• by Teresa Buyikian , March 29, 2024

Chicken chains remain on top of openings, while clean eating and desserts lead new menu additions this week.

Locations

Angry Chickz is opening a new location in Vacaville, California, on April 5. Grand opening festivities will include limited edition swag bags given to the first 100 guests, “Golden Meal Tickets” awarded at random and raffles for free chicken for a year.

Big Chicken, the fast-casual restaurant chain founded by NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, has signed a six-unit development deal with restaurant operator Jason Ratlif to expand the brand into Texas and Louisiana.

Chicken Salad Chick is opening its 14^th North Carolina location in Greenville. The new drive-thru store will have its grand opening on April 10, with the first 100 customers in line receiving free chicken salad for a year.

Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard has signed a multiunit deal to bring five franchise locations to Austin, Texas, with the first scheduled to open later this year.

Stoner's Pizza Joint will soon open two new corporate owned stores in Fayetteville and Travelers Rest, North Carolina. The locations will both offer dine-in, take-out and delivery.

Menus

Clean Eatz is adding several limited items to its menu. The Chipotle Chicken Mac & Cheese Bowl contains chicken, broccoli, queso cheese, whole grain pasta and Clean Eatz Chipotle ranch sauce. Two new Lifestyle Waters are now available, bringing the chain’s offerings to four flavors: tropical twist, watermelon, lemonade and strawberry kiwi, all containing electrolytes, an immunity blend and antioxidants And Kettle Corn and Churro flavors have been added to Clean Eatz Healthy Protein Popcorn offerings.

Culver’s has rolled out a new thick-cut, sweet and smoky bacon nationwide -- and, no joke --will encourage guests add it to any sandwich, like the chain’s Butter Burgers or the Culver's Deluxe, for free on April 1.

Island Fin Poke Co. has added a Faux Ahi Tuna Bowl to its menu. The plant-based vegan offering has a choice of base -- white or brown rice or spring mix -- with Island Fin’s plant-based version of ahi tuna, edamame, corn, sweet onions and the chain’s signature marinating sauce, Wicked Wahine.

Tim Horton’s has added several new sweet Dream Cookie treats to its menu, including the Reese’s Dream Cookie, a peanut butter cookie with pecans, topped with Reese’s Minis; the M&M Dream Cookie, a sugar cookie with white chocolate chips and colorful M&M's Mini Milk Chocolate Candies; and the Rocky Road Dream Cookie, which is filled with pecans, marshmallows and chocolate.