Popeyes' Beloved Cajun Onion Rings Are Back — Or Are They? I Tried Them, And I Have Questions

Plain and simple, Popeyes is an amazing fried chicken chain. Always has been, probably always will be. Beyond the poultry, now sold in all kinds of forms, a main draw has always been Popeyes savory sides. Popeyes sells some of the best mac and cheese and coleslaw you'll ever get from a chain. Once upon a time, the chain also had another side that was not only its best, but in this writer's opinion, was one of the best fast food items of all time: onion rings. 

The hand-battered, super flaky, gloriously greasy, and just all-around utterly fantastic onion rings had been on the menu since the chain's '70s heyday. Eventually, Popeyes switched to a frozen version, but many were still be happy they existed. Then, poof, they became a victim, discontinued from Popeyes menus with no explanation or return in sight. I somehow found the courage to move on, but I knew my life would never be the same, or as delicious.

Fast-forward to fall 2026, and I received what I perceived to be the greatest news I've ever heard, besides becoming a father-to-be — onion rings were returning to Popeyes' menu. These new fellows go by the name Cajun Onion Rings, and from those three little words, I didn't know if this was a resurrection of a classic or just a new fried direction. I have been waiting for this day for what seems like forever, and with an open mind and open mouth, I wanted to see where the truth lay. Now all can be revealed in this hopefully crunchy and onion-y chew and review.

Recommendations are based on firsthand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer.

In advance of their national rollout, the fine folks at Popeyes invited me to one of the Manhattan locations to try its new Cajun Onion Rings. I was blessed with two orders of them, as well as a box of fried chicken, a couple of dipping sauces, and a Sprite on hand to tackle any possible indigestion. I later ordered a chicken sandwich to see what it would taste like topped with one of these new onion rings. The Cajun Onion Rings were served warm, and taste tested on site.

I took into consideration my past and vast experiences with Popeyes, its sides, and especially its previous iteration of onion rings. I also kept in mind the standards set by other chains whose onion rings I have tried, like Burger King and White Castle, although I've never had the pleasure of trying the ones made by Culver's, a Midwestern chain people swear by.

My conclusions are based on my own personal preferences and tastes, and mine alone. The criteria upon which I drew upon included flavor, appearance, texture, temperature, familiarity, originality, crunch, onionyness, and ultimately whether this new side is worthy of your time and dime.

The old onion rings were served in an open paper tray, but these new guys came in an open, circular container that normally houses large side items. I could tell right off the bat and right off the batter that these onion rings were made of were a whole different breed. I poured the rings from my cup and found eight of them in an array of ring sizes. One was small enough that a quarter or even a dime could slide right into its hole, while some of the larger ones looked like they could pass for arm bracelets. The skin was sadly not flaky, but rather the typical breaded-looking coating that surrounds a sliver of onion. You've seen it a zillion times. Upon closer inspection of the skin, I spotted little flecks of red, brown, and black seasoning. I leaned in for a whiff, and the welcome smell of pungent onion was accompanied by a hint of the fried outer shell.

One bite in, and I was already beyond crestfallen that they aren't even in the same league as the old ones. Alas, my duty here was to taste test these new ones, and for now, not dwell too much on the past. The skin had an excellent crunch that didn't buckle when my teeth left a gap in the remainder ring. The onion was not slithery either, and was able to stay in place. And once you dig in, that's where the tinge of Cajun spice kicks in. It thankfully wasn't not overbearing, and just added a nice bit of pep. Another great trait was that they weren't all that greasy to the touch, especially for a naturally handheld side item.

I took this task of sizing up, munching on, and tearing down these new onion rings very seriously. Again, I am perhaps the most qualified person to tackle this affair, being a self-certified expert, unabashed fan, and cheerleader constantly screaming for the return of Popeyes' old school onion rings.

I tried not to compare the two, letting the rookie Cajun ones speak for themselves. The more of them I tried, the more I warmed up to them. That even held true when they ran cold. The skin was admirable in both its quality of crunch, and ability to hold steady, which is key for any onion ring. The Cajun spice is a nice twist, even more prevalent here than it is on its older sister side, Cajun fries.

Do not get me wrong, these are good onion rings. They're better than what's being served at White Castle, and Burger King. They are a very serviceable, respectable item. They work well as sauce delivery mechanisms. Ultimately, having them on the menu is a good thing. While there is one way to specifically make its chicken sandwich taste 10x better than it already is, you are now also free to upgrade it by topping it off with an onion ring. 

And yet, after all that, I'm still left wanting, wanting what I've always wanted — those fantastically flaky, splendid savory, outrageous out of this world Popeyes' onion rings of yore. I will never give up on those lords of the (onion) rings, and the one day return of thy king. I guess I will just have to drown my sorrows in the interim with these new Cajun Onion Rings.

Starting November 2, Cajun Onion Rings are landing on menus at participating Popeyes locations nationwide. They will be available for a limited time only, and can be ordered almost anytime Popeyes is open for business, while supplies last. They can be ordered in-store, at the counter, a kiosk, or the drive-thru, where available, or in advance for dine-in, takeaway, or even delivery where available through Popeyes' app and website.

The Cajun Onion Rings come in one serving size only and retail for $3.99. Prices may vary by location, and may be higher when orders are placed for delivery or through third parties. They are only available to order à la carte, and cannot be selected as a side for a combo. The rings are being launched alongside a new deal where $10 will net you a box containing six pieces of Popeyes' signature bone-in chicken.