Wendy's Breakfast: A Missed Opportunity?

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Wendy's has had a breakfast menu since 1985, but the chain pulled the morning menu after just nine months. Since then, Wendy's has tried to launch its breakfast menu several times, but it couldn't find the consistency and profitability it wanted. In 2019, Wendy's announced plans to launch a new breakfast menu across its nearly 6,000-unit U.S. system in 2020, with items such as the Breakfast Baconator and Frosty-ccino. As of 2024, Wendy's has a breakfast menu that includes items like the Breakfast Baconator, Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, and Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit. However, it seems that Wendy's breakfast is only available at select locations.

Characteristics Values
Current availability of breakfast Available in 2024 and 2025
Past availability of breakfast Launched in 1985, 2007, 2012, 2019/2020
Breakfast menu items Breakfast Baconator®, Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, Sausage Biscuit, Frosty-ccino, Cinnabon Pull-Apart, Homestyle French Toast Sticks, Sausage & Egg Burrito, Sausage, Egg & Cheese English Muffin, Breakfast Burrito
Breakfast menu item characteristics Freshly-cracked eggs, Applewood smoked bacon, buttermilk biscuits, square breakfast sausage patty, Swiss cheese sauce, premium bun, maple honey butter spread, American cheese, grilled sausage, Redheaded Roasters coffee
Locations serving breakfast Some locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, Ohio

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Wendy's breakfast menu history

Wendy's has had a turbulent relationship with breakfast. The fast-food chain first launched breakfast in 1985, but it was short-lived, lasting only nine months. The menu included made-to-order omelets, which some argued were too operationally complex and not portable enough for a breakfast on the go.

Wendy's tried again in 2007 but couldn't find consistency. In 2012, they entered the breakfast market once more, but by 2013, they were decelerating their morning offerings due to a lack of profitability. At the time, analysts pointed to the absence of a branded coffee presence as a significant issue.

In 2019, Forbes announced that Wendy's was trying to do breakfast again, this time with a $20 million investment and plans to hire 20,000 employees. The initiative was seen as ambitious, given the brand's previous struggles in the competitive morning space. The 2020 rollout included the Breakfast Baconator and biscuit breakfast sandwiches, with frequent new additions, such as the Breakfast Burrito.

While Wendy's has had a breakfast menu across its U.S. system since 2020, some customers have reported that it can be hard to find a Wendy's serving breakfast, with some locations in Indiana and Kentucky being among the few that have offered it.

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Breakfast menu items

Wendy's breakfast menu items vary depending on the location. While some Wendy's restaurants in Indiana and Kentucky served breakfast in the 1990s, currently, breakfast is available at select locations, with most starting serving breakfast at 6:30 AM and the latest at 10:30 AM.

Breakfast Baconator®

The Breakfast Baconator® is topped with six strips of Applewood smoked bacon, a signature square breakfast sausage patty, a fresh-cracked grade A egg, two slices of American cheese, and Swiss cheese sauce on a premium bun.

Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit

This menu item features a crispy chicken fillet on a fluffy buttermilk biscuit, slathered with maple honey butter spread. It offers a perfect balance of sweet and savoury flavours and a range of textures.

Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit

This breakfast sandwich includes a fresh-cracked grade A egg, Applewood smoked bacon, and melted American cheese on a fluffy buttermilk biscuit.

Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit

Similar to the previous item, this sandwich has a fresh-cracked grade A egg, grilled sausage, and melted American cheese on a fluffy buttermilk biscuit.

Sausage Biscuit

The Sausage Biscuit is a simple combination of grilled breakfast sausage and a soft buttermilk biscuit.

Frosty®-ccinos and Frosty Cream Cold Brew

Frosty®-ccinos are mentioned on the menu, but there are no further details about what they are. However, the Frosty Cream Cold Brew is described as a blend of cold-brewed coffee, Frosty cream, and a choice of vanilla, chocolate, or caramel syrup, served over ice.

Cinnabon Pull-Apart

The Cinnabon Pull-Apart is made with warm, buttery dough bites, baked with Cinnabon cinnamon, and topped with cream cheese frosting.

Homestyle French Toast Sticks

Introduced in 2022, these French Toast Sticks offer a balance of flavours and textures, with a soft, custardy interior and a crisp, golden-brown crust, complemented by notes of vanilla.

Other items mentioned on the Wendy's breakfast menu include seasoned potatoes, an oatmeal bar, and a maple bacon chicken croissant.

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Meatless options

Wendy's offers meatless options for breakfast. Any breakfast sandwich can be ordered without meat. The seasoned potatoes available during breakfast hours are vegan, as are the apple slices. The plain baked potato is also vegan and can be topped with chives. The French toast sticks are not vegan as they contain milk and eggs, but they can be made egg-free.

