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KFC Announces the Return of the Double Down [UPDATED]

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The original Double Down.
The original Double Down.
Photo: Greg Morabito/Eater.com
Hillary Dixler Canavan is Eater's restaurant editor and the author of the publication's debut book, Eater: 100 Essential Restaurant Recipes From the Authority on Where to Eat and Why It Matters (Abrams, September 2023). Her work focuses on dining trends and the people changing the industry — and scouting the next hot restaurant you need to try on Eater's annual Best New Restaurant list.

Get excited, America, because KFC has decided to re-release its massively-hyped super stunt sandwich the Double Down, USA Today reports. This bacon and cheese sandwich with fried chicken filets instead of buns debuted in 2010 and is slated to make its comeback on April 21st.

As like last time around, the Double Down will only be available for a limited time, but it's hard to say whether the sandwich will cause the same sort of frenzy it did the first time around. Will New York Times critic Pete Wells take a cue from his predecessor Sam Sifton and scope it out? Will the vegans fret loudly for the nation's innocent children? Will Stephen Colbert still like it? Only time will tell.

UPDATE 11:45 A.M.: A PR rep for KFC confirms to Eater that the Double Down is definitely coming back: "IT'S TRUE. The infamous bread-less sandwich will be back for a limited time beginning 4/21."

UPDATE 3:55 P.M.: Another rep from KFC sends Eater the following statement:

What is arguably the most talked-about product in KFC history is coming back, but only for a limited time. The Double Down will be available at KFC U.S. restaurants from April 21 through May 25.

It includes bacon, Monterey Jack cheese and Colonel's sauce sandwiched between two 100 percent white meat Original Recipe filets. And of course, no bun.

The Double Down launched originally in April 2010. It was a huge hit with fans, with more than 10 million sold in the first month, so it stayed on the menu past its original late May 2010 promotion-end date. Many restaurants continued selling Double Downs throughout 2010. It has not been nationally promoted in four years.

· Exclusive: KFC brings back the Double Down [USA Today]
· KFC's Double Down Sandwich: A Field Guide [-E-]
· All KFC Coverage on Eater [-E-]