Chain restaurant menus evolve constantly, with new dishes being added and old favorites getting phased out or reformulated. Today’s offerings at McDonalds, IHOP, Applebee’s, or wherever, will be at least slightly — and perhaps substantially — different from those of ten years ago.
Often chains roll out new items experimentally, sometimes in a handful of locations, sometimes nationwide; if they fly (out the door), they earn a permanent place on the menu. Chains also introduce dishes (or drinks) with a seasonal flavor, given a built-in lifespan — at least until next year. (There are also always a number of secret off-the-menu items to order at your favorite chains.)
At regular intervals, 24/7 Tempo reviews the Menu Tracker, a column published several times a month by Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN), a leading national restaurant trade publication. In it, NRN’s senior food and beverage editor, Bret Thorn, details new additions to menus at a wide range of chain operations around the U.S.
Based on the most recent appearances of the column, we’ve assembled a list of new offerings from some 16 chains — from Caribou Coffee to Baskin-Robbins, Fatburger to Panera, giving preference to those that are the best-known around the country. These include some of the most successful restaurant chains in America.
As is usually the case with these lists, chicken proves enduringly popular: A quarter of the entries are based on it (there’s also one plant-based chicken substitute). Seasonal ingredients — pumpkin and pecan pie — show up too, with more such entries certainly on the way over the next few months.
Baskin-Robbins
> Menu item: Quarterback Crunch ice cream (vanilla with chocolate-coated Rice Krispies and caramel)
> When available: Through football season
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $3.19 per scoop
Bennigan’s
> Menu item: Bourbon bananas Foster
> When available: Through Oct. 5
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $8-$11
Big Boy
> Menu item: Mushroom & Swiss burger
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $11.99
Bob Evans Restaurants
> Menu item: Southwest avocado chicken
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $11.99
Caribou Coffee
> Menu item: Nitro Pumpkin Latte
> When available: Through fall while supplies last
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $5.09 (medium)
Dairy Queen
> Menu item: Pecan pie Blizzard treat
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $3.59 (small)
Einstein Bros. Bagels
> Menu item: Bacon & queso egg sandwich
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $6.39
El Pollo Loco
> Menu item: Double chicken nachos
> When available: Through Nov. 2
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $7.49
Fatburger
> Menu item: Impossible chicken nuggets
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $6.99
IHOP
> Menu item: Reese’s Pieces pancakes
> When available: Through Halloween
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $6.99 (half stack), $8.49 (full stack)
Jack in the Box
> Menu item: BBQ Cluck Sandwich
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $5.99
Little Caesars
> Menu item: Cookie dough brownies with M&M minis
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $3.69
Panera
> Menu item: Grilled mac & cheese sandwich
> When available: Unspecified limited time
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $9.69
Shake Shack
> Menu item: Chocolate Birthday Cake Shake
> When available: Through Nov. 1
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $5.99
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
> Menu item: Green Goddess Flatbread
> When available: Through Nov. 2
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $5.99-$7.49
Wingstop
> Menu item: Chicken thigh bites
> When available: Permanently
> Where available: All locations
> Price (may vary): $5.99