Fast Food Workers Reveal The 16 Must-Try Menu Items They Actually Eat Themselves

Ever wondered what fast food workers order when they’re on break?

As someone who spent three years flipping burgers at various chains, I’ve seen firsthand what employees choose when they know all the secrets.

These aren’t just random menu picks—they’re the hidden gems, custom hacks, and perfectly-prepared favorites that staff members reach for time and again.

Here’s the inside scoop on what fast food workers actually eat when they’re hungry.

1. Chick-Fil-A Spicy Chicken Sandwich

Chick-Fil-A Spicy Chicken Sandwich
© Cheapism

My manager at Chick-fil-A would literally sprint to grab this sandwich during her break. The magic happens in their kitchen when that hand-breaded chicken breast gets pressure-cooked in peanut oil then coated with their signature spicy seasoning.

What separates this sandwich from competitors isn’t just heat—it’s the perfect balance between spice and the cooling effect of fresh pickles on a buttered bun. No sauce needed! The chicken stays impossibly juicy inside while maintaining that crispy exterior crunch.

Pro tip from behind the counter: order it with pepper jack cheese and ask for it well-done for extra crispiness. Most locations will happily accommodate this request even though it’s not on the menu.

2. In-N-Out Animal Style Fries

In-N-Out Animal Style Fries
© Erin’s Cozy Kitchen

Working the late shift at In-N-Out taught me one valuable lesson: Animal Style Fries are worth every calorie. These golden treasures come smothered in melted cheese, grilled onions, and their famous spread—essentially a mountain of deliciousness on a cardboard boat.

My coworkers and I developed a ritual of adding chopped chilies for an extra kick. The contrast between the crispy fries and gooey toppings creates an almost religious experience for your taste buds.

Fun fact: most employees eat these with a fork, but true connoisseurs know to let them sit for exactly two minutes so the cheese slightly hardens, making them perfect for hand-to-mouth transportation without the mess.

3. Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita Crunch

Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita Crunch
© Reddit

Confession time: I gained seven pounds during my first month at Taco Bell because I couldn’t stop eating the Cheesy Gordita Crunch. This magnificent creation wraps a hard taco shell (filled with seasoned beef, lettuce, and cheese) inside a flat gordita bread lined with spicy ranch sauce and a three-cheese blend. The textural symphony of soft, warm gordita bread against the crunchy taco shell is nothing short of revolutionary.

Many customers miss the genius behind this item—it solves the eternal problem of hard taco shells cracking and spilling their contents everywhere!

Employees often customize it by swapping the regular taco shell for a Doritos Locos one. My personal go-to was the Fiery Doritos shell with extra spicy ranch—absolute heaven during a stressful shift.

4. McDonald’s McChicken With Mac Sauce

McDonald's McChicken With Mac Sauce
© Taste of Home

The humble McChicken transformed by a dollop of Big Mac sauce is the ultimate McDonald’s insider hack. During my overnight shifts, this $1 sandwich with free Mac sauce became my 3 AM salvation. The tangy, slightly sweet sauce elevates the simple chicken patty to gourmet status—at least by fast food standards.

Fellow crew members would add fresh onions and lettuce from the Quarter Pounder station for extra crunch. The combination of warm, crispy chicken with cool, tangy sauce creates a perfect harmony that keeps you coming back. Employees know to request the sauce be spread directly on the bun rather than squirted on top of the mayo. This technique ensures proper sauce distribution and prevents the dreaded sauce-sliding-off-the-sandwich disaster that ruins many a lunch break.

5. Five Guys Cajun Fries

Five Guys Cajun Fries
© Reddit

The kitchen at Five Guys always smelled like heaven, but nothing compared to the aroma of fresh Cajun fries hitting the seasoning station. These hand-cut potatoes are fried twice in peanut oil—first at a lower temperature to cook through, then at a higher temp for that perfect crisp exterior.

What customers don’t realize is that employees deliberately overfill your cup before adding another scoop to the bag. This isn’t corporate policy—it’s just what we do because these fries are that good! The secret to their addictive quality lies in the Cajun seasoning blend: a magical mix of salt, paprika, chili powder, and other spices that leaves a slight tingle on your lips. After closing time, we’d sometimes make a fresh batch just for ourselves—worth staying late for.

6. Starbucks Bacon Gouda Breakfast Sandwich

Starbucks Bacon Gouda Breakfast Sandwich
© Simply Scratch

Morning shifts at Starbucks were brutal until I discovered the Bacon Gouda Breakfast Sandwich. This heavenly creation saved me countless times when I rolled in half-asleep for a 5 AM opening. The artisan roll gets toasted to perfection while the aged Gouda melts slightly over applewood-smoked bacon and a fluffy egg frittata. My barista trick?

