What is it about secret menus at fast-food restaurants that gets us so aroused? It must be the thrill we get when we “beat the system and get something different and unusual.
10. Red, Black or Green Eyes, Starbucks
Need a little extra adrenaline in the morning? Try a “Red Eye,” which is a basically one shot of espresso added to a cup of regular drip coffee, or maybe a “Black Eye,” which is 2 extra shots. Or, if you have your affairs in order and are ready to meet your maker, maybe try the “Green Eye”. That’s 3 shots of espresso added to a regular cup of Joe. Sure, you might have a heart attack and die, but at least you’ll be wide awake at the moment you walk towards heavens door.
9. Crunchberry Frappuccino, Starkbucks
Starbucks drinks are customizable to the point that hundreds of flavor combinations are possible. So the chain’s “secret” menu isn’t really a secret; it’s limited to the drinker’s imagination.
Still, there are a number of popular “secret” Starbucks concoctions nestled around the blogosphere. Among the strangest is the Crunchberry Frappuccino, with a flavor profile inspired by (but not actually including) the cereal of the same name. It’s just the strawberry version of Starbucks’ frozen blended drink with hazelnut syrup, and it’s purported to taste just like Crunchberries. Other popular “secret” Frappuccino flavors include cake batter (vanilla and almond flavoring added to a vanilla frap), raspberry cheesecake (raspberry syrup added to any white chocolate frap), and Nutella (chocolate, hazelnut, and caramel)
8. The Ham and Cheese, Burger King
One of the reasons that I try, often with no avail, to avoid fast food restaurant is just how disgusting I feel after eating in their establishments. A trip to McDonald’s is a fun experience for about 15 minutes, but then there’s the ensuing burden of a whole evening feeling greasy and gross right after. Happily, Burger King’s secret menu is here to help us out with the addition of the hot ham and cheese sandwich. Exactly what it sounds like, this sandwich is served on a hamburger bun and made with the ham and cheese from different menu combos. The good thing about Burger King is that they will go out of their way to help you customize your menu.
7. Monster Mac, McDonald’s
You many think that the regular old Big Mac is the pinnacle of hamburger decadence. You are wrong. The “Monster Mac” is precisely what it sounds like: a hulking version of the flagship McDonald’s sandwich, with eight patties, globs of cheese, special sauce, lettuces, pickles, and onions (that extra piece of bread on the menu-sanctioned Big Mac will be included upon request).
Burgers of the ‘Monster Mac’ variety aren’t limited to McDonald’s; several major burger chains have secret versions of their own. Burger King has the “Suicide Burger, with four beef patties, four slices of cheese, bacon, and special sauce. Wendy’s offers the “Grand Slam,” also with four patties. But the top dog in the grotesquely large secret burger game is In-N-Out.
6: Cheesy Gordita Crunch, Taco Bell
The Taco Bell secret menu includes many discontinued menu items that were brought back by popular demand, as well as some original creations that aren’t sold every day in ever store. For example, the “Cheesy Gordita Crunch,” is a regular menu item at some Taco Bell locations but is on the secret menu at others. This customer favorite includes a ground beef-filled taco shell placed inside a gordita with a layer of melted cheese and covered with lettuce, shredded cheese and cheese sauce.
5: Quesadilla & Quesarito, Chipotle Mexican Grill:
This may seem too obvious to be on the secret menu, but the quesadilla is not officially sold in Chipotle restaurant. So technically, it’s considered a secret menu item. They can come in large or small packages. Some states have a kids menu, so there the small quesadilla is on the menu, but there is a grown up version with the full size flour tortilla loaded and a choice of cheese and/or chicken. This version is especially good with a side of guacamole. A source from Chipotle stated that they do not advertise quesadillas because it’s too hard for their employees to make in a short period of time.
Now you probably are wondering why not add the Quesadilla…Well, because people will then demand the Quesarito, which involves a lot of hardwork for the minimum wage workers. The Chipotle Quesarito burrito is considered the Holy Grail of the Chipotle Secret Menu. The popularity of the monstrous Quesarito is due to the fact that it is a burrito in which the “shell” of the burrito is actually a Cheese Quesadilla. So instead of using a plain flour tortilla like everyone else, the Chipotle servers will start your Quesarito off with a quesadilla that they make from sandwiching a heaping amount of cheese between two tortilla shells. Once you have the quesadilla, the process is back to the typical line up. Just tell the server what items and meat you want inside your Quesarito burrito. But as it’s too much work and its too hard for the servers to roll, they will never advertise the items on their menu boards.
4. Nachos, Chipotle Mexican Grill
Again, this is fairly obvious as a potential option, but you can ask to have the chips put in first, and the rest of your bowl ingredients loaded on top. Unfortunately, they do charge for the extra ingredient – chip. Chipotle believes in the philosophy that they can create anything as long as they have the items to serve it with. Unfortunately, for fish tacos fans, fish is not on the menu. COOL!
3. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, McDonald’s
Grilled cheese sandwiches are a great option for light appetites or vegetarians. Simply order a grilled cheese, specifying that you’d like the bun grilled with some cheese on top. Half the price of any sandwich you buy at McDonald’s.
2. Pizza Sub, Subway:
Shocker, eh? Some Subway locations will still make you the popular pizza sub that you once purchased in the 1990s. Once the chain decided to make their focus healthy eating, the pizza sub disappeared from the menu in most places (the word is that Canadian and Mexican Subways still offer them on a regular basis). But if you ask, lots of places will still make it for you. Be warned, though. Jared would not approve of the nine slices of pepperoni and copious amounts of cheese slathered in marinara sauce.
1. Poutine, Kentucky Fried Chicken:
To get this secret menu item, you’ll have to visit a KFC and TacoBell location, one of those common fast food mergers where they’ve built both restaurants into the same building. Just like you once saw Wendy’s and Tim Hortons in one building. They’re not that easy to find. Still, it’s really worth it in a greasy, hate-yourself-the-next-morning thing.