# What was the worst "gimmick" fast food item you ever consumed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 26, 2019, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076 "2019-06-26T00:54:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2019, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/61 "2019-07-03T01:58:19Z")
I’ll admit up front that I’m cheating because there’s no way in Sheol that I’d have one of these. That said … Words fail me (a seldom thing) to describe the [KFC Cheeto Sandwich](https://imgur.com/GBMdd1Q), so I figured I’d be better off with a picture. I have no idea what is coating the chicken(?), but I expect it’s a petrochemical derivative. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2019, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/62 "2019-07-03T02:04:06Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > I’ll admit up front that I’m cheating because there’s no way in Sheol that I’d have one of these. That said … > > Words fail me (a seldom thing) to describe the [KFC Cheeto Sandwich](https://imgur.com/GBMdd1Q), so I figured I’d be better off with a picture.\*\* I have no idea what is coating the chicken\*\*(?), but I expect it’s a petrochemical derivative. Cheetonium. ---
**Author:** ![shstrang98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@shstrang98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shstrang98)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2019, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/63 "2019-07-03T12:12:55Z")
> [@UnwittingAmericans](#): > > McRib is McRidiculous. My wife loves those things. Since I don’t want to ruin it for her, I don’t explain what they’re made of. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2019, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/64 "2019-07-03T13:04:56Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > That’s what made them great, the freshness. Worth the wait, IMHO. Many moons ago, Arby’s used to have German Mustard (in packets). A dab of that on a fresh, so hot you can barely hold it potato cake, was absolutely divine. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2019, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/65 "2019-07-03T13:46:12Z")
> [@shstrang98](#): > > My wife loves those things. > > Since I don’t want to ruin it for her, I don’t explain what they’re made of. A friend of mine buys those mc-rib style patties in bulk at Sams or Costco. Brings a turkey pan load to every pot luck. The smell… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2019, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/66 "2019-07-03T14:19:28Z")
McRib feels and tastes exactly the same in my mouth as my tongue. One time I wondered very seriously which of the two I was about to bite down on, hard. Answer? Both. When I lived in China, I tried durian fruit ice cream at a mall food court. It was an abomination unto God. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/67 "2019-07-03T20:37:17Z")
I once had a Burger King Halloween burger they had a few years ago, the one with the black bun. It turned my poop fluorescent green. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2019, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/68 "2019-07-03T21:29:17Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I once had a Burger King Halloween burger they had a few years ago, the one with the black bun. It turned my poop fluorescent green. Cool! I’m surprised they didn’t advertise that more heavily. Maybe a commercial featuring The King in the bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/69 "2019-07-06T11:32:45Z")
The McRib is a seasonal thing, IIRC. My wife and I tried it one year. Two thumbs down. I don’t think we were even able to finish ours, and I’ll generally finish what I’ve ordered if it’s tolerable. The McDLT was a good idea, but when you make the hot stuff hot and keep the cold stuff cold, the cheese belongs in with the hot stuff, not the cold stuff which is where they put it. The whole point of a cheeseburger is that _the cheese should be melted on top of the burger_. Who wants a cold slice of American cheese on top of a hot burger? (Somebody does, I’m sure, but the market for that has to be pretty small.) Arby’s curly fries were a permanent menu item for many years. My wife and I loved 'em, and were disappointed when they went away. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/70 "2019-07-06T13:22:55Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Arby’s curly fries were a permanent menu item for many years. My wife and I loved 'em, and were disappointed when they went away. Did you mean the NON-curly fries? Curly fries have been their default side for at least a few years. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/71 "2019-07-06T14:45:00Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Smurf ice cream. Color’s pretty and we’re reasonably sure no smurfs were hurt in its making, but it makes cardboard taste interesting by comparison. Ha! I had Smurf gelato in Italy because I just had to try it. I’m sure there was supposed to be a flavor - I’m guessing marshmallow is what they wanted - but it was tasteless. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/72 "2019-07-06T23:53:31Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > In Sarasota around the turn of the 90s, I worked in a BK and if you ordered a “Veggie Burger” at least at that BK you got a regular burger but without the meat . Maybe they added tomatoes and lettuce on burgers that don’t normally come with them but the idea of eating patties, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, and ketchup and mustard with nothing else sounds even grosser to me than just eating mustard on a regular burger. I remember those! I mean, like, what’s the point. Now the current BK veggie burger? I actually like those, and occasionally order one even though I’m not vegetarian. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2019, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/73 "2019-07-07T00:02:40Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I once had a Burger King Halloween burger they had a few years ago, the one with the black bun. It turned my poop fluorescent green. Black jelly beans do the same thing to me, and that’s why it didn’t last very long. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2019, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/74 "2019-07-07T10:52:58Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > Did you mean the NON-curly fries? Curly fries have been their default side for at least a few years. Haven’t been to Arby’s in a few years. Thought the curly fries had gone away at one point (like, about the time we stopped going to Arby’s), but I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2019, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/75 "2019-07-07T15:19:35Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Haven’t been to Arby’s in a few years. Thought the curly fries had gone away at one point (like, about the time we stopped going to Arby’s), but I could be wrong. We go there once a month or so. Not only do they have curly fries, but a plate of LOADED :eek: curly fries, with cheese sauce and I think bacon. I would like to try it but it looks like the unhealthiest thing you could possibly eat. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/76 "2019-07-07T16:16:08Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Nacho Fries from Taco Bell. They are nasty.IMO I came in to mention those. Tasteless and nasty. And people, queso is cheese, but “queso” is cheese sauce with no laws defining how much cheese it contains and should not be a substitute for the real thing. > [@silenus](#): > > Arbys Curly Fries. Horrible things, and they replaced what were excellent skin-on fast food french fries. Every few years I like a lunch of curly fries and a mocha shake with a spoon of instant coffee. > [@Jophiel](#): > > Speaking of McDonald’s, I remember the McLean being largely inedible. The fat content was replaced with some water and seaweed extract concoction that resulted in a dry salty “burger” patty. A pointless exercise since their hamburger is low fat to begin with to make cleanup easier. My contribution is McDonalds’ Triple Ripple ice cream cone. The different flavors would mix before they hardened so the color was something like Crayola’s Flesh crayon. ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/77 "2019-07-10T00:56:37Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > I actually liked the [McDLT](https://www.seriouseats.com/2011/02/blast-from-the-past-the-mcdlt-mcdonalds-1980s-jason-alexander.html) … _sigh_ You know, sometimes it’s a regional thing. You could ask. ---
**Author:** ![Flare4roach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7cd45c/32.png) [@Flare4roach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flare4roach)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/78 "2019-07-10T02:52:43Z")
Didn’t see any comments about this but I actually like Pizza Hut’s P’zones. They are a poor man’s Stromboli but I dig em’. ---
**Author:** ![Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Long_Time_First_Time)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076/79 "2019-07-10T23:17:53Z")
Not sure this meets the strict posting requirements of this thread, but in my town in the late '80’s a fast-food rabbit place opened up named Hop Scotch. The concept didn’t take off and it closed within a year. Deep fried rabbit tastes pretty much like chicken but with a lot more bones. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-worst-gimmick-fast-food-item-you-ever-consumed/836076.md?page=3)