Menu Development

  • Four horchata based beverages Taco Bell will serve at its Live Mas Cafes.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell tests 4 horchata beverages

    Live Más Cafés will pilot the drinks ahead of a December nationwide launch as the chain pushes toward $5 billion in annual drink sales.

    By • Oct. 15, 2026
  • Noodles & Company's new Ramen bowls
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    Courtesy of Noodles & Company
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    Noodles & Company adds ramen to core menu

    The chain’s Chili Garlic Ramen LTO was one of its most successful launches ever, prompting it to build out a new menu platform.

    By • Oct. 14, 2026
  • An image of several people eating hamburgers and french fries from a generic fast food restaurant. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Loyalty & Rewards Strategy

    Capturing — and keeping — loyal customers is more crucial than ever as diner price sensitivity puts pressure on restaurants.

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • A car drives to a drive-thru window at a Kentucky Fried Chicken storefront.
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    Courtesy of Yum! Brands
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    Why Yum Brands is deepening supplier relationships

    The restaurant company has built a network of suppliers that are “ready to flex with us” if disruption strikes, Chief Supply Chain Officer Eric Craft said.

    By Shefali Kapadia • Oct. 14, 2026
  • An Outback Steakhouse restaurant on Jan. 31, 2025 in Daly City, California.
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    Getty Images
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    Outback beefs up steak quality

    The steakhouse chain also hired a chief steak officer to serve as its authority on selection, marbling and prep.

    By • Oct. 12, 2026
  • Overhead view of three cheeseburgers in paper trays, surrounded by golden French fries with ketchup and dipping sauce on a gray stone surface.
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    Permission granted by Simplot Global Food
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    Sponsored by Simplot Global Food

    The rise of mini meals: How apps and small plates are taking over the table

    Value once meant bigger portions. Today, consumers want meals that fit their appetite.

    Oct. 12, 2026
  • A photograph of the inside of a car where two people are sitting. In the center there is small cups of chicken and fries.
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC expands into snacking with Go Buckets

    The low-cost menu item includes six varieties and is aimed at helping the chain expand its afternoon daypart.

    By • Oct. 7, 2026
  • A photograph of a digital menu board at McDonald's with various meal options.
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
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    McDonald’s disputes reports that it uses AI to set prices

    The chain provides franchisees with tools, resources and recommendations for pricing, but operators ultimately make menu price decisions. 

    By • Oct. 5, 2026
  • An image of a gray building with Charleys signage
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    Retrieved from Charleys on October 02, 2026
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    Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings updates menu, rewards program

    The 850-unit chain added seven items and launched a campaign to persuade consumers to choose hot sandwiches over cold grab-and-go.

    By • Oct. 2, 2026
  • Twp people stand in front of a lit case full of prepared foods, while a third person stands behind the case in an apron. There is a menu board on the wall, too small to read, and a sign showing a red lion licking its lips.
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    Permission granted by Leo's Market and Eatery
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    How 4 c-stores upgraded their foodservice by hiring restaurant professionals

    Chefs from the restaurant world can increase food quality and perception, but there’s a learning curve, say food leaders from Rutter’s, Weigel’s, Leo’s and Sprint Mart.

    By Amanda Baltazar • Oct. 2, 2026
  • A photograph of a chicken sandwich, criss-cut fries and a soda.
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    Permission granted by Smashburger
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    Smashburger grills up 2 new chicken sandwiches

    The fast casual burger chain has seen sales and revenue growth in recent quarters after focusing on improved operations and hospitality.

    By • Oct. 1, 2026
  • A hand holds a wrap and dips it into a cup of sauce.
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    How Sweetgreen’s Gen Z focus is paying off

    The chain pushed its wraps on social media to capture young consumers’ attention. Now, one out of five transactions include a wrap and repeat visits remain strong.

    By • Sept. 30, 2026
  • A photograph of an empty McDonald's restaurant within a warehouse
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    Inside McDonald’s ambitious plans to upgrade its menu, technology, and restaurants

    The fast food chain wants to be a first-choice restaurant, and will invest across its system to solidify that position over the next decade.

