Restaurant News—Fast Food & Dining | Taste of Home

I Tried the New McDonald’s Gold Sauce and It Tastes Like Sweet, Smoky Heaven

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 21:09:03 +0000

It’s easy to adore McDonald’s. It’s such a classic fast food restaurant, and the food is delicious and consistent. McDonald’s fries are obsession-worthy, and the McNuggets taste like pure childhood nostalgia. But one reason to love McDonald’s is for its ability to switch things up with new sauces, sammies and sides that’ll have you sprinting back for more. This year alone, the chain has given the world McCrispy Strips, the Spicy McMuffin and, most recently, the vibrant Mt. McDonaldland-inspired shake. There’s absolutely no stopping Ronald this year.

So then, what’s next? Here it is: As summer comes to a close, the Golden Arches has given us Special Edition Gold Sauce.

What is the new McDonald’s Gold sauce?

This new limited edition sauce is a vinegary North Carolina barbecue sauce infused with notes of honey, mustard and smoke. McDonald’s deems it the “perfect pair” to their delicious chicken, and once I read that, I absolutely knew I had to try it for myself.

What does McDonald’s Gold sauce taste like?

If you’re a fan of the classic McDonald’s barbecue sauce, you’ll no doubt be a fan of this one too. The Gold sauce tasted pretty close to what I was expecting: a hybrid mix of barbecue and honey mustard. You can absolutely taste the smokiness, but it doesn’t hinder the flavor profile too much, like smoke often can. I’m not a huge fan of artificial smoke flavor, so I was pleasantly surprised. It tasted like a barbecue sauce that would be incredible on a pulled pork sandwich. But how does it pair with McDonald’s chicken?

I’m a lifelong advocate of the Snack Wrap, so you can bet that I’d order the Special Edition Gold Snack Wrap. It looked like any other Snack Wrap, but with an extra ooze of muted orange-gold sauce peeking out. I braced myself as I took my first bite. Part of me was scared that the sauce would ruin my favorite McDonald’s menu item, but I was thankfully proven otherwise. It definitely tastes more like a honey mustard sauce when mixed with the chicken, but I’m still a big fan. It was a welcome addition to the Snack Wrap, and I found myself finishing it quickly and immediately wanting another. The Gold sauce is savory with a sweet undercurrent—the best of both worlds!

How long will the new McDonald’s Gold sauce be available?

If you’re looking for more ways to enjoy Special Edition Gold sauce, McDonald’s is also offering a few different menu items that feature it, like the Bacon Special Edition Gold McCrispy Sandwich with bacon, pickles and chicken on a potato roll; the Bacon Special Edition Gold Deluxe McCrispy Sandwich with bacon, shredded lettuce, tomatoes on a potato roll; and McCrispy Strips with the Special Edition Gold Sauce on the side.

McDonald’s Special Edition Gold Sauce is available now for a limited time while supplies last. Since we’re not sure how long that will be, there’s no time to waste. Grab yours before it’s golden, golden … gone!

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McDonald’s Is Lowering Prices on Key Menu Items—Here’s When The Changes Take Effect

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 17:45:30 +0000

It’s no secret that the cost of living has risen exponentially over the past few years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index, prices have risen 1.36% from 2015 to 2025. That means that a dollar today only buys 73% of what it could in 2015. One place where the value of a dollar can really be felt is when buying food—especially at fast food restaurants.

McDonald’s menu prices have been a point of scrutiny in many conversations about the state of the economy. In 2002, Mcdonald’s debuted its Dollar Menu. Customers could select various menu items for, you guessed it, $1 plus tax. But in 2014, prices rose, and they changed the name to the “Dollar Menu & More.” In 2024, a photo of a McDonald’s menu went viral on social media—because a Big Mac meal cost $18. And in January of this year, McDonald’s even got rid of the Dollar Menu concept completely, replacing it with the McValue Menu.

Now McDonald’s is making a move to address high menu prices. It begins this month with the introduction of the Extra Value Meal, and will continue with additional rollouts through the end of 2025. Here’s everything we know so far.

