Snacks take the spotlight in new dining offerings
Chain Restaurant Trends Heat Up Late Summer
In the world of fast food and dining, the late summer season is seeing a burst of innovation as restaurants across the nation cater to customers' seasonal preferences, flavor cravings, and value-driven choices. This week's trends showcase a blend of chilly, refreshing beverages and desserts, bold, adventurous snacks and sandwiches, value-focused small plates and bowls, alongside seasonal and celebrity-influenced offerings.
Snack Trends
Bold flavors are taking centre stage, with sauces and dips becoming a highlight. Wendy’s has introduced "Dips of Dread," featuring four fiery mystery sauces paired with nuggets and fries. Smaller plates or "bites" are also gaining popularity, such as The Cheesecake Factory's new small plates like New Orleans Cajun Shrimp and Meatball Sliders. Hot dogs with loaded toppings are trending, with Smashburger offering a variety including the Americana Big Dog and Chili Cheese Jalapeño Big Dog. Collaboration-inspired snacks continue, with Chicken Guy! launching a new sandwich with Honey Money BBQ Sauce by Guy Fieri.
Beverage Trends
Refreshing, chilly beverages remain popular to beat the summer heat. Fruity and berry-flavored drinks are on the rise, with Chick-fil-A introducing berry drinks and Key Lime Pie shakes at Chicken Guy!. Novelty shakes combining unique flavors are also rising in prominence, such as the Dr. Pepper shake at Whataburger. As we transition into autumn, pumpkin spice-themed offerings are starting to emerge from PJ’s Coffee and Krispy Kreme.
Menu/Main Dish Trends
Barbecue items continue to be a strong appeal, with Firehouse Subs introducing new barbecue offerings and Smashburger's smoked brisket sandwich. Menu innovation includes combos and "duos" that allow customers to pair smaller portions with sides for better customization and value, exemplified by Noodles & Company's "Delicious Duos" featuring pasta bowls with protein and sides at a fixed price. Bowls are increasingly popular, both for their perceived healthiness and variety, with offerings like Teriyaki Salmon Bowl and Peruvian Chicken Bowl at The Cheesecake Factory. Celebrity chef and athlete collaborations are influencing menu expansions, evident at Chopt's salad with soccer star Emily Sonnett and Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken revamp. Fast food chains are also testing protein-forward and health-conscious items to diversify menus, as seen with Jack in the Box's testing in Las Vegas.
Special Offers
Golden Corral has brought back its All-You-Can-Eat Wings, including both bone-in and new boneless options. Bob Evans offers three new menu specials: Big Wrangler Breakfast, Honey Butter Chicken French Toast, and Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. Pepper Lunch has launched Surf & Turf, a limited-time offer that combines Certified Angus New York strip steak and crispy Panko Shrimp, served with fresh vegetables on a sizzling hot plate. Taco Cabana has launched a line of five fruity lemonades called "Cabana Refreshers."
Sonnett's Signature Salad at Chopt features grilled chicken, bacon, feta cheese, almonds, peaches, pickled red onions, and a white balsamic vinaigrette. The Apple Harvest Chicken Salad at Schlotzsky's is a mix of grilled chicken, candied pecans, sliced apples, red onions, and Sweet Vidalia Onion Dressing on a bed of greens and served with breadsticks. The Traditional Bone-In Wings at Golden Corral are tossed in Buffalo sauce, while the Hand-Breaded Boneless Wings come with a choice of Sweet Chili, Garlic Parmesan, or Buffalo sauces.
Burgerville has debuted its late summer LTOs, including an Oregon Marionberry Shake, Sundae, and Lemonade, Blackberry Jasmine Iced Tea, and Walla Walla Onion Rings. Dunkin' has introduced two new icy drinks: the Golden Hour Refresher and the Blueberry Breeze Refresher. Potbelly has brought back its S'Mores Cookies for a limited time. Cava offers a chip-and-dip duo called the "Saucy Snack" for $4.20. Sbarro teams up with Mike's Hot Honey to spice up its Double Duo pizza with extra heat, available during the "Eat the Heat" promotion. Guests can choose from three new sauces: Garlic Herb, Sweet + Spicy, and Herby Tahini. The offerings include a Corn Dog, two Mozzarella Sticks, and a Soft Pretzel Twist, all priced at $1.
Sonic's Snacky Hour offers discounted snacks between 2 and 5 p.m. every day for a limited time.
Menu trends in the late summer season are showcasing innovation, with lifestyle preferences for food-and-drink options such as seasonal barbecue items, collaborations with celebrities, and adventurous snack offerings like Wendy’s "Dips of Dread" and Chopt's Sonnett's Signature Salad. Household names are also focusing on home-and-garden-inspired trends, such as Pepper Lunch's Surf & Turf limited-time offer and Bob Evans' Big Wrangler Breakfast and Honey Butter Chicken French Toast. These trends underscore a shift towards a more diverse and personalized dining experience for customers.
