12 fast food sandwiches you will never eat again

Who remembers the taste of a Barnbuster, Bell Beefer or McFeast?

Fast food menu items change all the time. Chains have to keep luring us back with new inventions. However, there's only so much room on that menu board. New items often flop, too. For every Big Mac there are a dozen McD.L.T.'s. 

This means that the graveyard of fast food past is full of forgotten options. Heck, entire restaurant chains have gone the way of the dinosaur. 

It does seem to us, though, that the burgers and bites from back in the day just tasted better. You could find most of these items in the 1970s, and they were heavily advertised on TV. Let's look at some bygone fast food sandwiches.

That's not your mouth watering — that's your tongue crying.

1. The Barnbuster from Red Barn

 

Fake "Muppets" pitched this big mouthful back in the 1970s. "For ladies and little folks, we'll cut it in half," bootleg Ernie joked in the commercial. The chain is no longer around, perhaps because it did things like rip-off Jim Henson.

Image: YouTube

2. Big Shef from Burger Chef

 

Don't ponder why Big "CHEF" spelled its signature burger Big "SHEF." Instead, wonder how exactly one was supposed to bite into this towering meat stack.

Image: justoldies

3. Big Scot from Sandy's

 

Everyone wanted their own version of the Big Mac, which launched in 1967. Sandy's, which was eventually bought out by Hardees, had its Big Scot, a Scottish-themed double-decker that now brings to mind McDowell's Big Mick in Coming to America.

Image: YouTube

4. Chicken Sandwich from Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips

 

This missed fish slinger was known for its fried seafood. However, the chicken sandwich also brought in devoted fans. Perhaps because it was dunked in the same oil?

Image: Museum of Classic Chicago Television / YouTube

5. Veal Parmagiana from Burger King

 

BK launched this Italian-ish two-fister in the early 1980s. Did anyone believe there was actual veal in this thing?

Image: YouTube

6. Turkey Club from Hardees

 

Remember, Subways were few and far between in the 1970s. The chain didn't hit the West Coast until 1978. So, if you were headed to the disco and wanted a quick traditional sub, Hardees was there for you.

Image: YouTube

7. Chopped Beefsteak from McDonald's

 

Two other food trends that seemed to peak in the 1970s: chopped beefsteak and fried onions. Every joint seemed to have some iteration. McD's had this, which was like a big beef McRib. Naturally, you had to pair it with some Onion McNuggets.

Image: Pinterest

8. Sirloin Steak Sandwich from Burger King

 

In 1979, Burger King launched a quartet of "Specialty Sandwiches," including this competitor to the bite above. However, the King tossed the fried onions right on the oblong patty. These were essentially just hamburgers shaped like a shoe, right?

Image: YouTube

9. Arch Deluxe

 

McDonald's attempted to go "classy" with this uppity burger in 1996, in what is now a textbook case of misguided marketing. "Bakery style roll, two leafs of lettuce, peppered bacon, tomato, processed cheese, ketchup, tangy sauce and a quarter-pound beef patty" failed to become the new "two all beef patties, special sauce…" Nothing says gourmet like "processed cheese."

Image: YouTube

10. Bell Beefer from Taco Bell

 

Put taco filling on a bun and what do you have? A sloppy joe. We're just glad they resisted calling this the Sloppy José. This was launched in the mid-'70s, not long after the Frito Bandito was running around.

Image: The Daily Meal

11. Hula Burger at McDonald's

 

To be honest, few people can claim to have eaten a Hula Burger. Ray Kroc created the vegan sandwich in the 1960s, to appeal to Catholics on Fridays and during Lent. The components? A grilled slice of pineapple, some bread. Bingo. The Hula Burger was put to a test against the Filet-O-Fish to see which would stick around on the menu. Guess what won? Years later, McDonald's would put the fruit on its Gold 'n' Grill in Australia.

Image: YouTube

12. McFeast from McDonald's

 

We finish up with another forgotten McDonald's burger, the McFeast. The 1977 commercial even had a catchy jingle which rhymed "infatuated" with "that you ate it." There was nothing particularly different about it, aside from it having mayonnaise as the condiment.

Image: YouTube

SEE MORE: 10 FAST FOOD FAILURES YOU RIGHTFULLY FORGOT ABOUT

 

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9 Comments

TonyClifton 35 months ago
I so miss the Bell Beefer. There's a mom and pop taco shop down the street from me that make taco burgers, but it's not quite the same. I also miss the Enchirito. I wish they'd bring those back.
JDnHuntsvilleAL 38 months ago
How about "The Whaler"? From -- well I'll let y'all take a guess.
idkwut2use 47 months ago
I want the hula one sooooo much...!
TexasGreek 49 months ago
Bell Beefer from Taco Bell in Houston, Texas was called a Bell Burger. They were great! Taco meat on a bun with melted grated cheese. Real cheddar cheese that is! MMmmmm!
Jayme TexasGreek 47 months ago
I used to grate it in 1987... and no... but a little better than American.
JDnHuntsvilleAL TexasGreek 38 months ago
I remember it as a Bell Burger, too. The MeTV Millennial probably got it wrong -- again.
Nope. It was the Bell Beefer in South Dakota and in California as well. I remember it well. They may have changed it in some areas because "beefer" sounded too much like "beaver."
x60hz11 57 months ago
Say what you will about McDonald's but I remember that chopped beefsteak sandwich and let me tell you that bad boy was good as hell!!!
Tampammm x60hz11 46 months ago
I agree! Had that Mc Steak sandwich with the onions and the sauce. Absolutely scrumptious!
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