The research and development teams at major restaurant chains (and at some minor ones) are constantly imagining, creating, testing, and refining new menu offerings. Some of these never make it into production. Others get added to the menus in a few markets on a trial basis but never hit the big time, while others get their chance to shine nationwide but then disappear. (These are some fast-food dishes we’d like to see back on the menu.)
The best of these new offerings end up becoming essential parts of a chain’s repertoire, even developing cult followings (here’s to you, McRib).
Sometimes new dishes are tied to specific holidays. St. Patrick’s Day tends to see the appearance of artificially colored green foods. Similarly, the alternately dreaded or hotly anticipated “pumpkin spice” flavoring appears like clockwork every fall. Others reflect the season in a broader sense – lighter foods in the spring and summer, richer ones as the weather cools. And some, of course, appear with no apparent logic whatsoever.
To compile a list of new chain restaurant menu items as the summer begins, 24/7 Tempo reviewed several editions of the Menu Tracker column appearing regularly in Nation’s Restaurant News, a leading national restaurant trade publication. Bret Thorn, NRN’s senior food and beverage editor, adds new menu offerings to the column weekly, covering a wide range of chain restaurants, massive and small, around the U.S.
On this month’s list, with summer officially just beginning, summery ingredients like fresh berries, watermelon, and pesto show up. Another popular warm weather ingredient (though not itself seasonal), chicken is well represented as always – this time appearing in 10 of our 35 new items.
Click here to see new chain restaurant menu items for summer
It’s not all light fare, however. Such diet-busters as Burger King’s Sausage Cheesy Breakfast Melt, Papa Johns’ Epic Pepperoni-Stuffed Crust Pizza, and Krispy Kreme’s Cinnamon Milk Glazed Doughnut with cream cheese probably aren’t going to do much for your summertime beach body. Nonetheless, they sound pretty good.
And, of course, because this is America, there are burgers – four variations (counting sliders) plus a cheeseburger omelet and a “cowboy smothered chopped steak dinner” – just in time for the Fourth of July. (These are the best burgers you can get at a fast food restaurant.)
Baja Fresh
> Menu item: Birria tacos
> When available: Through July 10
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $4.99
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Source: RiverNorthPhotography / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Bob Evans
> Menu item: Fresh berry hotcakes
> When available: Through August
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $8.59
Source: mizoula / Getty Images
California Pizza Kitchen
> Menu item: Wild mushroom and brie soup
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $7.30 (cup, $10 (bowl)
Caribou Coffee
> Menu item: Roasted tomato & pesto flatbread
> When available: Through summer
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $6.49
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Source: Susan Vineyard / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Chick-fil-A
> Menu item: Spicy chicken biscuit
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: 1,304 locations (out of about 2,700)
> Price (may vary): $3.15
Source: M. Suhail / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Chipotle Mexican Grill
> Menu item: Garlic guajillo steak
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: 102 locations in Denver, Indianapolis, and Orange County (CA)
> Price (may vary): $11.50
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Source: Courtesy of Chopt Creative Salad Co.
Chopt
> Menu item: Spicy Sonoma Caesar salad
> When available: Through Aug. 18
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $13.29
Chuck E. Cheese
> Menu item: Sweet chili Hawaiian pizza
> When available: Through Aug. 28
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $17.97 (medium), $19.97 (large)
Source: raksyBH / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
> Menu item: Watermelon mint cold brew tea
> When available: Through Aug. or while supplies last
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $4.15
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Source: JHVEPhoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Dave & Buster’s
> Menu item: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Fried Ice Cream
> When available: Through July
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $9.95
Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Del Taco
> Menu item: Chicken Cheddar Rollers
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $1.29
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Source: anderm / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Fatburger
> Menu item: Mike’s Hot Honey Crispy Chicken Sandwich
> When available: Through Sept. 4
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $10
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Friendly’s
> Menu item: Lobster Roll Deluxe (with bacon and tomato)
> When available: Through August
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $21.99-$25.99
Source: benkrut / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
IHOP
> Menu item: Cheeseburger omelette
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $12.99
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Source: krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Jamba
> Menu item: Plant-Based Watermelon Breeze smoothie
> When available: Through summer
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $6.44
Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Jersey Mike’s Subs
> Menu item: Grilled portobella mushroom and Swiss sub
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $8.95 (regular)
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Source: carterdayne / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Jimmy John’s
> Menu item: Thai chicken wrap
> When available: Through summer
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $8.99
Source: KathyDewar / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Krispy Kreme
> Menu item: Cinnamon Milk Glazed Doughnut with cream cheese
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $12.49/dozen
Source: RiverNorthPhotography / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Panera
> Menu item: Lobster mac & cheese
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: Northeastern U.S. only
> Price (may vary): $22.99-$25.99
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Source: Ildar Sagdejev / Wikimedia Commons
Papa Johns
> Menu item: Epic Pepperoni-Stuffed Crust Pizza
> When available: Through July 10
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $13.99
Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
> Menu item: Buffalo ranch chicken sandwich
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $4.99
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Source: carterdayne / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
> Menu item: Lemon cheesecake cookie
> When available: While supplies last
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $1.79-$2.29
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Source: wdstock / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Pret à Manger
> Menu item: Pesto chicken & burrata salad
> When available: Indefinite
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $14.99
Source: carterdayne / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Quiznos
> Menu item: Philly cheesesteak
> When available: While supplies last
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $8.50
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Roy Rogers
> Menu item: Mushroom jack burger
> When available: Through July 25
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $5.99
Source: mizoula / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Shake Shack
> Menu item: Bourbon bacon cheddar burger
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $8.49
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Source: Wachiwit / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Starbucks
> Menu item: Chocolate cream cold brew
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $5.25-$5.45 (grande)
Source: TennesseePhotographer / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Subway
> Menu item: Sweet onion steak teriyaki sub
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $9.89 (footlong)
Source: Melissa Kopka / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Sweetgreen
> Menu item: Summer teriyaki bowl
> When available: Through Aug. 10
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $11.95-$14.95
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Source: lawcain / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Taco Bell
> Menu item: Steak White-Hot Ranch Fries
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $3.49
Source: Wolterk / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Taco John’s
> Menu item: Honey BBQ fried chicken taco
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $3.29
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Source: PaulMcKinnon / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
TGI Fridays
> Menu item: Peanut Butter Fudge Obsession
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $8.60
Source: RiverNorthPhotography / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Wendy’s
> Menu item: Summer strawberry chicken salad
> When available: Through summer
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $7.59
Source: patty_c / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
White Castle
> Menu item: The 1921 Slider
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $1.99 ($2.19 in parts of Chicago, New York City, and New Jersey)
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Source: Courtesy of Wild Wing Cafe via Facebook
Wild Wing Café
> Menu item: Bacon Jam Boogie Board (grilled chicken, spinach dip, mozzarella, & bacon jam on garlic naan)
> When available: Through August
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $12.99
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