One of the great appeals of chain restaurants has always been consistency. The Crunchwrap Supreme you get in Walla Walla is going to be pretty much identical to the one you get in Tuscaloosa. A Big Mac is a Big Mac is a Big Mac.
Despite this admittedly sometimes reassuring cookie-cutter dependability, the fact is that big restaurant companies never rest. Their test kitchens, often staffed by highly talented chefs who could easily be turning out pricey prix-fixe dinners in restaurants of their own, are constantly tinkering with existing recipes and forms of presentation and also developing new products to try out on the hungry masses. (These are favorite fast food restaurants in 30 U.S. cities.)
Sometimes these new menu items are tested only in a few markets. Sometimes they appear for a limited time only, either by design or because they fail to find an audience and get kicked to the curb. One thing is sure, though: Chains regularly beef up their menus with new offerings.
To assemble a list of new chain restaurant menu items as the summer winds down, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the past month’s Menu Tracker articles in Nation’s Restaurant News, a leading national restaurant trade publication. NRN’s senior food and beverage editor, Bret Thorn, tracks menus at large and small chains across the country, reporting any additions to the menus.
On this month’s list of 33 new menu items, there are – as usual – a number of chicken dishes (11 altogether). The persisting warmth of the season makes items like Auntie Anne’s dragonfruit mango frozen lemonade and Outback Steakhouse’s strawberry salad (with, yes, chicken) seem particularly appropriate.
The Brisket-It-All Melt (brisket burnt ends, bacon, eggs, and sharp white cheddar on grilled bread) at Denny’s and the stuffed cheesecake pancake breakfast (with eggs and bacon or sausage) at Cracker Barrel are perhaps less obviously seasonal, but will doubtless find their partisans, no matter where the mercury stands. (Don’t feel like fast food? These are 35 best vegan restaurants in America.)
Oh, and one of America’s most enduring autumnal culinary clichés makes an early appearance here with Krispy Kreme’s Pumpkin spice original glazed doughnut.
Auntie Anne’s
> Menu item: Dragonfruit mango frozen lemonade
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $4.19 (medium)
Boston Market
> Menu item: Rotisserie chicken nuggets
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $3.30 (5 nuggets & 1 sauce)
Buffalo Wild Wings
> Menu item: Honey BBQ Bird Dawg (fried chicken tender on brioche bun with honey BBQ sauce)
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $5 during 3-6 p.m. happy hour; otherwise, varies by location
Burger King
> Menu item: The Impossible King (meatless burger)
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $5.99
California Pizza Kitchen
> Menu item: Seafood cioppino
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $26.49
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
> Menu item: Stuffed cheesecake pancake breakfast (including two egg and choice of bacon or sausage)
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $8.99
Denny’s
> Menu item: Brisket-It-All Melt (brisket burnt ends, bacon, eggs, sharp white cheddar on grilled bread)
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $13
Einstein Bros. Bagels
> Menu item: Chorizo breakfast burrito
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $6.99
Fosters Freeze
> Menu item: Bacon jam burger
> When available: Through September
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $6-$8
Friendly’s
> Menu item: Southwest pasta
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $14.99
Jack in the Box
> Menu item: Spicy chicken strips
> When available: Through Sept. 26
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $5
KFC
> Menu item: Mac & cheese bowl with popcorn chicken
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $5 (including fries & a medium drink
Krispy Kreme
> Menu item: Pumpkin spice original glazed doughnut
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $1.70
Long John Silver’s
> Menu item: Coconut popcorn shrimp
> When available: While supplies last
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): Varies by location
Outback Steakhouse
> Menu item: Strawberry salad (with grilled or fried chicken)
> When available: Through August
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): Under $20 (entrée size)
Papa Johns
> Menu item: Chicken Alfredo Papa Bowl
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $7.99
Pizza Hut
> Menu item: Chicken Alfredo baked pasta
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $8.99
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
> Menu item: Cajun rice
> When available: While supplies last
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $2.49
Potbelly
> Menu item: S’mores cookies
> When available: While supplies last
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $1.79-$2.39
Qdoba
> Menu item: Surf & turf burrito or bowl
> When available: Through Oct. 10
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $12.25
Quiznos
> Menu item: Hickory-Smoked Burnt Ends Sandwich
> When available: While supplies last
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $8.50
Red Lobster
> Menu item: BBQ bacon grilled shrimp
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): Varies by location
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews
> Menu item: Savory Steakhouse Burger
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $14.99
Round Table Pizza
> Menu item: Apollo Pizza (garlic oil, Italian herbs, 3-cheese blend, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, salami, etc.)
> When available: Through Sept. 25
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $22.99 (large)
Roy Rogers Restaurant
> Menu item: Honey sriracha chicken sandwich
> When available: Through Oct. 23
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $5.99
Shake Shack
> Menu item: Cherry hibiscus lemonade
> When available: Through Sept. 26
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $3.99
Smashburger
> Menu item: S’more milkshake
> When available: Through August
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $6.39
Sonic Drive-In
> Menu item: Churro shake
> When available: Through Sept. 25
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): Varies by size and location
Starbucks
> Menu item: Chicken, maple butter, & egg sandwich
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $4.95-$5.25
TGI Fridays
> Menu item: Tandoori chicken skewer FRIjitas
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $16.99-$20.99
Wendy’s
> Menu item: Homestyle French toast sticks
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $2.79
Whataburger
> Menu item: Bacon blue cheese burger
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $11.99
White Castle
> Menu item: Bacon Ranch Chicken Ring Slider
> When available: Through Aug. 28
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): Two for $3