When will McDonald’s menu prices be changed?

Beginning on September 8, McDonald’s will roll out new, lower menu prices for select combo meals (which it’s calling “Extra Value Meals”). According to the Wall Street Journal, McDonald’s will slash prices on eight of the most popular combo meals, including:

Big Mac meal
Chicken McNuggets meal
McCrispy meal
Quarter Pounder With Cheese meal
Egg McMuffin meal

To promote the new lower price points, the restaurant will also offer $5 Sausage Egg McMuffin meals and $8 Big Mac meals. Then in November, they’ll offer Sausage, Egg and Cheese McGriddles for $5 and 10-piece Chicken McNuggets meals for $8.

How long will the McDonald’s menu prices stay at this price point?

The McDonald’s corporation has communicated to its franchises that the lowered menu prices must remain in effect until at least the new year. Part of the reason why there’s such a big disparity between prices at different McDonald’s locations is that each franchisee sets its own rates. But in order to curb this practice and make the selected menu items affordable, McDonald’s has agreed to subsidize any franchise that loses money as a result of the price drop. It’s basically McDonald’s way of making sure that all of its locations agree to offer the same price discounts.

We’ll have to wait and see whether McDonald’s new menu prices sway customers to return, or whether customers will choose somewhere else that’s more affordable. The question of affordability is certainly top of mind for almost everyone right now, and it will be interesting to see if other fast food chains follow McDonald’s lead.

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I Tried Dairy Queen’s New Fall Menu, and DQ Has a Winner on Its Hands

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 21:31:09 +0000

It seems like every summer, well before a single leaf has struck the ground, fast-food chains across the country make their latest attempts to break the spell that pumpkin spice has on many of us each fall. However, most of them fail—and pumpkin spice emerges again and again as the dominant flavor profile of the season.

This year, just in time for the Labor Day holiday weekend, Dairy Queen is adding not one, but two new contenders for the fall flavor crown, and you just know we had to get a taste of them as soon as we could.

What’s on Dairy Queen’s new fall menu?

The two new fall items at Dairy Queen this year are a Caramel Toffee Cookie Blizzard Treat and a Maple Cookie Shake. They are joined by the return of DQ’s popular seasonal Pumpkin Pie Blizzard Treat.

The Caramel Toffee Cookie Blizzard Treat features caramel, toffee, and thick, chewy cookie pieces, blended with the chain’s signature soft serve. The Maple Cookie Shake consists of soft serve blended with milk and maple cookie crumbles, all topped with whipped cream.

What do the new Dairy Queen fall menu items taste like?

I ordered both new items through Dairy Queen’s website, and they arrived promptly at my front door. I had to start with the Maple Cookie Shake.

Because I already love the flavor of maple in maple recipes, I had a suspicion I would enjoy the shake—and that suspicion was correct. It was sweet but not overly so, evoking a strong fall nostalgia. The maple flavor came through strongly, with a slight hint of caramel I was also detecting, and it was nicely balanced by the vanilla soft serve and milk. The cookie crumbles broke up the shake’s richness by offering a contrasting texture. All in all, this shake was delicious.

I was less enthusiastic about the Caramel Toffee Cookie Blizzard Treat, as all the different elements felt a bit at odds with each other. For me, the crunch of the toffee and chew of the caramel didn’t pair together seamlessly with the flavor and texture of the soft serve and cookie pieces. But most importantly, it didn’t scream “fall” to me, which is what I was looking for—I think an apple element paired with either the caramel or the toffee would be even better.

Overall, the Maple Cookie Shake was my personal favorite between the two new fall Dairy Queen menu items—and, yes, I’d definitely order it again. Although it had fewer elements than the seasonal Blizzard, sometimes I think simpler is just better.

Your move, pumpkin spice.

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I Tried Olive Garden’s Never Ending Pasta Bowl—Here’s How Much I Could Actually Eat

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 13:19:03 +0000

Olive Garden has long held a special place in my heart.

