Greggs’ Ham and Cheese Pasty and other fast food dishes that deserve a comeback

Baby, come back

Fast food fanatics are always excited to try new menu items, whether they're wacky debut burgers or fresh takes on fries. So it can be heartbreaking to discover a new favourite dish, only to see it taken off the menu. Sometimes you'll get lucky, and a social media campaign will bring it back. But often, all you're left with are your memories of a fabulous feast. Here, we've ranked the world's tastiest discontinued fast food items, counting down to the one fans want to bring back the most.

Read on to discover the long-gone fast food items that deserve a comeback. 

We've based our ranking on the enduring popularity of each dish in its place of origin and beyond, and on the opinions of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.

29. The Great Imitator, Nando's, UK

The Great Imitator was the chicken chain's first attempt at a plant-based alternative to its famous peri peri chicken. The restaurant promised that even meat-loving fans wouldn't be able to taste the difference between its chicken dishes and The Great Imitator, and the wrap quickly earned a legion of followers. So, Nando's customers were shocked when the restaurant pulled the item from its menus in restaurants across the UK in 2024. Already people are desperate to see it back on the permanent menu.

28. Barbecue Chicken, Jollibee, Philippines

Jollibee is famous for its 'crispylicious' and 'juicylicious' Chickenjoy, and let's be honest, there are only so many ways to improve upon fried chicken. But in 2009, Jollibee found a way with the arrival of its Chicken Barbecue. Served with a bowl of rice, Chicken Barbecue had all the goodness of Chickenjoy coupled with a smoky barbecue glaze. The dish had its fans, but it didn't stick around for long and has yet to return to the menu.

27. Angus Third Pounder, McDonald's, USA

McDonald’s created the Angus Third Pounder for the US market in 2009 after a franchisee asked for a bigger burger for the menu. This new creation had a generous patty and deluxe toppings such as thick slices of bacon, mushrooms and Swiss cheese. But while those luxurious toppings made for a great burger, they were also reportedly too expensive. That resulted in the Angus Third Pounder being dropped in the US in 2013. Angus burger options are still available in some countries, including Australia.

26. Ribs, Burger King, USA

In 2010, Burger King outlets in the US introduced fast food pork ribs to its menu, and they were an incredible success. Customers said the ribs were smoky and meaty and really hit the spot. The ribs were initially slated for a ten-week run, but they sold out before the promotional period... and never came back. People were willing to pay more than $7 (£5.60) for the ribs, so it seems strange that they haven't returned to menus yet.

25. McNoodles, McDonald's, Austria

In 2012, McDonald's took the somewhat unusual step of launching Asian-inspired noodle dishes... in Austria. The country was going through a trend of noodle boxes at the time, and McDonald's smartly tried to capitalise on it with two new dishes. McNoodles consisted of chicken and vegetables tossed with noodles and topped with your choice of curry or sweet and sour sauce. They launched nationwide but were discontinued after a short time and haven't been back on the menu since.

24. Le Double Mix, Quick, Belgium and France

Quick is a fast food chain with locations throughout Belgium and France. It usually specialises in burgers and fries, much like better-known brands such as McDonald's and Burger King. But in 2011, Quick briefly tried something new with the creation of Le Double Mix. It was a novelty burger-sandwich hybrid with two distinct halves. Both sections had a beef patty and cheese, but the first half was topped with a peppercorn sauce, while the second half included brie fondue.

23. Great Canadian Cheddar Ringer, Harvey's, Canada

Harvey's has been serving the good people of Canada since 1959, and the chain is still going strong today. The restaurant gave people the chance to customise their burger toppings long before Five Guys came on the scene, but it's hard to think of better toppings than those offered in Harvey's line of short-lived Ringer burgers. These featured the same 100% Canadian patties as offered elsewhere, but the bun was further stuffed with melted Cheddar cheese and crispy onion rings. Yum.

22. Shogun Burger, McDonald's, Hong Kong

McDonald's in Hong Kong didn't shy away from unusual flavour combinations when it crafted the Shogun Burger. The dish combines a pork patty, teriyaki sauce, an egg and lemon-tinged mayo. Yet the burger gained a cult following amongst locals, and the Shogun Burger has come and gone to much fanfare on multiple occasions, though it hasn't been seen since 2023.

21. Waffle Taco, Taco Bell, USA

Taco Bell wanted a larger slice of the fast food breakfast pie in 2014, so it released the Waffle Taco. It featured a sausage patty or bacon, scrambled eggs and cheese wrapped inside a waffle and served with a side of syrup. One of the first breakfast items ever debuted by Taco Bell, when it was discontinued in 2015 the Waffle Taco had so many fans a petition was started to bring it back.

