With Thanksgiving menus all set, restaurant chains are luring consumers with other offers. Value continues to be a hook, with combo meals and deals in play. Craveable flavors, some with holiday themes, are also showing up in beverages, sandwiches, chicken and seafood. Here’s a look at what’s trending on menus right now.
Seafood Boils have been a hit at Red Lobster, so the casual-dining chain is introducing three new flavor variations. There’s Lemon Pepper Butter, Old Bay & Butter and RL Signature Butter, a blend of several bold flavors. Also on offer are two new entrees: Shrimp & Sausage Jambalaya served over orzo in a Cajun-style tomato-based sauce with bell peppers, onion and celery, and Shrimp Scampi Linguini with fresh tomatoes and toasted panko. On the cocktail side, there’s the bourbon-based Under the Mistletoe with cranberry and blackberry; Sugar Cookie Delight made with rum and Amaretto; and Snow Globe Sangria sparkling with gold shimmer.
Red Lobster's holiday cocktail trio.
The Steak & Poblano Rolled Quesadilla rolls out at Taco Bell for a limited time on Thursday. The launch marks the national debut of poblano peppers on the menu, adding subtle heat and fire-roasted flavor to the filling of marinated steak, cheese and Spicy Ranch sauce. The rolled format is also a first for the Mexican fast-food chain, giving the quesadilla a fresh look. To coincide with the new item, Taco Bell is releasing a limited-edition Poblano Sweater on Dec. 9 from 2-3 p.m. PT, exclusively on its Tuesday Drops page on the app.
Pizza Hut, Taco Bell’s sister brand under the Yum umbrella, is also wrapping fans in a cozy sweater: the Pizza Hut x Tipsy Elves holiday pizza sweater. It’s part of the promotion surrounding the return of the Triple Treat Box, which includes two medium one-topping pizzas, five breadsticks and choice of dessert, served up in limited-edition holiday packaging. The pizza chain has once again teamed up with quarterback Josh Allen in a video spot for the campaign to promote the Triple Treat Box, pizza sweater and a deal on Pepsi.
Mermaid-style smoothies and bowls shimmer at Tropical Smoothie Cafe.
Customers who order a smoothie or bowl “Mermaid Style” at Tropical Smoothie Café will be treated to a bit of sparkle with a topping of blue shimmer sugar. The idea was inspired by the viral mermaid-core trend, which celebrates ocean colors, iridescence and seashells in jewelry and fashion. The edible blue shimmer sugar is available for a limited time.
The Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 movie hits theaters Dec. 5, but Popeyes is getting a jump on the release with its new Freddy Fazbear Crunch Menu, launching Monday. The fast-food chain is translating the flavors of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria into chicken tenders with a garlic Parmesan rub and also offering garlic-crusted Cheesy Bites with Marinara Sauce. The Freddy Fazbear Deluxe Box ($12.99) features three classic or spicy chicken tenders topped with the rub, served with Cheesy Bites, a beverage and a Cupcake Cup—a strawberry flavored cake with pink icing. The Freddy Fazbear Box ($7.99) has the same contents minus the cupcake and drink. Customers can also order the Cheesy Bites and Cupcake Cup on their own for $3.99 each.
Popeyes is flavoring chicken tenders with a garlic Parmesan rub.
Garlic Parmesan is also on the menu at Ford’s Garage as part of its new Cheers & Gears LTO. Garlic Parmesan Wings features six chicken wings tossed in butter garlic-Parmesan sauce, served with celery and ranch or blue cheese dressing. There’s also a French Onion Burger composed of a half-pound of grilled Angus beef topped with Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, arugula and garlic aioli on a toasted brioche bun; a cup of au jus and Ford’s Fries are served on the side. Rounding out the food selection is a Grilled New York Strip Steak and to drink, there’s a boozy Toasted Old Fashioned and an alcohol-free Toasted ‘Mallow Milkshake, both flavored with toasted marshmallow syrup and garnished with a toasted marshmallow.
The Cali XL burger is Carl’s Jr. answer to the Big Mac. It features two 3.5-ounce charbroiled beef patties—almost double the beef of the Big Mac—double the American cheese, grilled onions, Classic Sauce, lettuce and tomato for $5.99. To coordinate with what the chain is calling its entry into the “value wars,” Carl’s is running a “Sad Mac Buy Back” campaign through Nov. 21. Consumers can upload any past McDonald’s receipt dated from Jan. 1-Nov. 11, 2025 and receive a free Cali XL in their My Rewards account.
Taziki's Turkish Meatballs.
Turkish Meatballs are the newest protein to join the menu at Taziki’s Mediterranean Café. The chargrilled meatballs, made with domestically sourced ground lamb, can be ordered topped with tomato sauce, feta and fresh basil in the Turkish Meatball Feast, wrapped in warm pita for a Turkish Meatball Gyro or added to Taziki’s Caesar Salad, Mediterranean Salad or Greek Salad as a topper.
