The Most Ridiculous Fast Food Menu Items Of 2019

In February 2019, The Impulsive Buy stumbled across a truly interesting concept: a cheeseburger in fry form. You're probably thinking, "Huh?!" Understandable — this isn't the sort of thing you see every day. In fact, depending on how well-received they are (or not well-received), it might be the sort of thing you only see in 2019.

When Food & Wine caught the scent of these strange rectangular "burger dippers" at Jack in the Box, it confirmed with a spokesperson that the chain has been testing the strange hybrid snack in select locations. In March, a Twitter user documented proof that burger dippers weren't a mythical food item by snapping a photo of the offering being advertised on a Jack in the Box menu in Sacramento, California. 

So, what does a cheeseburger compacted and shaped like an oversized french fry taste like? "It tastes like they literally put a whole burger in a blender and then deep fried it," one Jack in the Box patron told The Impulsive Buy. And who knows? Maybe burger dippers will be a big enough hit in test markets to make it nationwide. Fans of the bizarre food were tweeting about it as recently as March 21, 2019, so it's only a matter of time until we find out the ultimate fate of burger dippers. 

While donuts not in donut-form seem a bit like sacrilege, who are we to argue with progress? If Mickey D's wants to give us donuts shaped like a stick, then by God we should all appreciate the innovation and eat them. Suffice it to say this new menu item begs to be filed under "ridiculous good" — which is what makes it particularly tragic that this seriously extra snack may have exited 2019 as quickly as it arrived.

Admittedly, there's a bit of confusion on that front. As recently as May 23, fans of the menu item were still happily getting their hands on the limited edition Donut Sticks. But also on May 23, Twitter user @jenniferohjenn lamented the apparent loss of these sweet treats. "So @McDonalds has these donut sticks.... They are like little sticks of happiness. Sugar and cinnamon.... Warm.... Perfect! I waited until Thursday to have them (cheat day) and guess what!! THEY JUST CALLED ME TO TELL ME THEY DON'T HAVE ANY," she wrote. 

Maybe you're lucky enough to live in an area where McDonald's is still offering Donut Sticks. If so, you probably want to know what to expect. Well, according to Thrillist, this snack "has some similarities to a churro" but is "flakier," as well as "light and airy like a croissant." They're apparently treated like a breakfast food and taken off the menu around 11 a.m. Oh, and they reportedly pair perfectly with coffee.

Truffles in fast food? With the March 2019 unveiling of its limited truffle burger and bacon truffle cheese fries, Carl's Jr. is getting posh. This indulgent meal is an interesting dichotomy of gourmet and guilty pleasure, and Carl's Jr. knows it. "Truffle is traditionally viewed as a rare indulgence, and we're bringing it to the everyday dining experience by infusing the distinct truffle flavor into an entirely new offering for our burger-loving customers," Owen Klein, vice president of Culinary Innovation for Carl's Jr. told QSR.

In a review of the burger, the dish is described as having a "savory unctuousness" thanks to the truffle-infused white cheddar sauce. Paired with a 100 percent Black Angus beef patty, two slices of applewood-smoked bacon, crispy onion strings, Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, and mayo on a toasted premium bun, the burger is "quite rich and more than a little greasy," according to Brand Eating.

Curious about the fries? They're a much more pared down version of the burger, topping the starchy strings with only the truffle-infused white cheddar sauce and applewood-smoked bacon pieces.

Sonic has more than a few flavors of its iconic Slushes under its belt. At any given time, the drive- (and skate-) thru eatery offers a sweet assortment to choose from — and they get pretty inventive with their selection, too. Naturally, there are classics like cherry and grape represented. But in 2018, Sonic made waves by introducing a polarizing Pickle Juice Slush. They also offer Slush candy add-ons like Nerds and Pop Rocks. And, in 2019, they announced they would be adding Red Bull Slushes for a limited time.

Designed to "refresh" and "energize" you, Sonic's Red Bull-infused Slush takes the classic energy drink and turns it into an icy treat that comes in two different flavors: Original Red Bull and Cherry Limeade Red Bull. But, just like 2018's Pickle Juice Slush, the new flavor doesn't seem to be a unanimous hit. On social media, it's already racked up an eclectic array of reviews, ranging from "nasty" and "so gross" to "the best gimmick drink" ever. Just be forewarned; in addition to the obvious caffeine, a large Cherry Limeade Red Bull Slush packs a sugary punch with 111 grams. 

Way back in 2012, Burger King rolled out a menu item known as the Angry Whopper — a combination of a beef patty, hardwood-smoked bacon, habanero cheese, jalapeño slices, spicy-fried onion petals, tomatoes, lettuce, and a spicy "angry" sauce. It was like a Whopper on steroids. In a 'roid rage, if you will. And although it went away all those years ago, BK brought it back in April 2019. Only, it isn't exactly the same. 

It's still excessively spicy, sure, but the chain toned it down just a bit. In place of the habanero cheese of old, BK opted for American cheese this go 'round. As for the rest of the spicy stuff, it's still all there. The heat factor here is intense and so are the calories, the latter of which come in at a whopping (yep, went there) 850 calories for one burger. So, it's definitely not for the faint of heart. Like, literally, if you're going to partake of this extremely spicy and caloric beast, you should probably make sure your ticker is in good working condition before you tackle the challenge.