Ask for it double-toasted with an extra slice of cheese. The sandwich tastes even better when you pair it with a blonde roast coffee—the nutty notes complement the smoky bacon perfectly. The best part about this sandwich is that unlike other breakfast items that sit in the display case, these are kept frozen and heated to order, ensuring maximum freshness. Even after two years of working there, I never got tired of this savory morning miracle.

7. Wendy’s Spicy Nuggets

Wendy's Spicy Nuggets
© Mashed

Chaos erupted among staff when Wendy’s temporarily removed Spicy Nuggets from the menu. Those fiery little morsels of chicken had fueled our shifts for years! Unlike regular nuggets, these babies are marinated in a blend of peppers before being breaded and fried, giving them heat that builds with each bite. The real magic happens when you pair them with the right sauce.

Skip the obvious ranch or BBQ options—honey is the unexpected hero here. The sweet-spicy combination creates a flavor explosion that had employees hoarding nuggets in the break room fridge. During my time at Wendy’s, we discovered that ordering them “extra crispy” results in a second trip through the fryer, creating the ultimate texture contrast: super crunchy outside, tender and juicy inside. Worth the extra two-minute wait every single time.

8. Subway Toasted Meatball Marinara With Extra Cheese

Subway Toasted Meatball Marinara With Extra Cheese
© Business Insider

Slinging sandwiches at Subway taught me one valuable lesson: the Meatball Marinara transforms into something extraordinary when you know the right tweaks. The key move? Requesting it double-toasted. This extra time in the oven caramelizes the edges of the marinara sauce and creates pockets of bubbling, golden cheese. My go-to version includes a sprinkle of oregano, parmesan, and banana peppers for brightness that cuts through the richness.

The contrast between the crispy bread edges and tender, saucy meatballs makes this sandwich worth every bit of the inevitable shirt stains. Most customers miss the crucial step of asking for the bread to be hollowed out slightly before adding ingredients. This creates a perfect cradle for the meatballs and prevents the dreaded mid-meal structural collapse that leaves you wearing more sandwich than you’ve eaten.

9. Shake Shack ShackBurger

Shake Shack ShackBurger
© Bon Appetit

The ShackBurger ruined other fast food burgers for me after my summer working at Shake Shack. This isn’t just another cheeseburger—it’s a perfectly balanced masterpiece. The 100% Angus beef patty gets smashed on a hot griddle, creating those coveted crispy edges while staying juicy inside. Fellow Shack employees and I would add raw onion and pickles for extra tang and crunch.

The real hero, though, is the ShackSauce—a creamy, slightly spicy, mayo-based concoction that brings everything together. We’d often debate whether it was the potato bun or the sauce that made this burger special. True insiders know to order it with the burger “extra crispy” and ask for the lettuce and tomato on the side to prevent soggy bun syndrome. This simple hack preserves the textural integrity until the very last bite.

10. KFC Famous Bowl With Extra Gravy

KFC Famous Bowl With Extra Gravy
© Adventures of a Nurse

Comedian Patton Oswalt once called the KFC Famous Bowl a “failure pile in a sadness bowl,” but my fellow chicken slingers and I knew better. This glorious layered masterpiece of mashed potatoes, corn, crispy chicken, gravy, and cheese became our go-to comfort food during hectic shifts. The secret upgrade? Extra gravy and a splash of Nashville hot sauce mixed in. This simple addition transforms the bowl into something transcendent—spicy, savory, and impossibly satisfying.

The textural contrast between creamy potatoes and crunchy chicken bits creates a perfect bite every time. Most customers don’t realize you can request fresh chicken instead of the pieces that have been sitting under the heat lamps. This insider move guarantees maximum crispiness that stands up to the gravy onslaught, preventing the dreaded soggy chicken syndrome that plagues amateur Famous Bowl enthusiasts.

11. Chipotle Quesarito Off-Menu Hack

Chipotle Quesarito Off-Menu Hack
© Mashed

The Quesarito isn’t on Chipotle’s menu, but every employee knows this secret weapon. My manager introduced me to this magnificent beast during training—a burrito wrapped in a cheese quesadilla instead of a plain tortilla. Pure genius! Creating this masterpiece requires willing staff (tip well!) who’ll make a quesadilla first, then open it up to use as the outer layer for your burrito fillings.

The cheese creates a protective barrier that prevents soggy tortilla syndrome while adding an extra dimension of gooey goodness. My personal version combines barbacoa, white rice, black beans, corn salsa, and guacamole. The spicy barbacoa pairs perfectly with the mild cheese blanket. Fair warning though—this monster requires both hands, multiple napkins, and possibly a nap afterward. Worth every bit of the food coma that follows!

