Popeyes revives retro Cajun Onion Rings side that fans have wanted for years
Popeyes has brought back a previously discontinued side, prompting celebrations from some fans and complaints from others.
The Southern-fried chicken chain's Cajun Onion Rings returned to U.S. menus on Nov. 2 for $3.99.
The crispy, Cajun spice-covered rings come with a cup of buttermilk ranch and are available for a limited time.
"Popeyes is bringing even more bold Louisiana flavor to the table with their new Cajun Onion Rings, a crispy, craveable premium side seasoned with Cajun spice," the company told Fox News Digital. "Made to be shared, they're joining a lineup of offers that bring fans together over a satisfying meal at a great value."
The Cajun Onion Rings, which some fans remember from the 1990s, are back for a limited time at $3.99 and come with buttermilk ranch. (Popeyes)
The side item was available in the 1990s, and many locations stopped selling it in the early 2010s, with the last locations discontinuing it in 2020, according to multiple reports.
POPEYES BRINGS BACK POPULAR MENU ITEM FOR GOOD, AND NOT EVERYONE IS HAPPY
The return sparked nostalgia among some customers.
On Popeyes' Instagram announcement, one commenter wrote, "I have waited sooooo very long!" Another remembered eating the rings in the 1990s.
Some fans celebrated the side's return, while others shared mixed reviews online. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
An Allrecipes review of the item praised its crispy batter and said the Cajun heat builds as you eat.
Some people were more skeptical, though, questioning whether the recipe is the same as it was in the past.
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One customer who claimed to have tried the rings called them "hard and burnt and overly salted."
Others complained that the side wasn't worth the price.
Popeyes also launched a limited-time deal offering six pieces of Signature Bone-In Chicken for $10. (Jason LeCras/Popeyes)
In addition to the new menu item, Popeyes is offering six pieces of its Signature Bone-In Chicken for $10 for a limited time, the latest of its value-driven offerings.
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Earlier this year, Popeyes made its $3.99 chicken wraps a permanent menu item, with Classic, Spicy and Blackened Ranch options.
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Customers had mixed reactions to those, Fox News Digital previously reported, with some welcoming the offering and others criticizing the wraps' size, while McDonald's snack wraps were noted as an even cheaper alternative at $2.99.
Popeyes beat out Bojangles and KFC in a recent ranking of top chains for fried chicken and biscuits. (Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Popeyes was previously named by chefs as the top fast-food chain for fried chicken and biscuits, with chefs praising the chicken's crisp coating and bold seasoning and the biscuits' buttery flavor, Fox News Digital reported.
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Bojangles and KFC received honorable mentions, while some social media commenters said Popeyes biscuits can be dry when cold.
Deirdre Bardolf is a lifestyle writer with Fox News Digital.
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