15 Best And 7 Worst Fast Food Items Of 2025: A Q1 Report Card

Well, 2025 has seen lots of new additions to fast food franchise menus throughout the United States, from milkshakes and desserts to main meals and sides. A few were old favorites that had been given a fresh twist; other treats were brand spanking new. Devotees across the internet raced to try them out, offering their unvarnished opinions in blogs, videos, and social media commentaries.

Many of the fast food additions got a warm reception and a few fell flat, but one thing was the same for all of them: People did not pull their punches when it came to their ratings. Now, the Q1 report card for the first semester is in. Here are the best and worst new fast food items of 2025, based on internet reviews.

Taco Bell kicked off 2025 with goodies that included customizable meals, Baja Dream beverages, and a fresh twist on a returning favorite: Steak Nacho Fries. It comprised Mexican seasoning, grilled steak, cheddar cheese, flavorful pico de gallo, a nacho cheese sauce, and a new garlic ranch sauce. 

Writing for The Impulsive Buy, Marvo gave Taco Bell's Steak Garlic Nacho Fries a respectable 7 out of 10, adding that the garlic sauce needed more punch. Perhaps Marvo got a bad batch, as other online reviewers remarked on the strength of the garlic sauce, while one Redditor enthused: "They were one of the best new items in a long time!! 8/10 at least."

Seventy-five years ago, Harmon Dobson launched the first Whataburger in Texas, and the company hasn't looked back since. To kick off several months of celebrations ahead of its August anniversary, Whataburger launched two new drinks in January: Mexican Hot Chocolate Coffee — with iced and hot options — and a Mexican Hot Chocolate Shake.

Despite all the fanfare, the latter shake in particular received a lukewarm reception online. A Facebook user described it as: "Tasty enough. Kinda cinnamon-forward, and not particularly chocolaty, but, yeah, tasty enough." Another commenter said a Whataburger employee told them it tasted like eggnog, a description that came up again on Reddit: "Tasted no cinnamon or chocolate. Agreed, it tasted just like eggnog. Won't order again," said a commenter. 

A month before the 2025 Super Bowl LIX at New Orleans' Superdome, Popeyes decided to celebrate the event not with a Kelce-style cookie but by unveiling its new Louisiana Garlic Wings. The company said the state's Cajun flavors inspired them to marinate and toss chicken wings in a garlicky, buttery sauce.

YouTuber FoodSesh praised Popeyes for not skimping on the size of its Louisiana Garlic Wings, before chowing down. He said, "I was pleasantly surprised; you taste the garlic flavor right off the bat," before giving the wings a score of 8.1 out of 10. Fellow vlogger theendorsement was critical of the wings' size and price, but still gave them 81 out of 100. 

January was great for Sonic franchise fans. The company added two limited-edition burgers to its menu: the Bacon Deluxe Double and Triple Sonic Smashers. They had either two or three Angus beef patties, plus bacon, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and Sonic's Smasher Sauce. 

Both went down well with online reviewers. Janice Yamanaka liked the thick bacon on her double burger, describing it as "hefty" in her YouTube assessment, and giving it an A. MsBeauTIFFull reviewed the triple Sonic smasher and said in her video: "The more I eat the better it get[s]," adding, "The star of the show is the cheese."

Checkers and Rally's hoped for a sweet start to the year with the new Honey BBQ Bacon Burger, which was available for a limited time in January. It paired the company's new Honey Bourbon BBQ sauce with a grilled hamburger patty made from 100% beef, American cheese, bacon, and grilled onions in a toasted sesame seed bun. 

YouTuber Joe is Hungry was not impressed during his comprehensive review. The burgers he bought at a drive-thru were too cold for his taste, didn't offer great value for money at $0.60 per ounce for a single burger (as opposed to a combo), and looked nothing like the adverts. As for the taste? Joe was disappointed with almost everything, scoring the Honey BBQ Bacon Burger a lowly 3.0.

Three new types of Asiago Bagel Stacks were unveiled by Panera Bread in January. They were the Chicken Roma, the Spicy Steak, and the Zesty Tuscan, featuring an array of ingredients including tasty grilled chicken, marinated steak, soppressata, provolone, arugula, and Green Goddess dressing. 

Asiago bagel lover Eating with Shay reviewed all three sandwiches on TikTok, and adored the flavors but insisted they all needed more sauce. Taryn Pire, in a review for purewow, said the SpicySteak was tasty but the worst-looking of the trio, and the Chicken Roma needed a balsamic reduction, or olives or tapenade to take it to the next level, before concluding the Zesty Tuscan was the best of the bunch.

Texan company Wingstop turned to experts in Thailand, China, and Singapore for its new Pacific Glaze, also known as Sweet Chili Glaze, which launched in January. "It's a blend of red chili, vinegar, sugar, fermented soybean, plum, hoisin, garlic, and Chinese five spice," said Larry Bellah, senior director of culinary and R&D, per Restaurant Business.

On Reddit, users warned of the presence of soy, sesame, and wheat in the Sweet Chili Glaze, and several left positive comments, including one who wrote: "Definitely in my top 5 of all time." On YouTube, Daym Drops liked the tender chicken, sweetness, heat, and spice of the coating. He called it a "quite interesting concept," adding that the sauce worked because "this flavor is the pinnacle of success over a wing."

