12 Fast-Food Sandwiches From Indiana That Vanished Overnight
Indiana once had fast-food sandwiches that captured hearts and taste buds, only to disappear almost overnight.
From cheesy classics to bold flavor combos, these sandwiches left a mark on lunchtime memories and local culture.
Fans still recall the excitement of grabbing one before it was gone, making each bite a nostalgic treasure.
Revisiting these vanished favorites is a delicious trip down memory lane, proving that some flavors linger long after they leave the menu.
1. Big Shef — Burger Chef
Long before McDonald’s dominated every corner, Burger Chef was Indiana’s hometown hero.
The Big Shef was their crown jewel, two flame-broiled patties, melty cheese, crisp lettuce, and that magical special sauce all nestled in a triple-decker bun.
Born in Indianapolis in the 1960s, this behemoth was the pride of Indiana until Hardee’s gobbled up the chain in 1982. For many Hoosiers, no modern burger has ever quite matched its glory.
2. McDLT — McDonald’s
“Keep the hot side hot and the cool side cool!” That catchy slogan sold millions of McDLTs across Indiana in the late 1980s.
The revolutionary packaging featured a dual-chamber styrofoam container that kept the burger and bottom bun warm while the lettuce and tomato stayed crisp.
Environmental concerns about the packaging eventually led to its demise in 1990. Yet Hoosiers still reminisce about that first perfect bite of a properly assembled McDLT.
3. Arch Deluxe — McDonald’s
Marketed as the “burger with the grown-up taste,” the Arch Deluxe made a splash in Indiana McDonald’s locations in 1996.
A quarter-pound beef patty topped with peppered bacon, lettuce, tomato, and a mysterious mustard-mayo sauce on a bakery-style roll promised sophistication in fast food form.
Despite a massive $100 million marketing campaign, Hoosiers just weren’t ready for “adult” fast food.
The sandwich flopped spectacularly and vanished by 1998, becoming one of fast food’s most expensive failures.
4. McLean Deluxe — McDonald’s
Health-conscious Hoosiers of the early 90s rejoiced when McDonald’s unveiled the McLean Deluxe, a burger promising 91% fat-free beef.
The secret? Seaweed extract (carrageenan) that replaced fat while maintaining moisture. Unfortunately, the unusual ingredient list and slightly different taste didn’t win over Indiana taste buds.
Locals quickly nicknamed it the “McFlopper.” After a brief three-year run, McDonald’s quietly retired this low-fat experiment in 1996.
5. Big N’ Tasty — McDonald’s
Created specifically to battle Burger King’s Whopper, the Big N’ Tasty enjoyed a solid decade on Indiana menus starting in 2000.
A quarter-pound beef patty topped with fresh vegetables, cheese, and a special mayo-based sauce on a sesame seed bun made it a formidable contender.
Indiana customers developed a cult-like devotion to this hefty sandwich. When McDonald’s axed it in 2011 to streamline their menu, devastated fans created online petitions begging for its return.
6. Super Hero Burger — McDonald’s
Summer 1995 saw Indiana McDonald’s locations transformed with Batman Forever promotional tie-ins, including the limited-edition Super Hero Burger. This massive creation featured three beef patties, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and a tangy hero sauce on a triple-decker bun.
Kids begged parents to visit the Golden Arches just for the Batman-themed packaging. When the movie promotion ended, so did this heroic sandwich, leaving young Hoosiers to dream about its return.
7. Yumbo (Ham & Cheese) — Burger King
Before fancy chicken sandwiches dominated fast food menus, the Yumbo reigned supreme at Indiana Burger Kings from 1974 to 1990.
This simple hot ham and cheese sandwich featured generous slices of ham and melted American cheese on a heated submarine roll.
Burger King briefly revived the Yumbo in 2014 as part of a throwback promotion.
Older Hoosiers lined up for a taste of nostalgia, while younger generations discovered why this unpretentious sandwich had earned such a devoted following decades earlier.
8. BK Broiler — Burger King
When grilled chicken became the health-conscious rage in the early 90s, Burger King answered with the BK Broiler.
Indiana diners flocked to try this flame-grilled chicken breast topped with lettuce, tomato, and mayo on an oat bran bun.
The sandwich underwent several identity crises, eventually becoming the Chicken Whopper before disappearing entirely.
Many Hoosiers still claim the original BK Broiler was the best fast-food chicken sandwich ever created, with its distinctive smoky flavor that competitors couldn’t match.
9. Ch’King — Burger King
Burger King’s most recent sandwich casualty, the Ch’King, made a spectacular entrance to Indiana locations in 2021.
Hand-breaded chicken, thick pickles, and a signature sauce on a potato bun promised to dethrone Popeyes and Chick-fil-A from chicken sandwich supremacy.
Critics raved about its quality, but production complications doomed it.
After barely a year, Burger King replaced it with the simpler Royal Crispy Chicken. The Ch’King’s brief existence left Hoosiers wondering what might have been.
10. Bell Beefer — Taco Bell
Before Taco Bell fully embraced its Mexican-inspired identity, they offered the peculiar Bell Beefer, essentially a taco in sloppy joe form.
Seasoned taco meat, lettuce, diced onions, and mild sauce were piled onto a burger bun, creating a bizarre Tex-Mex sandwich experience. Indiana Taco Bell locations served this oddity until the mid-1990s.
Despite its messiness, the Bell Beefer maintains a cult following with online fan groups still petitioning for its return nearly three decades after its discontinuation.
11. KFC Snacker — KFC
Value menus exploded in the mid-2000s, and KFC’s answer was the Snacker, a simple yet satisfying mini chicken sandwich that cost just 99 cents.
A crispy chicken strip, lettuce, and pepper mayo on a sesame seed roll made it the perfect afternoon pick-me-up for budget-conscious Hoosiers.
KFC locations across Indiana sold these by the millions before they disappeared around 2012.
The Snacker proved that sometimes less is more, offering the Colonel’s famous flavor in a perfectly portable package.
12. Seafood Sensation — Subway
Before Subway focused on healthier options, their Seafood Sensation was a guilty pleasure for Indiana sandwich lovers throughout the 1990s.
This unique offering combined imitation crab meat with mayonnaise and various vegetables on Subway’s signature bread.
The fishy sandwich slowly disappeared from Indiana locations in the early 2000s as consumer preferences shifted.
Today, mentioning the Seafood Sensation to longtime Subway fans produces either nostalgic sighs or disgusted shudders. There seems to be no middle ground.