20. Greek Mac, McDonald's, Greece

Fast food fans around the world couldn't believe that McDonald's in Greece had a Greek Mac – which is kind of like a Big Mac in kebab form. It featured two beef patties, onions, lettuce, tomato and lemon sauce inside pitta bread, and it caught people's attention in 2022. Some people in the UK demanded McDonald's bring it to their shores, but the Greek Mac has yet to make the trip. In fact, the dish isn't even available in Greece anymore.

19. McCurry Pan, McDonald's, India

McDonald's opened in India in 1996 and has had to constantly reinvent its menu to cater to local tastes. These days, items such as the McAloo Tikki Burger (featuring a spicy fried vegetarian patty) or the Veg Maharaja Mac (a veggie take on a Big Mac) bring in curious customers. But before it was taken off the menu, the McCurry Pan was also a hit. It was curried vegetables in a sauce served on a crispy crust. There was an option to add chicken, too.

18. Poutine Dip Sandwich, Arby's, Canada

Poutine is a classic Canadian dish, and Arby's found a way to incorporate it into its menu in 2021. The Poutine Dip Sandwich was a toasted sub roll crammed with roast beef, curly fries and Quebec cheese curds served drowning in gravy – and with even more gravy on the side. It was successful enough to force Arby's to return the Poutine Dip Sandwich to restaurants the following year, but we haven't seen it since.

17. Double Decker, Taco Bell, USA

Taco Bell fans are nostalgic for plenty of the chain's discontinued dishes, including Meximelts and Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos. But one of the most longed for menu items is the Double Decker, a beef-filled crunchy taco wrapped inside a soft refried bean–covered flour tortilla. It was brutally expelled from the permanent menu in 2019 and has only made limited appearances in Taco Bell restaurants in 2023 and 2024.

16. McDonald's Pizza, McDonald's, USA and UK

McDonald’s Pizza gained local acceptance at some restaurants in the US and UK in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s. The tasty personal pizza treat had four slices with toppings that included cheese, pepperoni, green peppers and onions. But it never truly caught on, partly because of slower cooking times and the box being too big for drive-thru windows. There's now just one location (in Orlando, Florida) that serves pizza – but it's not quite the same as this throwback pie.

15. Chicken Whopper, Burger King, various locations

Burger King became the first major US fast food chain to launch a grilled chicken sandwich with 1990’s BK Broiler. It was one of the most successful fast food launches ever – before it was beaten by the release of the Chicken Whopper in 2002. But even the Chicken Whopper's success couldn't last, and it was eventually pulled from menus. In 2024, though, BK announced it would once again roll out flame-grilled chicken sandwiches in select US markets. But will they be as good as the Chicken Whopper?

14. Grilled Stuft Nacho, Taco Bell, USA

In late 2013, Taco Bell announced the arrival of the Grilled Stuft Nacho. Even though the only thing 'nacho' about the menu item was its shape, people quickly fell in love with this flour tortilla stuffed with beef, cheesy jalapeño sauce, sour cream and red peppers. After it was discontinued, fans sent love letters and petitions to beg Taco Bell to bring it back, and they were delighted when it briefly returned in 2015. But it hasn't been seen again since.

13. Double Mushroom Swiss, Burger King, UK

Burger King's UK fans called for the return of the Double Mushroom Swiss so often that Burger King had to ask them to stop. The juicy burger featured two beef patties, melted Swiss cheese and a rich mushroom sauce all balanced inside a sesame seed bun. But despite being available at other Burger King outlets, including those in Malaysia, it hasn't been seen on a UK menu in over 20 years. That doesn't seem likely to change anytime soon, either.

12. Cheesarito, Taco Bell, USA

The Cheesarito was included on Taco Bell’s first menu, and it proved a favourite with its customers. After all, what's not to like about melted cheese, spring onions and taco sauce rolled up in a soft tortilla? It's kind of like having a grilled cheese burrito, so its discontinuation was a bit of a mystery. Fans have even tried to hack the Taco Bell menu to make their own by ordering a bean burrito without the beans, then adding extra cheese and taco sauce.

11. Big n’ Tasty, McDonald's, USA

In 1997 McDonald's faced serious competition from Burger King and its all-conquering Whopper. To try to win back some sales, McDonald's introduced the Big n’ Tasty. The burger featured a quarter-pound beef patty with tomato, lettuce, onions and ‘new sauce’ in a sesame seed bun. After the Big n’ Tasty proved a hit, McDonald's rolled it out across the US in 2000. It lasted for 11 strong years before it was scrapped for good in 2011. Variants, including the UK's Big Tasty, are still available elsewhere in the world.

