Cinco de Mayo is around the corner, and Mexican concepts and others aren’t wasting any time promoting margaritas and queso. But there’s plenty of action in other areas, too. Cookies, donuts, desserts and shakes are making waves, and Spring menu refreshes continue to launch. Here are the highlights from this week’s menu news.
A cookie-croissant-pretzel mashup is Chip City’s way of celebrating National Pretzel Day on Saturday and extending it into Sunday. The Chocolate Chip Cretzel combines a flaky croissant with a crunchy pretzel layer, that’s then stuffed with chocolate chip cookie dough, baked into a cookie shape and sprinkled with sea salt.
Smashburger is going bananas in the shake department, launching a Banana Shake and Banana Chocolatey Chip Shake, both made with Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream and real banana puree. The chocolatey chip version blends in chocolate chips and adds them on top, along with a puff of whipped cream. The chain is also returning Shake Happy Hour on Fridays from 2-5 p.m. from May 2-July 31, giving guests a chance to get half-price shakes.
A Chocolate Cake Shake and Chocolate Cake Pop are available for a limited time at the MilkShake Factory, a concept that innovates around chocolate-forward desserts. The shake blends chocolate cake with house-made chocolate sauce, rich chocolate ice cream and milk, topped with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle, and a cake pop garnish. The bite-size cake pop features cake dipped in the MilkShake Factory’s signature chocolate.
MilkShake Factory is into chocolate cake and shakes.
Cheesecake is the sweet of choice at Krispy Kreme. The new Craving Cheesecake Collection includes three doughnuts: the Strawberry Dream Cheesecake Doughnut, Cookies & Kreme Cheesecake Doughnut and Caramel Delight Cheesecake Doughnut. The first two are made with an unglazed shell filled with cheesecake-flavored crème, while the Caramel Delight is a cinnamon-sugar ring doughnut topped with cheesecake-flavored buttercream.
Another Broken Egg’s summer brunch menu includes a good helping of sweet options. French Toast Colada is made with King’s Hawaiian bread and topped with caramelized pineapple, rum butter sauce, whipped cream and coconut sugar, while Peaches & Bourbon Cream Pancakes are crowned with grilled brown sugar peaches, pecans and spiked bourbon butter pecan whipped cream. On the savory side are the Soft Shell Scrambler topped with a fried soft shell crab and the Ultimate Brunch Sandwich on grilled focaccia layered with sliced ham and bacon, peppered tomatoes, smashed avocados, dressed arugula and an egg.
Known for its over-the-top shakes, Black Tap’s latest is a Fried Pickle Classic Shake blended with pickle brine and vanilla ice cream, then topped with a hot honey drizzle and fried pickle. It’s part of the chain’s collaboration with the legendary Carnegie Deli, which also includes a Pastrami Burger, Pastrami Pocket and Pastrami Fries topped with pastrami, Swiss, sour pickle bits and spicy mustard aioli.
$5 margaritas are on offer at Chili's.
Cinco de Mayo equals margaritas for a lot of celebrants, and Chili’s is offering them a nice deal. On May 5, for one day only, the casual-dining chain is pricing its Tequila Trifecta Margarita at $5. It’s made with el Jimador Silver, 1800 Reposado and Jose Cuervo Gold tequilas, triple sec and fresh sour. My Chili’s Rewards members can also score free chips and salsa.
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop has a similar offer on May 5, promoting both its House Margaritas and Sangria ‘Rita Swirls for $5. The House Margarita is crafted with tequila and fresh lime, while the Sangria ‘Rita Swirl blends a frozen margarita with Fuzzy’s house-made red sangria, layering bright citrus with deep berry notes.
Free queso on May 5 is the draw at Moe’s Southwest Grill. To get the freebie, guests have to purchase a burrito, bowl or other entrée. But since Cinco de Mayo falls on a Monday, Moe Rewards members can get their usual Moe Monday discounts and earn a double deal.
Moe's has free queso for Cinco de Mayo.
Loyalty Members at Chronic Tacos can also save money on May 5. Those ordering through the app who spend $20 will get $5 off their purchase. The California-style taco shop offers a variety of items, including tacos, burritos and Mexican-style fries.
At Texas-inspired Fuego Tortilla Grill, celebrants can get their margaritas to go for an at-home Cinco de Mayo party as an alternative to dining in. The house-made drinks are $8 for the 16-ounce size, both on the rocks and frozen. For a group of margarita fans, a 48-ounce Lil Bag and 96-ounce Big Bag provide more liquid refreshment. The fast casual also offers taco catering.
And El Pollo Loco is getting into the Cinco de Mayo spirit with an offer of any two chicken tacos at no charge with a purchase of $15. The deal is available with orders online or through the chain’s app.
Value meal combos are also making news this week. Del Taco is launching new El Big Boxes, bundling favorites like tacos, burritos, burgers, fries and drinks in various combinations for $5, $7 or $9. The quick-service chain is also bringing back Mango Pineapple Poppers, beverages featuring popping boba in either a lemonade, Sprite refresher or creamy shake.
Saucy value packages at Zaxby's.
To tie in with its “Who’s Got the Sauce” campaign featuring spokesperson the Sauce Boss, Zaxby’s is offering two value packages. The Sauce Boss Box (about $13.99) includes four crispy Chicken Fingerz, Seasoned Crinkle Fries, two pieces of Texas Toast, Cheddar Bites, two fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies and a small drink, plus three sauces. There’s also a Sauce Sampler Deal where Zax Rewardz members can get 12 signature sauces for free. The offer is good for one week only, running from April 28-May 4, while supplies last.
Kravings Meal Deals are part of Krystal’s new push, priced from $5.99 to $9.99. The packages feature the chain’s iconic sliders, sides, drinks and dessert. There’s also a collection of new, served-all-day Waffle Sandwiches in three variations: Bacon, Egg and Cheese, Sausage, Egg and Cheese and Chicken. They’re designed to boost traffic across all dayparts, according to Krystal.
Smashed burger trio from Huddle House.
A new smashed burger lineup is debuting at Huddle House, with a trio of burgers joining the permanent menu. First up is the HuddleBurger Smash Deluxe with two beef patties, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle chips and sweet and tangy Huddle sauce on a toasted potato bun. Also coming on the menu is the Mega Bacon Smash Deluxe with the same build plus four strips of applewood smoked bacon, and the Breakfast Smash, featuring one beef patty, American cheese, applewood smoked bacon and an egg, with the same sauce and bun.
On the beverage front, Taco Bell is returning its Dragonfruit Freeze, rolling it out nationwide. The slushy drink is swirled with a vibrant pink dragonfruit flavor. And 7-Eleven has a line of Replenish beverages that combine hydration, refreshment and energy in one ready-to-sip container. Three flavors are available: Replenish Slurpee Mix-Up Cherry and Blue Raspberry; Replenish Strawberry Watermelon; and sugar-free Replenish Strawberry Watermelon Zero. Customers can purchase two of the drinks for $4.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.