Remember those amazing fast-food sandwiches you could only find in Pennsylvania? From beloved local chains to test market specials, the Keystone State has seen some incredible edible creations vanish from menus forever. These weren’t just meals – they were memories, wrapped in paper and served with a side of nostalgia. Let’s revisit some legendary Pennsylvania fast-food sandwiches that disappeared, leaving only cravings and fond recollections behind.
1. The Big Wink from Winky’s
Pittsburgh’s answer to the Big Mac ruled supreme in Western Pennsylvania during the 1960s and 70s. The Big Wink featured two juicy beef patties stacked high on a fresh bun with melted cheese, crisp lettuce, and the legendary “Winky sauce” – a tangy Thousand Island-style dressing that gave it that special zing.
Kids would beg their parents to stop at Winky’s after Little League games, while teenagers cruising the parkway made it their late-night pit stop. For just 74 cents during special promotions, you could get the whole meal deal with fries and coleslaw.
When McDonald’s expanded aggressively into Winky’s territory, the local chain couldn’t compete. By 1982, all 42 locations across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia had closed their doors, taking the beloved Big Wink with them.
2. Gino’s Giant Burger
Before McDonald’s dominated Philadelphia, the Gino Giant reigned supreme. Created by NFL star Gino Marchetti’s restaurant chain, this towering sandwich featured two beef patties, American cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles, and zesty “giant sauce” on a sesame seed bun.
What made the Giant special wasn’t just its size – it was the experience. Many Philly locations co-branded with Kentucky Fried Chicken, making it the perfect family dinner stop where everyone got exactly what they wanted.
Weekend outings often ended at Gino’s, where the iconic “Everybody Goes to Gino’s” jingle played on the radio. The chain’s local sports sponsorships cemented its place in Pennsylvania culture until Marriott Corporation bought the chain in 1982, converting most locations to Roy Rogers restaurants.
3. Red Barn’s Big Barney
Those distinctive barn-shaped restaurants dotting Pennsylvania highways in the 1960s and 70s served up one memorable sandwich: the Big Barney. This triple-decker burger arrived before the Big Mac and featured two beef patties, cheese, lettuce, pickles, and special sauce on a bun with that signature middle slice.
Families on road trips along Routes 22 and 30 would spot the bright red barn-shaped buildings from a distance. Kids loved the novelty of eating in a restaurant that looked just like a barn, complete with cartoon mascots – including a hamburger-headed character!
Red Barn pioneered the self-serve salad bar concept in fast food, but corporate turmoil in the late 1970s led to their demise. By 1988, nearly all 300+ locations had closed or rebranded, though one independent location in Bradford, PA remarkably survived until 2015.
4. Burger Chef’s Big Shef
McDonald’s wasn’t the first to create a signature double-decker burger – Burger Chef’s Big Shef beat the Big Mac to market in 1964. This mouthwatering creation featured two flame-broiled patties, melted American cheese, crisp lettuce, and that distinctive “secret sauce” on a triple-layered bun.
College students in Erie, factory workers in Pittsburgh, and families in Allentown all had their local Burger Chef hangout. The chain’s innovative “works bar” let customers customize their sandwiches with various toppings – a revolutionary concept at the time.
Though Burger Chef boasted over 1,000 locations nationwide, financial struggles led to Hardee’s purchasing the chain in 1982. The orange-and-blue signs came down, the restaurants rebranded, and the beloved Big Shef vanished from Pennsylvania’s fast-food landscape – leaving behind a generation of fans who still insist it tasted better than its golden-arched competitor.
5. The Pudgie Burger
Not every beloved Pennsylvania sandwich came from a national chain. The Pudgie Burger – a half-pound behemoth from Pudgie’s Pizza & Subs – gained cult status in northern PA towns like Mansfield and Williamsport during the 1980s and 90s.
Mansfield University students would crowd into the local Pudgie’s after classes, customizing their burgers with everything from standard toppings to more adventurous options like hot peppers and fried onions. The juicy, made-to-order patty on a fresh bun became legendary among locals and college kids alike.
While Pudgie’s primarily focused on pizza, their namesake burger developed a devoted following. As franchise agreements expired and competition increased, many locations closed throughout the 2000s. Today, only two Pennsylvania Pudgie’s remain, making this regional delight virtually extinct for most state residents.