12. Burger King Original Chicken Sandwich With Zesty Sauce

Burger King Original Chicken Sandwich With Zesty Sauce
© MLive.com

The long, oval-shaped Original Chicken Sandwich at BK doesn’t get enough credit. During my brief stint wearing the paper crown, I discovered this overlooked gem was the most consistent item on the menu. The key transformation happens when you swap the standard mayo for Zesty sauce—normally reserved for onion rings.

This tangy, horseradish-infused condiment cuts through the richness of the breaded chicken perfectly. Add shredded lettuce and tomato for freshness, and you’ve got a sandwich that puts the Whopper to shame. Most BK workers know to request the chicken “fresh” to avoid specimens that have been languishing under heat lamps. Patience pays off with a piping hot sandwich featuring that distinctive crispy-yet-tender chicken texture that somehow remains juicy despite its thin profile. This was my go-to lunch for under $5.

13. Arby’s Classic Beef ‘N Cheddar

Arby's Classic Beef 'N Cheddar
© This Silly Girl’s Kitchen

Forget the fancy limited-time offerings—Arby’s employees know the Beef ‘n Cheddar is the chain’s true masterpiece. During my training week, a veteran colleague insisted I try this seemingly simple sandwich, and my fast food standards were forever changed. The magic lies in the onion roll, which gets a slather of zesty Red Ranch sauce before being piled with warm roast beef and topped with a cascade of hot Cheddar cheese sauce.

The combination creates this perfect umami bomb that hits all the right notes. Staff insiders request extra cheese sauce on the side for dipping and ask for the beef to be heated separately before assembly. This prevents the roll from getting soggy while ensuring the meat is piping hot. The contrasting temperatures and textures—warm, cool, soft, chewy—create a surprisingly complex eating experience from such a straightforward sandwich.

14. Panda Express Orange Chicken + Chow Mein Combo

Panda Express Orange Chicken + Chow Mein Combo
© Los Angeles Magazine

Orange Chicken paired with Chow Mein is the ultimate Panda Express power move. As someone who worked the line during college, I watched countless indecisive customers struggle with their entree choices while staff consistently reached for this foolproof combination during breaks. The sticky-sweet, slightly spicy chicken pieces with their crispy exterior complement the savory noodles perfectly.

The sauce from the chicken gradually mingles with the chow mein, creating this amazing flavor fusion that gets better with each bite. The real insider tip? Ask for your orange chicken “fresh” or “fresh out” when you see them cooking a new batch. You’ll wait an extra two minutes but receive chicken with maximum crispiness. Also, true connoisseurs know to request half chow mein, half super greens for the perfect balance of indulgence and virtue.

15. Popeyes Spicy Chicken Sandwich

Popeyes Spicy Chicken Sandwich
© Yahoo

The sandwich that launched a thousand memes lives up to the hype. Having worked at Popeyes during the Great Chicken Sandwich Wars of 2019, I witnessed grown adults nearly come to blows over this crispy miracle. The frenzy was justified—this sandwich is legitimately revolutionary. The chicken breast is marinated in Louisiana-style seasonings before being hand-battered and fried to golden perfection.

The spicy version adds a cayenne kick to the breading and comes topped with barrel-cured pickles and spicy mayo on a toasted brioche bun. Fellow employees and I discovered the optimal hack was adding a splash of Mardi Gras Mustard (usually reserved for chicken tenders) to the spicy mayo. This tangy addition cuts through the richness and elevates the sandwich to new heights. Even after making hundreds per shift, I never tired of sneaking one for lunch.

16. Dunkin’ Wake-Up Wrap With Hash Browns Inside

Dunkin' Wake-Up Wrap With Hash Browns Inside
© The Krazy Coupon Lady

Morning shifts at Dunkin’ taught me the ultimate breakfast hack: stuffing hash browns INSIDE the Wake-Up Wrap. This simple modification transforms a decent breakfast item into a portable flavor bomb that powered me through countless early mornings. The standard wrap contains egg, cheese, and your choice of meat (bacon is superior) in a small flour tortilla.

By adding the crispy hash brown patty before folding, you create this perfect textural contrast while solving the age-old problem of juggling multiple breakfast items during your commute. Most customers don’t realize you can request the wrap “extra toasted” which melts the cheese perfectly while giving the tortilla a slight crispness. My fellow Dunkin’ colleagues and I would sometimes add a smear of avocado spread for extra richness—a modification worth the upcharge for those who know.