While Wendy's does not currently offer a vegan burger, some of its other items can be made vegan with a few modifications. For example, the Apple Pecan Salad can be made vegan if ordered without blue cheese, chicken, and roasted pecans, which contain milk and honey. The natural-cut fries seasoned with sea salt are also vegan.

In addition to meatless and vegan options, Wendy's offers a variety of breakfast items that contain meat. These include the Breakfast Baconator®, which is topped with six strips of Applewood smoked bacon, a signature square breakfast sausage patty, a fresh-cracked grade A egg, two slices of American cheese, and a Swiss cheese sauce on a premium bun. The Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit features a crispy chicken filet on a fluffy buttermilk biscuit with a maple honey butter spread. The Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit includes a fresh-cracked grade A egg, Applewood smoked bacon, and melted American cheese on a fluffy buttermilk biscuit. The Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit is similar, but with grilled sausage instead of bacon.

Wendy's breakfast menu also includes items such as flaky croissants, toasted English muffins with a buttery spread, and buttermilk biscuits. For those with a sweet tooth, there are treats such as the Cinnabon Pull-Apart, Homestyle French Toast Sticks, and various cold drinks.

It is worth noting that Wendy's breakfast options may vary by location, and not all Wendy's restaurants serve breakfast.

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Sweet treats

Wendy's has had a turbulent relationship with breakfast. The chain first launched breakfast in 1985, but pulled the morning menu after just nine months. They tried again in 2007, 2012, and 2019, but with little success. In 2020, Wendy's launched a new breakfast menu across its nearly 6,000 US stores.

If you have a sweet tooth, Wendy's has got you covered. Their newest breakfast item is the Cinnabon Pull-Apart, made of warm, buttery dough bites baked together with Cinnabon cinnamon and topped with cream cheese frosting. Another sweet treat on the menu is the Homestyle French Toast Sticks, which offer a perfect balance of a soft, custardy interior and a crisp, golden-brown crust with delicious notes of vanilla.

For those who prefer a drink as their sweet treat, Wendy's offers the Frosty Cream Cold Brew, a blend of cold-brewed coffee with Frosty cream and the choice of vanilla, chocolate, or caramel syrup. If you're not a morning coffee person, there's also a range of sweet drinks to choose from, including the Blueberry Pomegranate Lemonade and the Pineapple Mango Lemonade.

In addition to these sweet treats, Wendy's offers a range of biscuit breakfast sandwiches, including the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, which offers a perfect balance of savory and sweet.

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Customer reviews

One customer, writing for Delishably in May 2025, reviewed Wendy's entire breakfast menu and expressed disappointment with the sandwiches, particularly the Breakfast Baconator, citing its resemblance to a regular burger bun and its excessive ingredients. They also noted that the biscuits, buns, and croissants were more interesting in terms of taste. The reviewer's husband, who tried the Frosty-ccinos, preferred the chocolate option over the vanilla, which he found too plain. Additionally, they reviewed the sides, praising the seasoned potatoes and apple bites but expressing disappointment with the strawberries due to the small portion size for the price.

Another review from Eat This in October 2024 focused on the Sausage, Egg & Cheese English Muffin. The reviewer criticized the biscuit-to-protein ratio, describing the meal as overly salty and lacking sauce. However, they noted that the English muffins were added to fulfill customer requests and compete with other quick breakfast options.

On the other hand, some customers have shared positive experiences with Wendy's breakfast. One customer, writing on Reddit, recalled enjoying the chicken biscuit offered at a Wendy's in Indiana during the 1990s.

Another reviewer from Delishably in May 2025 praised the Homestyle French Toast Sticks, which were added to the menu in 2022. They described the texture as balanced, with a crunchy outside and a soft, pancake-like inside.

A separate review from Eat This in October 2024 expressed satisfaction with Wendy's seasoned potatoes, highlighting their flavor and lack of grease compared to other fast-food options.

It's worth noting that Wendy's breakfast menu has evolved over time, and the availability of breakfast options varies by location. Some customers have noted that Wendy's breakfast is only available at select locations, and it may be challenging to find a Wendy's serving breakfast outside of the designated markets.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, Wendy's has had breakfast on its menu since 1985, although it has not always been available at all locations.

The Wendy's breakfast menu includes items such as the Breakfast Baconator, biscuit breakfast sandwiches, the Breakfast Burrito, the Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, and the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit.

Wendy's offers coffee, including the Frosty Cream Cold Brew, which is made with cold-brewed coffee, Frosty cream, and a choice of vanilla, chocolate, or caramel syrup. They also offer Dave's Craft Lemonade, Blueberry Pomegranate Lemonade, and Pineapple Mango Lemonade.

Yes, you can get Wendy's breakfast delivered in select markets at participating U.S. Wendy's locations.

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