• by Teresa Buyikian , March 1, 2024

Image above: Carl’s Jr.'s new Spicy Breakfast Burger.

It’s a mixed bag of coffee, classics and sweets in QSR land. Here’s a few of this week’s happenings.

Locations

Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii has signed a new three-store agreement for the greater Knoxville area. The chain is currently going through site selection, with the first location slated to open as early as fall 2024.

Benihana opened Benihana RA Sushi Brickell in Miami, FL, this week. The fast casual restaurant location takes up 1,280 square feet, and offers dine-in, takeout as well as delivery. Benihana now operates more than 100 restaurants, under the Benihana, RA Sushi, and Samuri brands, in the United States, the Caribbean, Central America and South America.

Junior’s Restaurant and Bakery, the world-famous Brooklyn deli, opened its first West Coast location at Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV) last week. According to the announcement, “Drawn by RWLV's vibrant atmosphere and bustling tourism, Junior's chose the property to host its first-ever west-coast location since the food chain's inception. The partnership is expected to attract locals and visitors alike who are eager to embrace Brooklyn culture straight from the Las Vegas strip.”

Menu

Carl’s Jr. has added two new burgers to its menu. The Spicy Breakfast Burger features a beef patty topped with jalapenos, bacon, an egg, pepper jack cheese, Hash Rounds (Carl’s Jr.’s version of a flatter tater tot) and ketchup, on a seeded bun. The Spicy Western Bacon Cheeseburger has an angus patty, jalapenos, two strips of bacon, pepper jack cheese, onion rings and BBQ sauce on a seeded bun.

Panera Bread has announced the addition of nine new menu items launching April 4 that include: four sandwiches – Toasted Italiano, Chicken Bacon Rancher, Ciabatta Cheesesteak and a Tomato Basil BLT; four salads – Mediterranean Chicken Greens with Grains, Southwest Chicken Ranch, Balsamic Chicken Greens with Grains and a Ranch Cobb Salad; and an entrée, Bacon Mac & Cheese. Panera said of its existing dishes that the company is offering “guests better value through enhanced portions and lower price points, while also being easier for guests to navigate.” 

Wendy’s has permanently added its new CinnabonPull-Apart to its national breakfast menu. The sweet collaboration is made of “warm, buttery dough bites baked together with world-famous Cinnabon cinnamon and topped with their signature cream cheese frosting,” per the brand. DashPass members, customers of DoorDash’s loyalty program, will receive special Wendy’s Cinnabon Pull-Apart deals through Mar. 10.

Yogurtland has announced its new seasonal frozen yogurt flavors, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day on Mar. 17. Customers can order the Lucky Irish Mint flavor on its own or mix it with the Cookies and Cream flavor to make a Mint Cookies and Cream Swirl. Customers can select from gummy rainbow cluster toppings, in addition to ordering an online-exclusive digital ‘Luck of the Rainbow’ cup, which features Lucky Irish Mint topped with candy-coated chocolate and mochi and is only available online or through the Yogurtland app. Yogurtland will also launch its exclusive Yogurtland Charms, only available on Mar. 17. Customers with a $15 minimum spend who post to their social media from the store will receive a complimentary three-pack of the charms.