People mourning Taco Bell's fiesta veggie burrito got a boost in January with the nationwide roll-out of the chain's Cheesy Dipping Burritos. Smaller than traditional burritos, fillings were either marinated grilled steak or Cantina slow-roasted chicken, accompanied by three dipping sauces: nacho cheese, reduced-fat sour cream, and creamy chipotle. 

The Drive Thru Review had mixed feelings. They described the snack as "very delicious," but size was an issue — they were about the length of a credit card. Although The Impulsive Buy had no beef with the size and was more impressed by the chicken version, they couldn't bring themselves to like the name.

Fast food can be crammed with lots of fat and sugar but it can be good for us too, as CAVA demonstrated in early January. The brand joined forces with Olympic champion Gabby Thomas for three limited edition meals: The Spicy Lamb and Avocado Bowl, the Falafel Crunch Bowl, and the Garlic Chicken and Veggie Pita. 

The Southern Snack might not have remembered Gabby's name, but the lamb bowl and chicken pita made a decent impression. He described the pita as "very tangy" and said it was "okay" but lacked oomph, giving it a 6. The lamb bowl fared better, with good flavors, and he rated it 8 out of 10. In a TikTok review, registered dietician jnewtrition tried and loved all three and gave each item more than 9/10.

What could be a better way to round off January than unveiling the latest Footlong Cookie from Subway? The sandwich brand — a master of the limited-edition offer — teamed up with Oreo to create a dessert with the "delicious crunch of their signature cookie and creme filling," according to Paul Fabre, senior VP, culinary and innovation. Although the chocolatey treat promised much, it did not deliver.

YouTuber theendorsement gave the 12-inch dessert a try, and although he appreciated the chocolate cookie, the cream was a big problem. "Heated up, it got rubbery and I was afraid of that," he said, giving it a rating of 74 out of 100. Over on Reddit, the size of the Oreo cookie proved too much for several commenters, including one who admitted they got "kinda sick of it halfway through."

Social media can be a hive of gossip about fast food eateries, but rumors about a Thin Mint Frosty from Wendy's were all over the internet in January, before the sweet treat finally made its appearance nationwide in mid-February. Inspired by Girl Scout cookies, the Frosty is a combination of the iconic treats and chocolate or vanilla ice cream. It proved to be quite the hit.

In a Reddit thread, commenters raved about it, with one saying: "It was heavenly," and another posting: "I had one and it was delicious! Loved that it basically was crushed Thin Mints!" In contrast, The Impulsive Buy was more considered. In a review that gave the treat 6 out of 10, the writer said the minty flavor became "thin" when eaten with the rest of the ice cream.

February kicked off in fine style for Shake Shack, with two new drinks added to its line-up. The Brownie Batter Hot Cocoa Shake comprised frozen custard, whipped cream, and brownie crisps, while the Thai Iced Tea was a blend of vanilla frozen custard, house-brewed Thai tea, whipped cream, and black sugar syrup. 

They sound great, but Bo Tornello at The Triangle was far from blown away. "Honestly, this drink is disappointing," they wrote, citing the absence of brownie batter flavor, and rating it a 3 out of 5. The Thai tea shake fared better, with the strong tea taste boosting it to 4 out of 5. Instagrammer Paulie Mars liked the chocolate shake, but the Thai tea? Not so much. "You are drinking coffee creamer with this," she said.

Taco Bell described its Steak & Queso Crunchwrap Sliders as "fun-sized," but these tasty snacks punched above their weight for paying customers. Sold in pairs for $5.69, they contained steak, a mini tostada shell, chipotle sauce, pico de gallo, and cheddar cheese, and came with a green chili queso dipping sauce. They went down a storm.

An article for NJ.com said the sliders were "spectacular," adding: "the marinated steak was tender and flavorful, the tortilla seared to add some crunch." In a YouTube review, theendorsement said, "That tastes so good" after the first bite, relished the mix of ingredients, and enjoyed the green chili queso dip. He didn't like the $5.99 price for two, but ended up giving them 85-86 out of 100.

Blue isn't the most natural color for food, but when it's a Dairy Queen's Dipped Cone, who cares? February saw the Crunchin' Cookie version unveiled, which had choco cookie pieces mixed into the blue coating. For ex-DQ employee Erin, writing for The Impulsive Buy, it was worth an impressive 8 out of 10.

Although the cookie chunks in the coating were small, she enjoyed the crunch of biting into them, as well as the creamy ice cream. According to the Redditor behind this post, who also enjoyed the dip, the powers-that-be at Dairy Queen might make the blue version a permanent fixture, as it's been so successful.

March saw KFC hit the fast food headlines with the Dunk It Bucket. Three sizes are available, with the cheapest costing just $7 for fries, tenders, and — another newcomer — mashed potato poppers, while the lid holds the dipping sauces. KFC president Catherine Tan-Gillespie told Southern Living: "It's our first brand-new bucket in nearly a decade, and trust me, it was so worth the wait!"

