New Items at Burger King, Jack in the Box, & Wendy's

Burger King Minibons

After rolling out 10 new items, Burger King has teamed up with Cinnabon this week to start selling Minibon rolls nationwide.  Having been test marketed in select cities for awhile now, the company hopes to have every one of their over 7000 U.S. locations selling the Minibons by September.  With a suggested selling price of $1.79 - $1.99, some Minibon information is provided by the press release:

Served in Cinnabon^® bakeries since 1987, the Minibon^® roll is a smaller version of the Cinnabon^® classic roll, featuring the same Makara^® cinnamon and signature cream cheese frosting that is served in Cinnabon^® bakeries today.

Jack in the Box Java Cookie Shake

Next up is Jack in the Box, which has introduced a new shake that is a tad more traditional than their previous Bacon Shake.  The new Java Cookie Shake is available in regular (16oz.) and large (24oz.) and is made with "...real vanilla ice cream, coffee-flavored syrup and Oreo® cookie pieces...and features whipped topping and a Maraschino cherry on top."

In addition the to new shake, Jack in the Box began selling their new Chipotle Chicken Club Sandwich last week.  According to the press release, the new sandwich "features a spicy chicken fillet topped with American cheese, hickory-smoked bacon, tomato, lettuce and chipotle sauce and (is) served on Sourdough bread."  The Chipotle Chicken Club Sandwich can also be ordered as part of a $4.99 combo that comes with small fries and a 20oz. drink.

Finally, Wendy's is trying to kick up their side dish selections with three new choices for $2.49 each.  Two of the new Signature side items are only around for a limited time.  This includes the new Macaroni & Cheese and the Baked Sweet Potato.  The Macaroni & Cheese is described as:

featuring large cavatappi spiral noodles smothered with a cheese sauce made with fresh milk, fresh cream and real white Vermont Cheddar and American cheeses. Wendy's Macaroni & Cheese is topped with real shredded Cheddar to add even more cheesy flavor.

Wendy's Signature Sides

Meanwhile, the Baked Sweet Potatoes "are prepared fresh to order and served with a Buttery Cinnamon Spread on the side."

Lastly, the new Signature side that Wendy's plans to keep around indefinitely is their new Chili Cheese Fries.  The Chili Cheese Fries are described as "...Wendy's natural cut fries with sea salt covered in a sauce made with Cheddar cheese and real milk, Wendy's famous rich and meaty chili, and then topped with real shredded Cheddar cheese."

Smashburger Opening Two New Arizona Restaurants

Denver-based Smashburger has plans for at least two more openings in our state. The first one will open a week from today on April 11 in the Desert Ridge area at 21001 N. Tatum Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85050.  Meanwhile, another location will open in the area of 24th St. & Baseline Rd. on May 25.  Additionally, three more Smashburger restaurants are rumored to be on the way after these, the 9th and 10th locations, open in Arizona.

Smashburger was recently in the news for offering their Fresh Mex Burger and Fresh Mex Chicken Sandwich nationwide.

Cheesecake Factory Adds 14 New Items

There are currently six Cheesecake Factory locations in Arizona, one in Tucson and five in the Valley, and now, available at all of them, are 14 new items on top of the over 200 dishes already offered. 

The new items are:

SkinnyLicious(TM) Shrimp Creole - Photo by: The Cheesecake Factory

• Santorini Farro Salad - A fresh light combination of farro, cucumbers, tomatoes, beets, red onion, Feta cheese and tzatziki. Tossed with vinaigrette
• SkinnyLicious™ Chicken Enchiladas - Covered with our red chile sauce and melted cheese. Served with escabeche vegetable salad
• SkinnyLicious™ Pasta - Gemelli pasta with sautéed chicken, fresh tomato, marinara sauce and fresh basil
• Island Grilled Chicken - Grilled soy glazed chicken breasts topped with macadamia nuts. Served with fresh vegetables and a little white rice
• Shrimp Creole - Shrimp simmered in a spicy Tasso-tomato sauce with sautéed peppers, onions and garlic. Served with a little white rice
• Shrimp Toast Lollipops - With ginger, garlic, green onion, cilantro and sesame oil, lightly breaded and fried crisp
• Shrimp and Grits - Sweet corn-white cheddar grits, covered with sautéed shrimp and spicy Tasso sauce
• Fresh Kale Salad - Cranberries, apples, Marcona almonds and green beans. Tossed with our buttermilk-black pepper dressing
• Papas Bravas - A Spanish favorite. Crispy, golden brown potatoes served with garlic aioli and spicy bravas sauce
• Over the Top Meatloaf Sandwich - Covered with Guinness® marinated Swiss cheese, portabella mushrooms, caramelized onions, aioli and arugula on grilled brioche. Served with housemade tomato-bacon jam
• Green Chilaquiles with Carnitas and Eggs - Tender slow-cooked pork with roasted poblano peppers, cheese, onions, cilantro and crisp corn tortillas. Garnished with tomatillo-chile sauce, tomato and sour cream
• Sweet Corn-White Cheddar Grits
• Coffee Mocha Chip Shake - Creamy coffee ice cream blended with chocolate chips
• Nutty Chocolate Marshmallow Shake - Our Chocolate Shake with marshmallow and toasted almonds

