks, making it the perfect meal for a group, or just one very hungry person. It’s the stuff of budget legend, especially when Arby’s roast beef was still king.
8. McDonald’s Cheddar Melt
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The Cheddar Melt was a saucy, oniony departure from the usual fare — a quarter-pound patty smothered in cheddar cheese sauce and grilled onions on a rye bun. It was rich, heavy, and unforgettable. Loyalists have been petitioning for its return for years.
9. KFC Chicken Littles (Original 1980s Version)
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Tiny, buttery sandwich buns filled with a simple fried chicken tender and a smear of mayo — sometimes pickles. They were a quick, cheap bite with a big cult following. The reboot in the 2010s wasn’t quite the same, missing the magic of the original.
10. Wendy’s Big Classic
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Before the Baconator, Wendy’s Big Classic was its big beefy statement. It had a quarter-pound patty, lettuce, tomato, and a Kaiser-style bun — it was like a grown-up version of the Junior Bacon Cheeseburger. Phased out quietly, it’s now mostly a memory for ’80s fast food fans.
11. Taco Bell’s Seafood Salad
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Yes, Taco Bell once served a seafood salad in a taco shell bowl. It featured shrimp and whitefish on a bed of lettuce, accompanied by tomato, cheese, and a creamy dressing. It didn’t last long — something about “fast food seafood” didn’t exactly click with customers.
12. McDonald’s BBQ Bacon Burger
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Long before McDonald’s had its more recent Bacon Quarter Pounders, there was this smoky-sweet classic. Topped with crispy bacon and tangy barbecue sauce, it was a brief hit in the late ’80s. People remember it fondly for tasting like summer in sandwich form.
13. Burger King’s Italian Chicken Sandwich
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Launched in the ’80s as part of BK’s “International Chicken Sandwich” lineup, this one had mozzarella and marinara on a long sesame bun. It was essentially a fast-food chicken parmesan, and it earned a loyal following. It still pops up now and then but never sticks around for long.
14. McDonald’s Triple Thick Milkshakes
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These shakes were so thick you could stand a spoon up in them — almost too thick for a straw. Kids loved the challenge, and the richness made them feel like a deluxe treat. In time, they were phased out for more sippable (and cost-effective) versions.
15. Dairy Queen’s Breeze
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The Breeze was DQ’s healthy-sounding answer to the Blizzard — made with frozen yogurt and mix-ins like fruit or candy. It was the “lite” option before fast food gave up pretending to be healthy. It fizzled out, but the name still makes nutrition-minded ’80s kids smile.
16. Hardee’s Roast Beef Sandwich Combo
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Hardee’s took a page from Arby’s with its own take on a roast beef sandwich — leaner, less greasy, and surprisingly good. It was often paired with curly fries and a Coke for a satisfying, no-frills combo. As menus evolved, the sandwich was quietly retired and mostly forgotten.