When I was in high school, the closest OG was a 45-minute drive away, so it was a destination reserved for only the most special of special occasions. For teens like me, that meant dinner before prom or homecoming with your date—but only the most deeply committed couples dared make such a lengthy trek. (What if you got into an argument and broke up during the long drive there and back?!)

I never found my Olive Garden date in high school, and it wasn’t until I met my now-husband after college that I ever ate at the casual Italian chain restaurant. So when I told my friends that we’d dined there, they realized just how serious we’d gotten.

With the news that Olive Garden has brought back its popular Never Ending Pasta Bowl promotion, I figured it was the perfect opportunity for a date night out with my husband. After all, nothing says love quite like stuffing your face with as many carbs as humanly possible.

What is the Olive Garden Never Ending Pasta Bowl?

Before we get into how our date night went, here’s how the Olive Garden Never Ending Pasta Bowl offering actually works. For a mere $13.99–a price that the company is proud to point out hasn’t changed since 2022–you can enjoy a first course of soup or salad plus those irresistible breadsticks followed by as many bowls of pasta as you can handle.

Included in the deal are your choice of four pastas and six sauces that you can mix and match to your heart’s content. Available pastas include fettuccine, angel hair, spaghetti and rigatoni, while the sauce options include traditional marinara, Alfredo, five-cheese marinara, creamy mushroom, meat sauce and a new spicy three-meat sauce. For an additional $4.99, you can also top your pasta off with one of three protein options: crispy chicken fritta, meatballs or Italian sausage.

This Is How Much of the Olive Garden Never Ending Pasta Bowl I Could Actually Eat

The chain calls on would-be diners to make a “game plan” for the Never Ending Pasta Bowl, which is something I failed to do ahead of time. This was my first mistake.

I love pasta. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, and would always prefer to be left alone with a big bowl of comforting pasta than a piece of cake. I also have a decently sized, Midwest-born appetite, so this special seems made for me—I figured I’d get through at least a couple of servings of pasta.

I started with the spicy three-meat sauce over rigatoni. This was my second mistake. The red pepper-forward sauce was, indeed, quite spicy, and the addition of the various meats resulted in a pretty heavy dish. The portion was also much larger than I expected, but I thought I could handle it just fine.

About halfway through the bowl, I found myself growing a bit weary of the dish. My husband had ordered the spaghetti topped with five-cheese marinara and Italian sausage, so we traded bowls just to get a few bites of something different. The five-cheese marinara had a nostalgic, sweet, creamy flavor that contrasted well with the spice and snap of the sausage, and I wished I’d ordered that instead.

We traded our bowls back and I continued eating. I began to feel warm, bloated and incredibly uncomfortable. My husband was feeling the same. We paused and chatted about our days for a few minutes in an attempt to rally and open up enough stomach space to continue our journey, but, alas, we had to tap out before finishing even one full bowl of pasta.

How to Get the Most Out of the Olive Garden Never Ending Pasta Bowl

After our leftovers were boxed up, we paid for our meal and headed for the parking lot. I felt an overwhelming sense of disappointment. Rather than enjoying a nice evening out with my husband, I felt like I had flunked a test. In retrospect, I now understand how my non-existent Olive Garden Never Ending Pasta Bowl game plan had failed.

First, let’s talk about the chain’s salad and breadsticks. I adore Olive Garden’s signature salad, which strikes the perfect balance of sweet and tangy thanks to its house dressing. If you’re trying to get the most bang for your Never Ending Pasta Bowl buck, though, the salad and especially the breadsticks are not your friend. While a bit of salad is harmless, I’d suggest holding off on the breadsticks until you’re enjoying them with your leftovers back at home the next day. Otherwise, you’ll risk filling up before your pasta has even hit the table.

Then there’s the matter of your first-bowl order. After some sleuthing on r/OliveGarden—a place where fans and employees of the brand share insider intel—I learned that the first Never Ending Pasta Bowl is larger than its refills. Therefore, if you’re aiming to sample multiple combinations of pasta and sauce, it’s best to either start with a lighter option—like angel hair pasta with classic marinara—or to ask your server if you can have your first serving in the smaller bowl.

