Ever had a neopolitan milkshake from McDonald’s?
One where they layer the chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla flavors in the same cup, creating a thick, icy, slow-moving light-brown-swirls-with-pink-flecks taste sensation? Yeah, my friend Chad was a regular customer of those. Of course, when he was working at McDonald’s he got sick of the regular menu pretty quickly and started tinkering in the back like a mad scientist with his coworkers, developing exotic, unstable, and unpredictable meal creations with the ingredients on hand. Yes, there were failed attempts, like the Chicken McNugget Flurry, but sometimes they struck gold and created a new off-the-menu line extension. I guess this is fairly common, because there are reports of online McDonald’s employee communities, where insider recipes such as the McBrushetta and McPancakeBatterFunnelCakes are shared.
Now, my world opened up when I first realized with Chad that you could order off-the-menu at fast food restaurants. Since that time I’ve learned about a few other secret options around. Like for instance:
• Wendy’s – The Grand Slam. If the single, double, or triple hamburgers at Wendy’s just don’t cut it for you, just go all out and order the massive four-patty grand slam. Also known as the Classic Quadruple or The Meat Cube.
• McDonald’s – Fries with Big Mac Sauce. Lots of people put fries right on the burger, which I agree tastes delicious. But this technique allows you to switch things up a bit and put some of your burger’s best feature right on your fries. Try to ignore protests from your arteries, and just ask for that a little cup of Big Mac Sauce on the side for dipping.
• Starbucks – The Red Eye. A cup of coffee with a shot of espresso dumped in. Now, I’m not a huge coffee drinker, but apparently you can even upgrade this to two shots which is called a Black Eye. I presume upgrading to three shots is called a Jumpy, Unblinking Eye.
• Most Fish & Chip places – Batter Bits. I knew a girl who was all over these. She’d lean in and guiltily ask in a hushed whisper and the guy behind the counter would nod slowly and hand over a wet, greasy paper bag full of all the batter drippings that fell into the oil by accident. Yeah, this is the bottom of the barrel of off-the-menu stylings. It ain’t always pretty out there.
• In-N-Out Burger – Animal Style Hamburger. The well-known ‘secret menu‘ at In-N-Out features this heavenly gem — their regular burger patty cooked in mustard, then topped with extra pickles, extra spread, and grilled onions. Yessir, In-N-Out will whip anything up — including messy Animal Style Fries or even a 100×100 order (100 patties and 100 slices of dee-licious cheese.)
• Subway – The Pizza Sub. Apparently this one’s like sasquatch. There are scattered sightings everywhere and a few grainy videos that may have been tampered with. Another favorite from Subway, though not technically a menu item, is simply ‘the old cut’, where they dig a trench in your bread instead of just slicing it, leading to better cold cut and veggie distribution. Also known for causing The Wing Effect, where your bologna hangs out the sides of your sandwich for some tasty pre-nibbles.
• McDonald’s – Big Mac with Quarter Pounder patties. One last McDonald’s fixture — the ol’ bun-heavy Big Mac surgically altered to become a meat-heavy Big Mac with Quarter Pounder patties instead. Now you’re much less likely to get that dreaded All-Bun first bite.
• Starbucks – The Short Cup. Even though the smallest size on the Starbucks menu is a ‘Tall’, they do offer a secret ‘Short’ size behind the counter. Perfect for that between-coffee-breaks coffee.
Now, I’m only one man, so I’m sure there are hundreds of great off-the-menu gems that I’ve never heard of or know about. But that’s the beauty! There are all these little surprises just waiting to be discovered. What possible fast-food mouth love will we discover next?
Ordering off the menu at fast food restaurants is a great deal. Maybe you’re the loyal customer looking for that new taste. Maybe you have strict dietary restrictions so it’s either off-the-menu or no-menu-at-all. Or maybe you’re just a grumpy guy who makes flippant off-the-menu requests with a deep scowl and a foot-stomp.
But whatever the case, whatever your background, whatever your taste, I think we can all agree that it sure is nice getting a little something special for lunch now and then.
AWESOME!
276 Comments
September 1, 2008 at 12:12 am
I get the kid’s hot chocolate at Starbucks because it’s just the right size and price (maybe $1.10).
Great blog!
