11 Discontinued Wendy's Menu Items Customers Want Back

As exciting as limited-time releases, funky pairings, themed menus, and celebrity-endorsed items can be, there is just something about the fast food restaurants of yesteryear. The muted colors, the questionable mascots and cartoons, the retro-printed carpet, and, of course, the unbelievably low prices all evoke a sense of nostalgia.

When it comes to Wendy's, you will find folks on the internet waxing poetic about the newspaper-printed tables and the very vibey sunrooms. The french fries, pickles, chicken nuggets, and barbecue sauce are among the Wendy's offerings that folks say used to be better back in the day, and there are many discontinued menu items that people still crave. While customer outcry can sometimes bring a dish back from the dead, these items have yet to be resurrected on the permanent menu. Here are some of the most iconic foods from Wendy's that customers wish they could taste again.

Timely, trendy, and undeniably fun, the SuperBar had it all. This all-you-can-eat bonanza included not just all the fixings for your ideal salad (like cheese, boiled eggs, beets, bacon bits, and French dressing) but also a pasta bar and ingredients to build your own burrito.

The pasta section featured rotini, rotini with vegetables, and fettuccine; three sauces, including marinara and creamy Alfredo; and garlic toast, of course. The burrito part of the buffet had flour tortillas, refried beans, "spicy meat," "sour topping," "taco chips," and more (via Reddit). Of the desserts, chocolate pudding seems to have been the fan favorite.

Though Wendy's salad bar was a fixture in the restaurant from the 1980s to the early 2000s, the supersized version with hot foods was only available for a portion of that time period. Though this would have varied by location and region, SuperBars were most prevalent in the late '80s and early '90s.

Baked potatoes are still on the menu at Wendy's, but the broccoli and cheese version isn't anymore. In 1983, it was introduced at the same time as the cheese, sour cream and chive, chili and cheese, and bacon and cheese varieties, but for some reason the veggie-topped spud didn't make the cut.

Sadly, the other less-green options just don't hit the same. Broccoli and cheese is a classic pairing for good reason: The bright and slightly bitter broccoli is perfectly complemented by the rich and salty cheddar sauce, especially when loaded into a baked potato. It's a side dish that is especially missed by those looking to have a satisfying, well-rounded meal from a fast food joint that isn't based around burgers and fries. "That was my favorite, with a side salad and spicy nuggets," shared one Reddit user. "Wish they still had the broccoli one," lamented another fan on Facebook.

'90s kids will never let go of the discontinued Wendy's stuffed pitas, which were released midway through the decade. These were veggie-forward wraps, or, as one Redditor described them, "Salad I can eat while driving." The Fresh Stuffed Pitas came in four different varieties: Chicken Caesar, Garden Veggie, Garden Ranch Chicken, and Classic Greek.

These wraps were made with a pillowy flatbread rather than a pita pocket. The Classic Greek, for example, was stuffed with a mix of romaine lettuce, red cabbage, and shredded carrots, plus cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and feta cheese. The Garden Veggie also didn't feature any meat. The same lettuce mix was used on the Chicken Caesar Fresh Stuffed Pita, along with Caesar dressing and parmesan cheese.

Folks loved the combination of the soft, fluffy pita, fresh vegetables, and flavorful sauces, despite the taco-like set-up being a bit unwieldy to eat. When these were suddenly removed from the menu, fans were shocked and dismayed. "I was getting ready for prom in 2000 when my dad popped out to pick up some lunch. He returned with the devastating news that they had been discontinued ... Somehow, I remember that more vividly than my actual prom!" shared one Redditor. Decades later, people are still craving them. "I've literally been telling people about how amazing the pitas were for fast food once a year for the last 25 years — why won't they bring back the pitas?" asked one Reddit user. "I dream about the pita sometimes," commented another.

"Back when I was a boy, Mom made a country fried steak that was so good we couldn't wait to sit down to supper," Wendy's founder Dave Thomas reminisced in a commercial. "I always thought we should have one just like it at Wendy's" (via YouTube). This fast food-friendly version came in sandwich form, of course. When the Country Fried Steak Sandwich debuted on the Super Value Menu in 1990, it cost only $0.99.

