10 Fast Food Favorites That Returned After Being Discontinued

While fast food chains are synonymous with reliability and consistency, they often revamp their menus, sometimes removing even the most popular items. Though many discontinued dishes fade away, a few make a remarkable return due to overwhelming customer demand. Here’s a look at some iconic fast food items that made a successful comeback.

1. Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza

Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza, first launched in 1985, features two crispy tortillas filled with beef, beans, tomatoes, pizza sauce, and melted cheese. Its removal in 2020 as a cost-saving measure sparked widespread disappointment. The uproar led to its return as a limited-time offering in May 2022, and it was later reinstated permanently in September of the same year.

2. KFC’s Double Down

When KFC introduced the Double Down, it quickly became a fast food sensation. This unconventional sandwich replaces bread with two fried chicken patties, sandwiching cheese and bacon in between. Initially launched on April Fool’s Day 2010, it was no joke—over 10 million Double Downs were sold in its first month. Though never intended as a permanent menu item, it occasionally makes a comeback, most recently from March to April 2023.

3. Pizza Hut’s Big New Yorker

In 1999, Pizza Hut introduced The Big Yorker, a pizza inspired by New York-style pizzerias. Known for its sweet tomato sauce and large, foldable slices, it gained a loyal fanbase. Despite its cult following, it was discontinued in the early 2000s but made a brief return in February 2023.

4. McDonald’s Mighty Wings

Despite their popularity, Mighty Wings were discontinued in 2003. Introduced as a limited-time offering in 1990, these spicy, deep-fried chicken wings remained on McDonald’s menu for over a decade due to high demand. However, their higher cost compared to boneless chicken options led to their removal. Fan enthusiasm prompted brief comebacks in 2013 and 2016, though they haven’t been a staple for two decades.

5. Burger King’s Chicken Fries

In 2005, Burger King revolutionized fast food chicken with the introduction of chicken fries. These slender, breaded chicken sticks, served in fry-like containers, became a hit for their portability and unique shape. Despite their popularity, they were discontinued in 2012, only to return briefly in 2014. Since 2015, they’ve been a permanent fixture on the menu, much to the delight of fans.

6. Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Nuggets

Wendy’s launched its Spicy Chicken Nuggets in 2009, quickly earning a dedicated fanbase. Even after their discontinuation in 2017, fans like Chance the Rapper campaigned for their return. In 2019, Wendy’s challenged its followers: if 2 million people liked their tweet, the nuggets would come back. The goal was met in under two days, leading to their triumphant revival.

Wendy’s brought back the item on a limited basis in 2019 and again in 2020. While no official changes were announced, some fans, including Chance, noted that the nuggets seemed spicier than before.

7. Starbucks's Birthday Cake Frappuccino

The Birthday Cake Frappuccino from Starbucks was always intended as a seasonal offering. Launched in 2015 to celebrate the Frappuccino’s 20th anniversary, this vanilla- and hazelnut-flavored drink, topped with whipped cream, was so well-received that it returned for the 21st anniversary the following year. Today, it’s often available as an off-menu item for those in the know.

8. Taco Bell’s Enchirito

The Enchirito, a beloved menu item from 1970 to 2013, won the hearts of Taco Bell fans for decades. In 2022, the chain allowed customers to vote online for its return. It triumphed over the Double Decker Taco by 24 percent in a poll, and Taco Bell honored the result by bringing it back for a limited time from November 17 to November 30 that year.

9. McDonald’s Szechuan Sauce

McDonald’s first introduced its Szechuan sauce in 1998 as part of a promotion for Disney’s Mulan. The sauce faded into obscurity until 2017, when an episode of Rick and Morty reignited interest. This led to a brief revival, and it returned again in 2022 as an exclusive offering on the McDonald’s app.

10. Burger King’s Mac and Cheetos

In 2016, Burger King introduced Mac and Cheetos, a polarizing item that combined deep-fried mac and cheese with a Cheeto dust coating. Its initial success prompted the chain to bring it back for a limited time in 2017, much to the delight (or dismay) of customers.