Third, there doesn’t seem to be any rule that you must finish one Never Ending Pasta Bowl before ordering another. If I could do my dinner over, I’d have ordered a second bowl of pasta at the point where I stopped eating the first bowl. Then I would have just gotten most of it boxed up to take home. As far as I can tell, the chain’s only rule seems to be that the pasta bowl doesn’t end until you request a box.

Finally, the best way to experience the Never Ending Pasta Bowl at Olive Garden—beyond going with the Olive Garden date in your life—is to be kind to your server and to tip them well. Promotions like this surely bring in a surge of customers looking solely to eat as much as possible for as little as possible without considering the fellow human being running around the restaurant, making it all happen. Don’t be one of those people.

But seriously, just save those breadsticks for your leftovers.

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McDonald’s Launched a New Happy Meal Just in Time for Back-to-School

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:33:14 +0000

Do you remember when McDonald’s was giving out Teenie Beanies, aka miniature versions of Beanie Babies, in its Happy Meals? I do vividly. It was such a craze back in 1997 that I remember my mother driving to multiple McDonald’s locations and asking the drive-thru worker which of the Teenie Beanies they had before even placing our order. If we already had the flamingo, well, then we drove to another McDonald’s. I think it took us an hour every time we wanted to get a Happy Meal that spring.

Naturally, when I saw this new McDonald’s Happy Meal toy, I had flashbacks. These toys are super kawaii and totally tubular—I think a lot of people are going to start driving around trying to collect them all.

What is the new McDonald’s Happy Meal?

Get ready for throwback cuteness overload, because the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Hello Kitty and Friends Happy Meal is here! It’s a mash-up of epic fandom proportions, and there are 12 toys that you can collect. They each come with a playing card that describes their unique skills and background. “Think Donatello with a dash of Cinnamoroll, or Kuromi rocking Michelangelo’s fierce attitude,” reads the McDonald’s menu spotter.

Honestly, even the Happy Meal box that this collab comes in is really cute. It’s a split photo that has one half Raphael’s face, one half Hello Kitty’s face. If you’re a fan of either franchise, the box seems like a great memento as well.

When will the new McDonald’s Happy Meal be available?

The best news of all is that you can go get one as soon as you’re done reading this story. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Hello Kitty and Friends Happy Meal is available as of August 12, at McDonald’s locations nationwide. This is a limited-run collab, so you should go to the Golden Arches sooner rather than later if you’re interested!

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I Tried the Mt. McDonaldland Shake to Figure Out the Mystery Flavor

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 21:34:02 +0000

The fast-food giant has been playing coy with us.

When McDonald’s announced earlier this month that it was launching a new limited-edition milkshake flavor called the Mt. McDonaldland Shake, the company declined to disclose what exactly the drink would taste like.

Of course, we love a mystery, so we got our hands on the new McDonald’s milkshake as soon as we could.

What does the Mt. McDonaldland milkshake taste like?

The “secret concoction” that the company said makes up the Mt. McDonaldland Shake is said to be inspired by the fictional mountain’s “vibrant blue ‘lava’ and pink clouds.” In terms of an actual flavor profile, I’ve got to say this milkshake lives up to the surprisingly expansive lore.

The milkshake has a fruity, berry-forward taste that immediately recalls the nostalgic, slightly unnatural blue raspberry flavor that was so ubiquitous in popular candy of the ’90s and early aughts. There are hints of both blueberry and raspberry present, but mainly it’s a sweet (but somehow not too sweet) sip of childhood for a millennial like me.

As for the pink whipped topping, it mostly tastes like your standard-issue McDonald’s vanilla flavor—though I could be imagining a slight undercurrent of bubble gum present as well.

Adding to the nostalgic flair of the milkshake—which cost $17.29 as part of the McDonaldland Quarter Pounder with Cheese Meal—is the collectible tin that comes with it. My meal came with a tin dedicated to the iconic Hamburglar, and I was honestly impressed by the over-the-top design of the postcards and stickers, including the Hamburglar’s McDonaldland Passport.