6. Wawa’s Homestyle Roast Beef Hoagie
Eastern Pennsylvanians still reminisce about Wawa’s Homestyle Roast Beef Hoagie with a special kind of longing. Unlike standard deli meat, this sandwich featured thick-cut, tender roast beef with a homemade quality, served warm on Wawa’s legendary rolls and often paired with zesty horseradish sauce.
Late-night drivers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike would detour just to grab this satisfying sandwich. Office workers throughout Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley made it their go-to lunch, savoring that perfect combination of hearty beef, creamy horseradish, and fresh-baked roll.
Despite its cult following, Wawa quietly discontinued the sandwich around 2009-2010, replacing it briefly with prime rib before removing both entirely. Devoted fans created online petitions and Facebook groups demanding its return, but Wawa’s CEO later admitted it simply wasn’t a consistent seller, despite being beloved by its dedicated fanbase.
7. Sheetz Burger Sub
Before Sheetz offered traditional burgers, they created the bizarrely brilliant Burger Sub – a hamburger patty stuffed into a submarine roll instead of a round bun. This Franken-sandwich became a late-night legend throughout central and western Pennsylvania in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
College students from Penn State to IUP would customize these creations on the famous touchscreen ordering system. The genius was in the practicality – the sub roll contained all the toppings and sauces without falling apart, making it perfect for eating while driving those long Pennsylvania highway stretches.
As Sheetz upgraded their kitchens and menu offerings in the 2010s, they phased out this quirky creation in favor of more traditional burgers on proper buns. The change happened without fanfare, but devoted fans immediately noticed when the option disappeared from the MTO screens, marking the end of a uniquely Pennsylvanian fast-food innovation.
8. Rax Roast Beef’s BBC Sandwich
Long before Arby’s dominated the roast beef scene, Rax Roast Beef restaurants dotted Pennsylvania’s landscape with their signature BBC sandwich – Beef, Bacon & Cheddar. This indulgent creation featured warm, thinly-sliced roast beef topped with crispy bacon strips and smothered in creamy cheddar cheese sauce, all nestled in a soft, buttery roll.
Teenagers in towns from Altoona to the Ohio border would pack Rax’s distinctive greenhouse-style dining rooms on weekend nights. The sandwich’s messy, delicious combination made it the chain’s bestseller, with fans often requesting extra cheese sauce for dipping their twisty fries.
Unfortunately, Rax’s attempt to diversify their menu with pasta bars and Chinese food options led to confusion and eventually bankruptcy in 1992. Pennsylvania locations closed or converted to other chains, and the beloved BBC vanished completely from the state’s fast-food landscape.
9. Roy Rogers’ Gold Rush Chicken Sandwich
When Roy Rogers restaurants dotted Pennsylvania’s highways in the 1980s and 90s, their Gold Rush Chicken Sandwich stood out as a true original. Unlike typical fast-food fare, this creation featured a whole chicken breast glazed with sweet honey sauce, served on a distinctive corn-dusted Kaiser roll with fresh lettuce and tomato.
Families traveling along the Pennsylvania Turnpike would make special stops just for this sandwich. The combination of that honey glaze with the unique texture of the corn-dusted bun created a flavor profile unlike anything else in fast food at the time.
Sadly, as Hardee’s purchased and converted many Roy Rogers locations in the early 2000s, the Gold Rush disappeared from Pennsylvania’s restaurant landscape. Though a few Roy Rogers still operate in neighboring states, this honey-glazed masterpiece remains a sweet memory for Keystone State residents who grew up savoring its distinctive taste.
10. McDonald’s Cheddar Melt
While McDonald’s continues to thrive in Pennsylvania, one regional favorite has disappeared from their menu boards: the legendary Cheddar Melt. First introduced in the late 1980s, this unique creation featured a quarter-pound beef patty topped with sautéed onions and a generous pour of creamy cheddar cheese sauce, all served on a distinctive light rye bun.
The sandwich gained particular popularity in Pennsylvania’s industrial towns, where shift workers would grab a Cheddar Melt before or after their factory hours. The combination of savory onions, gooey cheese sauce, and that distinctive rye bread created a more sophisticated flavor profile than standard fast-food fare.
Despite periodic revivals throughout the 1990s, McDonald’s permanently discontinued the Cheddar Melt around 2004. Today, it lives on only in the memories of Pennsylvanians who still occasionally check the menu board, hoping against hope for its triumphant return.
