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A growing number of consumers, younger ones in particular, appear to be deciding where to eat based as much, or more, on what drinks are available as the food. So we’re seeing beverage innovation all over the place.
Applebee’s is bringing back its Dollarita program, Freddy’s has new teas, lemonades, and dirty soda, Long John Silver’s has dirty sodas, too, Hardee’s has tropical drinks, El Pollo Loco has new iced coffee options, and Noodles & Company has a new proprietary drink mixing soda and limeade that it developed in collaboration with Coca-Cola.
Chinese coffeehouse chain Chagee is now offering matcha made from tea grown in China.
The majority of matcha is now grown in China, in fact, but Chagee is taking the unusual move of highlighting that fact, even detailing which tea varieties it’s using.
Dubai chocolate — that combination of chocolate, pistachio, and shredded and toasted phyllo dough called kataifi — should probably have been the sort of flash-in-the-pan item that would have been hot for a couple of months, but it has proven to have staying power.
IHOP, which offered special Dubai chocolate pancakes at just three locations last year, saw such viral success with them that it’s now available systemwide and a milkshake to go with it.
Also, Ruby Tuesday, who we haven’t heard from in a while, has a Dubai Chocolate sundae along with a bunch of other new menu items for the summer.
Taco Bell is testing chili-cheese items in Louisville, Kentucky, and bringing back the Enchirito among other things nationwide, and Zaxbys is leaning in to the beloved combination of chicken, bacon, and ranch.
Del Taco is selling carnitas, Church’s Texas Chicken is bringing back its Smokehouse options, and Nick the Greek has halloumi fries.
Blaze Pizza has new salads.
BJ’s has new chicken sandwiches and is one of many chains celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary with special items. So are Dairy Queen and Krispy Kreme, while Little Caesars has a pizza celebrating the latest Spiderman film.
Golden Chick has apple empanadas and Velvet Taco’s Weekly Taco Feature is made with spicy falafel.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected]
