10 Classic Kentucky Fast-Food Sandwiches From The ’80s That Disappeared For Good

Remember when fast food was about more than the same predictable burgers and fries? In the 1980s, Kentucky was a true hotbed of sandwich creativity, with local chains pushing the limits of flavor and imagination.

These were the days when menus featured bold ideas—stacked, sauced, and seasoned in ways that made every bite unforgettable.

For many of us, these sandwiches became part of our childhood memories, the kind of meals you still think about decades later. Sadly, many of these legendary creations disappeared far too soon. Let’s take a nostalgic journey to revisit the Kentucky sandwiches that left far too early.

1. KFC Chicken-in-a-Biscuit

My first taste of Chicken-in-a-Biscuit changed my Saturday morning routine forever. The Colonel’s marketing wizards weren’t lying when they claimed “You just can’t resist it!” Introduced around 1982, this simple yet revolutionary creation featured a perfectly seasoned chicken patty nestled inside KFC’s signature flaky biscuit.

The combination was magical – savory, buttery, and portable enough to eat with one hand while playing Pac-Man at the arcade. Despite its cult following, this biscuit sandwich mysteriously disappeared from menus by the late ’80s.

Some speculate it was too labor-intensive to prepare during lunch rushes, while others believe it simply couldn’t compete with the breakfast sandwich wars heating up elsewhere.

2. KFC Creamed Chicken in a Biscuit

Comfort food reached new heights with this hearty creation that felt like Sunday dinner in sandwich form. Unlike its simpler cousin, this version took KFC’s flaky biscuit and topped it with a generous ladle of creamed chicken complete with sweet peas and carrots.

Grandma Jenkins down the street claimed it was a direct copy of her family recipe, but we didn’t care – it was pure comfort in every bite. The Colonel’s kitchen wizards somehow managed to make this messy delight portable enough for drive-thru customers.

Sadly, this soulful creation disappeared faster than you could say “finger lickin’ good,” leaving behind only gravy-soaked memories and stained car upholstery throughout the Bluegrass State.

3. KFC Chicken Littles

Tiny yet mighty, these slider-style sandwiches sparked pure joy at just 39 cents each! I’d save my allowance to buy these by the bagful. Launched mid-80s, these mini-marvels featured a crispy chicken patty with mayo on a dinner roll barely bigger than my palm.

The stats were staggering – over 117 million sold in under two months. My cousin Jimmy once ate twelve in one sitting and became a neighborhood legend. The simplicity was the genius – not too much bread, just enough mayo, and that perfect KFC chicken crunch.

By the ’90s, they vanished without warning, leaving fans heartbroken. Today’s KFC Chicken Littles aren’t the same – ask any true Kentucky sandwich aficionado who remembers the original.

4. KFC Chicken Filet Burger

Before chicken sandwiches became fast-food royalty, the Colonel tested this magnificent creation that was way ahead of its time. Unveiled in the late ’80s, this beauty featured a hand-breaded chicken breast filet that hung gloriously over the edges of a sesame seed bun.

What made it special was the preparation – seasoned with the secret recipe but served sandwich-style with crisp lettuce and just the right amount of mayo. My dad would drive us an extra 20 minutes to the KFC location that carried this test item.

By the early ’90s, this pioneer had vanished from menus everywhere, leaving a chicken sandwich void that wouldn’t be properly filled until decades later when every chain started launching their own versions.

5. Druther’s Big Burger

Louisville locals still speak reverently about this magnificent creation from Druther’s (formerly Burger Queen). Their signature Big Burger wasn’t just another fast-food sandwich – it was a statement piece featuring a quarter-pound patty with a sweet, slightly charred flavor you couldn’t find anywhere else.

The magic came from their unique broiling system that seared the meat differently than competitors. My first Druther’s experience came after winning a Little League game; coach bought us all Big Burgers with their signature sauce.

