What You Should Consider The Next Time You Try A Menu Hack

In the summer of 2020, Taco Bell took its 7 Layer Burrito off the menu as part of a massive edit that also nixed the Mexican Pizza. The latter has since returned for good, thanks to its patron saint Dolly Parton, but the former remains a ghost of Taco Bell past. Its demise has been met with disappointment from customers across the U.S., including Grub Street's Daniel Maurer, who was delighted to find it quietly persevering at a Taco Bell in Santiago, Chile. 

Meanwhile, 7 Layer stans in the States have learned to order the burrito in a deconstructed way by asking for a a cheesy bean and rice burrito "fresco-style" with potatoes, lettuce, and guacamole. The hack, devised by TikTok creator Damn Tasty Vegan, costs under $3, which is less than the original. It's actually one of several secret menu items at Taco Bell, but the Mexican-American chain is only the tip of the iceberg. So-called menu hacks abound at fast-food chains of all ilks, including burger joint In-N-Out, whose saucy, cheesy, onion-topped "animal-style" fries have gained a cult following. 

By all accounts, ordering an off-the-menu item is a cool feeling. It gives secret password vibes, and it can save you some money. Unfortunately, menu hacks are not as cool for workers.

Hellthy Junk Food founder JP Lambiase told Eater that app-based ordering has given way to a new level of customer food hacks. Lambiase, who shares menu hacks on TikTok and YouTube, confirms that loyalty apps are "the ultimate hacker's dream," particularly for customers looking to beat the system on price. For example, one of Lambiase's app-based hacks involves scoring a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte for $2.45 by doctoring up an iced espresso with the free add-ons that come with membership.

This is great for the customer, but not so much for the worker who suddenly has to prepare an unfamiliar drink — and, in the case of a viral TikTok hack, dozens and dozens of unfamiliar drinks — on the fly. "It brings me to a screeching halt, trying to figure out what they want, how to make it, actually making it, and more times than not, remaking it, both because I messed up somewhere or because the person sent it back, either because it didn't look like the pictures they had or because they didn't like the taste," one Starbucks worker told the outlet. 

It's equally important to note that workers are not compensated by their employers for the extra time they spend on specialized orders. Indeed, fair pay is one of the issues at the heart of the worker strikes that have taken over the food scene since 2021. Starbucks workers have been at the center of it, representing one of the biggest pushes for union representation in recent years. "If we're going to have to keep making drinks like these, the union has our back and is going to make sure we get taken care of and get paid what we deserve," a Starbucks worker told Eater.

If you go to a particular Waffle House in Atlanta, you'll see a sign that reads, "ORDER FROM THE MENU WE ARE NOT MAKING ANYTHING YOU SAW ON TIKTOK!!" (Ironically, TikTok is the reason we know about the sign.) Not all businesses are so clear about their hack boundaries, but it's safe to assume workers will have an easier day if you order off the regular menu. If you simply can't resist the urge to try the internet's latest mashup, at least be sure to leave a generous tip.