14 Fast-Food Sandwiches From Ohio That Are Now Lost To Time
Remember those mouthwatering fast-food sandwiches that vanished before their time? Ohio was once a testing ground for some of the most innovative (and occasionally bizarre) sandwich creations in fast-food history.
From double-decker burgers dripping with secret sauce to chicken-wrapped hot dogs, these discontinued delights still haunt the taste memories of Buckeye State residents who were lucky enough to try them.
1. Big Shef
Burger Chef’s answer to the Big Mac had Ohio fans lined up around the block! Two flame-broiled patties stacked with melty cheese, crisp lettuce, and that unforgettable tangy sauce made this sandwich legendary.
When Hardee’s gobbled up Burger Chef in 1982, they tried keeping the Big Shef alive, but eventually, this beloved double-decker disappeared into fast-food heaven.
2. Brawny Lad
How could something so deliciously odd vanish? The Brawny Lad from Big Boy featured a quarter-pound patty on dark rye bread with a massive onion slab that demanded serious breath mints afterward.
Though the sandwich disappeared from most locations, hardcore fans still whisper its name in Ohio diners. Where else could you find a burger that smelled like a New York deli?
3. Slim Jim
Not the beef stick! Big Boy’s Slim Jim was a deli-style masterpiece that ruled Ohio lunch counters. Thinly sliced ham and Swiss cheese piled high with crisp lettuce and that mysterious special sauce on a perfectly toasted roll.
However, menu modernization eventually pushed this simple sandwich aside. Many Ohioans still dream about this perfect ham and cheese creation!
4. Arby-Q
Prior to pulled pork becoming popular, Arby-Q was slicing up shirts all across Ohio! Roast beef, Arby’s speciality, dripping down your arm with a tangy, slightly sweet barbecue sauce.
This clumsy masterpiece hasn’t been a regular menu item since the 1990s, however it has been brought back for brief periods of time. For those who enjoy BBQ, the proportion of sauce to meat was ideal!
5. Super Roast Beef
Arby’s Super Roast Beef was the fancy cousin to their regular sandwich. Imagine their classic roast beef elevated with garden-fresh lettuce, juicy tomato slices, and a mayo-based sauce that tied everything together.
Without warning, this premium option disappeared from Ohio menus. Though similar sandwiches have appeared since, true fans know nothing compares to the original Super!
6. Five for Five Deal
Remember when five bucks actually bought something? Families in Ohio may enjoy five standard roast beef sandwiches for only $5 thanks to Arby’s renowned “5 for $5” offer!
Although this was more of a campaign than a special meal, the Buckeye State became obsessed with small sandwiches as a result of this offer. While parents surreptitiously tallied the savings, children would compete to see who could eat the most.
7. McLean Deluxe
McDonald’s attempt at health food in the ’90s flopped spectacularly! The McLean Deluxe used seaweed extract to bind 91% lean beef, creating a texture that confused Ohio taste buds.
Heavily tested throughout Columbus, this low-fat wonder saved 10 grams of fat but sacrificed flavor. Want proof that fast food diet rarely works? This sandwich vanished faster than you could say “I’m lovin’ it.”
8. Arch Deluxe
The “grown-up burger” that cost McDonald’s millions! Launched with massive fanfare across Ohio in 1996, the Arch Deluxe featured a quarter-pound patty on a bakery-style roll with peppered bacon and mysterious “Arch Sauce.”
Though actually tasty, the marketing campaign featuring kids making disgusted faces backfired terribly. Adults weren’t convinced they needed their own special burger, and this sophisticated sandwich soon disappeared.
9. McDLT
Hot side hot! Cool side cool! Up until the crucial time, the McDLT’s inventive styrofoam container kept the burger patty heated while the lettuce and tomato remained cold and crisp.
Environmental concerns eventually killed this ingenious packaging, taking the sandwich with it. Customers in Cleveland were especially saddened by its demise because the city was one of the test areas where the McDLT initially won over its devoted following.
10. SuperBar Taco Sandwich
Wendy’s wildest experiment combined their SuperBar’s taco fillings with sandwich bread! Select Ohio locations let customers stuff seasoned beef, cheese, lettuce, and salsa between two pieces of bread.
This unofficial menu hack became so popular that some stores formalized it before the entire SuperBar concept disappeared.
Locals in Columbus still remember these Mexican-American fusion concoctions, despite the fact that they were never given an official name.
11. Frescata Sandwiches
Wendy’s brief foray into Subway territory! These deli-style cold sandwiches featured freshly baked artisan bread, premium meats, and fancy toppings like roasted red peppers.
Ohio served as the primary testing ground before their nationwide rollout in 2006. Though surprisingly tasty, the preparation time clashed with Wendy’s fast service model. By 2007, these fancy sandwiches were nothing but a memory.
12. Double Down Dog
Whoever believed that covering a hot dog with fried chicken was worthy of treatment or a promotion! For a limited time, this incredible invention was offered as a test product in a few KFC restaurants in Ohio, but it never made it throughout the country.
A hot dog within a fried chicken filet “wrapper” in place of a bread. Adventuresome Ohioans waited in line to sample this protein monster before it vanished, despite the fact that the idea sounds like it was created in a dorm room at three in the morning.
13. Rax BBC
Rax Restaurants, based in Ohio, controlled the roast beef market before Arby’s took over with their BBC (Beef, Bacon, and Cheddar) sandwich. On a corndusted bread, thinly sliced roast beef is covered in melted cheddar sauce, topped with crispy bacon.
This famous sandwich has mostly disappeared, while there are still a few Rax restaurants. Fast food perfection was achieved by combining acidic cheese sauce, smokey bacon, and flavorful beef!
14. Rax Taco Sandwich
Cultural fusion before it was cool! Rax briefly offered this bizarre creation that stuffed seasoned taco meat, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and cheddar between sandwich bread instead of a taco shell.
Why not just order a taco? That question ultimately doomed this quirky menu item. Though mainly available in Midwest Rax locations, this oddball sandwich found its most devoted fans in Ohio.