September 1, 2008 at 1:13 am
When I used to work in a chinese food place, we had one lady who would come in and order the batter bits from our sweet & sour chicken. No actual chicken for her! Only artery clogging batter bits, as many as we could scrape together.
September 1, 2008 at 1:21 am
While the Chicken McNugget McFlurry may not have earned one of these coveted spots ‘off’ the menu, the Wendy’s Chicken-Nugget Frosty-dip is almost as good as the Wendy’s Frosty-Fry combo. Crispy and salty and creamy and chocolate-y … it may seem a contradiction of flavors for your unsuspecting taste buds, but it’s surprisingly delicious!
And then there’s the Starbucks Chantico that came in a mocha-colored cup even smaller than the secret short… that heavenly, delectable liquefied chocolate truffle. So sad that they pulled it off the menu a couple years ago, but occasionally you can still find a barista that will bend the rules and make it for you.
September 1, 2008 at 1:33 am
In-N-Out will do it protien style too. Just ask for any burger protein style and they will deliver a hot fresh burger sans the bun, but wrapped in a fresh, cool lettuce leaf.
September 1, 2008 at 1:58 am
When I was a kid they doled out the ketchup sparingly so I compensated by dipping my fries in the Neopolitan milkshake…. 20 years later it is the only thing I will order from MC D’s the once a year I go there
September 1, 2008 at 2:40 am
Where I live, the Pizza Sub is on the menu. It is listed under the “Local Favourites” section. I order it every time I go to Subway or Quizno’s.
November 16, 2009 at 12:09 am
Same here. My friend went to a different subway out of our town, and asked for the pizza sub, and looked at her like she was crazy.
September 1, 2008 at 4:55 am
I’ll have to try “the old cut” and “the wing effect” next time from Subway, I always order with extra cheese…
September 1, 2008 at 7:12 am
I believe that if you order a large soft drink from Burger King, then you are entitled to free refills. Don’t tell anyone else, though, for it’s a secret so secret that Burger King don’t want anyone to know about it.
November 5, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Burger King is the best for off-the menus because of the have it your way slogan. never buy a whopper Jr. Buy a regular burger and add the whopper jr. ingredients (lettuce, tomatoe, onion, pickles, mayo, ketchup)
This ends up being 2 dollars cheeper.
Also, ask for no salt on the fries and they will definately be fresh because they have to make a new batch without salt.
They used to have the BK club… its so good and you can still get it. its just the original chicken sandwich +bacon +tomatoe +cheese.
I used to be a manager there. i know what its about!
September 1, 2008 at 11:19 am
I used to work at Subway years ago and remember doing ‘the old cut’ for customers.
I would also make one batch of ‘Jalapeno Italian Herbs and Cheese bread’ after they officially discontinued it after a month or so. It was the same as the Herbs and Cheese but with 8 jalapeno’s cooked in under the cheese.
September 1, 2008 at 11:22 am
In regards to the Red Eye at Starbucks, it’s also known by “A Shot in the Dark.”
September 1, 2008 at 11:24 am
When I worked @ Subway back in 96′ I experimented with the said Pizza Sub. My boss got pissed cause I was using the dough sticks wastefully in my attempts. It became to involved to be practical.
September 1, 2008 at 11:24 am
Most fast food joints around here have drink dispensers in the dining area and only fill cups for you if you purchase through the drive-thru. Makes no sense to get anything larger then a small if your eatting in. Even better would be getting a 32oz ice-tea for $1 and using that cup.
September 1, 2008 at 11:25 am
At Starbucks it is all about the dopio (2 shots of espresso) over ice. You add the milk yourself and get a ice latte for $1.90 instead of straight off the menu for $4++ ;)
September 1, 2008 at 11:25 am
there is also an all american at mcdonalds.
its just a burger with pickles and ketchup.
thats all my gf gets from McAwesome.
-Keegan-
September 1, 2008 at 11:28 am
The Big MacChicken is a Big Mac with McChicken patties replacing the bun. I have yet to find a McDonald’s that will decline this request.
September 1, 2008 at 11:29 am
I am too scared to go into my local fast-food places and ask for anything ‘off the menu’ however I do like the sound of a Neapolitan milkshake though.
I remember when my neighbour was younger he wasn’t a great fan of burgers from McDs and instead used to order a toasted bun which they used to put through as a 99p ice cream.
