Buzz
Seriously… are you really going to eat that?
Fast food failures come in a variety of forms. From reckless combinations and misguided seasonal specials to confusing departures from a restaurant’s core menu, these are just a few of the ways fast food chains have found ways to alienate their customers and cause widespread disappointment.
Here are ten of the most absurd and outlandish fast food creations in history. Enjoy!
10. The Double Down Sandwich (KFC)
During the winter of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the people of Italy were treated to an unexpected gift from the US military: support with vaccine procurement and distribution.
Actually, hold on – let me correct that. The American hero was Colonel Sanders, and the gift was a deadly indulgence to accompany the respiratory disease. On February 15, 2021, the Double Down Sandwich made its return to KFC locations across Italy, introducing our parmesan-loving friends to a slice of American heart(attack) culture.
So, what exactly is the Double Down, you wonder? It's pretty simple: take two fast food classics – bacon and cheese – add a mysterious concoction known as the 'Colonel’s Sauce,' and sandwich it all between two enormous pieces of Original Recipe fried chicken.
The Double Down serves as a prime example of America’s unashamed embrace of gluttony. It caters to an ever-expanding group of US consumers who willingly reject medical advice in favor of personal freedom. Heck, even the name implies that consuming it is a risky bet.
Surprisingly, the Double Down is only 540 calories – about the same as a McDonald’s Big Mac. But the true danger (and potential diabetes) lies in the details: 145 milligrams of cholesterol (more than twice that of a Big Mac), 1,380 milligrams of sodium (over half the daily recommended limit), and 32 grams of fat (half of what’s recommended for the day). According to FiveThirtyEight, this makes it one of the unhealthiest sandwiches in history.
9. Buffalo Latte (Tim Horton’s)
In the 2010s, the beloved Canadian coffee and donut chain Tim Horton’s set its sights on expanding into the US. Americans, already familiar with the brand and seeing it as higher quality than Dunkin’ yet more affordable than Starbucks, welcomed Timmy H’s with open arms and wallets. Today, there are over 500 Tim Horton’s locations across the US.
But in October 2017, Tim Horton’s attempted to fit a square peg into a round donut hole. To mark new openings across Buffalo, NY – the birthplace of buffalo sauce – the company introduced a bizarre and unappetizing buffalo-flavored latte.
Two theories exist about this limited-time menu disaster. The first suggests it was just a bad idea; perhaps the coffee chain, which also serves breakfast sandwiches, could have paid homage to Buffalo with a buffalo-flavored sausage, egg & cheese biscuit – or at least something that wasn’t a milky, gross concoction.
The other theory proposes that Tim Horton’s never intended to sell a single cup of the cringe-worthy Buffalo Latte, but rather was conducting a publicity stunt. While making customers gag is not usually a good idea, there’s a strange kind of genius in the buffalo-flavored mayhem.
8. Kit Kat Chocoladilla (Taco Bell)
Let's face it: an entire list could be devoted just to Taco Bell's offerings. In fact, such a list already exists.
Not surprising coming from the creative minds behind the infamous 'Fourth Meal' slogan, Taco Bell offers plenty to chew on (or perhaps regret). Standout contenders for Taco Bell's spotlight include the strangely triangular chicken chips with nacho dipping sauce, the perplexingly named Beefy Potato-rito, and the very aptly named Forbidden Burrito.
But Taco Bell's boldest foray into questionable cuisine has to be the Kit Kat Chocoladilla. This creation dares to ask the question: 'Why not top off your late-night cravings with a chocolate-filled tortilla?' Imagine a soft tortilla drenched in a Nutella-like chocolate spread, filled with chocolate chips and chunks of Kit Kat bars. And if you believe the calorie count of 329, I’ve got a chocolate-covered bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
Men’s Health magazine took a straightforward approach to the Kit Kat Chocoladilla, likening it to Taco Bell’s usual blend of Tex-Mex experimentation: 'It’s about time they combined a candy bar and chocolate chips inside a flour tortilla. That fried-chicken-as-a-taco-shell experiment,' the review continues, referencing another quirky creation, 'was just a bit too tame for our drunk food cravings.'
7. The Meatatarian Burger (Burger King)
This entry is absurd, and in the best possible way. One could easily imagine this meaty marvel coming to life after countless people asked, 'Aren’t we tired of all this vegetarian nonsense?'... and deciding that was no longer a question, but an answer.