Smashburger to Open in North Phoenix

Smashburger will be opening at 2470 W. Happy Valley Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85027 on Wednesday, December 14.  This is the seventh of around thirty locations that the local franchisee hopes to open within the next five years.  If you've never been to a Smashburger, the press release gives an idea of what the chain offers:

Smashburger’s signature recipes and create your own burgers are smashed fresh, served delicious every time. But Smashburger is more than just burgers. Customers can also enjoy a selection of tender marinated grilled or crispy chicken sandwiches, grilled and split hot dogs, and fresh tossed signature salads, along with a variety of irresistible sides including rosemary and garlic–seasoned Smashfries, fried pickles, Haystack Onions, and Veggie Frites (flash-fried and seasoned asparagus spears, carrot sticks and green beans). The restaurant will also serve a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages including local beers, wine, hand-spun Häagen-Dazs shakes and IBC® root-beer floats in frosted mugs.

In addition to this upcoming opening, Smashburger has 2 other locations "coming soon."  They will be located at 9918 W. Happy Valley Rd. Peoria, AZ 85383 and 21001 N. Tatum Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85050.

Whataburger Brings Back Chocolate Pie

Continuing with the sweet theme for today, Whataburger has brought back their Chocolate Pie for a limited time. Until January 2, customers will be able to order the pie described as having a "hot flaky crust" and a sweet chocolate filling.  In addition, Whataburger is also pushing their Chocolate Shake, which is a mainstay on the menu.

According to Whataburger, the Chocolate Pie has 280 calories, 12 grams of fat, 2 grams of protein and 16 grams of sugar.

Whataburger Introduces Banana Pie and Shake

Today, in fact, 42 minutes ago, Whataburger began selling their new Banana Pie and Banana Shake, both of which will be available until October 31.

The Banana Pie, with its creamy banana filling surrounded by a flaky crust, comes in at 300 calories, 13 grams of fat and 3 grams of protein. Meanwhile, a medium Banana Shake has 940 calories, 28 grams of fat and 23 grams of protein.

New Ultimate Grilled Chicken Burrito at Del Taco

Today, via Twitter, Del Taco announced their new Ultimate Grilled Chicken Burrito. The burrito comes with layers of sour cream, guacamole, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, lettuce, red sauce, and seasoned rice in a warm flour tortilla.

This comes in addition to the new Mac 'N Cheese Bites and the new Root Beer Float Shake at Del Taco. Find your nearest Del Taco here.

Whataburger Introduces Pineapple Items, Honey Mustard Chicken Club

Yesterday, Whataburger introduced two new items for those of you with a tropical sweet tooth. Whataburger's new Pineapple Pie and Pineapple Shake have come just in time for the hot summer months and will be around until August 22nd.

Also, back in late May, Whataburger rolled out a Honey Mustard Chicken Club Sandwich. The sandwich is available grilled or crispy and comes with "freshly chopped lettuce, tomato, bacon, Swiss American cheese and Honey Mustard Sauce on a wheat bun." The grilled version comes in at 640 calories, while the crispy version will get you 710 calories. If you would like to try the sandwich, you should get there soon because it will only be available until June 27th.

For your nearest Whataburger location, check here.

New Strawberry Banana Shake at Fatburger

Beginning this weekend (5/27), Fatburger is bringing out a new Strawberry Banana Shake. The only announcement of the new shake came from Fatburger's Twitter page where they released this photo. Made with real ice cream and whipped cream on top, the shake will only be around for a limited time. Check here to see the locations of the six Fatburger restaurants operating in Arizona.

Blackberry Shake Returns to Jack in the Box

Earlier this week, along with the new Bourbon BBQ Steak Grilled Sandwich mentioned by the AZFoodDude here, Jack in the Box brought back their Blackberry Ice Cream Shake just in time for summer.  According to Jack in the Box, when they first introduced it back in 2007, it was one of the best selling flavors.  Once again, it looks to only be on the menu for a limited time.  Here is how Jack in the Box describes the shake:

"Available in 16 and 24 ounce sizes, the new Blackberry Shake is made with real ice cream and blackberry-flavored syrup, and features whipped topping and a Maraschino cherry on top."

 Full article can be found here.