Fast food items you wish they’d bring back?

[TheHighwayMan3561]

^^ KFC buffets still exist in sporadic locations.

The pandemic looks like it might have taken a lot of these down for the count. For two of Minnesota's KFC buffet locations since spring 2020, the Elk River KFC went out of business entirely. Roseville's KFC removed the buffet space in a remodel. Having lived in Elk River, that KFC probably made a good chunk of its business on that buffet. Couldn't tell you if it was a case of the restaurant being told they couldn't bring it back by their franchise owners despite being asked if they could, or what.

The Elk River KFC closed due to the Hwy 169 freeway conversion and a planned holding pond at that location, although the closure was earlier than expected. There are rumors that the owners will be rebuilding in another part of town since they will be receiving relocation expenses from Mn/DOT.

Ah, that would make sense. Thank you.

[Scott5114]

Yes, but if there's other people that have ordered before you, you have to wait through their 90 seconds too.

No, because while you're placing your order, they are prepping and bagging their order. Even if the order is "buffet", most of the 90 seconds is taken up by the transaction to pay for it, get your soda cup, etc.

Will you please go to my KFC and tell them they're doing it wrong then?

[jeffandnicole]

Yes, but if there's other people that have ordered before you, you have to wait through their 90 seconds too.

No, because while you're placing your order, they are prepping and bagging their order. Even if the order is "buffet", most of the 90 seconds is taken up by the transaction to pay for it, get your soda cup, etc.

Will you please go to my KFC and tell them they're doing it wrong then?

I can't believe we even need a discussion on how a fast food restaurant should operate. Sure, some aren't as efficient, but it's a pretty basic concept. Having enough employees helps.

[Scott5114]

"Should" and "does" don't often overlap.

I say this as someone who managed fast food. Yeah, we "should" have gotten orders out in 2m 30s drive and 3m front counter. Did that happen most of the time? No. Because we didn't sell enough food to pay for the four people in the kitchen and four doing customer service that it would take to make that happen. And even if we did, if there's someone in line ahead of you that ordered 20 cheeseburgers, it just straight up isn't going to happen.

And we still did a better job of it than KFC.

[abefroman329]

And we still did a better job of it than KFC.

And probably did a much better job of it than Popeye's.

[kurumi]

The old KFC near our place (saving for the inevitable "What's the closest fast food place you've never been to?" thread) closed and became Vons Chicken (where the "K" now stands for "Korean"). That's a nice upgrade.

On-topic: Roy Rogers used to have more locations and might still have a burger bar -- basically a salad bar's worth of toppings to customize your burger. They handed you a bun and plain patty and you did the rest. That was fantastic.

[OCGuy81]

Speaking of KFC buffets, are there any more Pizza Huts that offer their lunch buffet? I used to love that!

[Big John]

^^ The last time I went to Pizza Hut in Wisconsin a year ago, they still had the lunch buffet.

[OCGuy81]

^^ The last time I went to Pizza Hut in Wisconsin a year ago, they still had the lunch buffet.

Nice!! Most of the Pizza Huts I see around here are just carry out. I do miss the dine in Pizza Hut experience as an 80s kid! Scratched red soda cups, a Galaga/Pac Man tabletop machine. Good times!

[TheHighwayMan3561]

^^ The last time I went to Pizza Hut in Wisconsin a year ago, they still had the lunch buffet.

Nice!! Most of the Pizza Huts I see around here are just carry out. I do miss the dine in Pizza Hut experience as an 80s kid! Scratched red soda cups, a Galaga/Pac Man tabletop machine. Good times!

The Pizza Hut in Princeton, MN still did leading up to COVID. No idea if they brought it back or not now. I think a lot of these remaining are in rural or semi-rural locations that corporate Pizza Hut has designs on shuttering as many of as possible in the not too distant future.

[1995hoo]

The old KFC near our place (saving for the inevitable "What's the closest fast food place you've never been to?" thread) closed and became Vons Chicken (where the "K" now stands for "Korean"). That's a nice upgrade.

On-topic: Roy Rogers used to have more locations and might still have a burger bar -- basically a salad bar's worth of toppings to customize your burger. They handed you a bun and plain patty and you did the rest. That was fantastic.

The Roy Rogers Fixin's Bar was shut down during the pandemic, but the location nearest to us announced they were bringing it back. Not sure if they've done that yet. During the pandemic, they'd give you a little cup with some burger toppings.

[MATraveler128]

Does Arby's still sell the exclusive "meat mountain" sandwich? Like the one with every type of meat?

[allniter89]

I had one in Nova Scotia (forget the year). Really sloppy, couldn't eat it behind the wheel (an important feature of fast food, especially McDs), so I was disappointed.

