Carl’s Jr. Secret Menu: 8 Hacks You Can Actually Order
Carl’s Jr. (and its Eastern cousin Hardee’s) already pushes boundaries with mile‑high burgers and hand‑scooped ice‑cream shakes, but printed menus barely scratch the surface of what you can do with a charbroiler, fried zucchini, and a pantry full of sauces. Because every burger is cooked to order and most sides can be swapped between sandwiches, team members usually accommodate clear, polite requests—especially outside the lunch‑rush crush.
Below are eight proven hacks that work at nearly any Carl’s Jr. in the U.S. Each comes with an ordering script, flavor notes, and etiquette pointers so you delight staff instead of derailing drive‑thru efficiency.
1. Western Breakfast Burger
What it is
A mash‑up of the Western Bacon Cheeseburger and the Breakfast Burger: charbroiled beef, over‑easy egg, crisp bacon, barbecue sauce, and an onion ring.
How to order
Ask for a Breakfast Burger but substitute the ketchup and mayo for barbecue sauce and add one onion ring (pulled from the Western). Keep bacon and egg.
Flavor vibe
Smoky barbecue and sweet onion crunch meet gooey yolk and beef char—brunch in a bun.
Pro tip
Request the egg fried “over‑medium” to prevent drippy yolk bombs while driving.
2. Spicy El Diablo Chicken Sandwich
What it is
A fiery poultry cousin to the defunct El Diablo burger.
How to order
Order a Charbroiled Chicken Club. Replace mayo with Fiery Hot Sauce (used on tenders), add jalapeño peppers, pepper‑Jack cheese, and a drizzle of Santa Fe sauce if available.
Flavor vibe
Grilled chicken keeps it lighter while triple‑threat peppers, cheese, and creamy Santa Fe heat punch like a habanero handshake.
Pro tip
If Fiery Hot Sauce is out, combine Buffalo sauce and sliced jalapeños—it’s 90 percent identical.
3. Zucchini Parmesan Burger
What it is
A vegetarian‑leaning crunchy‑cheesy burger using fried zucchini as patty toppers.
How to order
Get a Beyond Famous Star (or regular Famous Star) no lettuce, no tomato. Ask for three fried‑zucchini planks inside the burger plus extra marinara (from the dipping cups). Sprinkle Parmesan packet if stocked.
Flavor vibe
Crispy zucchini adds fried‑veggie sweetness; tangy marinara and Parmesan evoke eggplant‑parm sub—minus the eggplant.
Pro tip
Go cheese‑less in the patty layer; the mozzarella‑stick‑like zucchini provides plenty of goo.
4. The Rodeo Chili Cheese Fries
What it is
Crisscut fries drowned in beef chili and cheddar with a barbecue drizzle—a nod to rodeo cookouts.
How to order
Order Chili Cheese Fries. Ask to swap straight fries for Crisscut (yes, they can). Request barbecue sauce zig‑zag on top.
Flavor vibe
Thick chili nestles into waffle‑fry pockets while barbecue adds smoke and sweetness—ultimate tailgate side.
Pro tip
Add diced jalapeños (free at most stores) for heat and acidity.
5. Strawberry Cheesecake Shake
What it is
Hand‑scooped strawberry shake blended with cheesecake bites meant for the Strawberry Shortcake dessert.
How to order
Ask for a Strawberry Hand‑Scooped Ice‑Cream Shake and say, “Please blend in cheesecake pieces from the Strawberry Shortcake, not just on top.” Most staff will pulse them in.
Flavor vibe
Creamy shake studded with tangy cheesecake chunks—like drinking a slice a la mode.
Pro tip
Request graham‑cracker crumbles (sometimes stocked for pies) for crusty bits.
6. Hawaiian Teriyaki Double
What it is
An off‑shoot of the Teriyaki Burger, doubling patties and adding char‑grilled pineapple.
How to order
Order a Super Star with Cheese. Swap out ketchup and mustard for teriyaki glaze (from Charbroiled Chicken Teriyaki). Add a slice of grilled pineapple and leave lettuce/tomato.
Flavor vibe
Salty‑sweet teriyaki melds with gooey American cheese and juicy pineapple—Pacific island vibes on a half‑pound beast.
Pro tip
Replace American with Swiss for truer teriyaki‑burger tradition.
7. Mozza‑Stick Supreme
What it is
A burger crowned with mozzarella sticks and marinara, invoking stadium‑snack glory.
How to order
Get a Single Famous Star with Cheese, no pickles, no special sauce. Add two mozzarella sticks inside and ask for a side of marinara to spread on the bun.
Flavor vibe
Cheese‑on‑cheese decadence meets crispy breading crunch and herby tomato tang.
Pro tip
Substitute Beyond patty if you want to pretend it’s healthier—it’s still ridiculous.
8. Low‑Carb Lettuce‑Wrapped “Santa Fe” Burger
What it is
A keto‑friendly charbroiled burger wrapped in lettuce, powered by spicy Santa Fe mayo.
How to order
Request a lettuce‑wrapped Famous Star, add Santa Fe sauce, add green chili strip (from Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich). Skip bun entirely.
Flavor vibe
Smoky charred beef, creamy chili‑flecked sauce, and the mild heat of roasted pepper—all without carb guilt.
Pro tip
Ask for extra lettuce leaves to reinforce the wrap; Carl’s lettuce wraps can be flimsy.
Secret‑Menu Etiquette at Carl’s Jr.
Use ingredient language – Swap sauces, cheeses, and sides by name; avoid TikTok nicknames like “Zucchini Parm Smash.”
Mind the pace – Drive‑thru lines get slammed at lunch; complex mods go smoother during mid‑afternoon.
Be ready for up‑charges – Extra mozzarella sticks, pineapple, or cheesecake bites aren’t free.
DIY if necessary – Health regs might stop staff from inserting fries or zucchini into sandwiches; they’ll hand components—build at your table.
Say thanks – A sincere “Really appreciate it!” keeps morale high for the next secret‑menu fan.
Ingredient Availability Cheat Sheet
Teriyaki glaze, pineapple, Santa Fe sauce, green chili – stocked anywhere that still sells the Teriyaki Burger or Santa Fe Chicken.
Fiery hot sauce – always on hand for chicken tenders.
Fried zucchini, mozzarella sticks – core sides nationwide.
Cheesecake bites – included with Strawberry Shortcake dessert, available most markets year‑round.
Chili – featured in Chili Cheese Fries; universal.
If your store lacks an item, pivot—swap teriyaki with BBQ, or cheesecake bites with cookie dough pieces.
Health Reality
Western Breakfast Burger: ~780 calories
Strawberry Cheesecake Shake (small): ~640 calories
Zucchini Parmesan Burger: ~650 calories (with Beyond patty)
Santa Fe lettuce wrap: under 450 calories
Enjoy secret hacks occasionally and balance them with lighter meals.
Final Bite
Carl’s Jr.’s slogan may be “Feed Your Happy,” but a secret‑menu mindset lets you feed your creative happy—stacking onion rings on breakfast burgers, spiking shakes with cheesecake, or wrapping spicy sauces in lettuce for guilt‑free kicks. Armed with these eight hacks and clear ordering scripts, you’re ready to turn any star‑crowned red sign into your personal test kitchen. Respect the crew, embrace the up‑charge, and keep extra napkins handy—because the best custom burgers drip with delicious chaos.
