In the 1970s, McDonald’s experimented with a unique menu item called ‘onion nuggets’—crispy, bite-sized onion pieces geared towards vegetarians. However, a strategic shift within the company led to their demise, inadvertently paving the way for a culinary icon. Unlike the traditional onion rings offered by other eateries, these nuggets featured a distinctive battered and chunky form, which resulted in lackluster sales. Within a year, onion nuggets vanished from menus, leaving customers without the chance to savor this alternative to Burger King’s offering.

Legend has it that a casual conversation in 1979 sparked a major change. During this chat, then-chairman Fred Turner suggested they abandon onions in favor of chicken. This seemingly off-the-cuff remark ignited the creation of the Chicken McNugget, which launched nationally in 1983 and quickly became one of McDonald’s most beloved and profitable items. Over the years, the chain has introduced various dipping sauces like Tangy BBQ and Sweet ‘N Sour, along with a limited-edition spicy version. The Chicken McNuggets remain an affordable choice, priced at approximately $3.99 for a 6-piece and $10.49 for a 20-piece. Despite their success, the onion nugget still lingers in the minds of fast-food enthusiasts, with some fans expressing regret on social media about never having the chance to try them.

One Reddit user passionately advocated for their return, suggesting McDonald’s launch a promotion featuring a lineup of discontinued favorites like the McTasty, McBrat, salads, fruit and yogurt parfaits, and snack wraps. Meanwhile, another user declared their allegiance to Burger King’s chicken rings, a popular choice among fans. Over in Canada, Burger King is experimenting with a new twist on their onion rings by using whole onions with a subtler coating, replacing the traditional minced onion version. Customers have shared their opinions online, with one remarking, “I actually like their current onion rings when they’re fresh.”

‘I like the current onion rings,’ another wrote. ‘No need fixing what isn’t broken. If I want a thick sliced onion ring where the onion pulls out of the breading on the first bite, I can go to just about any sit down restaurant.’ Others reacted to the price of the upgraded item, which rang up well over $5. Although the current onion rings vary in price based on location, a medium costs about $3. There’s no word regarding when, or if, they will make their US debut, but the chain has been slowly improving its restaurants amid growing customer complaints. That includes updating its iconic Whopper sandwich. Although the Whopper has been a restaurant staple for decades , diners complained that the quality has slowly been on the decline. As a result, Burger King elevated the item with new packaging and more premium ingredients.

This new burger still includes freshly cut onions and tomatoes, lettuce and pickles – along with what the company describes as ‘better tasting’ mayonnaise. The chain also announced staff members would be required to wear AI-powered headsets that monitor how friendly employees are to customers. These headsets feature an AI voice, called Patty, that can send feedback to managers. For example, if Patty detects an employee hasn’t said keywords like ‘welcome’, ‘please’ or ‘thank you,’ it can flag it to their boss. The changes were met with massive customer approval, forcing the chain to hire 60,000 new employees to meet growing demand.