The Great Fast Food Flops of 2026
Back in 2013 I posted a chart of all the weird stuff McDonald’s sells around the world. Well, in 2026 they tried bringing one of those international hits over here, and America collectively shrugged.
The Big Arch is basically a Big Mac that went to finishing school: crispy and slivered onions, white cheddar instead of American, and a new “Arch sauce.” It’s popular overseas. Here, reviewers called it bland and too pricey, with one Redditor saying they wouldn’t pay “$3 more than every variation of the Double QPC.” It didn’t help that the CEO’s own taste-test video turned into a meme.
He wasn’t alone. The Takeout put together a list of 2026’s biggest bombs, and some highlights:
- Dunkin’ Dirty Soda: Pepsi, milk and sweet cold foam. (More on this one later. It deserves its own post.)
- Burger King Ultimate Steakhouse Whopper: onion rings and peppery aioli, reviewed as “dry and lifeless.”
- Wendy’s “new and improved” Spicy Chicken: one fan bit into “woody” chicken and threw it out.
- Arby’s Quarter Pound Chopped Brisket: replaced the Smokehouse Brisket everybody actually liked.
- Taco Bell Caramel and Chocolate Fudge Empanadas: one reviewer said it tasted like “a cardboard box” with filling.
Jules : Then what do they call it?
Vincent : They call it a Royale with cheese.
Nobody’s calling the Big Arch anything.
[ The Takeout ]
-Stew