The 15 Most Ordered Fast Food Items From Popular Chains

Fast food is arguably one of the most significant advancements in human history when it comes to the way that people eat and feed their families. In many places in the United States today, you can find a meal on a 24-hour basis without having to cook or do any planning in advance. You can order food from a variety of cuisines and styles with all of the convenience in the world.

There have been fast food menu items that have revolutionized the industry, many of which have become the most well known and iconic foods in the country. These menu items have set standards for taste and popularity. Some of these items have stood the test of time, while others are new offerings that have taken off in popularity in recent years. In this guide, you'll learn about the most ordered fast food items from some of the biggest, best, and exceedingly popular fast food chains around.

McDonald's has been around since 1940 and has set the tone for every fast food chain that has come after it. This is due in large part to the creation of the Big Mac. The Big Mac is a burger that features two all-beef patties, special sauce (close to a Thousand Island dressing), lettuce, cheese, and pickles, on a sesame seed bun. Something about this combination of ingredients has struck a chord with the public, so much so that McDonald's once marketed the burger heavily with a jingle that listed each ingredient.

The company launched the Big Mac in 1967 in test stores around Pittsburgh. It concluded a full launch for the rest of the country the following year. The Big Mac was originally created to compete with Big Boy in the Pittsburgh area. Big Boy had a burger called the Big Boy Hamburger, which was also a double-decker.

The rest is history, and the Big Mac has stood the test of time and remains a mainstay for fast food orderers around the world. It's so iconic that today, the Big Mac is also mentioned as a symbol for the United States and business as a whole. Many people today order a #1 Combo Meal from McDonald's so that they can enjoy a Big Mac, fries, and a drink. The restaurant is even getting ready to offer Big Mac sauce as a menu item. It's a burger that people all around the world find filling and satisfying. 

Though McDonald's is by far the biggest player in the fast food game, Burger King is often associated as the next largest competitor when it comes to getting burgers and fries. While McDonald's has the Big Mac, Burger King is known for the Whopper. The Whopper actually came along first, as it was released in 1957. It was birthed in Florida when the co-founder of Burger King saw that a local competitor was selling a larger burger.

The Whopper is a burger that weighs 4 ounces and includes a beef patty, lettuce, onions, sliced tomatoes, mayonnaise, ketchup, and pickles. It's flame-grilled, which is an attribute that separates the Whopper from many other mainstream burgers. The company also sells a Whopper with cheese for people who prefer cheeseburgers.

Burger King's Whopper remained the only mainstream large-sized burger until the '70s. It was also around this time that Burger King modified the Whopper to include a sesame seed bun. Today, you can order variations of the Whopper, including the Double Whopper, Impossible Whopper, and Whopper with bacon. It's sold in combos and is a favorite of many customers who order from Burger King.

Chick-fil-A has taken the industry by storm in the past couple of decades. It started largely as a restaurant that was found in mall food courts and rose to become a major player, competing head-to-head with fast food burger joints. The company was able to grow so effectively largely because of its flagship item: the Chicken Sandwich.

The Chicken Sandwich involves a battered and fried breast of chicken on a lightly buttered bun with pickles. Many customers appreciate the subtle combination of sweet and savory that the sandwich provides, and it's a flavor combination that often has people choosing this option over burgers and fries. For years, the company marketed its sandwiches and other meal items with its "Eat More Chikin" campaigns, featuring cows comedically painting misspelled signs urging people to stay away from the burgers in favor of Chick-fil-A's chicken-based meals.

In more recent years, Chick-fil-A has also released a Spicy Chicken Sandwich for people who want a bit more kick and flavor. These sandwiches are routinely enjoyed with the company's signature waffle fries and a drink. Many imitators have popped up in recent years to take a shot at the chicken sandwich crown, but Chick-fil-A's original sandwich reigns supreme. 

The Louisiana flavor of Popeyes' fried chicken has also made it a major competitor in the fast food world in recent years. It's a company that has perfected the combination of crispy battered crust and seasoning, and this shows up in full with its chicken selections.

When you place an order at Popeyes, you're generally choosing between two types of fried chicken styles: Signature Chicken, which includes different cuts of chicken, and wings. When you order the Signature Chicken, you can choose between the standard recipe and spicy. You can order these as part of a combo meal with a side, biscuit, and drink. If you decide to order the wings, you're in for an extra kick of flavor. Popeye's specializes in Ghost Pepper Wings that are bite-sized, breaded, hand-battered, and marinated in notoriously hot ghost peppers that aren't for the faint of heart.

The restaurant put its Ghost Pepper wings on hiatus for a period of time, but the wings recently made a triumphant return — much to the delight of chicken fans. Something about the Louisiana flavor of both the Signature Chicken and Ghost Pepper Wings makes people positively salivate, which quickly propelled these offerings as the cream of the crop to order whenever you have a taste for fast food chicken. 

