Popeye’s – Cinnamon Apple Pie
Ever miss the old apple pies from McDonald’s? They were super crispy and flakey – ugh, they were perfect. Why is it different? Well, because the pies aren’t fried anymore; they’re baked! While it may be healthier, it isn’t exactly as tasty as it used to be. Thankfully, another fast food chain has stepped up.
Popeye’s may not be synonymous with “dessert,” but it should be. The chicken chain still has fried pies, and one of the best is the apple. Employees aren’t really sure why people don’t order them more often, but everyone is missing out. Then again, it’s hard to say no when they have the cheesecake pies available.
Subway – Chicken Pizziola
You may have heard of the Pizza sub, but have you thought about trying the chicken pizziola? Trust us when we say it's delicious. It comes with chicken strips, pepperoni, and marinara sauce. It isn't on the physical menu, but most Subways still have all the ingredients (at least when there isn’t a shortage).
When you order this sandwich, get it on flatbread. Ask them to flip the bread over. It tastes much better than the lumpy side on the outside. Our favorite veggies on this sandwich are tomatoes, green peppers, and onions. Ask them to put the sandwich in the toaster after they've put the veggies on.
Burger King – Rodeo Burger
Bet you never even realized this one was on the menu, did you? If you want something a little different, the Rodeo Burger is where it’s at. It's a regular burger with BBQ sauce and onion rings put right on the sandwich. It used to have a pretzel bun, too, but that’s been swapped to a regular bun.
The only problem is that the Rodeo Burger isn’t available at every Burger King location. Some of them decided to take them off the menu because they simply didn’t sell well enough. We’ll never understand why, but they’ll probably still make it if you tell them what goes on it.
Arby’s – Jamocha Shake
Never stop by Arby’s without getting a Jamocha shake. It’s literally just a chocolate and coffee milkshake, but it’s absolutely delicious. Hardly anyone orders it, and that’s a serious crime. Skip Starbucks, Sonic, or whatever, and get your next caffeine fix at Arby’s alongside their yummy sandwiches. The gyro is a must-try, too.
This is where we have to break a bit of bad news. The Jamocha shake doesn’t actually have a lot of caffeine in it, so if you want that extra kick in the morning, it won’t give it to you. It only has about 11 mg of caffeine, according to Caffeine Content Hub. For comparison, a cup of joe in the morning usually has around 100 to 110 mg.
Wendy’s – Frosty Float
Frosties are good, but the best thing to order on Wendy’s menu isn’t even that. It’s a frosty float. It’s exactly what you’d think, except it’s gotten so much better since Wendy’s installed Freestyle Coca-Cola machines in all of their restaurants – or, at least, the locations we’ve been to.
You can get whatever combination of frosty and drink you want. Do you want a dreamscicle? Get yourself an orange drink with a little vanilla frosty. So far, we haven’t thought of a chocolate frosty combination that beats out the vanilla versions, but there’s one out there. Just gotta try them all!
Taco Bell – Cheesy Gordita Crunch with Doritos Shell
We can only assume that it was God that gave Taco Bell Doritos taco shells. There hasn’t been a better combo since peanut butter and jelly. The only problem? Taco Bell doesn’t use the shells to their full potential. There are a million things that would taste better with a Doritos shell.
One Taco Bell employee suggested that we replace the regular shell in a cheesy gordita crunch with a Doritos shell and honestly? It’s pure chef’s kiss. It’s literally the best thing on the menu, but no one tries it. Now, we’re just waiting for Doritos to sell their cheesy seasoning separately because people would buy it.
Starbucks – The Oreo Frap
Let me first say that there is no secret menu at Starbucks, and if you go to your local store and ask for the Oreo Frappuccino by name, you’ll get some funny looks. The thing about Starbucks is that they’ll make literally anything – you just have to ask! Some smart baristas have created this concoction which tastes exactly like an Oreo.
To order it, just ask for a white chocolate mocha frap with java chips and a scoop of vanilla bean powder blended in. If you want to be extra snazzy (and top sugar with sugar), get some whip cream and mocha sauce on top. Be sure to adjust for the size you want. The recipe above is strictly for a grande.
