Fast Food Menu Items You Probably Haven't Tried Before

In the ever-evolving world of fast food, restaurant chains constantly introduce new and unique items to their menus. It's a common marketing strategy that keeps customers coming through the doors. But it's not always easy to find each item. Sometimes these morsels are offered for a brief period, are seasonal or regional items, or are foods the chains bring back from time to time. With the rapid cycling of these items, it can be easy to miss out on these delicious and unique menu offerings.

Some of these fast food menu items are so rare that you might not have heard of them at all, whether they are within your geographical reach or not. Interested in going on a fast food hunt? We've got the low down on some lesser-known but incredibly tasty options from popular chains. From the Taco Bell Spicy Potato Soft Taco to the Smashburger Double Mac & Cheese Burger, try and catch these sometimes rare and often yummy fast food gems if you can.

Taco Bell is no stranger to innovative menu items, and the Steak Chile Verde Fries Burrito is no exception. This creation features tender steak, zesty Chile Verde sauce, crispy seasoned fries, and warm nacho cheese wrapped in a soft flour tortilla. The result is a heavenly combination of flavors and textures that has quickly become a fan favorite.

The key to the Steak Chile Verde Fries Burrito's exceptional taste is the Chile Verde sauce. This tangy, flavorful sauce is made from a blend of jalapeño, herbs, and lime that give the burrito a satisfying kick that counters the creaminess of the cheese

Customers also had the option to enjoy the same toppings over fries instead of in a burrito. Both can be made vegetarian if you ask. The limited-time offering was released in May 2023 with fans promptly praising it as a highlight of the menu. Some customers, however, were disappointed to find that it wasn't available at their location. But many of those who did find it fell in love. "This burrito is crazy good. I was driving while eating it and I turned on the overhead light to look at it because it was so good," a Redditor wrote.

When one thinks of fast food, kale might be the last thing that comes to mind. But the Chick-fil-A Kale Crunch Side wanted to bring customers a nutritious and tasty alternative to its more traditional offerings of fried chicken sandwiches. This refreshing salad features a blend of curly kale and green cabbage that's tossed in an apple cider and Dijon mustard vinaigrette. The dish is then topped with salty roasted almonds for added texture and flavor. Some locations even serve it as a full-sized salad.

At only 170 calories and 4 grams of protein, it's a much lighter option compared to many other fast food sides, including Chick-fil-A's side salad, which checks in at 470 calories. At a chain that's famous for its chicken, many might be unaware this flavorful leafy option is available.

Some customers who have tried this side liked it so much that they started to use it in their Chick-fil-A creations. One fan on Reddit suggested putting it on top of a spicy chicken sandwich. Others said they were pleased to be able to order healthy fast food options. "I order it every day. It tastes great and makes me feel better than eating fries every day.," an employee wrote on Reddit.

In 2014, Taco Bell introduced the Spicy Potato Taco as a replacement for its Crispy Potato Soft Taco, which had a pepper jack sauce instead of a spicy chipotle one. The new taco is made with deep-fried potato bits, shredded cheese, lettuce, and spicy sauce in a soft tortilla. It has become a fan favorite due to its unique combination of flavors and textures, offering a pleasant alternative to the usual meat-based tacos.

The item was pulled in 2020 in an attempt to streamline the menu. According to customers on Reddit, the result was a mess and fans were quite furious. Some even got a bit fanatical, like a Missouri man who purchased three tacos shortly after the discontinuation was announced. He immediately tossed them in his freezer and tried to sell them on Facebook Marketplace for $200 saying. Yet no one seemed to want them as badly as the Missouri man thought they would, considering the tacos are still up for sale as of June 2023.

Thankfully, the Spicy Potato Soft Taco was brought back in 2021 along with Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes in an effort to bring more vegetarian items to the menu, where it remains as of June 2023.

Jack in the Box introduced its Bacon All-American Ribeye Steakhouse Burger as a limited-time premium option made with a 100% ribeye beef patty topped with natural cheddar cheese, smoky aioli, hickory-smoked bacon, red onion, lettuce, and tomato on a toasted potato bun. The regular version of the All-American Steakhouse Burger comes without the bacon.

This item was dropped in April 2023, which was unsurprising given that Jack in the Box has a history of offering limited-time burgers like 2017's All-American and Havarti & Grilled Onion varieties. A year later, it added the Blue Cheese & Bacon Ribeye Burger to the lineup. The Bacon All-American Ribeye Steakhouse Burger was the latest addition to this delicious burger family, with a distinctive smoky flavor and big crunch thanks to that bacon. Reviewers were especially pleased with the distinctive aioli, which paired well with the ribeye burger itself.

Looking for an inexpensive way to enjoy a luxurious lobster roll? Well, look no further than the McDonald's McLobster, but that's only if you live in New England or parts of Canada and your particular McDonald's location carries it in the summer months. This seasonal offering from the Golden Arches comes with chunks of Atlantic lobster that arrives at restaurants frozen and is then thawed out. It's mixed with mayo and shredded lettuce and served on a buttery bun.

Though you may be wondering if a fast food giant like McDonald's can do this summertime treat justice, reviewers have been impressed by the large pieces of claw meat in the sandwich and overall found it exceeded their expectations. Over on Facebook, KBDProductionsTV raved that the McDonald's McLobster is nothing less than a must-try for seafood and lobster lovers that he wished was a permanent fixture on the menu.

Bojangles', already well known for its fast food take on Southern fare, brought a classic down-home favorite to its menu in 2019 with its pimento cheese spread. This beloved country delicacy is made from three types of cheeses, mayo, and diced pimento peppers. The promotion offered it on the chain's famous buttermilk biscuits or its Cajun Chicken Biscuit sandwich. Before it came to all Bojangles' stores, the offering was first tested in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Bojangles' version of pimento cheese is soft, with a just-right texture and a hint of heat from the pepper. It simultaneously cools down and kicks up the Cajun Chicken Biscuit to create a harmonious balance of flavors and textures.

The Pimento Cheese Biscuit was offered as a limited-time promotion, but it's still on the company's online menu in the individual biscuits section. But you'll have to find a Bojangles' location first, most of which are located in the Carolinas and Georgia. What's more, it's an easily overlooked item at a chain that's famous for its chicken-based offerings.

Taco John's Mexican Donut Bites are bite-sized pastries that offer a fast food version of a Latin American favorite known as sopaipillas, not to mention a sweet and satisfying treat that's well suited to any time of day. Rolled in cinnamon sugar with cream cheese icing poured on top, these delicious morsels are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth. The item was first officially offered in 2014 after customers kept asking for them.

"Instead of ordering Cini-Sopapilla Bites as originally offered, with either cinnamon sugar or icing, we saw guests consistently asking for the dessert with both toppings. So we decided to combine the two flavors and call the new dessert Mexican Donut Bites," Taco John's VP for Menu Strategy and Innovation said in a press release. Some customers say they even eat dessert first at Taco John because these things are so good.