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Menu Tracker

Menu Tracker: New items from McDonald’s, Panera Bread, and Taco Bell

Plus innovation at Biggby Coffee, Black Bear Diner, Carl’s Jr., Charleys Cheesesteaks, Clean Eatz, El Pollo Loco, El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant, Ellianos Coffee, Ford’s Garage, Gong Cha, John’s Incredible Pizza Company, Krispy Kreme, Moe’s Southwest Gill, Panda Express, Pilot Flying J, Rachel’s Kitchen, Ruby Slipper, Snooze A.M. Eatery, Taco John’s, Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill , True Food Kitchen, Velvet Taco

McDonald’s is bringing back a smoky version of its Quarter Pounder with Cheese, and introducing a new McFlurry flavor.

Panera Bread is continuing its menu innovation following its large-scale revamp in April, including new avocado toast and the return of its sesame and blueberry bagels.

Speaking of bagels, sort of, Carl’s Jr. is testing the trendy Everything bagel spice blend (granulated garlic and onion, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and coarse salt) at its locations in Palm Springs, Calif.

And speaking of bringing things back, Panda Express is reprising the Hot Orange Chicken that it just introduced as a limited-time offer in May, barely giving its fans enough time to miss it.

Taco Bell has new versions of its Chalupas and Nacho Fries and both El Pollo Loco and Taco John’s have new burritos.

Charleys Cheesesteaks is adding kimchi to its namesake item, and True Food Kitchen is using Korean barbecue sauce on one of the new items featuring its brand new True Crisp’d Chicken, which has gluten-free breading and is baked — er, “air fried.”

There are new spirit-free cocktails at Biggby Coffee, Black Bear  Diner, and Ruby Slipper, but not El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant, which has a bunch of new traditional boozy cocktails.

Ellianos Coffee has a new sandwich, Rachel’s Kitchen has a new salad, Ford’s Garage has a red, white, and blue shake, and Gong Cha has new drinks that somehow tie in to Final Fantasy XIV Online.

Krispy Kreme has new doughnuts celebrating the Paris Olympics, and Moe’s Southwest Grill is letting guests squire Mike’s Hot Honey over everything.

Thirsty Lion has a bunch of new items, including cedar plank salmon. Remember that?

Clean Eatz has something called turkey burnt ends, among other new items, John’s Incredible Pizza Company has a spicy pineapple pie, Snooze has what its marketing people are calling a deconstructed yogurt parfait (it’s a bowl), Pilot Flying J has new mac & cheese bowls, among other things, and Velvet Taco’s Weekly Taco Feature is inspired by poke.

Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected] 

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