Early reviewers agreed. In his YouTube review, BigBelly Bob liked combining the gravy and zesty peppery sauce: "You got to double dip," he said, and gave the bucket a high 3 out of 5. Fellow YouTuber theendorsement called the combination of mashed potato poppers and gravy "very unique, salty, potatoey fried goodness." He gave the whole Dunk It Bucket a solid 85 out of 100.

March was a watershed month for Domino's, as the 65-year-old brand rolled out its first-ever stuffed crust pizza. Available in the United Kingdom since 2013, the company waited until March 2025 to create its own U.S. version with a Parmesan-stuffed crust. Domino's promised fans in the United States that it would be worth the wait. Online reviewers gave it a mixed response.

On TikTok, dedicated Domino's lover snachwithzach could barely contain his joy as he chowed down, saying: "12-year-old me is freaking out right now." Over on Reddit, the reviews were more mixed. One commenter described it as: "So damn good," while another stated it was "overhyped." Instagram's committedtothepizza was underwhelmed, too — except by the garlic sprinkled on the crust.

Bojangles delighted brunching diners with its new Chicken and Bo-Berry Waffles in March. Dubbed "the ultimate indulgence" by the company, they were made of two waffles on either side of a Cajun chicken filet, slathered in Bo-Berry honey glaze sauce. It might sound weird, but online reviewers loved it.

The Southern Stack admired the combination of Cajun filet with blueberry sauce, and enthused: "The way they pull this off is absolutely fantastic." Over on TikTok, Mr.ChimeTime dubbed it "probably the wildest Bojangles creation in Bojangles history," before urging people to go try it.

The first three months of 2025 were stacked with lots of savory and sweet treats, but in March, Chick-fil-A decided we needed something to help wash them all down. Into the spotlight stepped their new Pineapple Dragonfruit beverages, comprising an iced tea, a lemonade, a frosted lemonade, and a Chick-fil-A fave, the Sunjoy. 

Danielle Harling, writing for Delishably, said the pineapple dragonfruit flavor got a little lost in both the frosted lemonade and sweet tea, but loved the Sunjoy version. It came a close second to the lemonade, which she described as "welcomingly tart." The Sunjoy was a winner on Reddit, too, with one poster describing it as their "new favorite drink," and another gave it 8 out of 10.

In March, everyone went wild when the company's Chipotle Honey Chicken finally got a nationwide launch. Described by the company as "fresh chicken hot off the grill, seasoned with savory Mexican spices, in a marinade of seared, smoked chipotle peppers and a touch of pure honey," it had hit written all over it.

Online reviewer IanK at Peep THIS Out! was definitely a fan, calling it "a beautiful thing indeed," and "very tasty." He said the almost $12 price tag was worth it for the bowl, and gave it a "rock solid" 9 out of 10. Chipotle's Chipotle Honey Chicken didn't just get love from the United States. Canadian online reviewer tryittoronto was equally as enthusiastic. "That is insanely good," she said, adding she hoped it wouldn't be a limited-time item as it would become her "go-to order."

Nothing beats a great sandwich, and Jimmy John's stans were delighted when the brand launched three new Toasted Sandwiches in March. The Chicken Bacon Ranch, Ultimate Italian, and Roast Beef and Cheddar, quickly established themselves as welcome additions to the menu, according to online reviews.

Redditors in this thread shared their love for the new Jimmy John's sandwiches, with one commenting: "Eating the Italian right now and loving it! This will definitely be a regular order." YouTuber Joe Is Hungry also tried the ultimate Italian and — after considering everything from internal temperature to taste — gave it an "excellent" 7.9 out of 10. "This is an excellent sub," he said.

Scooting in under the wire, Dunkin's new Ham & Swiss Pretzel Sliders were introduced at the end of March. King's Hawaiian pretzel slider buns are stuffed with Black Forest ham, honey mustard spread, and Swiss cheese, and you even get two for your money. They may have looked appetizing in the press release, but not everyone was impressed.

In Marvo's review for The Impulsive Buy, he wrote how he "treated them like wounded baby birds when they were handed to me," yet they still ended up looking as if they had been sat on. One had a strange acrid taste, but overall, "Nothing about it excited my taste buds," he concluded. The sliders were a flop on Reddit, too. One commenter said: "The sliders were super sweet and soggy and I didn't realize there was mustard on them."

Dairy Queen left it to the last day of March to unveil two brand new Blizzards among its summer line-up: The Mixing Bowl Mashup and the Dipped Strawberry Cheesecake. The former has brownie batter and cookie dough pieces, while the latter's ingredients include pieces of real cheesecake, chocolate chunks, and a strawberry topping. 

Snackolator posted an Instagram review of the new additions, calling the Mixing Bowl Mashup "simple but amazing," and gave it a precise score of 8.279 out of 10. He called the Dipped Strawberry Cheesecake "sneaky good" and gave it an 8.972 out of 10. On YouTube, The Southern Snack liked the strawberry Blizzard, ranking it 8.5 out of 10, but he loved the gooey richness of the Mixing Bowl Mashup, giving it a 10 out of 10.