In-N-Out Burger is a long-time favorite of people on the West Coast, and a bucket list item that people scratch off every year when they travel to California on vacation. The charm of the restaurant and its flagship In-N-Out burger is in its simplicity. These burgers feature 100% American beef patties, toasted buns, onions, crispy lettuce, tomatoes, and a zesty spread that has been unchanged since the late '40s.

People love In-N-Out Burger because it uses all-natural ingredients, and the beef is free of preservatives and additives. You're getting a taste of burgers that have been made with flavor and consistency since the company opened its doors in 1948. You can get this burger in a variety of types, including a standard hamburger, cheeseburger, or Double-Double.

Part of the appeal of the In-N-Out burger is the "secret menu", which lets people order it in different ways suited to their tastes. Examples of secret menu options include Protein Style, which uses a lettuce wrap instead of a bun; Animal Style, which delivers a mustard-cooked patty with the addition of pickles, extra sauce, and grilled onions; and a 3X3, which has three patties and slices of cheese. All of these details add up to making In-N-Out Burger's signature burgers a holy grail item for fast food lovers everywhere.

Wendy's is a top-tier fast food chain founded by Dave Thomas in 1969. Though Thomas died in 2002, his presence is still felt on the menu in the form of the Dave's Single, Double, Triple, and other offerings. People love these items because of the combination of flavor and the heartiness of this filling meal.

The Dave's Single features a quarter-pound of square-shaped beef, along with tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles, and American cheese. These ingredients are served on a fluffy bun that is toasted to perfection. You can pile on a half-pound of beef in the form of Dave's Double, and three-quarters of a pound of beef if you opt for the Dave's Triple. Customers often order these monumental burgers in the form of combos that include Wendy's fries and a drink. It's a fitting homage to the company's founder, who dared go up against existing burger giants using square-shaped beef patties.

Chipotle is one of the newest and biggest players in fast food and fast casual offerings in recent years. This chain gives you the chance to customize Mexican-American food to your liking so that you can get your fill of flavorful and fresh ingredients. The most popular menu items at Chipotle that you can order are the burritos and burrito bowls.

When you order a burrito, you can select your choice of protein, and a variety of vegetables, sauces, toppings, and cheeses. You can order a large burrito that comes with a tortilla wrap, or skip the wrap and get the same ingredients in the form of a burrito bowl. Examples of your core options include beef, chicken, or vegetables. You can also add ingredients like lettuce, rice, black or pinto beans, guacamole, salsa, fresh queso, and more. People appreciate Chipotle's burrito and burrito bowl options because of the versatility and the ability to customize them however they like. Customers also love the fact that they can get fresh vegetables from a fast food restaurant, which is often a welcome break from the burgers and fries that you get from most other places.

While Wendy's is largely known for its square burgers, people also turn to this fast food restaurant for its chicken menu items. Wendy's chicken nuggets are among the most popular selections that you can order, whether you get them solo or to go alongside other menu options. People love Wendy's chicken nuggets because they're made with 100% white meat chicken breast, and are fried crispy with plenty of flavor. You can get these nuggets in various quantities and they come with a choice of sauce from the following: BBQ, Buttermilk Ranch, Ghost Pepper Ranch, Honey Mustard, and Sweet & Sour. 

Chicken nuggets have been a longtime value menu item favorite for Wendy's customers wanting an inexpensive add-on. These nuggets round out Wendy's menu selections and add an excellent option that is great for kids and adults alike. In recent years, the company has built on the success of its chicken nuggets by also offering a spicy variety.

Though McDonald's is known for the Big Mac, it also has some value-priced items that customers have gravitated toward for years. One of the most popular of these is the McDouble. The McDouble is a cheeseburger with two beef patties, a slice of cheese, pickles, onions, and ketchup. Customers like the combination of ingredients and the fact that they get two beef patties. It's an inexpensive burger option that people can take advantage of regardless of what kind of budget they're working with.

McDonald's ushered in the McDouble in 1997 and has long been a part of the company's value menu. People love these burgers because you can eat one or two of them along with a small order of fries and fill your stomach at less of a cost than you'll pay for the majority of other fast food combo meals. It's even mentioned by people as a life hackwhen you're in a pinch and want to get the most value from your fast food order. McDonald's has since come out with a Bacon McDouble that furthers the popularity and legacy of this burger. 

KFC deserves credit for coming up with unique ways for people to feed their families or large groups of people. As a matter of fact, your mind might even go straight to KFC and Colonel Sanders whenever someone mentions a bucket of chicken. The restaurant introduced the concept of a bucket of chicken in 1957 and it has remained a menu item and cultural mainstay ever since. 

