During the pandemic, a number of chains took menu items that didn’t travel well, like burgers and tacos, and put them on something known for being delivered intact: Pizza. Hence a brief period of pizza topped with the fixin’s of those other popular menu items.
Well, as you know, the delivery trend that grew when dining rooms were closed continues to be a popular option, and the trend of coaxing pizza to taste like hard-to-deliver items continues, but this time a popular option is jalapeño poppers. &Pizza did that last week, and this week we’re seeing it at Your Pie
Pizza with Indian toppings is another little trend, hence the Tikka Masala Pizza now available at Via 313.
In other pizza news, Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, the little chain based in New Haven, Conn., known for its clam pies, is offering a pizza with a topping that’s popular in Rome: Potatoes.
Round Table Pizza now has a pie topped with both pepperoni and chicken (and bacon), while California Pizza Kitchen now offers burritos on a secret menu in partnership with virtual brand Man Vs. Pies (speaking trends that emerged during the pandemic), and Mountain Mike’s Pizza has a couple of new salads.
Taco Bell has cheesy new miniature burritos and Taco John’s has a new quesadilla-taco hybrid.
Taco Cabana, for its part, has a new salad.
Farm Burger has two new salads
The Crack Shack has some new seasonal items, along with a breakfast sandwich that’s a permanent addition, and there are also new permanent items at Cotton Patch Cafe, Goodcents, Tropical Smoothie Café, Veggie Grill by Next Level, The Human Bean, Hurricane Grill & Wings, and, notably, Snooze A.M. Eatery, which has rolled out protein pancakes.
Noodles & Company is bringing back its Steak Stroganoff, which was a big hit last year, and Beard Papa’s has essentially renamed some of its cream puffs as a cross-promotion with manga series Mashle: Magic and Muscles.
There are new sweet drinks from Dutch Bros and not-so-sweet drinks from Fiiz Drinks.
Island Fin Poke has coho salmon now, permanently, and Freebirds World Burrito has new seasoned ground beef for a limited time.
Vegan chain Cinnaholic has new pastries, and other vegan chains Next Level Burger and Veggie Grill by Next Level have a burger and shake and a bunch of smoothies, respectively.
Ike’s Love & Sandwiches is not a vegan chain, but it has a vegan sandwich for January.
Juice it Up! has new smoothies and a build-your-own waffle, Oakberry has oatmeal, and Tender Greens has a new meal inspired by the Blue Zone diet.
Miguel’s Jr. has pozole, as it generally does in January,
Iron Hill has some new items just available through early February, including a tomato basil soup, which Flying Biscuit Café has too.
Protein Bar & Kitchen has some high-protein items, just as you’d expect,
Zaxby’s has a chicken sandwich inspired by the Philly Cheesesteak, Starbird has a chicken Park, and Schlotzsky’s has a tortilla soup.
Vicious Biscuit has a new omelet, and Vitality Bowls has its own version of a hangover cure. WOB Bar & Kitchen, aka World of Beer, has new wings, Wings and Rings has several items with Sam Adams beer cheese, Tim Hortons has indulgent drinks and doughnuts, and Velvet Taco’s Weekly Taco Feature is inspired by jambalaya.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected]
