What a week for Fast Food Fans! Crowned by the 4th of July, and capped off by National Fried Chicken Day! Not to mention a tsunami of new and returning Mains, Sides and Snacks… Truly a summer bounty!
Fried Chicken Sandwich: The current preferred Fried Chicken treat.
Perfect for celebrating National Fried Chickien Day…
The rundown…
Forthwith, your weekly, exclusive, prime, select report on the best new products and services the Fast Food Sector has to offer…
Mains
National Fried Chicken Day Specials!
Today – July 6- is National Fried Chicken Day. And, as befits such an occasion, many purveyors of the iconic crispy treat are offering specials and holding events to celebrate. And once again, the folks at BrandEating have compiled a list of top-tier dining opportunities. Note: This paramount observance is not to be confused with National KFC Day or National Chicken Sandwich Day…
Chipotle re-issues Gold Foil Burritos
It’s a special nod to the coming Olympics, with the gold foil a metaphor for the Gold Medal – every Olympian’s supreme goal.
And the Tex-Mex chain is also offering an array of limited-edition burritos and bowls inspired by the eating regimes of 6 top US Olympic hopefuls. Find out more, and watch a video on each featured athlete at the special website…
SONIC joins Value Meal parade
America’s last authentic drive-in has jumped on the Fast Food sector’s new Value Meal bandwagon. The new, permanent ‘Fun.99 Menu’ offers a whole raft of regular menu items for just $1.99 each, including the Quarter Pound Double Cheeseburger, the Chili Cheese Coney, an order of Small Tots, a 16-ounce milkshake (in any of the resto’s 12 flavors) and both varieties of the all-new, limited-time Sonic Queso Wraps.
Taco Bell reissues 30-Day Nacho Fries Lover’s Pass
The $10 ‘pass’ gets you 30 consecutive days of free regular Nacho Fries from date of purchase. That’s a great deal, considering your pass can pay for itself after just 5 days!
But it’s good only for purchases on the mobile app. More coercion! Nevertheless… Coming July 18, the Bell will roll out new, limited-time Jalapeño Ranch Nacho Fries.
Pizza Hut revives AYCE Pizza Buffet
It seems that all the Fast and Casual resto chains are hyper-mindful of the All You Can Eat (AYCE) principle right now. Since Red Lobster got all that disaster-oriented media coverage over its Endless Shrimp catastrophe. Pizza Hut is reviving its popular AYCE Pasta Buffet for summer – at least in some markets. The deal includes: the salad bar, multiple pizza options, the pasta, garlic breadsticks, and the cinnamon sticks for dessert.
Panera kicks up Breakfast Sammys
The bowl and sandwich guys are certainly bouncing back with a vengeance from their ‘Charged’ Lemonade disaster. Among recent attempts to steer their rep back towards the positive, they’ve rolled out unique new Breakfast Sandwiches.
They’re served on Cinnamon Rolls rather than the traditional English Muffins, biscuits or hamburger buns. ‘CinnaScrambles’ feature scrambled eggs topped with melted American (Processed) cheese. There’s also a sausage version..
Sides
Potato Cakes are back are Arby’s
The distinctive triangular hash brown patties are returning for a limited time in generous 3-piece orders. They were last seen back in 2021, when they were discontinued to make menu room for then-mew Crinkle Fries. Check out the ‘Order Of Potato Cakes’ lore and merch in store, and online. If the t-shirt, hoodie, candle and hoodie aren’t there yet, they will be soon!
McDonald’s spotlights Manga idols
McD’s is partnering with Japanese Manga craze series Jujutsu Kaisen.on a new Asian-inspired garlic sauce. Specifically, it’s described as inspired by the Black Garlic Sauce sold in McDonald’s Japan.
The douse/dip features ‘special grade’ flavours of, “garlic and soy sauce, balanced with a slight tangy sweetness.” Comes in 8 pouches, each featuring a Jujutso Kaisen character.
Beverages
Little Caesar’s reignites Pineapple/Pizza debate
And it’s not what you’re thinking. LC’s has has commissioned a special edition of Pepsi’s controversial Pineapple flavour, along with Pineapple Crazy Puffs as a sweet finish to your summer pizza repast. “Pineapple on pizza may still be debatable, but pizza lovers have made Pepsi Pineapple a clear winner. We’re thrilled to be bringing Pepsi Pineapple back to Little Caesars,” said Scott Finlow, Chief Marketing Officer of PepsiCo Global Foodservice.
Snacks
Mint Chip OREOs perfect for summer!
I’m really lovin’ this idea: New Mint Chip OREOs! The wafers are classic chocolate. But the Stuff is a beautiful, definitely more-ish, summer-shade hue of green.
And it’s studded throughout with mini chocolate chips. At participating retailers, while supplies last!
Krispy Kreme features ‘free with purchase’ deals
It’s pretty simple. And pretty tasty. KK is offering all comers a specific variety of free doughnut with any purchase every Tuesday, and a free iced coffee with any purchase every Friday. The identities of the free doughnuts will be revealed at the KK website. You can claim any size of Iced Coffee. The deal is good now through the end of thus month.
Novelties
Pizza Hut Bakes up Grilled Cheese Ramen
It sounds like a great idea… But it’s available only in Japan. At least for now. However… if we all scream loudly enough at the chain’s Facebook page… Who knows? It’s officially dubbed Yaki Cheese Ramen – American translation: Grilled Cheese Ramen.
One intrepid on-the-spot reporter said: “Though it was a bit like mac and cheese, only with long noodles instead of macaroni, it actually tasted a lot like ramen. In fact, the warm, cheesy deliciousness of it all was reminiscent of Pizza Hut’s ramen pizza we tried earlier this year.
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s going to be making some of us more reluctant to exert ourselves in the record heat over the coming days and weeks. See you back here in 7 for the next sizzling edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.