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Secret Menu Hacks for 2016: How To Order Off The Hidden Menu

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Some believe they’re a myth, others think they’re real and some think they’re plain ridiculous but what is a secret menu? Well, it’s exactly that! A secret menu is a hidden, off-the-books menu based on what food outlets offer on their actual menu.

And yes, they do exist.

We’re going to show you what’s available off different secret menus and how you can order them too.

If you see anything that takes your fancy, Download our Secret Menu Order Cards here and save them to your mobile device so you know exactly what to ask for when you go into your local fast food restaurant and you want to order off the secret menu.

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Where Did it All Begin?

Nobody seems to be 100% sure about how the secret menus came into being, but we’ve taken a look around to see what we can find. Some evidence points to In-N-Out Burger in California, USA being the first to implement a secret menu. They were happy to provide curious customers with customised orders when they became bored with their regular menu, this became a more enticing, secret menu which became common knowledge and was cleverly renamed ‘the not-so-secret menu’.

Other food establishments saw the success of the secret menu and hopped on the bandwagon and today an estimated 19 restaurant chains boast a secret menu.

Who Knows About Them?

We thought we’d find out who actually knows about hidden menus, so we surveyed 1000 people; 500 Britons and 500 American consumers to see how many people were aware of their existence.

It will come as no surprise that more Americans are aware of secret menus than Brits, especially as they were created there, with 47.2% of all people questioned knowing of their existence. Only 32.5% of Brits questioned knew they existed.

So, Why Not Try Some Out?

Here are the secret menu items that you can order, what they’re called, and what they’re made up of. Why not order one next time you visit your local fast food restaurant.

Secret Menu: McDonalds

McDonalds is the biggest fast food chain in the world, serving an estimated 68 million people per day, but do they really have a secret menu? Is there really a trimmed down Big Mac that you can get for a fraction of the price of a real one?

The Land, Sea & Air
A Big Mac with an additional fish patty and chicken patty.

Ingredients – USA
Big Mac (540kcal)
+ Filet-O-Fish patty (120kcal)
+McChicken patty (160kcal)
Approximate cost: $8.49

Ingredients – UK
Big Mac (508kcal)
+Filet-O-Fish (120kcal)
+ Chicken Mayo patty (160kcal)
Approximate cost: £6.37

The McGangBang
Double burger or cheeseburger filled a chicken patty.

Ingredients – USA
McDouble (390kcal)
+ McChicken patty (160kcal)
Approximate cost: $2.00

Double Cheeseburger (445kcal)
+ Chicken Mayo Patty (160kcal)
Approximate cost: £2.48

The Monster Mac
Big Mac with eight beef patties.

Ingredients – USA
Big Mac (540kcal)
+ 3x Double Cheeseburger patties + cheese (280kcal each)
Approximate cost: $8.76

Ingredients – UK
Big Mac (508kcal)
+ 3x Double Cheeseburger patties + cheese (280kcal each)
Approximate cost: £7.26

The Poor Man’s Big Mac
A double Cheeseburger with extra lettuce and Big Mac sauce, without ketchup and mustard.

Ingredients – USA
McDouble (390kcal)
+ Lettuce
+ Big Mac Sauce
– Ketchup and Mustard
Approximate cost: $1.54

Ingredients – UK
Double Cheeseburger (445kcal)
+ Lettuce
+ Big Mac Sauce
– Ketchup and Mustard
Approximate cost: £1.79

Secret Menu: Burger King

Known for their great tasting burgers, Burger King also offer a secret menu that has stayed under the radar. Here’s what you can order in Burger King off the secret menu.

The Veggie Whopper
A Whopper with a veggie patty rather than beef.

Ingredients – USA
Whopper without beef patty (400kcal)
+ Veggie patty (170kcal)
Approximate cost: $4.19

Ingredients – UK
Whopper without beef patty (270kcal)
+ Veggie patty (290kcal)
Approximate cost: £3.89

The BK Ham ‘n’ Cheese
Ham and cheese on a bun of your choice.

