12 Classic Restaurant Chains That Have Totally Changed Their Menus
Believe it or not, there was a time when McDonald's didn't serve breakfast, and most restaurant chains focused on one food item. Nowadays, it's common to see a diverse mix of options on a menu, from plant-based meals to delicacies from other cultures.
Most food franchises have transformed their menus to include health-conscious meals, appeal to new demographics, and remain relevant. Some of these menu changes have been successful, while others have flopped badly.
Let's take a trip through your favorite childhood restaurants and how much their menus have changed.
McDonald's

McDonald's customers from the 1940s would have a hard time recognizing the menu today. At first, McDonald's menu revolved around barbecues, after which it moved on to nine items, including hamburgers, potato chips, cheeseburgers, coffee, apple pie, soft drinks, and ice cream.
Since then, the menu has seen a lot of change. Most notably, the franchise introduced breakfast in 1970, transforming it from a regular burger joint to an all-day destination. Other additions like the Big Mac and Chicken McNuggets have been massive hits.
While burgers are still a core offering, McDonald's has expanded its menu to include healthier choices such as salads and low-fat milk. Expansion in the international market also means the franchise now serves local flavors in different countries, such as Japan's Ebi Filet-O shrimp burger and the McSpicy Paneer burger for India.
Burger King

Burger King started as a bold McDonald's alternative with its flame-broiled burgers. While it has been unable to overthrow its archrival, it has served plenty of mouth-watering surprises to keep the burger wars alive.
The iconic Whopper, complete with sauce, tomato pickles, lettuce, and cheese, was Burger King's first big break. In 2019, the brand introduced the Impossible Whooper, a plant-based variant of its classic burger. Other changes to Burger King's menu include more chicken sandwich flavors and health-conscious options.
Wendy's

Dave Thomas, a former KFC employee, founded Wendy's in 1969 when he couldn't find a good hamburger in Columbus. What started as a hamburger restaurant with only five menu items has since evolved into one of the biggest fast-food chains in America.
Fan-favorite S'Awesome Sauce, introduced in 2017, is no longer on Wendy's menus. Queso items and spicy chicken nuggets have suffered a similar fate. In their place, you can now order spicy chicken sandwiches and pretzel bacon pub cheeseburgers from the chain.
After failed attempts, Wendy's has recently found success in the breakfast market with the Frosty-ccino and Breakfast Baconator.
Subway

Listed as the fastest-growing franchise in 2015, Subway has seen serious changes since its humble beginnings as a single sandwich shop in 1965. The brand offers a long list of meats, cheeses, breads, and toppings from a limited selection of basic sandwiches.
While it continues to offer customizable subs, popular offerings like the $5 Footlongs, sweet chili sauce, and honey oat bread no longer appear on the menu. New additions to Subway's menu include protein bowls and new wraps.
Pizza Hut

If you walked into any Pizza Hut outlet in 1993, you could get the Bigfoot Pizza, a 2-foot-long rectangular pizza made for large groups. By 1996, that option was quietly phased out. The Cavatini Supreme — a blend of meat, cheese, and pasta — was a crowd-pleaser but has also been retired.
Pizza Hut's menu now includes the melts, Chicago tavern-style pizza, plant-based toppings, and the $7 Deal Lover's Menu. The brand also brought back its original pan pizza.
Domino's

Domino's has seen rapid expansion, and its menu is no exception. The initial Domino's menu was one style of pizza crust with eleven toppings and a bottle of Coca-Cola. There were no pasta, sides, salads, or desserts. This was to ensure quick pizza production.
Domino's only expanded its menu in 1989 with items like breadsticks and buffalo wings. In the 2000s, it added desserts and pasta.
These days, Domino's is firmly in non-pizza territory, offering sandwiches, garlic cheese bread, garden salad, and chocolate lava crunch cake.
Taco Bell

Remember when Taco Bell was just about tacos? Yeah, neither do I. Tacos have always been the star of the show, but there were also other Mexican dishes like burritos, chili burgers, and tostadas. As Taco Bell expanded, so did its menu.
Bellburger was Taco Bell's attempt to compete with hamburger joints, but it didn't last long. There has also been the Mexican pizza and caramel apple empanada, which ultimately got the boot.
However, the Decade's menu — a limited-time offer featuring retro items from the last 60 years — gives fans a chance to savor the tostada, green sauce burrito, and caramel apple empanada.
KFC

Colonel's fried chicken empire offered a simple menu in its early days. The entire operation focused on fried chicken, and while that hasn't changed, there have been plenty of additions to KFC's menu.
Loyal customers will remember potato wedges, Chicken Littles, and popcorn chicken, all discontinued. The menu now offers saucy nuggets in five flavors and Original Recipe Chicken Tenders. KFC's biggest menu change, however, has been the addition of grilled chicken in 2009.
Arby's

Arby's became famous for its thinly sliced roast beef sandwiches and has since added other meaty options. These days, you can get corned beef, smokehouse brisket, and even turkey.
Potato cakes, a beloved side, were removed from the menu and later added back for a limited time. In addition to conventional sandwiches, the brand introduced salads and wraps and has even tinkered with various bread options.
Dairy Queen

When John McCullough and his son Alex established Diary Queen in 1940, soft-serve ice cream wasn't popular. By the end of the '50s, this was no longer the case, as Diary Queen had over 1,400 stores nationwide. With the introduction of Blizzards in 1985, the brand's popularity rose to an all-time high.
Riding on its success, Diary Queen introduced new items to its menu. The expanded menu included hot dogs, fries, and burgers. Eventually, the brand entered the breakfast game with sandwiches and biscuits.
Notable offerings like the classic Peanut Butter Parfait and Mr. Misty are no longer featured on the menu. However, Diary Queen has shown that it can reinvent itself with items like Royal Treats and chicken baskets.
IHOP

Pancakes are the cornerstone of IHOP's enterprise, but coffee and simple syrups were staples on the menu even in the early days. Over time, the menu has expanded to accommodate the sweet, the savory, and everything in between.
Buttermilk pancakes, waffles, and omelets have stood the test of time on IHOP's menu. Meanwhile, the Silver Dollar Pancake was renamed Golden Dollar Pancake. The International House of Pancakes continues to add creative pancake variants, such as Blue's Dazzleberry and Cinnamon Roll pancakes.
Applebee's

Applebee's prides itself on being a casual, affordable restaurant with a neighborhood feel. It has managed to keep the menu fresh since its launch in 1980. By 1992, the company introduced the 20-ounce Brewtus glass to help keep beer colder.
In 2000, Applebee's revamped its menu to include fajitas, pasta, and desserts. Around this time, it also launched the new “Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood” tagline. Some newer items on the menu are double crunch shimp and Irresist-A-Bowls.