Buzz
Take on the thrilling challenge of discovering off-menu treasures at fast food joints across the nation. Be aware, this journey comes with genuine health risks, including clogged arteries and soaring cholesterol levels. But we trust you’re ready for the task. To help you begin, we’ve put together a curated list.
1. This one could easily top my list. At select Fatburger spots, you can request a Hypocrite — a veggie burger topped with crunchy bacon strips.
2. In-N-Out Burger's so-called "secret menu" is hardly a secret; they’ve even shared it on their website. But if you’re not one to browse fast food sites, here’s the lowdown on their indulgent options: ordering something "Animal Style" means it comes with lettuce, tomato, a mustard-grilled patty, pickles, extra spread (similar to Thousand Island dressing), and caramelized onions. You can even upgrade your fries to Animal Style. "Protein Style" swaps the bun for a lettuce wrap. A Grilled Cheese features two slices of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and spread on a bun (add grilled onions if you like). You can customize your order with any meat-and-cheese combo, ordered like lumber dimensions: 3x3 gets you three patties and three cheese slices, 4x4 gets you four of each, and so on. The possibilities don’t end there. A daring customer once ordered a 100x100 at a Las Vegas location. One unlisted secret menu item: the Flying Dutchman, which is two patties with cheese in between, no bun.
3. While Jamba Juice doesn’t officially display these on their in-store menus, Mighty Foods confirms that these secret flavors are real. Verified options include Strawberry Shortcake, White Gummy Bear, PB&J, Starburst varieties, Fruity Pebbles, Push-Up Pops, and Skittles. Rumored flavors also include Chocolate Gummi Bear, Apple Pie, Sourpatch Kid, Tootsie Roll, Chocolate-covered strawberries, and Now and Later.
4. Chipotle’s secret menu is only limited by your creativity — their policy states that if they have the ingredients, they’ll make it for you. Tested items include nachos, quesadillas, taco salads, and single tacos. Some locations are even trialing quesadillas as a standard menu item, so you might not need a secret code to order one soon.
5. At Wendy’s, if you’re starving and three patties just aren’t enough, go for the Grand Slam, a towering burger with four patties on a single bun. It’s also nicknamed the Meat Cube. Not for the faint of heart.
7. Trying to eat healthy at Popeye’s? You might want to reconsider your choice of restaurant. However, there’s a small saving grace: ordering "naked chicken" will get you unbreaded chicken. While not listed on all menus, this option is reportedly available at every location.
8. Similar to Chipotle, Taco Bell is willing to make almost anything within reason, provided they have the ingredients. Since most of their menu is built from the same basics, you can likely request discontinued items and still get them. One lesser-known secret is their unadvertised green chili sauce, available at most locations and said to be absolutely delicious.
9. Certain Subway locations still honor the nostalgic pizza sub from the '90s. When the chain shifted its focus to healthier options, the pizza sub vanished from most menus (though Canadian and Mexican Subways reportedly still serve it regularly). However, many stores will prepare it upon request. Just a heads-up: Jared wouldn’t endorse the nine pepperoni slices, heaps of cheese, and generous marinara sauce.
10. If you’re at Starbucks and only need a small caffeine boost, there’s a mini option just for you. It’s called the Short size, essentially a petite cup of coffee. It’s also perfect when you’re short on cash and can’t afford a Tall. Not that I’ve ever been in that situation.
Have any undercover menu items to share? Or have you successfully ordered one of these? Spill the details in the comments below.