I can't eat a Big Mac while driving, I usually save it until I pull up to my destination.  Or I order something else.

If I'm going to eat while driving & I often do. I go to Arbys & get 2 Classic Roast Beef sandwiches with no sauce or McD Fish with no tarter sauce. Or sliders. damn now I'm hungry bbl

[HighwayStar]

I would love to see McLobster make its return, at least on a regional/seasonal basis.
I would also love to see McSpaghetti and McPizza return, again maybe just as a promotional thing.

[jeffandnicole]

I would love to see McLobster make its return, at least on a regional/seasonal basis.
I would also love to see McSpaghetti and McPizza return, again maybe just as a promotional thing.

With the issues mentioned regarding a fast food restaurant cooking spaghetti, especially as they strongly focus on drive thru speed, McSpaghetti will never be back on the menu. McPizza has almost no chance either, although I don't say never with that one. McDonalds will look at handheld sandwich ideas and continue to develop options that allows then to cook quickly and allows the consumer to eat without utensils.

[HighwayStar]

I would love to see McLobster make its return, at least on a regional/seasonal basis.
I would also love to see McSpaghetti and McPizza return, again maybe just as a promotional thing.

With the issues mentioned regarding a fast food restaurant cooking spaghetti, especially as they strongly focus on drive thru speed, McSpaghetti will never be back on the menu. McPizza has almost no chance either, although I don't say never with that one. McDonalds will look at handheld sandwich ideas and continue to develop options that allows then to cook quickly and allows the consumer to eat without utensils.

There are other factors at play, both were introduced in the first place for a reason.
While I am skeptical that appealing to the dinner crowd is a viable reason for introducing either again, other things have changed since then. McDonald's has positioned its dining experience at least somewhat more upmarket, and still seems to want to market to a customer base that is not eating there now.
And then there is another factor, social media. A product that would, under normal circumstances, be a flop can have unusually strong appeal due to social media marketing and the bandwagon effect. Example, McPizza, for a limited time only, not available in all locations, try it before its gone.
Did anyone really think the Land, Air, and Sea would be a menu item 10 years ago?

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I would love to see McLobster make its return, at least on a regional/seasonal basis.
I would also love to see McSpaghetti and McPizza return, again maybe just as a promotional thing.

With the issues mentioned regarding a fast food restaurant cooking spaghetti, especially as they strongly focus on drive thru speed, McSpaghetti will never be back on the menu. McPizza has almost no chance either, although I don't say never with that one. McDonalds will look at handheld sandwich ideas and continue to develop options that allows then to cook quickly and allows the consumer to eat without utensils.

There are other factors at play, both were introduced in the first place for a reason.
While I am skeptical that appealing to the dinner crowd is a viable reason for introducing either again, other things have changed since then. McDonald's has positioned its dining experience at least somewhat more upmarket, and still seems to want to market to a customer base that is not eating there now.
And then there is another factor, social media. A product that would, under normal circumstances, be a flop can have unusually strong appeal due to social media marketing and the bandwagon effect. Example, McPizza, for a limited time only, not available in all locations, try it before its gone.

In 2022, how much actual curiosity would there be about crappy novelty fast foot spaghetti or pizza? In today's world there are dozens of dedicated, well-known, superior options for these just clicks away. Spaghetti is fairly easy to make at home to a quality that does better than most restaurants.

I think McDonald's problem has been spending too much time on stupid gimmicks and not focusing enough on improving their basic menu offerings, which can be some of the best in the business.

[MATraveler128]

I would love to see McLobster make its return, at least on a regional/seasonal basis.
I would also love to see McSpaghetti and McPizza return, again maybe just as a promotional thing.

Regarding the McLobster, I don't see that making a comeback either because of possible health concerns. Even in regions where lobster is popular, like New England, there would also be sales issues because there are way better places to get a lobster roll, including your local grocery store

[abefroman329]

McPizza has almost no chance either, although I don't say never with that one.

I'll say "never."  McPizza requires a separate oven that does nothing but make pizza, and your average McDonalds kitchen doesn't have much unused space to begin with.  Never.

[jeffandnicole]

I would love to see McLobster make its return, at least on a regional/seasonal basis.
I would also love to see McSpaghetti and McPizza return, again maybe just as a promotional thing.

With the issues mentioned regarding a fast food restaurant cooking spaghetti, especially as they strongly focus on drive thru speed, McSpaghetti will never be back on the menu. McPizza has almost no chance either, although I don't say never with that one. McDonalds will look at handheld sandwich ideas and continue to develop options that allows then to cook quickly and allows the consumer to eat without utensils.

