McDonald’s Szechuan Sauce
McDonald’s introduced its Szechuan dipping sauce in 1998 as a promotional tie-in with Disney’s animated film “Mulan,” marketed as a chicken nugget pairing that tasted good with practically anything, featuring sweet and tangy flavors with notes of garlic, chili, and soy sauce. What started as a simple movie promotion became one of the most obsessed-over condiments in fast-food history. The sauce seemed to only last as long as the “Mulan” hype and quietly disappeared soon after, though it was seemingly enjoyed at the time of release, it wasn’t until a pop culture reference years later that folks started begging for its return.
The McDonald’s Szechuan Sauce fandom had a resurgence in 2017 when Rick Sanchez of Adult Swim’s “Rick and Morty” was willing to travel through space and time to recover just a taste of the coveted sauce, with Rick’s Szechuan Sauce obsession helping it reach a new level of cult following. Fans of the show petitioned for a revival of Szechuan Sauce, and McDonald’s agreed to bring it back for one day only on October 7, 2017, but it didn’t go to plan as stocks were extremely limited and fans got angry when they couldn’t get their hands on the sauce, with minor riots breaking out and police being called in some cases. After aggressive campaigning from followers, McDonald’s finally brought the fan-favorite Szechuan Sauce back in 2017, and again briefly in 2018 and 2022.
KFC Potato Wedges
KFC’s Potato Wedges were unique, being one of the only wedges in the fast food landscape, seasoned with the same blend of seasonings that make up KFC’s Original Recipe chicken, with the wedges being tender, crispy in all the right places, and having a wonderful complex flavor that combined various spices and fluffy buttery potato flavor. The beloved potato wedges from KFC were discontinued in 2020, after being originally introduced to menus in the mid-1990s and quickly gaining a cult following before being pulled from menus. The decision hit fans particularly hard because these weren’t just any ordinary fast-food fries.
When the wedges left the menu in 2020 to be replaced with “secret recipe fries,” a die-hard potato wedge fan actually started a petition to bring them back. There’s also a Change.org petition called “Bring Back KFC Potato Wedges,” now just 200 signatures away from hitting its 5,000-signature goal. The fan campaign paid off when KFC brought the potato wedges back in the Tampa, Florida market, and after it led to a sellout success in some restaurants, KFC decided to expand the launch, beginning August 18 at KFC restaurants nationwide alongside another returning fan favorite, the hot and spicy wings. Though they’re back temporarily, fans are keeping their fingers crossed for a permanent return.
Taco Bell Meximelt
Taco Bell hasn’t brought back the legendary Meximelt, which consisted of a soft flour tortilla stuffed with ground beef, pico de gallo, and a three-cheese blend, toasted in a cool little machine they had at all locations – essentially just a quesadilla, but the flavor can’t be denied. Part taco, part quesadilla, the Meximelt was one of Taco Bell’s longest-running hidden gems before the chain axed it in cold blood from the menu in 2019. This simple yet perfect creation represented everything great about Taco Bell’s ability to transform basic ingredients into something special.
To celebrate 50 years in business, Taco Bell released its Decades menu in October 2024, bringing back a fast food favourite from every decade the chain has been going, with menu items including the Tostada from the 1960s, the Green Sauce Burrito from the 1970s, the Gordita Supreme from the 1990s and the Caramel Apple Empanada from the 2000s, but by far the most popular item was the Meximelt from the 1980s, a tortilla filled with beef, pico de gallo and a melty mix of mozzarella, Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. It’s so good that fans have been making their own version, and while this dish is possible to hack at Taco Bell, doing so can be pricier than necessary, with many calling on Taco Bell to bring back the Meximelt since they’ve brought everything else back.
These three items represent more than just discontinued menu options. They’ve become symbols of what happens when corporations underestimate the emotional connection people have with their food choices. What would you have guessed would inspire riots at McDonald’s or passionate online campaigns?