September 7, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Just had an idea for an off-menu item at Maccas – toasted bun with soft-serve ice cream filling. Mmm… it’s a race to finish it before it all melts! A slice of cheese would be the special.
In the Philippines you could get this concoction from the ice cream street vendors roaming the neighbourhood with their carts.
September 1, 2008 at 11:32 am
I can say with certainty that I’ve seen the subway pizza sub. I used to make them! Not for me but for one specific customer that would come in and request it. We even had a special button on our register for him.
Also, I worked at McDonalds and it was fun to make food concoctions. Best thing by far is the poor-mans-bigmac. You order a double cheeseburger with “mac-sauce” and lettuce (lettuce is free! tomatoes are not, but you don’t put tomatoes on it anyway) and you can ask for diced onions if you like. The ONLY difference between the 3$ sandwich and this $1 sandwich is the sesame seed bun!
September 1, 2008 at 11:35 am
Actually they SELL the big mac with quarter pounder patties up here in Alaska, it’s called the Mc Kinley Mac, it’s like a dollar or two more expensive than the regular one.
However, everytime I’ve tried to eat it, I’ve almost thrown up…
September 1, 2008 at 11:37 am
In Japan batter bits (or ten-kasu – Tempura dregs) are an ingredient used in other things – typically okonomiyaki (Japanese omelette). And they say it’s a healthy diet!
November 16, 2009 at 12:10 am
Yeh but Tempura is a much lighter batter than usual so it’s not as bad for you.
September 1, 2008 at 11:39 am
I just barfed reading that article- was that the idea?
September 1, 2008 at 11:40 am
No one mentioned Tacos at Burger King…
September 1, 2008 at 11:41 am
I ordered a macaroni and cheese burrito from a Taco Bell/KFC restaurant once. It was practical and tasty.
September 1, 2008 at 11:41 am
Here in the UK (Northern England at least) we call Batter Bits ‘Scraps’ – they’re so nice and complement the meal perfectly :)
I’ll be sure to persuade the McDonalds staff to make me one of those 1/2lb Macs too! (wasn’t it an official menu item once, called the Mega Mac?)
September 1, 2008 at 11:42 am
@ Tracy
Actually starbucks can’t make the chantico. They don’t actually have the ingredients for it any more.
September 1, 2008 at 11:44 am
I had a stint at Jamba Juice and they have a couple of interesting drinks off the menu.
Try Strawberry Shortcake
Red or White Gummi Bear
Pink Starburst
Raspberry Rainbow
and a couple of others. Just don’t ask the cashier directly about the menu. We have orders to deny the secret menu’s existence. :-)
September 1, 2008 at 11:44 am
McDonalds french fries with no salt are much better. You can request them both with no salt and extra hot
September 1, 2008 at 11:44 am
The Red Eye from Starbucks is essentially just a Depth Charge (never heard of it called a Red Eye) from any other coffee joint. And at most any other coffee shop its on the menu usually grab them from Caribou.
September 1, 2008 at 11:45 am
Taco Bell has a “green” burrito, which is really spicy and good.
September 1, 2008 at 11:47 am
Pizza subs are a standard, on-menu item here in Canada.
September 1, 2008 at 11:48 am
Another favorite secret item at In-n-Out is the Flying Dutchman. This one will really get an older associate excited to make your order too as it’s a rare order. It’s a cheese and grilled onion sandwich with the burger patties for the “bread”. They serve it in the paper sleave no lettuce, no bun. Old School baby…
You mentioned Animal Fries, for those not ready for that kind of action you can get just cheese fries.
I used to love the old cut with Subway and never understood why they stopped as it made their sandwiches stand out. If you get a meatball or other messy sub like the teriaki chicken the old cut is a must.
September 1, 2008 at 11:50 am
The “Batter Bits” as you call them are actually (or were) quite common in Yorkshire, UK.
Commonly called “Scraps”, you’d have a bag of these for free, usually a single scoop thrown into a greaseproof bag and ate on the way home from school. If you were lucky, you’d sometimes get the tail end of a fish!
Not so common now unfortunately, but were a daily occurance back in the late 70’s and early 80’s if you wanted a quick nibble while walking home.
