10 Fast Food Secret Menu Items That Are Actually Legit

We’ve all heard some great shopping hacks, but what about restaurant menu hacks? These menu hacks are often promoted on social media, but secret menus aren’t actually a thing at most fast-food places.

If you want to try some of these combinations, be understanding if employees say no to your requests. Chipotle employees say that some of these secret menu hacks are against their store policies, so they may not always be able to honor those requests.

But for those willing to take a chance and try something different, here are some fast-food secret menu items that are worth trying.

This secret menu item was introduced by Arby's own marketing campaign. In an effort to remind customers they serve more than just roast beef, they made an advertisement stacking all their meats into one sandwich. 

Customers started asking to purchase the “meat mountain,” and Arby’s obliged. As of 2023, this monster of a sandwich is still available for purchase at the price point of $12.

In-N-Out’s simplified menu allows for a mix and match of their basic ingredients to create whatever your heart desires. This creation is made by blending all three shake flavors, vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, into one cup. Employees will likely already know how to make this shake, so you can simply ask for it by name.

For root beer float lovers, this menu item is the grown-up version. This secret menu item is only for Shake Shack locations that sell alcohol, but the hack is to add a scoop of custard to your beer. You can ask for any flavor of custard with your order, but vanilla is recommended.

For those who like both fries and onion rings, this secret menu hack is a match made in heaven. Customers can order half fries and half onion rings — or “frings.” While employees may not understand what you want by simply requesting “frings,” you can ask for half and half when ordering your combo meal.

Chick-fil-A doesn’t have an approved secret menu but is generally good at accommodating customer requests if they can. The restaurant’s app allows for a wide range of substitutions, but this version is only available when ordering in person. You can order it by asking for a grilled chicken club sandwich, but substitute a fried chicken filet.

This secret menu hack went so viral that Chipotle added it to the menu. The fajita quesadilla is a combination of fajita veggies, steak, and extra cheese — with a side of honey-chipotle vinaigrette dressing mixed with sour cream. 

Made popular by Tik Tokers, the initial popularity overwhelmed Chipotle stores to the point of refusing to make the secret menu items. In March 2023, the secret menu item was added to the permanent menu, but it’s only available for those ordering online

Another hack made popular by social media, a strawberry Oreo shake can be requested all year round at Chick-fil-A. You can order this item by ordering a strawberry shake and asking the employee to add cookies. (The cookie bits come from the cookies ‘n cream shake).

For those unfamiliar with this Canadian comfort food, poutine is made by covering fries in cheese curds and gravy. At KFC, you can order a slightly different version by asking for a side of fries topped with cheese and gravy. 

If you are lucky and come across a KFC/A&W; combo restaurant, you can ask for cheese curds and gravy on top of your fries to get even closer to the real delicacy.

If you’re a candy lover, then you'll love this fruity, sweet smoothie combo from Jamba Juice. While this is a popular secret menu item, if the employees at your local Jamba aren’t familiar with how to make it, you can share the recipe with them or make your own version at home:

• 6 oz. Peach Juice
• 4 oz. Soy Milk
• 1 Scoop Lime Sherbet
• 1 Scoop Raspberry Sherbet
• 1 Scoop Pineapple Sherbet
• 1 Scoop Orange Sherbet
• 1 Scoop of Strawberries
• Ice

Harry Potter fans can get a taste of the wizarding world anytime they want with this Starbucks secret menu item. Don’t expect your barista to know this combo by heart, but here’s how you can order it.

Start by ordering a grande latte (hot or iced, whatever you prefer). Then ask for 2 pumps of toffee nut syrup and two pumps of caramel syrup. Ask for caramel drizzle inside the cup. To get that classic butterbeer foam topping, you can add salted caramel cream cold foam on top.

Coming straight from the mouths of the workers, most are happy to make your secret menu items as long as you know how to order them. But don’t expect workers to know the name and ingredients of the secret menu item. You should be able to articulate how to create whatever you’re ordering.

Making your order online or through the restaurant’s app can help ensure the options and ingredients are available for your “secret menu” item, and if you’re a member of a brand loyalty program, you might just earn extra points or rewards for ordering on the app.