It’s back to basics – and featured MAINS at FFW. Choose your next new bite from Popeye’s, Culver’s, Arby’s, Chili’s, El Pollo Loco, and Papa Murphy’s… ‘On the side’, check out Krispy Kreme’s Spring Collection. And indulge in King’s Hawaiian Ube Coconut Rolls!
El Pollo Loco Tenders: What took them so long?
The rundown…
… And let’s not forget Arby’s new Pulled Pork and Chopped Brisket, or new Snooz sleep-encouraging ice cream…
MAINS
El Pollo Loco enters the ‘Tenders’ game
EPL waited a long time – for a Chicken-forward resto – to get into the ‘Tenders’ game. But now they’re in the thick of it with big, new tenders offer what one reviewer calls, “a Mexican-seasoned profile that leans into citrus, garlic, and heat instead of the usual fast food approach.” They’re available now, in regular and spicy versions.
Chili’s goes big on Chicken Sammys
The Tex-Mex specialist is getting into the Chicken Sandwich niche in a big way: With a menu featuring no fewer than 6 new items! The basic Big Crispy model is basically a clone of Chick-Fil-A’s legendary original, with a hand-breaded chicken breast, mayo and pickles on a brioche bun.
Next come Honey-Chipotle, Nashville Hot, Buffalo variants. At the other end of the list, the Deluxe version adds bacon and Swiss cheese. All come with a side of mac and cheese and fries.
Arby’s rolls out Mac and Cheese Bowls…
The guys who’ve ‘Got the Meats’ now have Mac and Cheese, too. Mac and Cheese bowls, to be precise. The bowls start with the M&C and top it with quarter-pound of either smoked pulled pork or new chopped brisket. Then come onion rings and your choice of BBQ Sauce. Bring your appetite! For a limited time, at participating locations chain-wide.
… Stacks Pulled Pork and Brisket Sammys
Arby’s is also leveraging its Pulled Pork and Copped Brisket into new sandwiches. Each features a quarter-pound of meat topped with pickles and your choice of BBQ sauce, on a Brioche bun. Also for a limited time, at participating locations chain-wide.
Taco Bell brings back Triple Double Crunchwrap
Taco Bell has a new limited-time treat for Crunchwrap lovers… The Triple Double Crunchwrap features double portions of the three ley ingredients…
… beef, nacho cheese, and tostada shells. It’s truly a big handful, and an even bigger bite!
Papa Murphy’s adds Detroit-Style Pizza
It’s described as a thick-crust pizza featuring, “golden crispy edges, cheesy corners, and gooey Mozzarella.” You can get it with Papa’s Mini Cup pepperoni or any two toppings of your choice. Detroit-Style Pizza is available for a limited time, through May 17.
Culver’s resurrects the Colby Jack Burger
It’s been a while since the CBJ appeared on Culver’s menu. But it’s back, in anticipation of summer, in company with…
… the Strawberry Fields Salad, Lemon Ice Cooler, Lemon Ice Smoothie, and Lemon Ice Dish. The new items are described as ‘seasonal’, which suggests they’re here for an extended ‘limited time’ run…
Jersey Mike brings back the Boardwalk Bundle
The Combo is built around a Regular Jersey Shore’s Favorite, which you can get it as a sub, bowl, or wrap. It’s a marriage of ham, cappacuolo, and provolone. The deal adds a bag of chips and a 22 oz fountain drink. Available now for dine-in or takeout only (not for delivery).
Popeye’s + One Piece = Two-Piece Deals
Popeye’s is partnering with the new animated pirate series One Piece (what a natural!) to bring you two-piece combos, a special drink and a dessert. Luffy Bento Box gets you two pieces of fried chicken and a regular-size side of Mac & Cheese.
The Luffy Bundle adds new Gum-Gum Fruit Lemonade, and a new Chopper’s Cupcake. For a limited time at participating locations in the US and Canada…
SIDES
Taco Bell cycles-back Spicy Fries
This time, the Bell says, the zip is more of a layered approach, leveraging the nuances of Zab’s Datil Pepper Ranch Hot Sauce. It’s described as a sweet-tangly (swangy?) flavour with a slow-building heat. Zab’s Chicken Ranch Nacho Fries are now available at all locations. The Fries are topped with the Bell’s Cantina Chicken, pico de gallo, a three-cheese blend, and warm nacho cheese sauce, crowned with a generous slather of Zab’s.
King’s Hawaiian Ube Coconut Rolls are back
The sweet treats are back for a limited time in all the usual places. “We saw the incredible demand for our Ube Coconut Rolls in 2025 when we first unveiled them on our website and they sold out almost instantly,” Raouf Moussa, CMO at King’s Hawaiian, said in a news release. “In that moment, we knew we had something special and were determined to bring them to consumers [again] as quickly as possible.” Get ’em while you can… IF you can!
Buffalo Wind Wings reprises Bottomless App(etizers)
It’s a ‘shareable all-you-can-eat appetizer deal’ at participating locations US-wide. Four can share for $9.99. Add $2 each for additional participants.
Choose from Mozzarella Sticks, Fried Pickles, Hatch Queso, Chips & Salsa, and Beer-Battered Onion Rings. Add Cheddar Cheese Curds or Chips & House-Made Guacamole for $3 more. For a limited time, of course…
BEVERAGES
Krispy Kreme pours new ‘Cookie Blast’ Latté
The Cookie Blast Latte starts with coffee and adds cookie dough-flavored syrup and chocolate sauce. Then it’s topped with whipped cream and cookie crumbles. The CCL is available hot, iced, or frozen, apparently on an ongoing basis (or at least through the summer)…
DESSERTS AND SNACKS
Krispy Kreme débuts ‘Spring Collection’
I love how KK calls its special occasion sinkers ‘Collections’. That’s class. Anyway, the KK Spring Collection is out…
… featuring returning Hershey’s Double Chocolate and Strawberries and Cream varieties, along with new Banana Pudding and Glazed Blueberry Cake.
The perfect Ice Cream for bedtime snacking
Snooz ice cream gives you the perfect combination: The ultimate indulgent bedtime snack with a special formula that helps you compose yourself for sleep. It’s dosed with ingredients known to calm and comfort, including chamomile, magnesium, theanine, and lemon balm.
NOVELTIES
IKEA + Chupa Chups = Meatball Lollipops
COSTCO has its iconic 4150 Hot Dog. But IKEA rivals that deal with it’s legendary Swill Meatballs. Now, the furniture store has teamed with Chupa Chups, the famous lollipop maker, to bring you…. Literally a limited-edition ‘meatball-inspired’ lollipop. (See photo, top of page.) The pops draw on classic Swiss Meatball and Lingon-berry flavour combo creating, “something sweet, a little savory, and definitely unexpected.” get ’em in any IKEA store worldwide starting in June. And get this: They’re giving them away to in-store customers! No assembly required.
ChatGPT ordering apps coming to Fast Food
Most early attempts by Fast Food operators to use AI-enabled systems failed… But ChatGPT had leapfrogged the chains’ efforts. Starbuck’s is testing a ChatGPT app that can customize your next beverage according to your current mood, what you’re craving, the weather, or even a photo of your outfit.
“Over the past year, one thing has become clear: customers aren’t always starting with a menu. They’re starting with a feeling,” Paul Riedel, Senior VP Digital and Loyalty at Starbucks, said in a statement. “We wanted to meet customers right at that moment of inspiration and make it easier than ever to find a drink that fits.”
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s going to be making some of us a little more mains-diverse over the coming days and weeks. See you back here in 7 for the next short-sleeved edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.