September 1, 2008 at 11:51 am
Try order Pepsi without the water at Burger King. It’s the sirup which is mixed with water at the location. Had a friend who would only drink this sirup. “Pepsi but hold the water”. He also went only to Burger King, Coca Cola sirup was just not the same he claimed.
September 1, 2008 at 11:52 am
IN-N-OUT also does animal style fries!
September 1, 2008 at 11:54 am
Starbucks also has a double expresso shot called an Undertow. It usually run around $2.30-2.50. Also some McDonalds that have the automated order machine you can order a Double Big Mac.
September 1, 2008 at 11:55 am
An even better Subway secret item would be the Subway Quesadilla. It involves the Subway Wrap (which was not long ago switched to the equivalent of a tortilla shell) then load chicken/steak along with shredded cheese and all the veggies you want onto one side, then fold the tortilla in half. Then pop the whole thing in the toaster for a melty inside and crisp outside. Add or dip into chipotle sauce for the extra mexican flare.
November 17, 2009 at 12:02 am
We dont have the wraps anymore. We only have flat breads. So that isn’t an option anymore. Just like pizza subs aren’t an option if the Subway is next to a Dominos. :-) Also I know in my store we are NOT allowed to do the “old cut” anymore because the company wants us to do the new cut for a reason….blah blah blah.
November 17, 2009 at 12:50 am
Still have the wraps in Canada!
I eat them regularly.
I miss the old cut….
The new cut is..impractical .
September 1, 2008 at 11:58 am
My friends who used to work at Arby’s made Big Montanas way before they were ever a menu item.
Apparently, if you can catch the eye of the guy making your sandwich, the universal sign for “hook me up with some extra roast beef” is to put your hands about a foot apart, like this: | | then move them together like you’re squishing a giant sandwich.
September 1, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Long John Silvers: Ask for an order of ‘crumbs.’ Those are the batter bits, and every LJS I’ve been to calls ‘em by the same name, though they’re not on the menu.
September 1, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Where I live the pizza sub is on the Local Favorites menu as well.
I grew up in a city that had no White Castle. We could go into McDonalds and get a cheeseburger or hamburger with grilled onions, steamed bun plus pickles and get a nearly “slider” substitute. Mac sauce in a cup is a standard with the McDonalds here. Some stores charge you a little, others don’t.
Also, the batter bits at fish places around here you can ask for “extra crunchies” to get.
September 1, 2008 at 12:13 pm
pizza sub is quite common in subway franchises in mexico
September 1, 2008 at 12:16 pm
McDonald’s has a few other hidden little treasures.
Root Beer Floats (most employees don’t even know this, but it’s in some systems!)
Plain biscuits
Plain griddle cakes
Sandwiches WITHOUT the bun
You can get side dishes of pretty much ANYTHING, like:
Sausage, Meat patties, Chicken patties, eggs (scrambled, folded, or round), condiments, bacon, canadian bacon…just to name a few.
There’s also been the occassional still frozen products for take home travel, like hotcakes and cinnamon rolls.
Also, Cinnamon rolls and hotcakes (just regular, no sausage or eggs) are available ALL DAY, because they just need to be heated up and they can be served.
I worked there a while. I’m pretty lame like that.
September 1, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I forgot Taco Bell. There was an old favorite called the Chilito. You can still order it, and some stores have put it back on the menu under the name “Chili cheese burrito”. Also, if you find one that will try things for you, get a tortilla and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture they put on the twists, roll it up and steam the crap out of it till the sugar is good and melted. It makes a nice little cinnamon roll.
September 21, 2009 at 10:26 pm
The Chili Cheese Burrito @ Taco Bell has been on the menu for at least 10 years in Texas…
September 1, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Here’s another Starbucks treat:
The Marble Mocha Macchiato. It’s a mocha with a layer of white, milk, and dark chocolate syrups. The flavor changes as you drink it! It’s delicious and every starbucks I’ve asked for it at has made it though it’s not on the menu.
The marking they put on the cup is “MMM” for “Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm yum!” ;)
September 1, 2008 at 12:18 pm
The best is folded egg at McDonalds. Like a scrambled egg rather that a bite of white, a bite of white. Scrambled and folded and delicious on a breakfast sandwich.
September 1, 2008 at 12:19 pm
FYI, the “old cut” at Subway was called the “classic cut” internally – at least at the Subways around where I lived. They had signs up teaching employees how to do both cuts, so older employees could learn the old and newer employees would be able to do the classic cut if requested.