This simple sandwich had nothing more than a breaded and fried beef patty, lettuce, and mayonnaise on a bun, but sometimes uncomplicated is the very best. It came and went from the menu throughout the beginning of the '90s but seems to have been permanently discontinued after a few years. "One day it disappeared and never came back. That's when I stopped going to Wendy's," commented one (former) Wendy's fan on Reddit.

The Chicken Cordon Bleu was released in the same era as the Country Fried Steak Sandwich, circa 1991. It was served on a kaiser roll and filled with a breaded chicken breast, ham, Swiss cheese, mayo, and Grey Poupon Dijon mustard. It was only available for a limited time and bounced on and off the menu for a few years until around 1995. It appears that later releases left the mayonnaise off the sandwich.

This menu item was created at the behest of founder Dave Thomas' daughter, Wendy. "Be different. Get on the cutting edge," she told him, as the story goes (via YouTube). And it certainly was a departure from other foods on the menu at that time. It seems to be the only item that featured ham, Swiss cheese, and the special kaiser bun. While the Grey Poupon mustard that was also unique to this sandwich would have had a long shelf life, the other key ingredients would have spoiled pretty quickly. In part because of this perishability, the Chicken Cordon Bleu likely just became prohibitively expensive to become a permanent fixture at the fast food joint.

Wendy's also served several discontinued fast food burgers we'll probably never eat again. The Bacon and Blue Burger is one that is still dearly missed. The original version of this hamburger featured the ingredients of its namesake — specifically, thick-cut applewood smoked bacon and blue cheese crumbles — along with sauteed onions and a creamy steakhouse sauce. It was released in 2010 as part of the chain's expansion of its line of premium burgers.

While the crumbled blue cheese was quite mild, the slices of bacon were hefty. The flavors all complemented each other well, creating a rather satisfying and elevated bite, especially for a fast food sandwich. Wendy's was the very first chain to offer a blue cheese-topped burger, which was risky, but it went over incredibly well. "I'm not even a big fan of blue cheese, but, my god, when I worked there, that's all I'd get. The sauce was so good," gushed one person on Reddit.

It was only on the menu briefly, but about five years later, another blue cheese burger hit the menu. Unfortunately, it couldn't scratch that Bacon and Blue itch, especially since it didn't have the same beloved steakhouse sauce. "I swear I remember it being extremely unique. Haven't tasted anything like it since," said an impassioned Redditor of the creamy condiment. It was replaced by a more straightforward blue cheese aioli. The newer burger also had bacon and blue cheese crumbles as well as spring mix (but not onions), and it subbed a standard bun for a brioche one.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, you could order the Cheddar Lovers Bacon Cheeseburger at Wendy's. The beef patty was topped with three strips of hickory-smoked bacon, sauteed onions, two slices of cheddar cheese, and a creamy cheddar cheese sauce, creating a savory, smoky, rich, and slightly sweet combination. It certainly seemed like a crowd-pleaser. Indeed, one YouTube commenter said, "I don't know why they ever discontinued that burger."

Cheese and bacon are pretty straightforward toppings, and Wendy's continues to serve similar burgers. Heartbroken and nostalgic fans can get a Baconator (or a Son of Baconator), a Big Bacon Classic, a Bacon Double Stack, or a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, though these all have American instead of cheddar.

In 2021, Wendy's released the Big Bacon Cheddar Burger, an extravagant number featuring bacon, a sweet bacon sauce, crispy onions, American cheese, a pimento cheese-like cheddar spread, and a cheddar bun. While this burger certainly would have appealed to cheddar lovers, it definitely took a more-is-more approach that some might consider over the top. 

The closest approximation of the Cheddar Lovers Bacon Cheeseburger was actually released in February 2026: the Cheesy Bacon Cheeseburger. It has applewood-smoked bacon, American cheese, and a cheddar cheese sauce, so it is missing the sauteed onions. The Reddit user who called the onions "the best part" will be disappointed, but perhaps this release still shows that the Cheddar Lovers Bacon Cheeseburger isn't yet a forgotten Wendy's menu item from the '90s.

Another discontinued bacon-y burger had Wendy's fans shedding a tear. The Gouda Bacon Cheeseburger broke hearts when it was discontinued. In the opinion of one Reddit user, it was the best limited-release burger Wendy's ever served. "I miss it every day," they lamented.

