The Secret Way To Order at Pal’s That Will Make You Rethink Your Entire Meal

How to order the former ‘secret menu’ items from Pal’s Sudden Service

Somewhere out there, fast-food test kitchens are cooking up wonders to present to the rest of the world. That’s how KFC delivered the Double Down – a questionable chicken sandwich that used breaded chicken breasts instead of bread. But those of us in the know don’t need to wait for mad scientists in the Midwest to come up with something new. Welcome to the wonders of the “secret menu” in which the consuming public uses its knowledge of available ingredients to create something unique. What’s the best place to try a secret menu item? It’s hard to say, but for me, it’s probably Pal’s Sudden Service.

Fast food secret menus are all the rage. Getting to order something off-book and getting something kind of new can break up the monotony of your typical fast-food experience. In this article, I’ll give you the inside scoop on the current status of the Pal’s secret menu and offer the best recommendations on how to order the menu items.

Where is Pal’s?

Pal’s Sudden Service is a legendary fast-food restaurant located in upper East Tennessee with a few locations in Virginia, just over the state line. Pal’s is known for higher-than-usual quality in fast-food burgers with quick and effective service. Most of the buildings are sky blue and Lego-block-like adorned with gargantuan menu items like hot dogs, shakes and burgers. However, Pal’s locations have a relatively small menu and most have no available seating since they are drive-through only.

Does Pal’s still have a secret menu?

Pal’s corporate once sanctioned a secret menu that was hidden on the website. For instance, visitors could poke around a bit on the website until they found a clickable brick leading to the menu. However, Pal’s employees have kindly let us know that the official menu is no longer officially available. That said, some of the menu items were so popular that customers still request them.

Fortunately for us, Pal’s and their associates are friendly and want to please. If they already have the ingredients, they generally don’t mind modifying their regular menu items for the “secret menu” customer. Keep in mind, the following menu items no longer have official names, so you’ll have to ask for the modifications accordingly.

What to order from the old secret menu

1. The Dipped Big Pal

Pal’s is known for its menu quirks, but its signature burger isn’t quirky at all. It’s 1/3 lb of beef with lettuce, tomato and optional cheese or onion. I find the Sauce Burger, however, a little quirky. It’s a burger patty drenched in Pal’s Sauce – which I find to be like a runny, spicy BBQ ketchup. Where the secret menu shines – and I think you know where I’m going with this – is when you take both worlds and collide them together in one massive, messy fast-food amalgamation. That’s right. the “Dipped Big Pal” is like a Sauce Burger and a Big Pal loved each other very much and made a burger baby. But regular-sized. This is what the secret menu life is all about. To order it, get a Big Pal and add Pal’s Special Sauce.

2. The Dipped Dog or Cheese Dog 

Pal’s Chili Dogs are certainly a customer favorite. Luckily, similar to the dipped Big Pal, a customer can request Pal’s Sauce or cheese on a hot dog, chili dog or bun. To order it, simply add Pal’s Sauce to your regular hot dog.

Editor’s Note: The hot dog, plain chili cheese is one of my go-to orders. Adding the Pal’s Sauce gave it some extra tasty flavor that I might just make my new normal, but it can make the hot dog a little greasy.

3. The Neapolitan Shake

This one isn’t as far out there as the Dipped Big Pal. But Pal’s has three excellent ice cream shake flavors – vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. Which of course, happen to be the same flavors as Neapolitan ice cream. Get a large shake, 1/3 chocolate on the bottom, strawberry in the middle and vanilla on top, and now you’re L-I-V-I-N-G. For this one, you can simply request a Neapolitan shake and they will whip one up for you.

4. The Frenchy Rounds

Again, simplicity and beauty are found on the secret menu. The Cheddar Rounds – hash brown potato tots injected with molten cheddar cheese – are maybe Pal’s best menu item. So there’s no need to keep them up a notch. But if you want to push the limits – have your rounds hit with a blast or two of the seasoning salt they use on the Frenchy Fries. It’s as close as many of us normal humans will understand how it felt when Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon.

Again, Frenchy Rounds is just my name for them. I don’t know if it’s even caught on in the secret menu community. If you pull up to the Pal’s window and ask for Frenchy Rounds, you might be met with stunned silence. So to order it, ask for Cheddar Rounds with Frenchie salt. That should translate better.

Also, Pal’s associates will accommodate third shifters by allowing lunch orders at breakfast. But no one has convinced the eatery to offer the beloved Cheddar Rounds at any time other than during the breakfast menu hours.

5. Chipped Ham and Cheese

If I’m being honest, Pal’s sandwiches strike me as odd. But get a ham sandwich and hold the lettuce, mayo and pickle, add some cheese, and throw it between two toasted buns? Now you’ve got something. To order, get a Chipped Ham, plain with cheese.

6. Peachy Mello Yello or Razzie Dr. Enuf

Pal’s carries both peach and raspberry syrup for its Peachie and Razzie teas. However, nowhere is it written that you can’t add those flavors to other Pal’s beverages. My two favorites – through some trial and error are the Peachy Mello Yello and Razzie Dr. Enuf. I assume everyone is familiar with Mello Yello in the Mountain Dew family. However, Dr. Enuf has a very limited regional reach. I don’t know anyone outside of Upper East Tennessee and the surrounding region who knows of it. It’s in the Sprite family – but not quite the same. I can’t explain the flavor difference, but it tastes slightly more medicinal to me. Whatever makes Dr. Enuf taste like Dr. Enuf goes well with Razzie. To order, simply ask to add Razzie or Peachy flavoring to your drink of choice.

7. The BLT

Pal’s already serves its quirky toasted cheese with a flipped over a hamburger bun, toasts the insides, and adds cheese, lettuce and tomato. Have them replace the cheese with bacon and you’ve got a quality sandwich. Or if you prefer, simply add bacon for a BCLT – if that’s your thing. To order, get a Toasted Cheese add bacon, or have them remove the cheese according to your preference.

The official Secret Menu of old is no longer available according to Pal’s. Today, it’s the good-natured fast-food employees willing to go outside the box and make you something not offered on the menu. If you roll up to a fast-food place hoping to try “secret items”, remember there’s no official obligation on the employees’ part to do extra work. But, if they are willing to play along it can be a nice way to mix things up, try something slightly new or different, and enjoy familiar flavors in a new way.

Are you planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains? Be sure to check out our coupons page for area promos.

Have a question or comment about something in this article? Contact our staff here. You may also contact our editorial team at info@thesmokies.com.