10. Cini Minis, Burger King, USA

Cini Minis were tasty, bite-sized cinnamon rolls that Burger King claimed were 'the best part of the cinnamon roll in every bite' when it launched them in 1998. A pack of four cost just 99 cents, and the menu item earned a legion of fans. After BK discontinued Cini Minis, devotees launched an online petition, amassing over 2,000 signatures, to bring them back. They staged a brief return in 2018, but that was it.

9. McIbérica, McDonald's, Spain

McDonald's has been able to survive and thrive in countries all over the world because of its ability to adapt to local tastes and demands. So when the restaurant wanted to appeal to Spanish fast food fans, it included items on the menu such as gazpacho and the McIbérica. The McIbérica sandwich was a toasted baguette stuffed with a beef patty topped with jamón Ibérico, Manchego cheese, olive oil, lettuce and tomato. It was on menus in 2011, but it's nowhere to be seen today.

8. Ham and Cheese Pasty, Greggs, UK

The mere mention of Greggs in the UK will inspire fans to wax lyrical about its sausage rolls, pasties and bakes. But, while the bakery chain is thriving, there are still some customers who long for the pasties and puddings that have been lost to time. A particular fan favourite was the Ham and Cheese Pasty. Filled with a creamy béchamel sauce and slices of ham, it was guaranteed to hit the spot. Still, the item was removed from menus circa 2015.

7. Tower Burger, KFC, Australia

The Tower Burger, a crispy Original Chicken fillet with lettuce, cheese, mayo and a hash brown, has been a fan favourite since it launched in 1997. However, this classic chicken sandwich was dropped in Australia in 2018 and has only briefly returned in 2021 and 2023 – despite it being the most requested burger in Australian KFC history. "We encourage you to get in quick as you never know when it’ll make its next return to Aussie shores,” said Sally Spriggs, CMO at KFC Australia.

6. McCurrywurst, McDonald's, Germany

In 2010, McDonald's tried to impress its German customers with a bratwurst menu item called the Nürnburger. But after that failed to pick up, McDonald's tried again in 2013 and went all out. The McCurrywurst hit the menu with the hope of boosting sales and impressing people's tastebuds. It may have worked for a time, but it's not on offer in the country anymore. Bratwurst is always such a crowd-pleaser, though, surely this one is due a comeback soon?

5. McLobster, McDonald's, USA and Canada

McDonald's charged a fraction of the price for its lobster roll compared to those available pretty much anywhere else – and that's partly why it's been removed from menus. It was introduced in North America in 1992 and regularly appeared at outlets in Canada and New England during the summer, when lobsters are abundant. But its price depended on the value of lobster each season, and that's been increasing steadily for years. Apparently the McLobster won't return until the company can put it out at 'a reasonable price.'

4. Georgie Pie, McDonald's, New Zealand

Georgie Pie was a New Zealand fast food staple for 20 years before it closed in 1998. Luckily for die-hard fans, McDonald's brought it back in 2005, selling the iconic Steak Mince ‘N’ Cheese pie through its New Zealand restaurants. The good days weren't to last forever, though, and McDonald's called time on the small pies in 2020. It said the pies took too long to cook and the oven equipment 'would require significant reinvestment to replace.'

3. Angry Whopper, Burger King, USA and Canada

Burger King’s Angry Whopper is arguably the most popular variant of the classic Whopper that the restaurant has ever released. Aside from a spicy 'Angry Sauce,' the burger consists of jalapeño slices, pepper Jack cheese and fiery fried onions all on top of its signature flame-grilled patty. It was introduced in the US in 2009 and quickly gained a loyal following. Since it was discontinued, Burger King has brought it back for limited runs – but never as a permanent menu item.

2. Double Down, KFC, USA

In 2010, KFC in the US released the Double Down – a sandwich that replaced burger buns with fried chicken pieces and featured bacon, cheese and sauce in the middle. People got very excited about it, resulting in the unusual burger expanding to other territories. It was only supposed to be available for a limited time, but proved so popular KFC announced the Double Down would remain available indefinitely. However, it was phased out by the end of 2014. It has returned to global menus on multiple occasions, but hasn't become the permanent fixture many expected.

1. Italian Original Chicken Sandwich, Burger King, USA

By crossing an Original Chicken Sandwich with a chicken Parm, Burger King created one of its most mouth-watering menu items of all time. The Italian Original Chicken Sandwich had breaded chicken slathered in marinara sauce and mozzarella between a long sesame seed bun. It certainly turned fans' heads in the 1980s, but was discontinued. It was momentarily brought back in 2021 – but the tasty sub has been consigned to the bin ever since. We say bring it back!

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