Enter 2016, when Burger King unveiled its Meatatarian Range in New Zealand. The lineup consisted of the decadently indulgent Full Meaty, the almost-there Half Meaty, and the always-appropriate Bacon Meaty. Just like in life, the Full Meaty took center stage: two beef patties, a chicken patty, six strips of bacon, two slices of cheese, barbecue sauce, and onions. The Half Meaty dials it down by dropping one beef patty, while the Bacon Meaty swaps both beef patties for an extra layer of chicken.
In true form as a response to vegetarianism and healthy eating, the Meatatarian Range’s calorie count was... well, practically impossible to find. By labeling it as a 'limited time only' offering, BK cleverly sidestepped the required nutritional disclosure laws.
Yet, in 2005, Burger King launched the unimaginatively named Enormous Omelet Sandwich, which featured a two-egg omelet topped with two slices of American cheese, three strips of bacon, and a sausage patty, all nestled in a hoagie-style bun. This heart-stopping creation came in at 730 calories and 47 grams of fat, so one can safely assume the Full Meaty went far beyond that... in calories, of course.
6. The Greek Mac (McDonald’s)
According to McDonald’s website, the Greek Mac is described as: 'A Greek classic! Two juicy beef patties with lemon sauce, onions, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, all wrapped in pita bread, topped with tzatziki [yogurt] sauce.'
Setting aside the fact that a global multi-billion-dollar corporation can afford a copywriter who knows the plural of 'patty' is 'patties' and the plural of 'tomato' is 'tomatoes,' the most baffling thing about this item is that the Greek Mac is only available in Greece and neighboring Cyprus. It's as if a burger chain decided to limit a new pizza to Italy.
When it comes to a globally recognized dish like a gyro, limiting it to countries that already boast the best gyros (like Greece and Cyprus) seems downright illogical. People would probably be more willing to try a so-so McDonald’s gyro in Athens, Georgia than in Athens, Greece.
Even reviewers outside of Greece noticed the difference. As UK-based BurgerLad put it: 'The tzatziki just didn’t measure up compared to what I had during the rest of my trip – it lacked lemon, garlic, cucumber, and the richness that comes from olive oil.'
It then takes a jab at the item's misdirected target market: 'I would be more than happy if the UK had this instead of the Big Tasty,' referencing a UK-exclusive menu item.
5. Most American Thickburger (Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s)
Because ‘Murica, that’s why. From the nation that gave you cancel culture, rampant gun violence, and a staggering 42% obesity rate comes the most patriotic patties ever to be squished between two buns.
In 2015, Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, the sister chains, introduced the Most American Thickburger, a tribute to classic, artery-clogging American fare. This greasy burger was sandwiched between a hot dog and a layer of Lays potato chips, with pickles, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and mustard. To top it off, it almost looked like the average American.
Like a Western movie hero daring the villain to make a move, the Most American Thickburger challenged its mostly sedentary and under-insured audience to pledge allegiance to flame-broiled indulgence. The half-pound version boasted 1,190 calories, 29 grams of saturated fat, and a staggering 3,170 milligrams of sodium.
Apparently, the Most American Thickburger wasn’t just heavy, but top-heavy. A review on BrandEating.com noted that 'the chips and pickles were placed at the very bottom, creating an unstable base for the lettuce and tomatoes (wet ingredients that slid around on top of the chips). Sitting atop this Jenga-like Slip & Slide were the heavier beef patty and split hot dog.' The review concluded with the advice to 'eat this burger upside down and hope for the best.'
4. Chizza (KFC)
Swapping something typically bread-based with something entirely different? Sounds like just the challenge for KFC (refer to items #10 and #1 on this list).
The Independent generously labeled the Chizza as a 'low-calorie, high-protein' pizza, making it one of the more imaginatively named, albeit least appetizing, additions to KFC’s breadless innovations. It’s exactly what it sounds like: fried chicken covered in mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce, shaped (sort of) like a pizza. It's essentially a chicken parmesan, if Italian food were mistakenly handed over to a cracker from Kentucky.
No bread? No problem for those racing toward a diabetic downfall. The Chizza packs nearly 700 calories and 38 grams of fat. And that’s before customers add their choice of ham, pineapple, or extra sauce. Turns out the Colonel’s a fan of Hawaiian pizza – who would've guessed?
