The Runza secret menu is small but worth knowing, and this guide covers every off-menu item at Runza.
Runza Secret Menu Guide 2026
If you’re already mapping out your order, start with our Runza menu with prices to see the full regular lineup. The secret menu below is small but mighty, and honestly, that’s part of the fun. Runza has been around since 1949, so a little off-menu lore is only fitting for a Nebraska icon like this. Here’s everything I found.
What Is on the Runza Secret Menu?
Runza doesn’t keep a thick secret-menu book like some chains. The company itself has called it a “not-so-secret secret menu,” which I think is refreshingly honest. Here’s the thing: because nearly every location keeps the same core ingredients in the kitchen, a few off-board items are fair game if you ask nicely.
Chili Cheese Fries
This is the one real secret menu item, and it’s a beauty. Runza’s crinkle fries get buried under a ladle of their homemade chili and a heavy hand of melted cheese. It’s not on the board, not on the printed menu, but the ingredients are sitting right there. Ask for it by name and the crew usually knows exactly what you mean.
Cheeseburger Runza (Menu Graduate)
This one started as an off-menu request and proved so popular that it’s now printed on the regular menu: a cheeseburger with American cheese, ketchup, mustard and pickles baked inside that signature bread pocket. If anyone tells you it’s a “secret,” they’re working off an old script. It currently runs about $7.69 at most locations.
Kitchen Hacks You Can Still Order
Beyond the headline item, plenty of customers build their own secret-menu items from parts the kitchen already has. Adding cheese sauce to fries, dropping a side of chili onto a burger, or turning a regular Runza into a “double” with extra meat are all fair game. The kitchen won’t have a button for these, so keep your request simple and polite.
How Do You Order Each Runza Secret Menu Item?
Ordering off-menu at Runza is easy, but phrasing matters. Here’s exactly what to say.
Chili cheese fries
Say: “Can I get crinkle fries with your homemade chili and melted cheese on top?” If the register person looks puzzled, add: “It’s a side of chili poured over crinkle fries with cheese.” Most crews have made it before.
Loaded burger
Say: “Can I get a cheeseburger with a side of chili, and I’ll put it on myself?” This keeps it clean at the register. Then ladle the chili over your burger at the table like a pro.
Cheese fries
Say: “Can I get crinkle fries with cheese sauce?” Simple, cheap and always available since cheese is already in the building.
One tip: ordering inside or at the drive-thru speaker works fine, but mobile ordering apps only list printed menu items. If you want the secret stuff, you’ll need to order with a human.
What Does the Runza Secret Menu Cost in 2026?
Since the secret items are built from printed menu parts, you can figure out the price before you order. Here are the current prices for the building blocks at most locations:
| Item | Typical Price |
|---|---|
| Crinkle Fries (side) | $4.39 |
| Homemade Chili (side) | $5.69 |
| Cheese on anything (approx.) | $1–$2 extra |
That puts a proper chili cheese fries in the $8 to $10 range depending on how your location rings it up. Some stores will combine the ingredients into one ticket item and round it down, while others ring each part separately. Either way, it’s a solid deal for the amount of food. Just remember prices vary by location, so your store’s numbers may differ slightly.
Which Runza Locations Serve the Secret Menu?
Here’s the good news. Since chili cheese fries only use ingredients every Runza already stocks, nearly any of the 85+ locations across Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas and Iowa should be able to make it. The only real variable is whether the particular crew member on the register has heard of it by name.
If you’re unsure, a quick call before you head over saves you a wasted trip. Not sure where your nearest store is? Our Runza Locations Near Me guide maps every location. And if you need to time your visit, check Runza Working Hours first since hours vary a bit by store.
5 Tips for Getting the Best Runza Secret Menu Order
1. Ask for it by name first. “Chili cheese fries” is the term that sticks. Only break it into parts if you get a blank stare.
2. Don’t use the app. Secret items aren’t in the ordering system. Talk to a person at the counter or the drive-thru speaker.
3. Go inside during a rush. Drive-thru crews under a timer are less flexible. Inside, the kitchen has room to be generous.
4. Pair it with a classic. A chili cheese fries side next to an Original Runza Sandwich is, in my opinion, the perfect Runza meal. Want to keep an eye on your intake? Our Runza Menu Calories & Nutrition guide has the full breakdown.
5. Watch for deals. Secret menu items aren’t usually discounted, but the regular menu often is. See our Runza Deals & Coupons page before you order so you don’t overpay on the rest of your meal.
Runza Secret Menu FAQs
Does Runza have a secret menu?
Yes. Runza calls it a “not-so-secret secret menu,” and its flagship item is the chili cheese fries: crinkle fries topped with homemade chili and melted cheese. It’s not on the printed menu, but most locations make it on request.
How do I order the Runza secret menu chili cheese fries?
Ask for “crinkle fries with chili and cheese.” Order at the counter or drive-thru speaker with a real person, since secret items aren’t available in the mobile ordering app.
How much does the Runza secret menu cost?
Chili cheese fries typically run $8 to $10, built from a $4.39 side of crinkle fries and a $5.69 side of homemade chili plus cheese. Exact pricing varies by location.
Do all Runza locations make secret menu items?
Nearly all of them can, since the ingredients are standard stock at every store. Availability depends on the crew on shift, so it never hurts to ask politely. If one location says no, another will likely say yes.
Prices last verified: October 11, 2026. The official Runza menu is the final source of truth for current prices.