Ingredients – USA
Sesame Seed Bun (120 kcal)
+ Ham (breakfast menu)(50kcal)
+ American Cheese (40kcal)
Approximate cost: $3.69

Sorry, UK, this isn’t available in Britain!

Secret Menu: Subway

The sandwich specialists pride themselves on making fresh food that tastes awesome, so customising an order should be simple enough for them, but did you know that Subway have a hidden menu too? Check it out!

The Pizza Sub
A sub with pepperoni, marinara sauce, cheese and veggies.

Ingredients – USA
6″ Sub
+ Three slices of pepperoni
+ Marinara sauce
+ Mozzarella cheese
+ Veggies
Approximate cost: We’re not entirely sure!

Ingredients – UK
6″ Sub
+ Three slices of pepperoni
+ Marinara sauce
+ Mozzarella cheese
+ Veggies
Approximate cost: We’re not entirely sure!

Secret Menu: Five Guys

Five Guys has been a hit in UK market, winning over lots of fans and has grown rapidly since opening their first UK store in 2013. As the US burger chain continues to grow, take a look at the items on their secret menu and go in and order one!

The Double Grilled-Cheese Burger
Two burger patties sandwiched between two Grilled-Cheese Sandwiches.

Ingredients – USA
2x Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (470kcal each)
+ 2x beef patties (220kcal each)
Approximate cost: $11.58

Ingredients – UK
2x Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (470kcal each)
+ 2x beef patties (220kcal each)
Approximate cost: £11.50

Cheese Fries
Fries topped with cheese.

Ingredients – USA
Regular fries (911kcal)
+ Cheese (70kcal)
Approximate cost: $4.29

Ingredients – UK
Regular fries (953kcal)
+ Cheese (40kcal)
Approximate cost: £4.75

Secret Menu: Taco Bell

Much like Burger King, Taco Bell give away what they’re all about in their name – Tacos! Taco Bell is a US favourite that is starting to gain attention and spread further afield, and of course, they have hidden menu.

The Double-Grilled
A quesadilla grilled for twice the usual time.

Ingredients – USA
Your choice of quesadilla… grilled twice!
The price varies depending on your orders.

Sorry UK, this isn’t available either.

Secret Menu: Chipotle

Mexican grill Chipotle is a fairly recent addition to the fast-food market, having only been founded in 1993 but did you know that you can actually get free items of their menu of secret items?!

Single Tacos
If you don’t want to order three tacos, you can just order a single.

Ingredients (both UK and U.S.)
You guessed it, your choice of taco, but just one… Not three.
Approximate cost: $2.25 or £2.15

Extra Shells
Get two free taco shells or one free tortilla shell.

Ingredients (UK and U.S.)
Taco shell (70kcal each)
Tortilla (100kcal each)
Approximate cost: Free!

Secret Menu: Starbucks

If you want your name misspelled on the side of a cup, then Starbucks is the place to go. Starbucks’ almighty rise over the last decade has been impressive and their reach across the world continues to grow. Here’s what you can order in Starbucks that most people don’t know about.

Cookies and Cream Frappuccino
Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino with white mocha sauce instead of regular mocha sauce.

Ingredients – USA
Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino
– Mocha Sauce
+ White Mocha Sauce
Approximate cost: $4.95 for a large

Ingredients – UK
Java Chip Frappuccino
– Mocha sauce
+ White Mocha sauce
Approximate cost: £3.95 for a large

The Holy Grail Meal

A best-of-the-best meal, taking consumers’ favourite items from different stores. All you need is a car and some fast food restaurants that are close-by and you’re onto a winner.

Big Mac with the patties replaced with Burger King patties.
McDonalds fries
Side order of KFC gravy
+ McDonalds chocolate milkshake

Approximate calories: 1430-1750kcal
Approximate cost: $8.99/£9.36

 

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