There are other factors at play, both were introduced in the first place for a reason.
While I am skeptical that appealing to the dinner crowd is a viable reason for introducing either again, other things have changed since then. McDonald's has positioned its dining experience at least somewhat more upmarket, and still seems to want to market to a customer base that is not eating there now.
And then there is another factor, social media. A product that would, under normal circumstances, be a flop can have unusually strong appeal due to social media marketing and the bandwagon effect. Example, McPizza, for a limited time only, not available in all locations, try it before its gone.
Did anyone really think the Land, Air, and Sea would be a menu item 10 years ago?

Land, Sea and Air is technically a combo meal. They give you the individual sandwiches and you build the burger yourself. McDonalds is doing it because of the profit aspect of someone buying 3 sandwiches at once. Sandwiches which are already on the menu.

As mentioned by Abe, the other things you desire to come back aren't as easy to prepare with their existing equipment. And they're, after all, a fast food restaurant. They've gotten themselves in trouble in the past by attempting menu items that may cater to more affluent customers or may take longer to prepare, only to irritate their bread-and-butter customers, sending then elsewhere. Many of the more expensive burger and chicken sandwich options have disappeared. They have limited kitchen staff and room that can't be spread too thin, so menu options need to take that into consideration as well. Their all-day breakfast was discontinued at many locations for these reasons.

And social media can be a blessing or a curse. I can't see the world going wild over McD's Spaghetti.

[HighwayStar]

I would love to see McLobster make its return, at least on a regional/seasonal basis.
I would also love to see McSpaghetti and McPizza return, again maybe just as a promotional thing.

With the issues mentioned regarding a fast food restaurant cooking spaghetti, especially as they strongly focus on drive thru speed, McSpaghetti will never be back on the menu. McPizza has almost no chance either, although I don't say never with that one. McDonalds will look at handheld sandwich ideas and continue to develop options that allows then to cook quickly and allows the consumer to eat without utensils.

There are other factors at play, both were introduced in the first place for a reason.
While I am skeptical that appealing to the dinner crowd is a viable reason for introducing either again, other things have changed since then. McDonald's has positioned its dining experience at least somewhat more upmarket, and still seems to want to market to a customer base that is not eating there now.
And then there is another factor, social media. A product that would, under normal circumstances, be a flop can have unusually strong appeal due to social media marketing and the bandwagon effect. Example, McPizza, for a limited time only, not available in all locations, try it before its gone.
Did anyone really think the Land, Air, and Sea would be a menu item 10 years ago?

Land, Sea and Air is technically a combo meal. They give you the individual sandwiches and you build the burger yourself. McDonalds is doing it because of the profit aspect of someone buying 3 sandwiches at once. Sandwiches which are already on the menu.

As mentioned by Abe, the other things you desire to come back aren't as easy to prepare with their existing equipment. And they're, after all, a fast food restaurant. They've gotten themselves in trouble in the past by attempting menu items that may cater to more affluent customers or may take longer to prepare, only to irritate their bread-and-butter customers, sending then elsewhere. Many of the more expensive burger and chicken sandwich options have disappeared. They have limited kitchen staff and room that can't be spread too thin, so menu options need to take that into consideration as well. Their all-day breakfast was discontinued at many locations for these reasons.

And social media can be a blessing or a curse. I can't see the world going wild over McD's Spaghetti.

I am aware of how it works, but that does not change the fact that something like that would never have been unremarkable without social media.

Again, read what I wrote about limited time and select locations, they have excellent data on where might be a good place for these.

Of course the recent state of affairs is an entirely different matter, service and quality have completely gone down the tubes, but presumably this is not permanent, at least we hope not.

[Scott5114]

McPizza has almost no chance either, although I don't say never with that one.

I'll say "never."  McPizza requires a separate oven that does nothing but make pizza, and your average McDonalds kitchen doesn't have much unused space to begin with.  Never.

Bold of you to assume it wouldn't be microwaved.

Same goes for spaghetti, honestly. When Burger King had mac and cheese (do they still?) that's how it was done. Noodles and sauce were pre-prepared (they were soft when we got them) and put in a pouch, which was cut open, poured into a cup, and microwaved. Then sent on down the chute.

[WillWeaverRVA]

Does Arby's still sell the exclusive "meat mountain" sandwich? Like the one with every type of meat?

They no longer advertise it, but it still exists as a "secret" menu item and some Arby's will make it for you if you ask.

[jeffandnicole]

.
Again, read what I wrote about limited time and select locations, they have excellent data on where might be a good place for these.

You're right about their excellent data. Which is why they aren't selling it in the US.

It appears they are selling it in the Philippines, and only there.