Top 10 Best Fast Food Items of All Time
Mia Smith Top 10 Fast Food Items of All Time
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Fast Food Items of All Time.
For this list, we’ll be looking at the best menu items from fast food restaurants. These include any single, edible item you could get at a regional or international chain.
Did we miss out on one of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below.
#10: Doritos Locos Taco
Taco BellIf any restaurant understands the heart of the consumer, it’s Taco Bell. Among their greatest gifts to fans, the Doritos Locos Taco caused a sensation in the fast food world. The experimental folks at Taco Bell teamed up with Doritos for this chaotic concoction. Introduced in 2012, the taco went on to sell millions with its dedication to cheese-dusted shells. By forming the nacho cheese chip into a crunchy shell, the standard taco got a reinvention for the ages. It even got two remixes with limited time Cool Ranch and Fiery Doritos flavors. There’s no telling where Taco Bell will go next, but rest assured the Doritos Locos Taco will be a mainstay of their menu for a long time.
#9: Frosty
Wendy’sLike most fast food restaurants, Wendy's delivers their own unique take on dessert. For founder Dave Thomas, the usual ice cream treat or milkshake wasn’t good enough to accompany a burger. The chain created the Frosty, a frozen dairy treat with a special blend of chocolate that enhanced the rest of the meal. There’s also a vanilla Frosty, but the all-time classic is still the original chocolate flavor. Whether or not you want to call it ice cream, this dessert makes for a great accompaniment to any Wendy's entrée. Also, it's arguably just as good to skip the meal and eat the frozen treat all by itself.
#8: Chicken Sandwich
PopeyesFew fast food items have the power to break the internet. In the summer of 2019, Popeyes chicken sandwich took the country by storm. We all remember where we were the first time we bit into this blessed sandwich. This eighth wonder of the world fell from heaven and caused Popeyes to work overtime to fill orders. It led to supply shortages, long lines, and a massive response on social media. Single handedly rejuvenating the restaurant chain, this chicken sandwich inspired an industry battle of chicken sandwiches. Charting a new course for the industry, the item surpassed projections and made the chicken sandwich an essential part of the modern fast food menu.
advertisement
#7: Blizzard
Dairy QueenIt’s hard to make a name for yourself when every town has their own ice cream shop, but the Dairy Queen Blizzard manages to keep customers coming back. While the name originated in the 1960s, the modern Blizzard can be traced to the mid-1980s. Among their all-star lineup, the Blizzard is soft serve with a mix of candy and or other ice cream toppings. We all know that the Oreo Blizzard is the best, but there are plenty of worthy alternatives. It might be a simple concept, but somehow the wholesomeness of this ice cream dessert remains one of life’s great joys.
#6: McDonald’s French Fries
McDonald’sWhen you strip away the burgers and sandwiches, there’s nothing more reliable than a side of fries. These “World Famous” shoestrings are the foundation of McDonald's success. As the star side dish of the McDonald's lineup, a meal from the Golden Arches is only as good as its fries. With the number of famous foods at McDonald’s, it’s especially telling that even their fries make this list. Survey any number of friends and loved ones, and you’ll likely hear that the best fast food fries come from McDonald’s. If you catch them right out of the fryer, there’s no better companion for a McNugget or a Quarter Pounder.
#5: Chicken Sandwich
Chick-fil-AWhatever you think of the controversial chicken chain, it's hard to ignore the beautiful simplicity of their chicken sandwich. Focusing their menu down to one central ingredient, Chick-fil-A delivers a limited menu with speed and efficiency. Ranked among the most popular restaurants of its kind, the chain carries with it a penchant for great customer service and fast drive-thru lines. Beginning as a Southern regional chain, these hand-breaded chicken sandwiches are internationally known. While the brand became something of a political battleground, they made a name for themselves frying up a fresh and reliable chicken sandwich.
#4: Double-Double
In-N-Out BurgerThe regional chain In-N-Out Burger prides itself on fresh ingredients and a compact menu of quality items. Order the chain's signature burger, a Double-Double, and you’ll witness the fruits of the chain’s labor on full display. It’s two patties with two pieces of cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and a special spread. Stylish eaters should try it "animal style," which means the burgers are cooked in mustard and loaded with grilled onions, pickles, and more spread. Unfortunately for customers on the east coast, the Double-Double won't be expanding there any time soon. The company refuses to ship ingredients any distance that would require freezing the beef patties. For those within reach of an In-N-Out, the Double-Double is as good as a double cheeseburger gets.
advertisement
#3: Baconator
Wendy’sIt’s fair to say that bacon is well regarded among the carnivorous community. While bacon made it onto burgers in the past, the Baconator took the illustrious combination to the next level. Not only is the Baconator two burgers with cheese, it also includes six strips of bacon. You’re lucky to find two slices on the average bacon cheeseburger, let alone half a dozen. In contrast to Wendy's other sandwiches, the Baconator trades a variety of toppings for a mountainous collection of meats. While it might not be the healthiest decision, the Baconator took everyone's favorite form of pork and gave it the platform it deserved.
#2: Whopper
Burger KingHow do you compete with chains as formidable as the Golden Arches? If you're Burger King, you make bigger burgers. Enter the Whopper, Burger King’s massive sandwich that shames competitors with its gargantuan size. The Whopper weighs in at an impressive four ounces, not counting the bun or toppings. All in all, it’s a fitting name for a truly historic sandwich. Ever since 1957, the Whopper has carried the torch for Burger King. Considering that the chain is known as the “Home of the Whopper,” it’s only natural that this icon’s quality speaks for itself. Through all of Burger King's ups and downs, there will always be the sandwich that kept them afloat for over sixty years.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Cheddar ButterBurger, Culver’s
A Spot of Butter Sends This Burger Into Heavenly Territory
Original Recipe Chicken, Kentucky Fried Chicken
The Colonel’s 11 Herbs & Spices Built an International Fast Food Dynasty
Five Guys French Fries, Five Guys
These Fresh Cut Fries Are Greasy Goodness, With an Extra Scoop in Every Bag
Shackburger, Shake Shack
This Premium Burger & Tasty Shack Sauce Makes for a Worthy Challenger to the Old Guard
Hershey’s Sundae Pie, Burger King
A Silky, Chocolate Dream Boat That Elevates the King’s Dessert Menu
#1: Big Mac
McDonald’sThere are many imitators, but there’s only one Big Mac. Few burgers are so world renowned that all of their ingredients are famous. Through a popular jingle, every part of the Big Mac was enshrined in the fast food hall of fame. In 1967, the Big Mac made its first introduction in a limited market and a year later it was a national treasure. According to a yearly survey, McDonald's customers buy over 500 million Big Mac's each year in the U.S. The special Big Mac sauce became the standard for secret sauce recipes the world over. Along with its middle bun, this sandwich is something truly extra special. It’s number one on McDonald’s menu for a reason, contributing to the chain's continued world domination.
