The focus this week is on MAINS value deals. The BEVERAGES and SNACKS, and even the new SPAM flavour, are all Sweet! And the presence of Iced Coffee and S’Mores represent the last dying spasm of Fast Food Summer…
The rundown…
Of special interest… The first annual Tenderfest event wraps up today in Beverly Hills, CA. Chicken Tender fans have been celebrating their apex food form all week. Chefs from all over the Greater Los Angles region have been showcasing their talents. Meanwhile…
MAINS
Pizza Hut elevates the Triple Treat Box
… To game-day ‘star’ status. The Game Day Triple Treat Box comprises two medium 1-topping pizzas, five breadsticks (with marinara sauce), and ten cinnamon sticks (with icing). Price varies with locat-ion, and it starts at $24.99 in Los Angeles, historically a higher priced market due to higher restaurant operating costs. Other breadstick varieties, extra toppings, and desserts are available for a slight additional cost.
Jimmy John’s slices Brisket
JJ’s has unveiled a new premium sandwich. It starts with mesquite-smoked brisket, then tops it with cheddar cheese, Sweet Baby Ray’s Hickory & Brown Sugar Barbecue Sauce, crispy-fried onions, let-tuce, and mayo. There’s also a Sweet & Spicy BBQ Brisket Sandwich, featuring Sweet Baby Ray’s Sweet ‘n Spicy Barbecue Sauce, onions, and Jimmy Peppers.
Jack In The Box pops-up Simpson’s Hallowe’en Meals
It comes in 3 versions, each named for it’s primary component: the Munchie Meal of Horror; the Krusty Burger of Terror; and the Double Chicken Sandwich of Terror.
And pick up some Forbidden D’oh!nut Holes for dessert – inspired by the famous Treehouse of Horror episode where Homer sold his soul to the devil for a donut…
Wingstop spotlights Lemon Pepper for Fall
The Stop is bringing back its popular Lemon Pepper flavour for football season. And this time, there are three versions: Original Lemon Pepper; Lemon Pepper Chili Crunch; and Lemon Pepper Chili Glaze. And the best part, for fans, is the expanded Lemon Pepper Trio line is staying on as a permanent menu addition.
Hardee’s reprises Bacon Beasts
The Bacon Beast menu is back at Hardee’s, featuring a bite for every craving including: a Super Bacon Biscuit; a Bacon Beast Homestyle Breakfast Burrito; a Bacon Beast Burger…
… and a Bacon Beast Chicken Sandwich. There’s also a slate of S’Mores treats – covered in greater detail under SNACKS, below…
Little Caesar’s re-ups $4.99 Detroit-Style Slices-N-Stix
Caesar’s is bring back it’s Detroit-Style Slices and Sticks deal for a limited time, at participating locat-ions. The box includes: two rectangular slices of Detroit-Style Deep Dish pizza (Cheese or Pepperoni), four pieces of Italian Cheese Bread, and a big, wide-mouthed tub of Crazy Sauce for easy dipping. It’s $4.99 in most places across the US. But in some costlier markets (e.g.- LA) it’s $5.99.
BEVERAGES
Starbuck’s crafts an ‘Aerocano’
It’s an iced Americano, based on Starbuck’s Blonde Espresso, “air-whipped to create a light foam and [a] cascading visual effect.” No official nod to the Aero bar, which has rocked melt-in-your-mouth bubbly, aerated chocolate since 1935. Since the Aero bar was invented in the UK, and is not included on the ‘regular’ US candy bar men offered by proprietor Nestlé, the ‘AERO’ spelling may just be a coincidence…
Hardee’s brews up S’Mores bevs
Hardee’s is featuring two S’Mores-themed drinks for fall: S’Mores Iced Coffee; and a S’Mores Hand-Scooped Ice Cream Shake…
Maybe your best way to bid farewell to Summer ’26 and usher in the début of Warm Drinks Season! Enjoy either of these decadent bevs with a S’mores Fried Pie for the ultimate fireside treat experience…
SNACKS
SWEET
Starbuck’s rolls out Fall Mini Pies
The premium coffee chain is offering three Fall-themed Mini Pies for a limited time. Choose from: Apple Crumble, Pecan and Pumpkin. Try one with Starbuck’s new Aerocano – and iced, air-entrained Americano…
Hardee’s bring’s back S’Mores treats
Just the thing for an après-Fall Leaves Tour nibble. The classic Hardee’s S’mores Fried Pie (Graham crumble, melty marshmallow cream, and chocolatey filling in a crispy shell) is complemented by two S’Mores-themed beverages (covered in detail under BEVERAGES, above). And the classic Hardee’s Cinnamon and Raisin Biscuit is also back, for a limited time.
Snickers bakes up Banana Nut Bread
A version of Snickers that features a Banana Nut Bread flavoured filling, that is. And fans of the cur-rent ‘Banana’ flavour craze are ecstatic. Insiders say the banana flavouring comes in the nougat cent-re of the bar. There’s already peanuts, caramel and milk chocolate…
… Which, all together, sounds like a pretty tummy combo! It’s out now, at Walgreens locations. Should appear later across the usual outlets. But Snickers isn’t saying when…
NOVELTIES
SPAM couldn’t resist Hot Honey
Everybody’s doing it. So why not SPAM? The Hot Honey craze may have reached it’s apex of accept-ance with the unveiling of new Hot Honey flavoured SPAM. Whether it’s a legit flavour or just a pas-sing fad, Hormel Foods has committed to keeping HH as a ‘permanent’ flavour.
Jollibee + Dreamworks = Forgotten Island ‘Chicken Joy’
The special Chicken Joy box is a Jollibee offering celebrating the premiere of the new Dreamworks’ Filipino-themed animated feature film, fittingly set in the far Pacific. Who better than Jollibee to serve up authentic Filipino meals deals featuring the chain’s with steamed rice, fries, gravy, Peach Mango Pie and signature Lemonades…
EVENTS
‘Tenderfest’ celebrates Chicken fingers in Beverly Hills
The festival’s inaugural event at the glitzy Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts ends to-day. But all indications are, it will be back next year. It’s self-described as, “an all-you-can-eat cele-bration of ‘all things pounded, breaded, and fried’.”
Chicken-focused restos from all walks of Los Angeles life have taken part in this primo event, which included a ConTENDER contest, giving willing restos a chance to strut their stuff by ‘stunting’ the ubiquitous chicken stick…
And that’s the skinny’…
… On what’s going to be making some of us a little more ‘layered’ in the coming days and weeks. See you back here in 7 for the next cocoa-by-the-fireside edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.