With the bucket of chicken from KFC, you can order whole pieces, including wings, thighs, breasts, and legs. KFC sells chicken in its Original Recipe, featuring its patented 11 herbs and spices, extra crispy, grilled, and hot and spicy varieties. You can order a bucket of chicken from KFC in different size varieties, including 6, 8, 12, and 16 pieces. These buckets provides you with a reasonable way to let everyone in the household get a bite to eat, especially when paired with potato wedges, biscuits, coleslaw, and other side items.

The KFC bucket is popular because of its versatility, and because you can get whole pieces rather than just strips. You can bite into some flavorful chicken options that are succulent, juicy, and masterfully seasoned. It's a big reason that KFC has been able to stand the test of time as the chicken titan in a sea of burger restaurants. 

Whether you live in one of the 40 states that has Hardee's restaurants, or live in California, Nevada, or other states where it's known as Carl's Jr., the Original Angus Burger is a mainstay that many customers appreciate. This is the franchise's most popular charbroiled option, featuring a third-pound of 100% Angus beef, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup, pickles, and a variety of other toppings, served on a potato bun, and typically in the form of a combo meal.

People love the combination of melted cheese, sauces, and broiled beef, and the way it creates one of the most satisfying burgers on the market today. The Hardee's franchise has long separated itself from other fast food burger joints by making its burgers bigger and closer to restaurant quality. This lets you get a break from some of the more typical burger options, while also satisfying your appetite. The addition of Angus beef lets you sink your teeth into plenty of flavor, while also enjoying a healthier cut of beef. You don't always get this level of quality at the drive-thru window, which is why Hardee's and Carl's Jr. serve plenty of these burgers each and every day.

Taco Bell has long set itself apart as the biggest Mexican-style fast food chain in the United States and the world. Since 1962, the company has offered a variety of hard-shell and soft-shell tacos, as well as a slew of other items. In recent years, the Crunchwrap Supreme has become one of the most popular dishes on the menu. It was released in 2005 and is highly regarded because of its flavor and many different ingredients. It features a tostada shell, beef, sour cream, cheese, diced tomatoes, lettuce, and other add-ons all wrapped in a toasted tortilla.

It's a melted amalgamation of Mexican-inspired flavor that people hit the drive-thru window to order each and every day. When you throw in a side of chips or a taco and a drink, it's the perfect combo item that lets you sample a little bit of everything that Taco Bell provides.

Customers love the core list of sandwiches Subway offers, along with the ability to customize them however they'd like. The Spicy Italian is a favorite of many, because of the combination of different meats and savory flavor. The core ingredients of the sandwich include salami, spicy pepperoni, and your choice of cheese. 

It's a versatile item since you can decide between different types of bread and a host of other toppings. Your bread options include white, wheat, gluten-free, Italian herbs and cheese, multigrain, and malted rye. Your cheese options are pepper Jack, American, mozzarella, provolone, and Monterey cheddar. The sandwich can take on a world of different flavors when you explore the toppings. Examples of these toppings include tomatoes, lettuce, jalapeño, banana peppers, olives, spinach, oil and vinegar, mayonnaise, chipotle sauce, and more. 

Customers order these subs in the 6-inch and foot-long varieties. People typically order the Spicy Italian as part of a combination, which includes chips and a fountain drink. Flavor aside, the Spicy Italian is a popular sandwich because it's quite filling and satisfying, making it an excellent menu item to explore. 

Arby's is a sandwich chain that has taken the world by storm recently. The "We have the meats" campaign sets this company apart from other chains, as the primary focus centers around cooked slices of meat and hearty deli-style sandwiches. Since Arby's has been around, the roast beef sandwich has set the standard. The chain delivers succulent slow-roasted beef sandwiches that are packed with flavor and various sauces. 

When you order the Classic Roast Beef sandwich, you're getting piles of beef on a sesame seed bun, along with the company's patented Arby's Sauce. Depending on your appetite, these sandwiches can also be upgraded to the Double Roast Beef and Half Pound Roast Beef. When you've got a taste for dairy, you can also look into the Classic Beef 'N Cheddar, Double Beef 'N Cheddar, and Half Pound Beef 'N Cheddar. These cheesy sandwiches also have added zest with the inclusion of Red Ranch sauce and an onion roll. You'll fill your belly and satisfy your appetite when you order any of these roast beef sandwiches in a combo with curly fries and a drink. 

The list isn't complete without the addition of a popular breakfast item. McDonald's reigns supreme in this category thanks to its McGriddles. For years, the company served up biscuits and different egg and cheese breakfast fare, and they've improved on these offerings with sandwiches made from syrup-infused griddle cakes. 

You have a variety of options for your McGriddles, including just sausage; sausage, egg, and cheese; and bacon, egg, and cheese. People love how the McGriddle encapsulates every popular breakfast item in one selection. You'll get the savory flavor of the meat, along with the sweetness and fluffy texture of the griddle cakes. It's an excellent way to start your day, both from a taste standpoint and the fact that you get plenty of protein. You can order McGriddle combos that come with hash browns and coffee, orange juice, or your choice of other beverage.