Unfortunately they no longer teach new employees about the classic cut, and every time I’ve had one try they always fuck it up and end up ruining the bread.
September 1, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Tia, you reminded me of 2 more from McD’s.
Where I live they don’t have root beer, but you can get coke floats and sprite floats…sprite floats are really good.
Also, the orange drink you can buy a gallon of the syrup for a reasonable price and make it at home. I love that stuff.
September 1, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Also, Chicken Nuggests with pickles and cheese were a personal favorite of mine. :D
September 1, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Not sure what you mean the pizza sub. There use to be a menu item called the pizza sub back in the early 90’s. It was basically just pepperoni with meatball marinara sauce. From your description though I think you mean how the bread is sliced. Again, back in the 1990’s and earlier that is the way Subway used to cut the bread. They would cut what was essentially a triangle wedge out of the top for the length of the loaf and fold all the sandwich ingredients into the the bread vs how the they just slice and pile now. It made for a much puffier and tastier sandwich.
May 14, 2009 at 8:41 pm
the way bread is cut has no bearing on how it tastes,… whally. the classic cut sucked, you couldn’t pile as much shit in them.
June 10, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I liked the old cut much better, mainly because the toppings were actually on top.
September 1, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Great post! I knew about In-and-out burger, but not about the rest. I don’t eat fast food as much as a used to out of a fear of cardiac arrest in my middle age, but I can just imagine the tastes of some of those gems. Quarter-Pounder Big Mac? Come on, who doesn’t want one of those. Or the Big Mac Sauce for fries. Anyway, thanks for the great post. Keep up the good work and I hope you’ll visit our site for your political fix of the day. Have a great day.
Jerame Clough
-Next Gen Politics
September 1, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Also, Jamba Juice has a huge selection of secret items.
My favourite is Strawberry Shortcake, but there are also some like White Gummy Bear :]
September 1, 2008 at 12:34 pm
My 9-year old son is an “off menu” professional! His favourite is Subway…honey oat bread, chicken teriyaki strips, bacon and white cheddar toasted with a squeeze of mayo…done!
November 17, 2009 at 8:12 pm
yikes…I would be apalled if my kids knew fast food menus that well.
November 23, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Oh calm down bratty
September 1, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Gummi Bear from Jamba Juice is awesome!!! (not the healthiest choice as it contains 3 diff scoops of ice cream)
September 1, 2008 at 12:42 pm
In Japan they have “short” on the menu for all drinks :(
http://www.starbucks.co.jp/beverage/espresso.html
Also an extra expresso shot is 50yen (~50c). I usually have a Triple Grande Caramel Macchiato when its going to be a long day…
http://www.starbucks.co.jp/customize/index.html
September 1, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I work at Starbucks. If you know what kinds of syrups and such back there, you can mix and math into interesting things. If they’re selling Vivanno’s, try asking for a Blended Orange Mango Lemonade.
Also, Coffee + 3 shots of espresso is a Green Eye, at least at my store
September 1, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I have seen the pizza sub I used to order and once upon a time it was on the menu.
Also when I worked at pizza hut we made Cinnamon Rolls out of cinnamon stick ingredients, but good luck trying to order them.
September 1, 2008 at 12:46 pm
One of my favorites is the quesadilla from Chipotle. Use the hot sauce and a a little guac, it’s the best.
September 1, 2008 at 12:46 pm
A secret one up here in Canada at Tim Hortons is ordering the “Breakfast Sandwich” on a bagel instead of the tea biscuit bun. Makes the sandwich quite hefty! Also I know a lot of people who order their Ice Caps with chocolate milk instead of coffee.
Mmmm.
September 2, 2009 at 11:51 pm
its actually chocolate milk instead of cream. and now some actually ask if you want cream, milk or chocolate milk
November 20, 2009 at 5:47 am
I like it with chocolate milk and a shot of mint :)
September 1, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Lol I guess I should have excepted the pizza sub to be a rare gem when I went another state and they had no clue how to make it. I just figured that people from Oregon were retards for putting chicken on there pizza subs.
September 1, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Really, I miss the days when everybody had some kinda corporate mascot. Well, In & Out doesn’t need a corporate mascott.. imagine if they just had some kind of ravagingly, angry blood-thirsty Vampire as their mascott. That would be great, but you would automatically think they’d need to go forward with some kinda ‘animal’ mascot since that’s what they’re known for – animal style.
