Secret menus seem to be gaining popularity everywhere.  Everyone wants to be on the inside track and when it comes to food it makes you feel even a little bit more special.

Many people probably know that Starbucks has a secret menu of more than 30 secret menu items (here) but did you know that Jamba Juice has over 39 secret menu items (here)?

I don’t eat hamburgers (never liked ’em and never will) but it is widely known coast to coast that in New York that the Shake Shack, has over 10 secret menu items (here) and in California, In-N-Out Burger has a not-so-secret menu of 4 items (here) and more than 20 secret items can be found (here).

Many New York establishments have a secret menu or secret menu items but I was surprised to find out that even the place where I got engaged, Le Bernardin, in New York City has a secret menu item – the “Egg” dish with milk chocolate creme brulee, caramel foam, maple syrup and sea salt.  Damn, I’m sorry I missed that one!

However, my server told me that I was the first patron in my new Southern California neighborhood to ask for the “Hidden Menu” at a nearby Panera Bread.   Panera only opened a location in Brooklyn after I moved and I’ll tell you I was thrilled to find one near my new home.  I’m not one for chain restaurants overall but Panera rocks!

Food & Nutrition

Panera doesn’t have a Secret menu, they have a Hidden menu.  In order to have access to the Hidden Menu, you must ask a cashier and they’ll give you a QR code which leads you to this link here.  There is nothing printed available so make sure you have a smartphone with a QR Code Reader!

The Hidden Menu offers 6 “Power” health conscious items with limited processed carbohydrates and high protein:

– 2 Power Breakfast items: Egg White Bowl With Roasted Turkey (25 grams protein) and Egg Bowl with Steak (20 grams protein)

– 4 Power Lunch/Dinner items: Mediterranean Chicken Salad (35 grams protein), Mediterranean Roasted Turkey Salad (22 grams protein), Chicken Hummus Bowl (33 grams protein) and Steak Lettuce Wraps (28 grams protein).

I had the Power Mediterranean Chicken Salad (without the bacon – you can disown me now because it is the honest truth that I don’t like bacon) and it was delicious!

Let me know if you knew that Panera had a Hidden Menu (it has been available since January 2013)?  Do you know of any other “secret” or “hidden” menus from other establishments?  If you know a secret menu, share the details so we can all be insiders!

I received no compensation from Panera Bread or any other establishment noted in this post.  All opinions are my own.