Popeyes, the iconic fried chicken chain, has set sail on a bold new adventure, launching its first-ever anime collaboration with the legendary One Piece franchise. On April 13, 2026, fans across the United States and Canada were greeted with a limited-time menu and exclusive collectibles inspired by Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat crew—a partnership that celebrates 25 years of One Piece’s global dominance and cultural impact.
In partnership with Toei Animation, Popeyes has transformed its menu and merchandise, inviting customers to “fuel up like a member of the Straw Hat Crew.” According to the official press release and reporting from USA TODAY, the collaboration is designed to bring the “spirit of adventure” from the beloved manga and anime series straight to diners’ tables. The timing couldn’t be more fitting: One Piece has sold over 600 million manga copies worldwide, making it the best-selling comic book of all time, and its fanbase is as passionate as ever.
“For One Piece fans, the story is about adventure, loyalty, and going all-in for the things you love. This energy perfectly aligns with Popeyes and comes to life throughout this partnership with Toei Animation,” said Matt Rubin, Chief Marketing Officer of Popeyes, in a statement quoted by Parade and PR Newswire. Rubin added, “We set out to create a collaboration that brings our bold flavors into the world of One Piece and its anime fandom, the kind of meal you’d want before setting sail for the Grand Line.”
The Popeyes x One Piece menu features four new items, each inspired by characters and moments from the franchise. The flagship Luffy Bento Bundle ($13.99) includes two pieces of Popeyes’ signature chicken, creamy mac and cheese, a bright Gum-Gum Fruit Lemonade, and Chopper’s Cupcake. For those with a lighter appetite, the Luffy Bento Box ($7.99) offers chicken and mac and cheese. The Gum-Gum Fruit Lemonade ($3.49), inspired by Luffy’s rubber-stretching powers, blends lemonade with pineapple, blue raspberry, and orange flavors. Rounding out the menu is Chopper’s Cupcake ($3.99), a strawberry cake topped with pink strawberry-flavored icing and white sprinkles—a treat “as lovable as the Straw Hats’ resident doctor,” as Popeyes described in its official materials.
But the adventure doesn’t stop at the menu. Popeyes has rolled out a treasure trove of exclusive collectibles, creating a frenzy among fans eager to snag a piece of One Piece history. On launch day, six select Popeyes locations—New York City (1530 Broadway), Boston (304 Squire Road, Revere), Chicago (621 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove), Los Angeles (7635 Winnetka Ave), Miami Beach (1427 Washington Ave), and New Brunswick, New Jersey (571 Milltown Rd)—gave away free official One Piece bento boxes to the first customers who purchased the Luffy Bento Bundle. According to Crunchyroll News and Parade, the first 200 fans at each site walked away with these coveted collectibles, sparking excitement and long lines outside the restaurants.
For those unable to reach the exclusive drop sites, Popeyes launched an online merchandise store on April 15, 2026, at shop.popeyes.com. The collection includes keychains, t-shirts, and collectible bento boxes, all themed around One Piece. These items, according to USA TODAY, are expected to sell out quickly, tapping into the urgency and scarcity that have made limited-time fast-food collaborations wildly successful in recent years.
The collaboration’s appeal is clear: it brings together two powerhouse brands known for their loyal followings and adventurous spirit. One Piece, created by Eiichiro Oda in 1997, has grown from a manga into a sprawling franchise with an anime, live-action adaptation, and movies. Its themes of camaraderie, perseverance, and the pursuit of dreams resonate deeply with fans—a resonance Popeyes hopes to capture through its “bold, no-compromise flavor philosophy.” As Crunchyroll News noted, Popeyes’ move positions the chain ahead of competitors in the rapidly expanding world of anime marketing, which has seen other fast-food giants like Burger King and McDonald’s Japan launch their own One Piece-inspired meals in recent years.
Fans’ reactions have been enthusiastic, if not a bit anxious. Social media buzzed with excitement over the new menu items, especially the Gum-Gum Fruit Lemonade and the exclusive bento boxes. One Instagram user exclaimed, “I have to try that lemonade,” while another simply wrote, “YESSSSSSSS😍.” However, some expressed concern about the limited availability of freebies, with one fan joking, “resellers are gonna be lined up around the block for that bento box.” The announcement of the online merch line seemed to ease worries, offering a wider chance for fans to claim a piece of the action.
Popeyes has not announced an official end date for the collaboration, but industry patterns suggest similar partnerships last between four and eight weeks. The ongoing hype surrounding the One Piece anime’s Elbaph Arc and the April 15 online merchandise drop hint that the momentum could stretch well beyond the initial launch week. As PR Newswire reported, early success metrics will likely determine if this becomes an annual event or the first of many anime tie-ins for Popeyes.
The fast-food chain’s foray into anime branding is part of a broader trend, as detailed by ComicBook.com. Burger King previously offered the Luffy Burger and Sanji Burger, while McDonald’s Japan and KFC Taiwan have also experimented with One Piece-themed menu items and packaging. Yet, what sets Popeyes apart is the accessibility of its collaboration to fans in the United States and Canada, bringing the world of One Piece to a wider audience than ever before.
For now, fans can enjoy the limited-time menu and scramble for exclusive collectibles, all while celebrating the adventure and friendship that have defined One Piece for a quarter-century. Whether this collaboration marks the beginning of a new era in fast-food fandom or simply a delicious detour, one thing’s for sure: Popeyes and One Piece have cooked up something truly legendary.