A vampire is still a great mascot.. we’ll have to wait until later this year, maybe around Halloween, if anybody is going to grab this un-used, iconic mascot as their choice.
I’m all for tastier sandwiches, so however subway cuts it – use some knife with embedded cheese power.. for example, in Final Fantasy, you can have a sword with “Ice” or “Fire” power, how about “Cheese”? It doesn’t have to be a large knife, only large enough to cut some bread..
September 1, 2008 at 12:53 pm
[...] it, not “Ordering from the secret menu”, but it’s cool to see someone write up something I’ve been doing for years. The other huge benefit to ordering something not on the menu, or [...]
September 1, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Don’t forget that ordering the “short cappuccino” from Starbucks is, in fact, the only way to get a true cappuccino from the phenomenon.
September 1, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Don’t forget the Barnyard from Wendy’s. Spicy chicken breast, ham, bacon, and beef with cheese between each layer.
September 1, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Good post, I was inspired and wrote a little more of my thoughts on the topic, but wanted to add that the best part of ordering off the menu at a place like McDonalds is that they have to make your food fresh and you won’t get the BigMac that’s been under the heat lamps for an hour. It’s not just fast food either, you can order from the “secret menu” at places like Applebees and TGIFridays too. Most places are so eager to please they’ll give you whatever artery siezing combo you can come up with from the ingredients on the menu.
September 1, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Mcdonalds Apple pie + IceCream code = YUM!
September 1, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Wendy’s “Chili Chips and Cheese” is exactly like it sounds and is delicious. Basically a scaled down taco salad or nachos, it was dropped from the $0.99 menu in the mid nineties to make room for nuggets, potatoes, etc. They still have it though (that’s what those bags of tortilla chips are for, that they no longer use for the taco salad). Get some hot chili sauce with it for super extra delicious fun time.
September 1, 2008 at 1:13 pm
At my Starbucks they call three shots in coffee a “JFK.”
If you’re a fan of the pumpkin spice latte, there’s a combination of white mocha, hazelnut and something else you can get that tastes exactly the same and can get all year ’round. Your barista can probably make it.
You can put anything in anything, there. Try a Banana-Strawberry Vivanno or a black-and-white hot chocolate if you don’t like coffee like me.
September 1, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Panera Bread has the Panera Club.
Lettuce, onion, tomato, mayo, mustard, combo meat, swiss cheese, bacon, & avocado on rye. yum.
September 1, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Interesting post
September 1, 2008 at 1:51 pm
you can get a 2 cheeseburger meal at mcdonalds, it used to be on the menu but no more. at least that’s what i thought, now it’s all i ever get!
September 1, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Well, while I despise fast food, the ordering off the menu is a great idea for real restaurants–especially Asian.
September 1, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Years ago I worked at KFC for three years. I was the “head” cook and thus got bored with the normal day to day stuff. Some of the things I came up with was donuts on the weekend mornings (Take a biscuit, warm it up, mix in some sugar, kneed into a donut shape. Drop in fryer and glaze (mixture of butter and sugar)). In addition, I used to make grilled chicken strips. Would use the tender roast seasoning they used to have and put them in with the tender roast chicken. There was also the mashpotatoe and chicken strip burrito topped with gravy. We even took it to the next level and deep fried it. The possibilities were endless! On a side note, we used to take the Styrofoam containers and put them in the top of the warming cabinets. In about 10 minutes they would shrink down to 100th their normal size. Would you like a small? :)
September 1, 2008 at 2:02 pm
One great thing about Taco Bell is that you can order pretty much anything that they have offered for a “limited time only” at any time. Even if it isn’t on the menu, because they design their menu around things they already have in the store, all they do is adjust the levels of inventory.
Like the cheesy gordita crunch.
October 15, 2009 at 3:31 am
I tried to order one of their Platters after they took them off the menu, and they refused.
How hard is it to sell me something you already have?
September 1, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I used to work at a subway (pre-toasted days) Depending on the subway, these former “Subs of the Month” may be available:
Pizza sub: 10 slices pepperoni per 6 inches, marinara sauce down the middle, cheese on top, sprinkle w/ parmisan & oregano. If they order peppers, onions, or olives, put them under the cheese, then microwave for ~25 sec.
