Five Fast Food Faves I Crave from the Good Old Days

Fast food chain restaurants food items of yesteryear : Gone but not forgotten.

Here are my TOP FIVE fast food products I remember from years ago that I miss. Lots of new good things have arrived over the years, yet let’s not forget those goodies we used to love and the flavors we still crave.

Top 5 in no particular order:

1. McDonald’s Arch Deluxe

   — Man, was this sandwich good. I can still remember the taste. I wonder to this day why this special burger was not successful enough to keep on their regular menu. This sandwich was officially released in 1996 but was sadly discontinued after only a few years. To note: This was seen, judging by multiple articles, as a huge McDonald’s flop – but the Arch Deluxe was really yummy and had it’s own unique flavour profile. So – the failure must have been either the marketing/advertising or the pricing. My opinion – a burger before it’s time. It was served on a “potato bun” which is rather standard for burgers these days, but new stuff in the 90’s.

   

2. Carl’s Jr. Charbroiler Steak Sandwich

   — Okay, this sandwich was really good too, I can still remember exactly how this tasted (I want!!). The flavor of the fake steak (“flaked and formed beef”) combined with fresh lettuce, tomato slices, crispy “golden brown” onion rings and a sauce somehow blended together really well – all served up in a sourdough roll. I think this may have been fairly popular at the time ’cause they seem to have sold it for possibly a decade (if I’m remembering correctly). Okay, I know what you’re thinking, dear reader – “fake steak”? No really, this was real, real good. — (Oh hey, don’t use the coupon below unless you’ve “gone back” to 1975!)
   

3. Taco Bell Cinnamon Crispas

   — Simple dessert that tasted yummy alongside my old-timey crispy beef taco and classic “bean burrito”. Basically, fried flour tortilla triangles coated in cinnamon and sugar.

   

4. McDonald’s “Fried” Apple Pie

   — A delicious little fruit turnover that used to be fried. The apple was yummy, the cherry (my personal fave) even better. According to a newspaper story published in 1967:  “Before adding a dessert to their line of quality foods, a survey was made at each of the more than 900 units now in the McDonald chain,  to determine the nation’s No. 1 Choice  … and hot apple pie won hands down.”

   Eventually, these deep-fried pies were considered too unhealthy and, in 1992, were replaced by baked pies (maybe healthier but not quite so yum-yum-o-licious).

   

5. Thrifty Drug Store’s “Ice Cream Cones”

   — In the 70’s, these cones were priced at 5 cents for a one scoop ice cream cone, 10 cents for two scoops, and 15 cents for three scoops! You could choose the standard flavors of Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry, or from a selection of daily specials. I usually got a double scoop cone (all I needed was one trusty dime) – I remember getting “Rocky Road”, “Chocolate Chip”, and “Orange Sherbet” as part of my cone sometimes (and perhaps “Rainbow Sherbet?). Yummy, old-fashioned ice cream and the “cone” part of these cones was good too.

   

Oh time machine, bring me back! Do you remember any of these or have your own favorite fast food from yesteryear? Let me know in the comments.