How long is the Mt. McDonaldland shake available?

The Mt. McDonaldland Shake launched on August 12 and is a limited-time offering, so it’s not anticipated to be available from the chain for too long. If you want a taste of the throwback goodness for yourself, you should head to a McDonald’s soon.

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KFC Is Finally Bringing Back This Fan-Favorite Item

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 14:46:53 +0000

Every time a new fast-food menu item pops up, I get excited. That excitement is usually tempered by the fact that there’s no guarantee how long it will stick around. I mean, Taco Bell’s Mexican pizza is probably the poster child for this—the chain keeps dangling it in front of us before snatching it back again!

When the pandemic hit in 2020, a lot of fast-food restaurants started simplifying their menus. This meant that some regular items were getting discontinued. One of those items was a classic menu item at KFC that I deeply cherished.

But I have great news for anyone who has spent five years missing the KFC potato wedges: they’re coming back!

When are the KFC potato wedges coming back?

The KFC potato wedges are an elite menu item, and fans know that. In fact, when the wedges left the menu in 2020 (to be replaced with “secret recipe fries”) a die-hard potato wedge fan actually started a petition to bring them back. It has 8,000 signatures and counting. I don’t have proof of this, but I think that petition worked. It’s worth a read if you have a minute. The way the petition starter, Kinzey, talks about the wedges is a great reminder of how food is intertwined with every aspect of our lives.

I used to live in a very small town that did not have many restaurants. But when I wanted to treat myself, I would do what I call the drive-thru trifecta. I’d get a Diet Coke from McDonald’s, a Cheesy Gordita Crunch from Taco Bell and the potato wedges from KFC. With this meal, I was unstoppable! The KFC potato wedges are the best fast-food potato option, hands down. They’re crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and seasoned so well, you keep going back for more. I would even go a step further to say these are the only fast-food potato option that don’t become inedible the second they get cold. They’re that good.

Earlier this year, KFC announced that it was bringing back the potato wedges to a handful of restaurants in Florida. This was a limited return in a test market, and it started giving fans hope that the wedges would soon be back for good. Now loyal—not to mention patient—potato wedge fans can get them again in KFC locations nationwide starting on August 18. I certainly know where I’m grabbing lunch that day!

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This Is the Best Fast-Food Burger in America, and I Had Never Even Heard of It

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 12:54:11 +0000

Whenever you ask people to name their favorite fast-food restaurant, things get heated pretty quickly. For everyone defending Taco Bell, someone else is advocating for Wendy’s. You might even get people who are a little more nuanced in their approach: Maybe McDonald’s breakfast is superior, but Popeye’s fries are elite.

The discussion can get even more difficult if you boil it down to a single item: best french fries, best spicy chicken sandwich, best secret sauce, etc. But that was something that USA Today‘s editors weren’t afraid to ask the public in their third annual reader poll. The editors asked about a very specific product: the fast-food burger.

I’m sure you immediately named the fast-food burger you think deserves the top spot. I know my answer, and I’ll share it with you in the next section. But I was genuinely surprised to see one burger fall from grace.

What is the best fast-food burger?

First, let’s talk about what restaurant did not make the top three: In-N-Out Burger. I was genuinely shocked by this. In-N-Out Burger, the cult-favorite West Coast burger chain, is known for its secret menu and serving up food “animal style.” Plenty of celebrity chefs name the In-N-Out burger as their favorite. But according to everyday Americans who responded to the USA Today poll, the best fast-food burger is the Double Char from Habit Burger & Grill.

Listen, I have never even heard of Habit Burger & Grill! I live in Illinois, and a quick glance at the Habit Burger location map shows that all their joints are on the coasts. In fact, like In-N-Out, the majority of their locations are in California—263, to be exact. These California burger chains sure are cooking up some tasty options.

USA Today’s Best Fast-Food Burger 2025 List

Here is the entire list, along with my (very important and scientific) personal opinions:

1. Double Char, Habit Burger & Grill: I respect the hustle in beating In-N-Out. Consider my curiosity piqued, