Order Secret Menu Items at Fast Food Chains

Is Starbucks' "tall" is actually too large for you, and Chipotle's minimalist menu too constraining? These chains and many more have secret menus, or at least margins for creativity, that can awesomely expand your cheap-eats repertoire.

Photo by cote.

Some chains have actual secret items for devoted customers, as the mental_floss blog proves with its revealing of McDonald's Neapolitan milkshake (just what it sounds like) and Taco Bell's green chile sauce. In other cases, it's just a simple request for the staff to do something creative with materials they already have on hand:

If you're at Starbucks and in need of just a little caffeine, don't worry – there's a tiny option for you. It's the Short size, and they don't advertise it. It's like a little baby cup of coffee. It also comes in handy when you're scrounging for change and don't have enough for a tall… not that that has ever happened to me.

Personally, I'm intrigued by the "store policy" that lets you order any combination of ingredients at Chipotle—hello, tomatillo-salsa-smothered enchiladas.

Have you found your own secret menus at chains, regional or national? Can you dream up your own great menu remix item? Make us hungry in the comments.