Taco Sub:
Cheese, Taco meat, crushed tortilla strips. top with veggies of choice, salsa & sour cream.
Ceaser Sub:
Grilled chicken, crushed croûtons, an ceaser dressing with your choice of veggies.
Also- the “old cut” was the “U-cut”: proper technique DID NOT result in a “V”. The “Hinge” cut worked well if you tipped the sub on the side while eating with the cut on top.
September 1, 2008 at 2:11 pm
when i first tried jamba juice, my buddy gave me an off the menu pink starburst and it was amazing
September 1, 2008 at 2:14 pm
In my city, fast-food experimenting is commonplace.
We don’t have a Wendy’s, but if you go to McDonald’s or BK and order “The Quad”, they know exactly what you’re talking about.
Our favorite fast-food place to experiment at is DQ. My brother got the idea to order plain toast there. We also combine Blizzard ingredients (the best one is Cookie Dough and Peanut Butter Cups).
September 1, 2008 at 2:17 pm
It’s not really off the menu, but most people don’t order the fajitas at Whataburger, although they are delicious. Order it with steak and it will typically be made fresh because fajitas are the only thing on Whataburger’s menu made with steak. Ask for cheese – but make sure you specify shredded cheese or they’ll throw on a slice of American and ruin the whole thing. This was originally suggested to me by a very pregnant Whataburger employee.
September 1, 2008 at 2:17 pm
You can also order a “dbl cheeseburger dressed as a big mac” (no ketchup and mustard if asked)
September 1, 2008 at 2:20 pm
At Del Taco I get the bun taco. Used to be on the menu years ago. Not listed now, but they’ll make it if you ask for it. Basically it’s taco fixin’s between 2 buns. Kind of expensive for a taco, though. I think it’s $2 or $3. Back in the 80’s Taco Bell used to have something similar, I think called the bellbeefer.
September 1, 2008 at 2:20 pm
I’m a manager at Domino’s Pizza and the team members (and I) are always making crazy off menu items. One perennial favorite is a pizza with chicken kickers cutup and used as a topping. We also will sometimes go to the supermarket down the street and pick up toppings we don’t carry. The weirdest things always come from the managers during really slow shifts though. I’ve made everything from a form of baklava (dough, stretched out as thin as possible and then folded with butter and honey between every layer) to caramelized pineapple (pineapple bits with cinnamon sugar, run through the oven a couple of times).
September 1, 2008 at 2:26 pm
If a Big Mac at Mcdonald’s is too much get a “Mini Mac” its a regular cheeseburger dressed as a Big Mac.
Also I used to get Ice cream cones there but with a shot of hot caramel in the bottom of the cone. No special name but it was yummy.
September 1, 2008 at 2:32 pm
At Taco Bell, ask for the Chicken Burrito sans wrap…you can get it in the Fries Supreme container, with rice, chicken, and veggies. I developed this when I used to work there a long time ago, and actually suggested it to a customer–who often used to come back for the same order!
September 1, 2008 at 2:36 pm
a guy I knew used to get a 911 burger from wendy’s. That’s right it had 9 patties. Pretty impressive
September 1, 2008 at 2:37 pm
And we wonder why there’s an obesity epidemic.
September 1, 2008 at 2:47 pm
The next step after a black eye at Starbucks is called a brown eye. That’s right, three shots in your brewed coffee.
September 1, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I used to live in California and at In N’ Out you can order just a plain Grilled Cheese (no onions). They will do just about anything you want because it is all made fresh right there.
I used to get the green sauce at Taco Bell if I couldn’t get to Del Taco for their green bean burritos, but here in Georgia I have tried to get the green sauce and they don’t even have it :(
My husband and my son have been dipping their McDonalds french fries in chocolate milk shakes for years.
September 1, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I work at a Wendy’s and I have seen Quintuple’s and Octuple’s (8 burgers) ordered on rare occasions.
September 1, 2008 at 3:38 pm
The extra shot in your coffee is called a Turbo Hot at Dunkin Donuts.
jay: Is the Barnyard at Wendy’s for real? That sounds fantastic!
Carzand: The Big MacChicken sounds delicious as well.
