When I was in the USAF stationed near Topeka, Kansas in the early-1970’s, McDonald’s had the “Tripple Ripple” ice cream cone I kinda’ liked.
Damn, I think I’m going to have to go get a box tomorrow.
People must have to grow up with White Castle in order to like their burgers. I spent some time in the Chicago area and was looking forward to trying WC. Mr. Helena is a Chicago native and went on and on about them. When I tried one I was so disappointed! They were extremely greasy, probably to cover up the absolute lack of any other flavor. They were revolting!
Steak ‘n’ Shake, though, I sure wish they’d come west. Culver’s, too. And Portillo’s and Giordano’s and Pizza Uno. There’s so much good food in that area, but WC isn’t it!
I’ve heard people say this, but in my experience, it isn’t true. My Hungarian (ex)-girlfriend just loved the things the first time she had them when visiting the US, and I’ve introduced others to the burgers with varying results, mostly positive, but not always. I will admit that it does seem to be a love or hate thing. I mean, there’s people who grew up with them who hate them and don’t get them at all. I think they are wonderful things, especially if you like onions. And I love my burgers on the greasy side. I always downplay them a bit when introducing somebody to them and explain to them not to expect just a hamburger sized down, and that it’s its own thing. Many pubs do “sliders” these days, but they’re not true sliders to me. They gotta be thin hamburger patties steam-fried with onions, with a pillowy bun that is steamed, as well. The whole experience should be texturally soft, with perhaps the slightest resistance in the burger patty. Pub “sliders” are always just regular hamburgers downsized. That is not a slider to me. Krystal qualifies. When I want a slider, I want that delicate textural experience, with all its greasy, oniony goodness.
I miss the (pre-Carl’s buyout) Hardees Big Deluxe. With fat-cut fries which I would dip in half ketchup and half horseradish sauce. And a Coke, of course.
White Castle is a food that does not provoke ambivalence.
I have also used the Frozen White Castles as a substitute and they’re pretty close, just missing that layer of grease that holds it all together. Which is actually kind of important.
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Just heard about chocolate shamrock shakes. I’ll have to try one of those but I’m still not interested in any of their burgers.
I hope I don’t offend by resurrecting this old thread. My initial intent was just to read it, but it sparked so many memories (I so need an Arby-Q right now) that I ended up remembering a few items to add that I didn’t see mentioned.
Dinner in a Box (Jack in the Box) - these were my favorite. You had a choice of steak, fried shrimp or a chicken breast. Also included a small salad, garlic toast, and steak fries. I preferred the shrimp one, which contained about 6 med sized shrimp.
Philly Cheesesteak (Jack in the Box) - It wasn’t the best cheesesteak I’ve ever had, but they did a damn good job of satisfying a cheesesteak craving. Nicely sauteed onions and peppers, melted white cheese, thinly sliced beef, on a roll. They were filling and delicious.
McDonaldland Cookies (McDonald’s, of course) - these were simply wonderful. No cookie since at McDonalds has compared to these.
Barbecued Chicken Sandwich (KFC) - Their version of an Arby-Q, but with chicken. By far, one of my favorite things on the KFC menu.
California Roast Beef Sandwich (Carl’s Jr.) - Sliced roast beef, swiss cheese and an ortega chili. The latter ingredient added so much flavor. I still make my own version at home, but they are never quite as good as what I remember.
On the subject of Taco Bell, I would give anything to taste Taco Bell’s entire menu from the 70s again. It was such a better restaurant back then. The frijoles (beans and cheese), the green sauce (which was sorely discontinued). the beefy tostada, complete with sour cream and an olive, the aforementioned enchirito, even just a regular taco. All of it was so much better.
Finally, a tip of the hat to the poster(s) who mentioned Roy Roger’s. They were my favorite fast food place as a kid. Loved the roast beef sandwiches, but the burgers were good too.
Offend? No… Hungry Yes!
I’d love for Taco Bell’s Doritos Cool Ranch Taco to come back. That thing was magical.
They still exist, mostly in and around Maryland. They’re very slowly expanding outwards. I’m in Maryland but I don’t live near one myself, though I almost always stop in if I’m passing by one, even if I’m not hungry. I’ll get a bacon cheeseburger to eat later.
I would love to have the seven-layer burrito back at Taco Bell.
Also, for about five minutes, KFC had plant-based nuggets. They weren’t the most amazing thing I’ve ever tasted in my life, but they were decent enough and it was nice to have an option.
Arby’s potato cakes.
I’ve heard you can try to order it on an off-menu basis. They have all the layers. But not all the workers know how or are willing to make one.
Has the McDonald’s Patty Melt been mentioned yet? I loved those!
I believe you mentioned that years ago.
Did anyone else realize Arby’s is basically RBs, as in roast beef?
Just this. That is all. Bring back McD’s fries that actually taste like fried potatoes and not salted fried cardboard.
Double Decker Taco
Well, I’m way out of date as to fast food… so a couple of votes that are also questions:
Does Arby’s still have Jamocha Shakes? Rich chocolatey coffee shakes… yum!
And curly fries? Overly-seasoned just right…
Any place do a fast food fish ‘n’ chips? I’d love that.
I still remember driving cross-country to see family friends, with my wife feeding me WOW! chips.
Got to our hosts’ home, and commandeered the bathroom. For the entire evening, and the night…
Summary
I’d void for half an hour, clean myself up, flush, stumble out of the bathroom on shaky legs, then OOPS, rush back onto the toilet. Repeated over a dozen times until 3 am.
It was colonoscopy prep, but unplanned.
And in the very nice home of my wife’s dearest friends.
This is a bit of a tangent from bringing back a mass-market food item, but I’ll allow myself to do it because it does pertain to the past and I’m pretty sure the place is no longer around just because of the usual ravages of time.
Back in the day, my then-wife and I would set out on a long but pleasant country drive of many hours to stay at a friend’s country cottage. At about the halfway point, there was a nondescript sort of diner in the countryside where, just by sheer luck, we once stopped for a snack and ordered onion rings. These turned out to be The World’s Best Onion Rings and in all our subsequent travels to the cottage, we always stopped at this same place whether coming or going, to pick up onion rings to go. I have no idea what made them so incredible but incredible they were! 
So my tastes haven’t changed, 
I think Arby’s comes from the initials of the founders, the Raffell Brothers (Forrest and Leroy). The “roast beef” connotation was secondary.