    By • Sept. 29, 2026
  • A woman in a car holds a chicken sandwich.
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    Courtesy of Popeyes
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    Is Popeyes’ new sandwich a breakfast test?

    The chain says the Honey Chicken Biscuit is designed for all dayparts. It seems built for a time outside the chain’s usual occasions.

    By • Sept. 28, 2026
  • A meal consisting of a cup of soda, chips, salsa and tacos sits on a napkin on a wooden table against a green background. Text on the cup says Big Gulp Large.
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven
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    7-Eleven rolls out value menus across its restaurant brands

    The retailer has added meal deals and low-cost options across its Laredo Taco, Raise the Roost and Speedy Cafe restaurants.

    By Jessica Loder • Sept. 28, 2026
  • A close up photograph of a crispy chicken sandwich on a table within a McDonald's restaurant
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    McDonald’s is designing bigger burgers, chicken bowls and new beverages

    The fast food giant plans to increase its market share with chicken and beverages as it expands those platforms while doubling down on beef.

    By • Updated Sept. 24, 2026
  • An image of the exterior of KFC's experimental Open House unit
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC tests breakfast and table service at new restaurant

    The chain wants to offer fast casual service for QSR prices at an experimental unit designed for maximum sales volume, rather than for efficiency.

    By • Sept. 24, 2026
  • A photograph of an empty McDonald's restaurant within a warehouse
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    McDonald’s to invest $8.5B as part of Next strategy

    The funding will be used to support restaurant modernization, tech deployments and operational improvements through 2036.

    By • Sept. 23, 2026
  • A photograph of two boxes on a table with various breakfast food items in aluminum pans.
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    Permission granted by Denny's
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    How Denny’s is loading the bases for Project Grand Slam turnaround

    After closing units and going private, Denny’s is prepping for a new era with more catering, an overhauled menu, fresh tech and renovations.

    By • Sept. 23, 2026
  • A table with a salad, cheeseburger quesadilla and a plate of rice
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    Permission granted by Applebee's
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    How a popular burger drove Applebee’s to double down on cheese

    The O-M-Cheese Burger hit on consumer preferences for cheese, affordability and a fun experience, leading to an expanded lineup. 

    By • Sept. 17, 2026
  • An image of a drive-thru digital menu board with a Taco Bell restaurant with white and purple paint in the background.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell’s traffic slump persists as outbreak ends

    Nearly two months after iceberg lettuce at the chain was linked to Cyclospora, the QSR giant’s foot traffic remains depressed, according to Placer.ai.

    By • Sept. 17, 2026
  • A restaurant sign on an Art Deco building. The restaurant is empty, the sky beside the sign is a cold, harsh blue.
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    Getty Images
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    TGI Fridays joins the casual dining value arms race

    Starting at $11.99, the casual chain’s 3 For All menu could help it capitalize on deal-seeking consumers in a volatile pricing environment.

    By • Sept. 14, 2026
  • An order of Stuffed French Toast topped with strawberries and oozing sweet cream.
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    Courtesy of IHOP
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    Why IHOP brought back Stuffed French Toast

    The pancake chain hopes to give fans more of what they want — vanilla sweet cream filling — while sticking close to its historic breakfast identity.

    By • Sept. 14, 2026
  • A close up shot of a burger with two patties.
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    Courtesy of Carl's Jr.
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    Carl’s Jr institutes cook-to-order standard

    The chain joins Burger King, McDonald’s and Wendy’s in moving to improve food quality in order to boost frequency and sales.

    By • Sept. 10, 2026
  • A sign that says "Since 1956 Jersey Miek's Subs"
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    4 key numbers shed light on Jersey Mike’s strategy

    The sandwich chain is investing in digital marketing and significant unit growth in its first months as a public company.

    By • Sept. 9, 2026
  • Heads of iceberg lettuce in a grocery store.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Can restaurants avoid the next Cyclospora outbreak?

    The parasite is hard to trace and harder to kill. With recent cuts to food safety regulators, restaurants will be hard pressed to keep their supply chains clean.

    By • Sept. 3, 2026