The Five-Year Wait Is Over! KFC’s Potato Wedges Are Officially Back
After five years of waiting, KFC fans are finally getting back a side dish that many considered unmatched: potato wedges. Starting August 18, wedges are making their way back to menus nationwide, and they are bringing Hot & Spicy Wings along with them. For a fast-food chain that often experiments, this move is a direct response to its most loyal customers.
Why Wedges Disappeared In 2020
The removal of potato wedges came during the pandemic when many fast-food chains simplified menus. KFC swapped them out for Secret Recipe Fries, which have stayed on the menu ever since. Customers weren’t happy about the change, and the complaints piled up fast. One devoted fan even launched a petition that gained over 8,000 signatures.
What Made Wedges A Cult Favorite
Image via Wikimedia/Willis Lam
Potato wedges first appeared in the mid-1990s and stayed for decades. They were known for their crispy coating and fluffy interior, which made them more satisfying than standard fries.
Fans described them as the best fast-food potato option available and pointed out that wedges didn’t lose their texture or taste even after cooling down. For anyone grabbing dinner on the go, wedges still tasted the same by the time you opened the bag.
A Florida Test Run Sparked the Nationwide Launch
Ahead of the nationwide return, KFC tested wedges at five Tampa locations earlier this year. Word spread fast, and customers started lining up outside restaurants to order one of their favorite sides again. Some locations even sold out, which reinforced just how much fans had missed the wedges.
The strong response encouraged KFC to move forward with a nationwide launch. Catherine Tan-Gillespie, president of KFC U.S., explained that the revival is part of the ‘Kentucky Fried Comeback,’ a strategy aimed at bringing back beloved menu items and rebuilding connections with longtime customers.
A Viral Announcement
Image via Getty Images/Lumi Nola
KFC broke the internet with a simple two-word announcement: ‘HERE, DAMN,’ paired with a photo of the wedges themselves. The post quickly racked up millions of views as loyalists flooded the comments to celebrate the long-awaited comeback.
Some joked about skipping work to grab wedges, while others shared memories of ordering them years ago. Within hours, screenshots spread across platforms and turned the announcement into one of the chain’s most talked-about moments in recent years.
All that excitement didn’t stop online because the chain tied the return to a lineup of deals designed to keep the momentum going. Starting August 18, customers can grab a $3.99 Chicken Sandwich or go bigger with the $20 Wings & Wedges Fan Favorites Box.
Conclusion
Five years of petitions, test runs, and endless online demands have finally paid off, and the reintroduction of wedges shows just how much influence people can have. They’re back for a limited run, and the early sellouts in Tampa suggest they won’t linger long. For anyone who remembers how good they were, or wants to find out, this is the chance to order wedges again.