This extra-cheesy burger was released in 2015, and it was topped with both smoked gouda and a sauce made with Swiss and gruyere cheeses. The beef patty was also topped with three strips of applewood-smoked bacon, red onions, tomatoes, spring mix, and a garlic aioli, and it was served in a brioche bun.

The people loved it. "I am going to tell you, this is probably the best fast food burger I have ever eaten. Please do not get rid of it!! I have had two this week," shared a fan on Facebook in December 2015. "Today the cashier tells me it's the last day ... What will I eat now??? Please make this a permanent item on the menu! Pretty please, with a gouda on top!" begged another (via Facebook). Unfortunately, you, dear reader, know how this sad story ends.

The Frescatas are the once-popular Wendy's sandwich line that we wish would come back. They hit the menu in 2006, and there were initially four varieties of cold sandwiches to choose from. The Frescata Club had Black Forest ham, roasted turkey, bacon, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, and mayo. The Roasted Turkey with Basil Pesto Frescata also had romaine lettuce and roasted red peppers. Both the Black Forest Ham and Swiss and the Roasted Turkey and Swiss featured romaine lettuce and tomatoes — the former included honey mustard and the latter had mayonnaise.

Later, Wendy's brought on the Italiana (Genoa salami, ham, Swiss cheese, romaine lettuce, roasted red peppers, and sun-dried tomato vinaigrette) and the Chunky Chicken Salad — the salad itself combined chicken, celery, onions, green peppers, and a Dijon Ranch sauce and was topped with lettuce and tomato.

All Frescatas were served on a ciabatta-like artisan bread — it was parbaked and finished off in stores, so Wendy's actually wasn't exaggerating when it advertised that the bread was freshly baked. Despite having their fans, the Frescata sandwiches were phased out a couple of years later. They helped drive new and lapsed customers to Wendy's, especially those craving fresh, high-quality options, but after market testing, it was decided that the deli sandwiches had run their course.

The Frescata sandwiches weren't the only Wendy's menu item that used that fresh artisan bread; the 4-Alarm Spicy Chicken Sandwich was also served on this premium bun. As the name suggested, it incorporated heat in four different components: the breading for the crispy chicken, sliced jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, and a chipotle mayo sauce. It also had lettuce and tomato. Though this chicken sandwich definitely had a notable level of spiciness, it wouldn't blow you completely out of the water.

"I think about the 4-Alarm Chicken Sandwich at least once a month since they discontinued it," shared one Reddit user. Indeed, there's nothing on the menu that can quite take its place. The Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Spicy Asiago Ranch Chicken Club both just bring the heat in the breading for the fried chicken. The same is true for the Spicy Chicken Nuggets, though you could dip them in Sweet Chili or Scorchin' Hot Dipping Sauces for a little extra kick. Of course, this is a far cry from the quadruple punch brought by this discontinued fast food chicken item.

For those who want a little something different for dessert, Wendy's iconic Frosty comes in more than just classic chocolate. There are also Frosty Swirls, which are basically sundaes topped with strawberry, brownie batter, or caramel sauce, and Frosty Fusions, which blend a Frosty with a sauce and crunchy topping.

However, the Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty is nowhere to be found, and the people are sad about it. As the name of the treat suggests, toffee pieces and real coffee were blended right into a vanilla Frosty. There were also chocolate chip cookie dough, M&M's, and Oreo versions in the same line.

The Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty was released back in 2009, and it had a very 2000s boy band-inspired commercial to go with it, complete with all-white matching outfits, tight choreography, and fedoras. "It's been 11 years, and I still hear 'Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty. Do you wanna get frosty with me?' in my head at least once a month," commented one Reddit user back in 2021. The coffee flavor was fairly mild, so it was the chunks of chocolate-covered toffee that really stole the show.

These days, the java-flavored treat remains one of the best discontinued Frosty flavors. If you want to scratch that itch, you could attempt to DIY it by ordering a cold brew and a Frosty with the toffee pieces used in the Caramel Crunch Frosty Fusions. Unfortunately, though, those little bits of candy pale in comparison to the hunks used in the Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty of yore.