When most locations converted to Dairy Queens by 1991, the Big Burger disappeared into Kentucky food lore. Only true sandwich historians remember the distinctive yellow wrapper and that unmistakable taste that made Druther’s a Kentucky institution.

6. Rax BBC (Beef, Bacon & Cheddar)

Long before “premium” became a fast-food buzzword, Rax created sandwich perfection with their BBC. The combination was simple yet revolutionary: thinly-sliced roast beef piled high, crispy bacon strips, and real cheddar sauce on a toasted onion roll.

My first BBC changed my teenage sandwich standards forever. While technically Ohio-born, Rax’s Kentucky locations developed cult followings for this masterpiece. The sandwich came wrapped in gold foil – a fitting package for what many considered fast-food royalty.

As Rax locations dwindled across Kentucky through the ’90s and 2000s, the BBC became increasingly rare. Today, finding one would require a pilgrimage to one of the six remaining Rax restaurants – none in Kentucky. Some things are worth remembering, even if we can’t taste them anymore.

7. Blue Boar’s Hot Brown Sandwich

Before Louisville’s Blue Boar Cafeterias closed their doors forever, they created a fast-food version of Kentucky’s legendary Hot Brown that somehow maintained the soul of the original. Their interpretation featured thick-sliced turkey on toasted bread, smothered in a velvety Mornay sauce that put modern fast-food queso to shame.

Topped with crispy bacon and a perfectly broiled cheese crust, this open-faced beauty required a knife and fork – a rarity in fast food. My grandmother would treat me to this indulgence after shopping trips downtown, calling it “proper Kentucky cuisine at cafeteria prices.”

When the last Blue Boar location closed in 2003, this magnificent sandwich disappeared with it, taking a piece of authentic Kentucky culinary history to the grave.

8. Kentucky Roast Beef & Ham’s Bourbon-Glazed Beef

Colonel Sanders’ forgotten non-chicken experiment, Kentucky Roast Beef & Ham, created this masterpiece that locals still dream about. Their signature sandwich featured thin-sliced roast beef dipped in a sweet bourbon glaze that contained no actual alcohol but delivered unforgettable flavor.

Served on a hearty kaiser roll with horseradish sauce, this creation briefly made Kentucky a roast beef destination. My uncle worked at the Lexington location and would sneak me samples after school.

The high operating costs of maintaining both beef and chicken operations proved too much, and this concept shuttered by 1970 after just two years. The bourbon-glazed beef technique disappeared with it, taking a uniquely Kentucky flavor profile that could have rivaled Arby’s nationwide.

9. Burger Queen’s Royal Burgwich

Before becoming Druther’s in 1981, Burger Queen created this ahead-of-its-time sandwich that combined a burger patty with breakfast elements. The Royal Burgwich featured a flame-broiled beef patty topped with a fried egg, crispy hash brown patty, and signature Royal sauce on a toasted English muffin.

Available all day before all-day breakfast was trendy, this creation broke the fast-food rules of the era. My father would detour 30 minutes on road trips just to grab one for himself and a junior version for me.

When the chain rebranded to Druther’s, the Royal Burgwich quietly disappeared from menus. Modern breakfast sandwiches pale in comparison to this Kentucky original that dared to blend mealtime boundaries when such concepts were revolutionary.

10. Convenient Food Mart’s Kentucky Hot Ham

Before convenience stores had full kitchens, Kentucky’s Convenient Food Mart chain created an exclusive sandwich that put them on the culinary map. Their Kentucky Hot Ham featured thinly-sliced country ham (cured the traditional Kentucky way) on a steamed bun with a pepper-infused butter spread that delivered surprising heat.

Every sandwich was made to order behind a small deli counter – revolutionary for convenience stores in the ’80s. As a teenager, I’d save lawn-mowing money for these spicy treasures that cost more than typical fast food but delivered flavors chain restaurants couldn’t match.

When larger convenience chains absorbed most Convenient locations in the early ’90s, this regional specialty disappeared, taking with it a perfect marriage of Kentucky ham tradition and fast-food convenience.