Remember the wacky food scene of the 1980s?
Those neon-colored treats and microwavable wonders that defined a generation of big hair and bigger flavors are suddenly cool again. Hipster cafés and nostalgic millennials are breathing new life into these retro culinary creations, transforming yesterday’s grocery store staples into today’s Instagram-worthy food trends.
1. Tang: The Astronaut’s Breakfast
Blast from the past! This powdered orange drink that NASA supposedly took to space is showing up in craft cocktails and artisanal desserts nationwide.
Bartenders are rimming glasses with it, bakers are infusing it into cupcakes. The tangy, artificial flavor hits that perfect nostalgic sweet spot that has millennials reaching for their wallets.
2. Lunchables: DIY Meals Before DIY Was Cool
Those tiny crackers and processed meat squares are experiencing a glow-up! Upscale restaurants now offer “deconstructed” charcuterie.
Adult versions feature artisanal cheeses and house-cured meats, but the nostalgic arrangement remains unmistakable. Some trendy bars even serve cocktails in Lunchables-style trays.
3. Jell-O Pudding Pops: Bill Cosby’s Frozen Legacy
Controversial past aside, these frozen pudding treats vanished from stores in the early 2000s. But, they are making a stealth comeback through DIY recipes.
Food bloggers can’t stop creating homemade versions, while artisanal ice cream shops offer gourmet interpretations. The creamy-yet-icy texture apparently hits a sweet spot.
4. Microwavable Personal Pan Pizzas
Holy pepperoni! Remember those circular discs of questionable cheese that transformed into “pizza” after 2 minutes in the microwave?
They’re back with a vengeance. Gourmet versions featuring sourdough crusts and locally-sourced toppings are popping up in freezer sections everywhere.
5. Hi-C Ecto Cooler: Ghostbusters In A Box
Slime green and supernaturally sweet! This Ghostbusters-themed citrus punch disappeared in 2001 but keeps staging comebacks whenever 80s nostalgia peaks.
Mixologists now craft Ecto Cooler-inspired cocktails at themed bars. This radioactive-looking beverage has possessed a new generation of taste buds.
6. Totino’s Pizza Rolls: Molten Mouthburners
Roof-of-mouth scorchers extraordinaire! These bite-sized pockets of scalding tomato lava never truly disappeared, but they’ve reached cult status in today’s foodie circles.
Upscale versions stuffed with gourmet ingredients are appearing on appetizer menus. Craft breweries host pizza roll pairing events.
7. New York Seltzer: Artisanal Before Its Time
Before LaCroix was cool, these boldly-flavored seltzers in stubby glass bottles dominated 80s lunchboxes. After vanishing for decades, they’ve triumphantly returned to corner stores nationwide.
The distinctive painted label bottles remain unchanged, capturing that perfect retro vibe. Flavors like raspberry and black cherry are finding new fans among sugar-avoiding millennials.
8. Clearly Canadian: Crystal Clear Comeback
These distinctively-shaped bottles of flavored sparkling water were the sophisticated alternative to soda in the late 80s. After nearly disappearing, crowdfunding campaigns brought them roaring back to store shelves.
The slightly sweet, fruit-flavored bubbly water hits the perfect nostalgia notes. Mountain Blackberry transports millennials straight back to their middle school cafeterias.
9. French Bread Pizza: Freezer Burn Favorite
Crispy yet somehow soggy! These oblong toaster oven treats from Stouffer’s were after-school lifesavers for latchkey kids everywhere.
Artisanal bakeries now offer gourmet versions with house-made bread and farm-to-table toppings. Food trucks dedicated solely to French bread pizza have appeared in major cities.
10. CapriSun: Pouches Of Questionable Juice
Straw-stabbing skills were essential social currency for 80s kids wrestling with these silver pouches of mysterious fruit-adjacent liquid.
Now found in craft cocktail bars as mixers and vessels! Nostalgic millennials are spiking them with vodka. Some upscale juice shops offer “artisanal pouches” with actually identifiable ingredients.
11. Hostess Pudding Pies: Cellophane-Wrapped Dreams
Chocolate-covered hand pies filled with pudding-adjacent goo were lunchbox currency in the 80s. After briefly vanishing during the Hostess bankruptcy, they’ve returned with a vengeance.
Gourmet bakeries now offer handcrafted versions with real chocolate ganache. The distinctive half-moon shape remains sacred, though the ingredients have thankfully evolved beyond the mysterious original filling.
12. Ranch Dressing: The Midwest’s Contribution to Cuisine
Born in the 1950s but achieving total cultural domination in the 1980s. Ranch dressing drowned every vegetable and pizza slice in America.
Craft restaurants now make house-fermented versions with actual buttermilk. Artisanal ranch tastings pair different herbs and spice blends with appropriate foods.
13. Bagel Bites: When Pizza’s On A Bagel
You can eat pizza anytime – that jingle burned into our brains as these tiny toaster oven snacks dominated after-school eating in the 80s.
Artisanal bakeries now craft hand-rolled mini bagels topped with local ingredients. Upscale brunches feature “deconstructed bagel bite flights” with fancy toppings. The pizza-bagel hybrid has finally earned culinary respect.
14. Sunny Delight: Sunshine In A Plastic Bottle
Not quite orange juice, not quite chemical experiment. This tangy orange beverage with its distinctive plastic container was fridge staple for 80s kids.
Craft beverage companies now offer “California citrus blend” drinks in similar packaging. The reformulated versions boast actual fruit content and fewer additives.
15. Pop Rocks: Mouth Explosions Return
SNAP! CRACKLE! The carbonated candy that supposedly killed Mikey from the Life cereal commercials (it didn’t) is experiencing a gourmet renaissance.
Pastry chefs sprinkle them on high-end desserts. Mixologists rim cocktail glasses with them. The distinctive fizzy sensation has even inspired molecular gastronomists to create entire menus around food that pops in your mouth.
16. Sloppy Joes: Cafeteria Classic
Manwich made this messy sandwich a weeknight staple in the 80s. The saucy ground beef concoction was both beloved and feared for its shirt-staining potential.
Trendy restaurants now offer “deconstructed” versions with house-ground heritage beef and artisanal tomato reductions. Food trucks specialize in global Sloppy Joe variations.
17. Cosmic Brownies: Little Debbie’s Sparkly Treat
These fudgy brownies topped with rainbow candy bits were the envy-inducing lunchbox dessert of the late 80s and early 90s.
Bakeries now create “artisanal cosmic brownies” with Belgian chocolate and natural food coloring. Instagram-worthy versions feature edible gold leaf and custom candy toppings. The distinctive dense texture remains sacred across all interpretations.