McDonald's fans weren't loving this elusive onion-themed menu item.
Back in the 1970s, the fast food giant tested a quirky side called 'onion nuggets' - bite-sized chunks of onion coated in crispy batter, pitched as a menu item for vegetarians.
But a throwaway decision inside the company helped kill them off and accidentally created one of its biggest money-makers.
The onion nugget's battered and chunky shape, as opposed the traditional ring-style sold at other restaurants, led to predictably low sales. Within about a year, the item disappeared from menus, with customers never getting to experience a true Burger King dupe.
According to company lore, a casual conversation in 1979 changed everything. Then-chairman Fred Turner suggested the company 'ditch onions and start working with chicken instead.'
That offhand pivot sparked the creation of the Chicken McNugget - which officially launched nationwide in 1983 and went on to become one of the chain's most iconic and profitable products.
Since then, the fast food giant introduced dipping sauces like Tangy BBQ and Sweet 'N Sour, as well as a limited-time spicy version of their chicken nugget.
The menu item costs around $3.99 for a 6-piece and $10.49 for a 20-piece, making it one of the cheaper options at the chain restaurant.
McDonald's onion nuggets where the inspiration behind the fast food chain's Chicken McNuggets
McDonald's introduced the onion nugget in the 1970s, although it was a short-lived menu item
Chris Kempczinski has acted as McDonald's CEO since 2019
But the legacy of the onion nugget isn't lost among fast food fans. Disappointed customers took to social media, some sharing their disappointment that they'll never try an onion nugget.
'Bring them back,' one Reddit user said. 'McDonald's should do a promotion where they bring back a bunch of old items.'
'These, the McTasty, McBrat, the salads, fruit and yogurt parfait, snack wrap. There are so many great discontinued items.'
'I'll stick with my chicken rings, thank you very much,' another said, referencing Burger King's fan-favorite offering.
Burger King is testing out a new version of their onion rings in Canada, swapping minced onions with a prickly coating for an actual onion with a smoother, less breaded outside.
Customers shared their reactions on Reddit, with one user saying, '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.
Burger King's onion rings are an iconic and beloved menu item, with a medium size costing around $3
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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.