September 1, 2008 at 3:39 pm
The Burger King sauce is what Utahn’s call Fry Sauce. It’s basically a mix of ketchup and mayonnaise. The things I’ve learned since I’ve moved to this weird backwards state!
September 1, 2008 at 3:43 pm
When I worked at Poppa John’s I brought in eggs and made a breakfast pizza with eggs, sausage and other common omlette ingredients. If you work at Poppa Johns try throwing some eggs (pre-scrambled or mixed) and Italian Sausage on top of a thing of dough and send it through. That oven cooks eggs perfectly!
I also would make faux calzones sometimes by throwing one pizza on top of the other.
September 1, 2008 at 3:44 pm
[...] Juice] then this blog post will be your dream come true. With secrets from Starbucks to Wendys, 100 Awesome Things gives you the insiders scoop on what to order while you’re out in the [...]
September 1, 2008 at 3:44 pm
starbucks:
passion tea lemonade with half lemonade half apple juice, and for the tall 1 pump classic syrup, 1 pump melon/ grande 2 classic 2 melon/ venti 3 classic, 3 melon.
its the BEST, used to make these for friends all the time.
and a customer favorite:
strawberries n cream frap with a pump of mocha syrup and chocolate chips.
September 1, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Pizza sub at subway is standard up here in canada yes, but next time you order one ask for the chicken on top with extra cheese.
Chicken Pizzola or some such, most will do it, and it’s like chicken parmasan in a sub, great stuff.
November 26, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Chicken Pizziola is a “local favourite”, on the menu, at all 3 Subway restaurants in our town (Fredericton, NB). Very yummy…
September 1, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Up until a few years ago, our Wendy’s around here had hand-battered fried chicken. They started carrying it around 1990 when I was a manager. I had experimented with a spicy blend of the chicken using the standard breading mix and a small bit of the dry chili seasoning (hot stuff!). The blend I used pretty damned tasty. I tried to tell upper management (district managers et al) about it, but got in trouble for wasting product; such actions were for the test kitchens to create, based on consumer trends and demands (blah, blah, blah). Wendy’s stopped carrying the best chicken ever a few years ago.
One concoction that most employees still know about is the “suicide.” It’s a shot of Coke, Sprite, Orange and Mr. Pibb or Dr. Pepper. Keep alternating shots until the cup is full. That’s some sweet stuff.
Speaking of sweet, if Wendy’s still sells their big cookies (single serve 4″ cookie), ask for one out of the freezer. Or, order a Frosty and a cookie (warm it up) and crumble the cookie into the Frosty. They made me the fat guy I am today!
September 3, 2009 at 12:05 am
when i was younger we’d call a mixture of coke, sprite, orange, rootbeer, etc “swamp water” Did it at 7-11 a while back forgot how sweet it was.
September 1, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I’m not sure if it’s all of Canada, or just Alberta, but all Subways have pizza subs on the menu…
September 1, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Make sure you order “Sparkle” spice mix with your Popeye’s Chicken and when at Wendys, get a ketchup packet and mic it with one of their chili packets for your fries for some spicy ketchup…
September 1, 2008 at 4:56 pm
[...] #949 Ordering off the menu at fast food restaurants Share and Enjoy: [...]
September 1, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I hardly ever order off-menu except at Chinese Restaurants. I order the the sweet and sour shrimp but instead of the sweet and sour sauce I ask for the sesame sauce (which I only ever see on the menu with chicken) and it’s delicious!!! Every Chinese restaurant I’ve been to where I asked has always done this for me.
September 1, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Yeh. I worked at Subway in ‘89 and ‘90. Love the old cut. The new cut is just so pedestrian!
September 1, 2008 at 5:37 pm
The U cut at Subway is the way to go. Unfortunately most “sandwich artists” these days look at you stoned and stupid if you try to explain it to them.
Robert, when I worked at Wendy’s we made the Barnyards a few times a week.
September 1, 2008 at 5:38 pm
My Mom orders the McDonald’s Big and Tasty “dressed like a Big Mac”. It’s basically a single patty 2-piece of bread Big Mac that’s also a buck or two cheaper.
September 1, 2008 at 5:45 pm
My cousins in Oregon said a friend at the Dutch Brothers coffee drive thru was mixing hot chocolate and eggnog and calling it nignog. Mmm… warm drinks with a side of racism.