The only category not populated in this week’s Fast Food Week rundown is Salty snacks. But summer-themed Beverages and Sweets are abundant. And leading players have flooded the MAINS category with new deals. Behold KFC’s Spicy Season menu!
The luxe, new Firehouse Subs Steak & Cheese Melt: That’s truly
a complete, balanced – yet indulgent – meal on a bun!
The rundown…
Spring-into-summer is turning into ‘Fast Food novelty season’! Check out McDonald’s New Zealand’s McMullet burger. And UBER’s new app-integrated Fast Food-run service…
MAINS
Firehouse launches new Steak & Cheese Melt
The new luxe offering, “features flame-seared USDA Choice prime rib, melted provolone, caramelized onions, and red and green bell peppers, served on the chain’s signature top-cut roll.” At participating locations chain-wide. They don’t say it’s a limited-time offering, but don’t wait to try it – just in case…
Subway unveils first-ever Value Menu
The list includes fifteen different 6 in. / 15 cm subs for just $5 each or less. For $3 more, you can up-grade to a Footlong. The selection includes a ‘Sub of the Day’ special for every day of the week. Check out the new value menu at the Subway (US) website, on the app, or in the yellow section of the in-store menu hoard…
Chipotle reprises Honey Chicken
Chipotle Honey Chicken is marinated with smoky Chipotle chilis, grilled, and finished with a drizzle of honey. It’s available on any of the chain’s entrées as well as in a High Protein Cup.
Chipotle Honey Chicken is available in the US, Canada, the UK, France, and Germany…
KFC brings an intl. fave ‘home’…
The KFC Boneless Bucket for One is now available in the US. The deal features three Original Recipe tenders, five nuggets, fries, and a medium drink. There’s also a new $10 Bucket of the Day Deal, feat-uring different combos for each day of the week. The new offerings are part of KFC’s summer- themed Spicy Season Menu.
Zaxby’s flys Giant Chicken Finger Wraps
Try new Chicken Bacon Ranch or new Buffalo Blue. Or stick with the original Asian Zensation version. Each starts with a trio of Zaxby’s breaded or grilled chicken fingers and adds appropriate toppings. Available now through July 5 across the chain.
Del Taco brings back Big Fat Tacos
These ‘tacos’ are served in flatbreads that resemble those used in the now-discontinued Taco Bell Gorditas. Get ’em in any of five versions…
… Grilled Chicken, Seasoned Beef, Carne Asada, Egg and Cheese, or Bacon Egg and Cheese. As a launch promotion, participating locations are offering a 2-for-$6 deal.
SIDES
KFC oozes with new dipping sauces
KFC is headlining its new summer-themed Spicy Season Menu with two new dipping sauces: Honey Chili Crisp Dipping Sauce and Jalapeño Ranch Dipping Sauce (pictured below).
They are touted as going great with the new KFC Boneless Bucket for One and the $10 Bucket of the Day Deal (see MAINS, above).
BEVERAGES
KFC spotlights Prickly Pear for summer
The new Prickly Pear Lemonade starts with KFC’s signature lemonade, and infuses it with Prickly Pear cactus juice. The combo is described as, “creating a refreshingly tart and tangy drink that’ll go great with your fried chicken meal.” Its spicy, Southwestern identity is obviously intended to buddy-up with the new KFC Boneless Bucket for One and the $10 Bucket of the Day Deal (see MAINS, above).
Del Taco brings back Dragon Fruit Blueberry Poppers
You can order it them as either a refresher or a shake. The flavour features real dragon fruit pieces and blueberry-flavored popping boba pearls.
They are available in three, all-natural-colour varieties: Sprite, Minute Maid Zero Sugar Lemonade, or blended into a Vanilla Shake.
Zaxby’s pours old-fave Banana Pudding Milkshake
Zaxby’s is binging back its fan-fave Banana Pudding milkshake for summer. It’s a banana pudding-flavoured shake studded with Vanilla Wafer pieces, and topped with the classic whipped cream and cherry. Available now through July 5 chain-wide…
DESSERTS AND SNACKS
Sweet
Cinnabon floats Harry Potter Butter Beer menu
The sticky bun pioneer is featuring a new roll and a new bev that pay homage to the legendary kids lit franchise. Try the Butterbeer-flavoured Roll or the BB-flavoured Chillata. “For the unintiated, but-terbeer is a bubbly beverage from the Harry Potter universe,” one reviewer explains. “It tastes like a blend of butterscotch and cream soda and is topped with a frothy whipped cream.”
OREOs pops new Firecracker Pop flavour
The cookie guys who can’t stop rolling out new flavours have done themselves one better. They’ve unveiled a new, three layer-filled golden-wafered version in honour of the 4th of July.
The fanciful snack stacks red, white and blue Stuf meant to remind us of the Firecracker Pops pop-sicles most of us enjoyed at least once as kids. Available US-wide now while supplies last…
Del Taco intros Mini Sweet Cream Churros
Speaking of cinnamon and sugar… Del Taco has a new Mini Sweet Cream Churro for you. It’s a mini Churro filled with vanilla cream and dusted with cinnamon sugar. They come 2 to an order – which is just right for dessert or a snack. Available for a limited time only… Darn…
NOVELTIES
UBER adds ‘Eats for the Way’ service
It’s a new way to stoke-up on the way. “Once your Uber Reserve has been confirmed, simply tap ‘add Uber Eats’ to enjoy a coffee, tea, or bite on the go.” The combo service is exclusive to UBER Black and UBER Black SUV. It’s rolling out now in selected US cities with plans to expand across the network.
M&Ms puts on ‘Cerulean’ shade for The Devil Wears Prada
The usually conservative candy company is partnering with the new hit movie The Devil Wears Prada 2 with a new ‘Cerulean’ blue version.
You’ll recall the scene in the original where Meryl Streep’s mercurial fashion maven character runs through a list of different ‘blues’ to impress her new deputy executive assistant… They were released on May 1 online but sold out immediately. With luck, there will be another release as soon as M&Ms can make more…
EVENTS
McD’s removing self-serve drinks fountains
The burger behemoth is ‘quietly’ removing self-serve soda machines from its locations – a move it says will ‘provide a more consistent experience for workers and customers’. You’ll still get free refills – but you’ll have to ask a counter staffer for them. The new regime will centre on what the chain calls the ‘Crew Pour System’. It’s an automated approach, ‘the ‘Crew Pour System’ – an automated beverage system that fills drink orders with minimal human contact’.
Macca’s NZ hangs a Mulletburger
McDonald’s New Zealand has come up with a novelty menu item that’s fun to order and easy to copy-cat… It’s called… the McMullet! The launch, at an Auckland location, came complete with barbers on-site to give willing customers an appropriate new cut.
“It’s go time 😤 we’re making it. Cheeseburger with a Mullet, only at Macca’s Penrose. This Saturday, 2-4pm. Be there,” the McD’s NZ Instagram account advised.
Only in NZ. But you can make your own by ordering a cheeseburger with an extra slice of cheese hanging out the back…
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s going to be making some of us a little more summery-feeling over the coming days and weeks. See you back here in 7 for the next ‘ice cream weather’ edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.