Dave & Buster’s gave its menu a major refresh, with about 75 new dishes and drinks and returning guest favorites. Among the latter are Lacy’s Chicken, Mountain O’Nachos and Triple Chocolate Cake, while the new items focus on entrees, cocktails and desserts. These include Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls, Grilled Chicken Quesadillas, Buffalo Bar Chicks (tenders in Buffalo sauce on King’s Hawaiian rolls topped with pickles and ranch), a vegetarian Black Bean Burger, Sweet Apple Pecan Salad with Grilled Chicken, a Strawberry Watermelon Rita and Passion Fruit Ranch Water.
Two holiday-themed cocktails arrived on the menu at Mellow Mushroom. Santa’s Rum Punch is mixed with rum, Malibu coconut-flavored liqueur and cranberry, lime and pomegranate juices, while Frosted Dirty Cola features vodka, a splash of vanilla and diet cola with frosted cold foam and a cherry on top. Each drink is $7 and is available through Jan. 2.
Tiramisu inspires holiday beverages at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
Tiramisu Cream Iced Latte and Ice Blended Drink lead the holiday beverage menu at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Both are a takeoff on the popular dessert with layers of espresso, mascarpone flavor, whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa. Also on offer are Peppermint Mocha Cream iced Latte, Peppermint Mocha Dry Iced Americano and Winter Dream Tea Latte, the last a blend of black tea, rooibos, sweet spices and vanilla.
Retro holiday beverages inspired by bakery treats are on offer at Gregorys Coffee through Feb. 3. The Rainbow Cookie Latte and Rainbow Cookie Matcha reflect New York’s Italian-American rainbow cookie with its blend of raspberry, almond and chocolate flavors. The Black Forest Latte is a nod to the cherry and dark chocolate in the classic Black Forest Cake. Also on hand is a Gingerbread Latte and Peppermint Mocha, both made with Night Vision Espresso, a Salted Caramel Matcha, Peppermint Hot Chocolate and Nu Mint cold brew with Nutella, milk and peppermint flavor.
Maple, peppermint and cherry flavor the holiday lineup at Scooter’s Coffee, themed to the classic Christmas movie, "Elf." Candy Cane Forest Mocha comes hot, iced or blended, topped with a mocha drizzle, whipped cream and peppermint chips. There’s also a Candy Cane Forest Hot Chocolate and Candy Cane Forest Cinnamon Roll as well as Swirly Twirly Sugar Cookie Latte and a Swirly Twirly Sugar Cookie Sandwich. Going in other flavor directions is Buddy the Elf Maple Chai, Cherry Cheer Sparkling Float and Son of a Nutcracker Brewed Coffee with notes of dark chocolate, roasted nuts and brown sugar.
New Orleans-born PJ’s Coffee is getting into the holiday spirit with a trio of seasonal beverages. The Gingerbread Chai Latte comes hot, iced or frozen, while Jingle Bells Shaken Espresso shakes together chocolate, cinnamon and white chocolate cold foam. Rounding out the selection is Peppermint Bark Latte, a returning fan favorite.
Comfort is the goal at Beyond Juicery + Eatery, with familiar foods and beverages returning to the menu through the end of the year. Toasted Grilled Cheese, a sandwich that melts cheddar, mozzarella and provolone cheeses into toasted sourdough, can be paired with Creamy Tomato Soup for that cozy winter duo. A plant-based Fire Roasted Chili and a Cookie Butter Smoothie blended with banana, cookie butter, almond milk, almond butter, yogurt, honey and cinnamon are also available.
Buldak on Cheesling from bb.q Chicken.
Korean fried chicken chain bb.q Chicken has partnered with Samyang Foods to debut Buldak on Cheesling, a limited-time item. Cheesling, which is chicken with a crispy fried exterior that’s coated with a layer of creamy cheese, gets a fiery kick from spicy Buldak sauce—a brand that has garnered a cult following. The pairing will run on the menu through Dec. 10.
Cheeseburger Pizza is new on the menu at Toppers Pizza through Dec. 28. The crust is layered with a burger sauce base, mozzarella, cheddar cheese, seasoned beef, diced tomato, red onion and pickles. Guests can also add bacon to create a Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza. A medium Cheeseburger Pizza and two 20-ounce Cokes is $13.99.
Papa Murphy’s is also running a pizza LTO, starting Nov. 24. Papa’s Picks Elevated Pizzas features two options: 4-Cheese and Double Shredded Pepperoni, both $9.99. Customers have a choice of thin or original crust.
Tortilla Soup returns to Rubio’s menu to warm up guests for the winter season. The soup starts with a flavorful broth that’s enhanced with grilled chicken, citrus rice, cheese, salsa fresca, avocado slices and tortilla strips; price is $4.99. The Mexicali chain is also updating its sides of rice and beans into bigger portions with no price increase. Beans are jumping from 3.6 ounces to 6 ounces and rice from 3 to 4 ounces.
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