S'mOREOs - © 2025 Nabisco

Fast Food Week: Quick Service Restaurant and Snacks News!

Many top-tier players seem to be taking a breather from the eternal marketing merry-go-round this week. Let Easter take its majestic and inevitable course. DO note the amazing Triple Burgers from Carls’. And Jersey Mike’s new Chicken lad Sub!

T.H.C Box - © 2025 Jimmy John's

The rundown

What’s new? Check out Panera’s new Croissant Toast Sandwiches. And Jimmy John’s Toasted Hot Combos…

Mains

Jimmy John’s boxes up Toasted Hot Combos

Each Toasted Hot Combo (T.H.C. for short) box includes: a Toasted Sandwich of your choice, a bag of Jimmy Chips, a dessert of your choice, and a Jimmy Pickle spear. Eligible sandwiches include: Jimmy’s Chicken Bacon Ranch; Roast Beef and Cheese; and Ultimate Italian. Any ‘Favorites’ sub can also be ordered toasted.

Jersey Mike’s launches new Chicken Salad Sub

The new Chicken Salad Sub features ‘a mix of roasted chicken breast, mayo, celery, and black pepper, served with your choice of topping, condiments, and bread’. A new Hot Honey Chicken Cheese Steak, meanwhile, starts with the same chicken, then adds pepperoni, American cheese, onion, and Mike’s Extra Hot Honey.

Panera rolling out Croissant Toast

Which means, they’re rolling Croissant dough into standard sized loaves and slicing it for new Croissant Toast Sandwiches. Really looks buttery-yummy when it’s been toasted! Try both Croque Monsieur and Fromage Croissant (i.e.- elevated Grilled Cheese).

Croissant Toast Sandiches - © 2025 Panera

Also on the new ‘It Just Meals Good’ menu: returning the Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Salad and Mexican Street Corn Chowder.

Cici’s reprises Tots N’ Bacon Pizza

This ‘alternative’ pie features Cici’s original crust topped with mac & cheese sauce, fresh mozzarella, crispy tater tots, and bacon. Available now in Medium, Large and Giant sizes, now through June 1.

Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s Beer Battered Fish is back…

Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s classic, premium Redhook Beer-Battered Fish Sandwich is back. Served simply, with crispy Iceberg Lettuce and the team’s own tartare Sauce. It’s here for Lent, as usual. At Carl’s until April 25, and Hardee’s until the 29th.

… Carl’s Jr. stacks up Triple Burgers

Carl’s has tripled-down on some of its burgers in the past, but this is the first time it’s presenting a full menu of the sky-high stackers.

Carl's Triples - © 2025 Carl's

Choose from the El Diablo, the Guacamole Bacon Burger, the Famous Star, and the Western Bacon Cheeseburger. Also available in doubles and regular singles. Or upgrade to Angus patties for a slight additional charge.

Sides

SONIC adds two new, zippy dipping sauces

Check out Jalapeno Ranch and Asian-Style Sweet Chili. The latter, though not a front-liner among Western diners, really deserves to be. It’s one of my go-to favourites. Meanehile… In its quest to update and embolden its exiting line, SONIC has amped up its cornerstone Ranch, Honey Mustard, and BBQ dipping Sauces.

Beverages

Jack In The Box pouring Pink Pineapple

It’s definitely a summer thing… A trio of new Pink Pineapple Express beverages to make Barbie envious… Choo0se from the new PPE Shake; the PPE Twisted; Soda or the PPE Red Bull Summer Edition.Check out the JITB Jack App or website for Easter Weekend deals through this coming Monday, April 21.

Carl’s Jr. uncorks Tropicali Refresher

Carl’s is adding Tropicali Refresher to its Hand-Crafted Lemonade line for spring. It’s described as lemonade infused with tropical starfruit flavor and spiked with natural caffeine.

Tropicali Refresher - © 2025 Carl's Jr.

The brew delivers 80 mg of caffeine in regular size and 120 mg in large size. A moderate dose compared to some other ‘boosted’ Beverages.

Desserts & Snacks

OREO’s Spring Special flavours here

S’mores Oreos (now called: ‘S’ mOREOs’); Birthday Cake Golden OREOs; and Golden OREO Cakesters are back – along with 5 all-new varieties.They’ll be on the shelf at the usual retail sources through the spring…

Novelties

Red Robin brings back Bottomless Burgers

Not exactly a Fast Food joint, RR still qualifies through takeout. The Bottomless Burger Pass will be sold in limited quantities, on a first-come, first-served basis. $20 up-front will get you a ‘Pass’ good a gourmet burger plus a bottomless side of your choice every day through May 25. RR is also also running a Burgers for a Year sweepstakes to celebrate National Burger Month (through May).

And that’s the skinny…

… On what might be making some of us at least a little ‘swicier’ over the coming days and weeks. See you back here in 7 for the next BBQ season-pushing edition of Fast Food Week!

~ Maggie J.