Chain restaurants are catching the Halloween spirit, conjuring up menu items that are both spooky and sweet. But not all the food and drink news is holiday-related. Fall flavors continue to play out on menus, along with spicy twists in all the right places.
Wednesday marked the start of spooky season at Dunkin’ with Halloween-themed specials. The Candy Bar Signature Latte features chocolate, toffee, pretzel and peanut butter flavors paired with espresso and topped with whipped cream, mocha drizzle and crumbled candy bar pieces. There’s also a purple-frosted Spider Donut and Halloween Munchkins Bucket that can double as a trick-or-treat receptacle.
Nothing Bundt Cakes is selling the Triple Threat Bundtlet. | Photo courtesy of Nothing Bundt Cakes
The Triple Threat, a limited-time Bundtlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes, teams up fan-favorite iconic sweets. It starts with an Oreo Cookies & Cream-flavored cake that’s baked with chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, then filled with Reese’s Peanut Butter Sauce and topped with Oreo cookie pieces and chopped peanut butter cups. It launches Monday and runs through Nov. 9.
Duck Donuts is offering the Spooky Dozen and Spooky Half Dozen through Nov. 2. Included in the collection are Dirt & Worms, a chocolate-iced donut with Oreo cookie pieces and a gummy worm; Halloween Haunting, a vanilla-iced donut with Halloween sprinkles and buttercream; Werewolf, a maple-iced donut with chopped bacon and raspberry drizzle; and Graveyard, a vanilla-iced donut with Oreo cookie pieces and marshmallow drizzle. On the beverage side, there’s the chocolatey Dirt & Worms Milkshake.
Halloween treats at Duck Donuts. | Photo courtesy of Duck Donuts
Back at Papa Murphy’s for its annual Halloween season appearance is the Jack-O Pizza, available all through October. For the pizza, the dough is shaped like a jack-o-lantern and topped with classic red sauce and mozzarella, with pepperoni forming the smile and olives for the eyes ($13). The take-and-bake pizza chain also has a “Scream of a Deal” bundle—a large Jack-O Pizza paired with Papa Murphy’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough for $15.
The annual BOOGO promotion is available to Qdoba Rewards Members all day on Halloween (Oct. 31) and extended through Nov. 2 for Rewards Gold Status Members. It entitles customers to a free entree with the purchase of an entree and drink. For Loaded Tortilla Soup fans, the soup is back for a limited time and can be ordered as a customized entree, with or without a tortilla shell as the “bowl.” Cups of soup topped with tortilla strips and sour cream are also available.
The Vampire Slayer Cheeseburger is Burgerville’s way of welcoming Halloween. It starts with a pasture-raised natural beef patty that’s layered with Face Rock Vampire Slayer Cheddar, roasted garlic and red onions, garlic aioli and arugula. Guest can enjoy the burger through Nov. 17, accompanied by sweet potato fries, a Pumpkin Shake and Apple Crumble Sundae, all developed with local ingredients.
Burgerville's Vampire Slayer Cheeseburger. | Photo courtesy of Burgerville
“Frankenstein Friday” comes to Pop’s Beef on Friday, Oct. 24. On offer is a discounted “Frank” hot dog and scratch-off cards with surprises like free beef sandwiches and burgers. All month long, the restaurants are celebrating Oktoberfest, with a bratwurst LTO that highlights fall flavors.
Margaritas Mexican Restaurant is moving past Halloween to the Day of the Dead, with themed Fiestas and “Blood” Bag Potions on Nov. 1. On the drinks side, there’s the Tequila Transfusion, a cocktail combining Tequileño blanco, triple sec and the chain’s signature mix of passionfruit, blood orange and pomegranate purees—served in a blood bag ($18). For those who prefer to go alcohol-free, there’s Monster’s Blood, a mocktail version ($7.50). Trick-or-treaters who bring in their extra candy to donate will get a complimentary kids entrée; the sealed candies will be gifted to “Treats for Troops.”
A Halloween-inspired cocktail is being served at Mellow Mushroom through Nov. 10. The Twisted Fang, a spooky spin on a classic Lemon Drop, features Deep Eddy vodka, triple sec and house-made fresh sour, topped with strawberry puree and garnished with a lemon twist and vampire fang swizzle stick.
The Twisted Fang is Mellow Mushroom's nod to Halloween. | Photo courtesy of Mellow Mushroom
Things are heating up at Taco Bell with some spicy menu additions. The chain partnered with Frank’s RedHot Diablo Sauce on several items, include the Frank’s RedHot Diablo Crispy Chicken Burrito, Crispy Chicken Soft Taco and Chicken Nacho Fries. Crispy Chicken Strips with Spicy Ranch round out the hot lineup. But more fire comes to the menu Thursday, with the new Flamin’ Hot Grilled Cheese Burrito. It includes Flamin’ Hot Rice, a fiery new component that’s infused with a zesty seasoning blend of red peppers, cheddar cheese powder, garlic, paprika and lime.
Quesabirria has launched at Pancheros Mexican Grill. The limited-time mashup features tender, slow-cooked beef layered with melted cheese, onions and cilantro, all wrapped up in a warm tortilla. It’s served with the traditional cup of consommé for dipping.
Variations on Knots are rolling out at &pizza at a steady clip. Following on the heels of Pumpkin Spice Knots are Apple Pie Knots. The chain’s pizza dough is baked fresh, stuffed with apple filling, drizzled with icing and finished with a dusting of cinnamon sugar. The newest Knots are priced at $6.
Polly's Pies introduced Thanksgiving-inspired hush puppies. | Photo courtesy of Polly's Pies
Fall specials are on the menu at Polly’s Pies through Dec. 8. Included in the selection are Pumpkin Pancakes made with oats and topped with house-made cinnamon whipped cream; Turkey Day Sliders featuring roasted turkey breast layered with homestyle stuffing and cranberry sauce on house-baked dinner rolls; Chili; and a full Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings. New this year are Holiday Hushpuppies—five crispy bites filled with turkey, stuffing, red-skinned smashed potatoes and cheddar, served with turkey gravy.
Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub is cozying up to comfort food for fall. Homestyle Chicken Pot Pie returns to the menu, and new this year are Yankee Pot Roast served over mashed potatoes with a honey-glazed biscuit and Broiled Sirloin Tips & New England Fried Shrimp. A new dessert—Baked Chocolate Fudge Brownie Skillet—makes for a sweet ending. It’s topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzles of chocolate and caramel sauce.
Hot drinks to beat the chill are on hand at Krak Boba. Heading the lineup is the Cozy Crown Latte, a PSL variation made with black tea, pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice flavors and a creamy swirl. The new beverage joins Hot Chocolate, Hot Matcha Latte, Hot Jasmine Green Milk Tea, Hot Taro Milk Tea and Hot Signature Milk Tea in the seasonal launch.
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.