Hot temperatures bring on big thirsts, and restaurant chains are making sure customers are well hydrated this summer. They are inviting customers to beat the heat with new fruity refreshers, icy coffee and tea drinks, tropical juices and cocktails, and a wide choice of other cold beverages. Value deals continue on the food side, along with lightened-up breakfasts and bowls, hot spices and frosty desserts.
Frozen Cotton Candy is back on the beverage menu at Burger King. The striking blue drink is a blend of blue raspberry and cotton candy flavors, topped with cold foam. To celebrate its return, the burger giant is bringing back its BK App game with new twists and the chance for Royal Perks members to play as the Cotton Candy character. Also new on the drink menu is Mango Peach Lemonade, a combo of lemonade with peach and mango juice.
Frozen Cotton Candy thirst-quenchers at Burger King. | Photo courtesy of Burger King.
Three mocktail-inspired drinks are read to quench thirsts at Dutch Bros. The Strawberry Colada is a mix of pineapple, coconut and sweet cream topped with strawberry fruit, while the Blue Lagoon with Strawberry Fruit combines blue raspberry and passion fruit finished with strawberry fruit on top. Last of the trio is Mudslide Mocha, a blend of chocolate milk, Irish cream and dark chocolate sauce, finished with cookies-and-cream soft top; it's available an an Iced Mocha, Mocha Freeze or Mocha Cold Brew.
The Aussie JAWSsie has returned to Outback Steakhouse, joining the new, alcohol-free Sharkey Temple in celebration of TV’s Shark Week. The Aussie JAWSsie is crafted with New Amsterdam raspberry vodka, blue curacao, a trio of citrus juices and a splash of grenadine. It’s garnished with a keepsake shark that spouts grenadine from its mouth. The mocktail is a mix of Sprite and grenadine. Outback’s bars are featuring a shark happy hour from 3-6 p.m. this week and next with discounted drinks and appetizers and shark décor.
Shark Week-inspired drinks at Outback. | Photo courtesy of Outback Steakhouse.
Two new smoothies were added to the core menu at Tropical Smoothie Café. The Mango Monsoon Smoothie, back by popular demand, features mango flavor layered with a blend of pineapple, papaya, guava, passion fruit and coconut, while the Tropical Dragon Passion Smoothie is a beachy fusion of dragon fruit, passion fruit, pineapple and lime.
Juice It Up gets into summer with two limited-time smoothies: Passion Fruit-Orange-Guava and the Strawberry Lemonade Twist. Also continuing through Sept. 2 are the brand’s lineup of elevated snacks, including toasts, bagels and Mike’s Hot Honey Extra Hot, which have struck a chord with customers since their LTO debut earlier this spring.
Dirty sodas have hit the menu at Logan’s Roadhouse, under the banner of Saddled Up Sips and Bull Riders. The four Sips include Strawberry Cloud with Sprite, strawberry puree, coconut syrup and sweet cream; Hawaiian Bliss made with Sprite, pineapple juice, coconut syrup and cream; and Vanilla Coke and Coco Crush, both made with cola, syrups and cream. The Red Bull Riders are a mix of Red Bull with flavored syrups and sweet cream.
Sonic is challenging McDonald’s Snack Wrap debut with two Crispy Tender Wraps of its own, available for $1.99 each—a dollar less than McDonald’s. There’s a Cheesy Baja Crispy Tender Wrap in a flour tortilla with lettuce, tomatoes, melted cheddar and baja sauce and a Honey Chipotle Crispy Tender Wrap with honey chipotle aioli. Both are filled with an all-white meat crispy chicken tender. More of these wraps are in the works later for in the year.
Sonic's Crispy Tender Wraps. | Photo courtesy of Sonic.
National Orange Chicken Day is Tuesday, and Panda Express is heating up the menu with the return of Hot Orange Chicken. The spicy version was first introduced last year and heat-seeking customers demanded its return. Hot Orange Chicken has six times more crushed chilies and the same scorched dried chilies as the chain’s Kung Pao Chicken, delivering a craveable balance of sweet and hot.
Healthy and hearty breakfast items have arrived on the menu at Snooze A.M. Cafe. Highlights include Basil & The Bee Burrata Toast with balsamic date spread, burrata, pesto and Mike’s Hot Honey; Almond Butter Coconut Porridge with berries and toasted coconut; and a Whipped Cottage Cheese Bowl with roasted tomatoes, herbed cucumbers, avocado, prosciutto, arugula and everything bagel spice. There’s also a Greens & Grains Bowl with sauteed greens, crumbled feta, avocado, pickled onions and a sunnyside-up egg and on the more indulgent front, Biscuits & Gravy.
Snooze's Almond Butter Coconut Porridge. | Photo courtesy of Snooze A.M. Cafe
Farmer Boys refreshed its Farmstand Fresh & Affordable Menu with value offerings starting at $9.99. There’s a new Jr. Double Cheeseburger Dipping Box and Triple Cheeseburger Dipping Box, both of which come on locally baked brioche buns with house-made ranch, chili ranch or avocado ranch for dipping. Also new is a Chicken Quesadilla Box and Breakfast Muffin Sandwich & French Toast Dippers Box.
Lemon Pepper, Zaxby’s first dry rub flavor, just launched. The seasoning, a blend of lemon and cracked black pepper with a buttery finish, gives wing fans another flavor option. The chicken chain has teamed up with the rapper Quavo to promote the launch.
The Summer Peach Craft Series made its debut at Your Pie, pairing the season’s juicy fruit with five items. The star of the lineup is Peach & Prosciutto Pizza layered with ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, thin-sliced prosciutto and peach slices, finished with fresh basil and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Also available is Kickin’ BBQ Peach Pizza with the zing of spicy barbecue peach sauce and pickled jalapenos and Kickin’ BBQ Peach Wings with the same sweet-heat flavor profile. A Summer Peach Salad and Your Pie’s Peach Cobbler Gelato complete the peachy menu.
Peachy pizzas at Your Pie. | Photo courtesy of Your Pie.
Protein-packed Egg Bites have joined the food menu at Black Rock Coffee Bar. The portable breakfast or snack option comes in two varieties: Bacon, Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Egg White Ham & Gruyere with spinach and red bell pepper. Guests can grab them with a coffee, tea, Chiller blended drink or energy beverage.
Yuzu is flavoring the newest cookie at Dirty Dough. The Yuzu Ice Box Cookie combines the creamy, citrusy flavor of yuzu with a vintage ice box dessert, characterized by the brand’s signature stuffed cookie format. Yuzu, a Japanese citrus known for its tart bite and floral notes, is gaining ground on U.S. menus.
Jelati Cakes are the latest addition at Jeremiah’s Italian Ice. The ice cream cakes are composed of layers of Italian ice, soft ice cream and layers of cookies and candies. Three variations include Oreo Mud Pie, Strawberry Shortcake and Birthday Cake. They’re part of a new Hop-Away Treats menu that also includes Oreo Ice Cream Sandwiches and quarts of Italian ice and Jelati to go.
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