July 4th weekend is a summer of ’25 memory, but the burgers and hot dogs that define the culinary side of the holiday continue to trend on menus. Tacos are making news too, with a couple boasting unique fillings. And value remains a selling point at chains, as deals and promotions keep on coming.
Applebee’s introduced the Big Bangin’ Burger, a beef patty topped with two slices of American cheese, a new sweet and spicy sauce made with jalapeños and bacon, and finished with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles on a brioche bun. It’s joined by the new Chicken Parmesan Fettuccine featuring pasta in a Parmesan cream sauce topped with a crispy chicken breast filet, marinara sauce and more Parmesan cheese, and served with a signature garlic breadstick. The Perfect Watermelon Margarita is new on the drinks side.
The Queso Crunch Burger is the latest menu addition at Carl’s Jr. It’s a twist on the classic chips and queso combo, featuring a charbroiled beef patty covered in warm queso and topped with pepper jack cheese, fresh pico de gallo and seasoned crunchy tortilla strips on a toasted bun. Popular social media creator Alix Earle is promoting the burger along with Paris Hilton, reprising their roles from an iconic 20-year-old commercial.
Queso Crunch Burger is new at Carl's Jr. | Photo courtesy of Carl's Jr.
The Taco Burger is now available nationally at Taco John’s. The revamp of the classic, which dates back to the original West-Mex menu, has been upgraded with North America-sourced beef topped with cheddar, lettuce and signature taco sauce on an airy potato bun. The introductory price is $3.49.
The $15 TBS Trio at TGI Fridays ties into the chain’s summer promotion, The Flavor Show, a partnership with Turner Broadcasting. The Trio includes loaded tots, boneless wings and sliders served over french fries, a shareable designed to celebrate summer movie nights. Launching with the deal is Whiskey Buffalo Sauce, a sweet-spicy blend of Friday’s whiskey glaze and Buffalo sauce. Dirty sodas have also arrived on the menu in four flavors, starting at $3.99. There’s Cherry-Cream Cola, Dirty Sunshine made with passion fruit cream and Red Bull, Strawberry SZN with sprinkles and Dr. Vibe with gummy candies. All can be spiked with a $3 shot for those looking for a buzz.
The Dog Days menu at Shake Shack offers a lineup of limited-time hot dogs. Each starts with a Vienna Beef Flat Top Dog topped with trimmings such as Angus beef chili, fried pickles, chopped bacon, melted cheese and crisp onions. Customers can get a meal deal of two hot dogs for $8 during the run of the campaign.
Mozzarella Stickz are new at Wetzel’s Pretzels, available through Aug. 31. The crispy, cheesy, handheld snack or side has an impressive mozzarella pull and comes in a paper cup geared for on-the-go eating.
Mozzarella Stickz to-go from Wetzel's. | Photo courtesy of Wetzel's Pretzels.
Smoked brisket is the meat of the moment at Cotton Patch Café, where it stars in three limited-time items. There’s a Brisket Queso appetizer made with green chile queso, a Colossal Brisket-Stuffed Loaded Potato packed with brisket, butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, chives and a barbecue sauce drizzle, and a Chopped Brisket Sandwich layered with barbecue sauce, pickles and onions on a potato bun. New iced sweet tea flavors also made their debut, in flavors including Peach Cobbler, Peach Blackberry, Mint, Lavender, Pumpkin Pie and Texas Spiced Chai.
Pickle-mania has hit Del Taco with the introduction of the Fried Pickle Taco. The LTO features a breaded dill pickle spear wrapped in a warm tortilla, topped with shredded lettuce, grated cheddar, diced tomatoes and creamy ranch.
Saladworks is also going all in on pickles with its new Chicken Pickle Crunch Salad. It’s a mix of crispy chicken, cheddar cheese, egg, pickle pico and pickle ranch dressing served on a base of romaine, iceberg, and radiatore pasta topped with spicy dill pickle potato chips for crunch. Continuing with the pickle theme, there’s also a Pickle Ranch Chicken Melt and Pickle Wrap with grilled chicken; both feature Saladworks’ Pickle Pico and Pickle Ranch.
Saladworks' Chicken Pickle Crunch Salad. | Photo courtesy of Saladworks.
Customers ordering online can now choose from several crowd-sized value packs at Moe’s Southwest Grill. The Taco Pack includes 12 tacos, starting at $29.99, while the Burrito Pack has six burritos, each filled with a choice of protein, beans, seasoned rice and shredded cheese starting at $36.99. For the indecisive, there’s also a Burrito & Taco Pack with four of each ($37.99) and a Variety Pack of four tacos, two stacks and two quesadillas ($36.99).
Value meals are also a draw at Newk’s Eatery, where a Pick 3 deal allows guests to mix and match half portions of sandwiches, salads and mac & cheese, along with cups of soup or bowls of sides. The fast casual is also introducing two steak-centric items: Newk’s Steakhouse Salad with 6 ounces of sirloin steak, bacon, mixed greens, cucumbers, red onions, tomatoes, croutons and sherry vinaigrette, and the Steak “Q” Sandwich with caramelized onions and white barbecue sauce. A third seasonal addition is the meatless Strawberry Fields Salad.
Two new salad LTOs join the menu at Tocaya. The Mexi-Cali Caesar is a spin on the classic Caesar, with avocado, tortilla strips, cotija cheese and a choice of mesquite chicken or chile lime salmon, while the Manzana Steak Salad features carne asada, butter lettuce, roasted heirloom peppers, queso fresco and a creamy apple cider honey dressing.
Alamo Drafthouse Chicago rolled out a limited-time Superman-themed menu timed with the release of the movie this month. Fans can order up a Superman Supreme Pizza topped with pepperoni, sausage, roasted mushrooms, red bell peppers, green olives, marinara, mozzarella and Parmesan; a Smallville Hot Chicken Wrap; Kryptonite Cheesecake featuring mint-vanilla cheesecake layered between chocolate cookies; and two drinks: the Krypton Cooler with ginger beer, blue raspberry, lime and mint, and The Red Cape made with tequila.
Taco Cabana launched two summer LTOs: Queso Blanco and Carne Asada Double Crunch Pizza. | Photo courtesy of Taco Cabana
The Carne Asada Double Crunch Pizza and Queso Blanco are two limited-time offers at Taco Cabana through Aug. 26. The pizza layers two crispy shells with beans, cheese, sour cream, pico de gallo and marinated steak, sauced with jalapeño cilantro ranch. Queso Blanco taps into the white queso trend and is served solo or upgraded to a Loaded Queso Dip topped with seasoned beef, guacamole, pico de gallo and refried beans.
Korean chicken concept bb.q Chicken started the Open Sandwich Club, which gives guests the chance to build their own meal. For $15, each platter includes four crisp, boneless chicken pieces, Texas toast, a choice of Galbi or Hot Mayo and one side, such as fries, cole slaw or fried pickles. Customers can make sandwiches or dip and mix, reserving the bread as a side.
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