As Americans continue to shelter at home, the demand for family meals keeps increasing. Several fast casuals are capitalizing on this trend by creating more dinner-centric menu items for takeout and delivery. Pre-pandemic, the bulk of this segment’s business came from lunch orders in many parts of the country, but now housebound families are seeking on-trend dinner options. Here are a few that were recently introduced—some of which will continue to be available as restaurants open for dining in again.
Sweetgreen debuted an entire new category: the Plates menu. The six dishes in the lineup feature proteins paired with vegetables, whole grains and beans. Choices include Chicken Chimichurri; Hot Honey Chicken; Miso Chicken and Cauli Rice; Tofu Steak and Sweet Potatoes; Herby Fish and Rice; and Shroomy Asada. The meals are packaged on square plates to differentiate them from the chain’s signature salads and warm bowls.
Smashburger’s Take & Make Family Meal Kits include the ingredients and directions to make four hearty sandwiches and four servings of tots at home in three varieties. The selection includes beef patties with all the fixings, crispy chicken and smoked bacon brisket burger sandwiches.
Wow Bao debuted the Wow Family Meal. Available for takeout and delivery, the Wow Family Meal includes four baos of choice, four rice bowls of choice, eight pot stickers and two dessert baos.
Hawkers Asian Street Fare has family meals for four, eight or 12 eaters. The $35 deal for four includes four roti, one family-size entree and one soft drink. Entrees include Chow Faan, Basil Fried Rice, Chicken Curry and Rice, Tofu Curry and Rice, Yaki Udon, Pad Thai and more. Dinners for eight ($65) and 12 ($90) are exponentially larger.
Schlotzsky’s rolled out a new Family Meal Deal with a choice of four entrees, which include sandwiches, pizzas and flatbreads. Each package for four comes with chips and cookies for $24.95 and is available after 4 p.m.
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