The simple recipe sent those with far too much free time into a frenzy, with Tweets such as 'The KFC Chizza is literally a piece of chicken meat & toppings DONT [sic] BE FOOLED.' Initially, the Chizza was introduced as a 'limited time only' item at KFC locations in Singapore. It then made its way to India and finally Saudi Arabia, where it enjoyed more privileges than women.
3. Doughnut Fried Chicken Sandwich (KFC)
When you consider this, the Chizza, and the Double Down, it's clear that KFC either a) has an obsession with putting things between other things that aren't bread, or b) simply ran out of bread.
Colonel Sanders has the unfortunate honor of being the only person with three entries on this list. Remarkably, this particular item made the cut with just three ingredients: (1) donut, (2) chicken, and (3) another donut.
Launched in 2019, KFC’s Doughnut Fried Chicken Sandwich solved the tricky problem of needing utensils while devouring 1,000 calories worth of chicken and waffles. Replace waffles with donuts and maple syrup with glazed sugar. And there you go, job done and delicious.
The Doughnut Fried Chicken Sandwich is a calorie bomb, loaded with 1100 calories—more than half of what you should eat in an entire day. Of those calories, 585 come from fat. It’s also packed with over 1,300 milligrams of sodium, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, and a shocking 40 grams of sugar, which is more than an adult male’s daily recommended intake. This dish is a dream come true for cardiologists and insulin manufacturers alike, ensuring their job security.
2. Doritos Crunchy Crust Pizza (Pizza Hut)
Sometimes, I can’t help but feel embarrassed to be an American, especially when I think about this ridiculous food creation, which actually hails from Australia.
Inspired by Taco Bell’s popular Doritos Locos Taco, which uses a tortilla made from the iconic cheesy corn chip, Pizza Hut in Australia took it a step further. In 2014, they introduced the Doritos Crunchy Crust Pizza, combining mozzarella-stuffed crusts with nacho cheese Doritos and cheddar cheese. The idea behind it? Let’s mash up two foods that have no business being together.
This pizza is a strange blend of Italian and Mexican food, proudly offending both. The Doritos Crunchy Crust Pizza features a crust filled with mozzarella cheese, topped with layers of nacho cheese Doritos chips and cheddar cheese. And when we say ‘layers,’ we’re not talking about a sprinkling here or there—these are full Doritos chips, stacked high, creating a full-on experience of shoving both chips and pizza into your mouth at once.
"Why did we choose Doritos? It’s a beloved global brand, and they’ve got the best corn chips for the ultimate crunch," said Fatima Syed, Pizza Hut Australia's Head of Marketing & Innovation (and perhaps a reluctant spokesperson) in a press release. "Our research shows that the sound of crunching has a significant impact on one’s appetite," she added, somehow making an even more absurd statement than the first one.
1. Mush ‘N Cheese, Berry Burger and Angry Whopper (Burger King)
The key takeaway from this combo: Burger King has officially run out of ideas.
In late 2014, Burger King Japan made two questionable decisions. First, they came up with the slogan "Berry Kristmush" as part of a marketing campaign. Second, they decided that their most enticing offer would be two of the strangest burgers ever made.
First up, the Berry Burger. According to Eater, it’s a burger topped with "mixed berry sauce and what seems to be five strategically placed blueberries." Honestly, nothing says "holiday cheer" like a beef patty adorned with warm, fruity berries. Certainly an odd combination.
The Berry Burger had a festive companion called the Mush ‘N Cheese Burger, which was essentially just a cheeseburger with mushrooms on it. In other words, a regular cheeseburger with a common topping, but given a disgusting name. Well done, guys.
Looking for a way to disguise the lackluster flavor of your burgers? Here’s an idea – hot sauce! Enter Burger King’s Angriest Whopper. Promoted as a spicy take on the classic BK burger, it featured jalapeno peppers, red buns baked with hot sauce, and a disturbingly named "angry" spicy sauce.
Unfortunately, Burger King couldn’t even get that part right. According to FastFoodMenuPrices.com: "The word ‘angry’ is supposed to suggest a fiery burger that will challenge your taste buds… but the Angry sauce is more tangy than hot… and the jalapeños are just canned slices… Both left a LOT to be desired."