McDonald’s – Southern Style Chicken and Waffles
No one rules breakfast better than McDonald's. Their sandwiches are delicious, and the hash browns are always crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The only thing is that there isn’t a lot of variety…unless you get a little creative with what’s already on there. May we present to you, the Southern Style Chicken and Waffles.
Sorry, the name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but it’s going to be the new craze. It uses a McGriddle bun with a chicken strip on the inside. When we tell you that it tastes just like chicken and waffles, we aren’t joking. It’s delicious and much better than the McGriddle or the Southern Style Chicken.
Taco Bell – Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes
When Taco Bell started to go through their purge moment and ditch everything on the menu that actually tasted good, they considered getting rid of the fiesta potatoes. No one really orders them, but who knew it was even on the menu? If they promoted it better, it would be a best seller.
Fiesta potatoes are literally just their delicious potatoes topped with sour cream and their melty cheese. There’s no other side that tastes as good with a taco, and we’re including the churros. Let’s all save the cheesy fiesta potatoes and order them next time we go to Taco Bell. You’ll be hooked.
Domino’s – Chocolate Lava Crunch Cake
The first thing you think of when you hear “Dominos” isn’t dessert, and that’s okay! Most of us go there when we want a hot pizza, but we want to shine a spotlight on Domino’s Chocolate Lava Crunch Cake. They’re $4.99, and it’s delicious. Did we say that you’ll get two cakes per order?
They’re chocolate cakes with molten chocolate fudge in the center. When you bite into it, the fudge pours out, so it may be best to let it cool before taking a big ol’ bite. As far as the crunch, we’re not sure where that comes from, but wherever it comes from, it’s good.
Five Guys – Loaded Grilled Cheese
Yeah, Five Guys has some delicious burgers that are totally customizable. We’re not going to knock the burgers, but the best thing on the menu is the loaded grilled cheese. You can get whatever you want on it, including bacon and all the cheeses they have available. Just fill it with whatever!
The reason it tastes so different is that they use mayo on the bread instead of butter. It sounds weird, but it makes it nice and crispy and brown. As we all know, brown food tastes good. Make it a really good meal with loaded fries or Cajun fries (where available, anyway).
Subway – Bacon and Tuna Sub
This one is obviously a little touchy since Subway’s tune doesn’t have the best rep. Maybe it’s tuna, maybe it isn’t. Who knows what it is? For those of us who don’t really care – because all fast food is honestly garbage for our bodies – try a tuna sub with bacon on it.
Your first thought is going to be “ew, that’s disgusting,” but it honestly isn’t. Even Subway employees swear by it. No one ever orders it that way, but that could be because it’s not the healthiest thing on the menu. Some days you just have to treat yo’ self.
Taco Bell – Dorito Crunchwrap Supreme
Taco Bell and Doritos is such a good pairing that we can’t even compare it to anything else. It’s not good for your body, but it’s heavenly for your tongue. One item that is kept under wraps is the Crunchwrap Supreme made with a Dorito taco shell instead of a regular tostada shell.
Thankfully, one Taco Bell employee gave us the scoop on how to order it (if your cashier acts a little confused). He explains, “You might get a cashier saying you can't do this. Tell them "It's under All Sides and break the shell in half.” They break the shell in half, but it is worth the trouble.
Wendy’s – A Side of Melted Cheese
We were honestly a little skeptical about this one, too, but we actually tried it. It went flawlessly. For about $0.60, you can tack on a side of melted cheese at some restaurants. Taco Bell is a given, but we tried Wendy’s and – oh my god! Their fries are good, but with a side of cheese? Yes!
It isn’t real cheese, so don’t expect to get actual melted cheese. It’s the stuff they put on the baked potato. That being said, you could theoretically get loaded fries with any order. Throw on the cheese and bacon, please! For those that want something a little less messy, go for just a regular side order of melted cheese.
Starbucks – The Undertow
Not everything at Starbucks is all about sugar. As someone who loves coffee and espresso, it can be tough to come up with a new drink with the caffeine kick you need. That’s when baristas come in handy. They get free drinks, so they’re able to experiment with the menu in ways we can only imagine.
One barista came up with “The Undertow.” Again, don’t ask for it by name. You’ll have to order it like this: Pour a shot of espresso over a spoon into a cup, add one pump vanilla syrup and one pump of caramel, then add a dab of cream. Sadly, you can’t order this one through the app, but give it a try next time you go in!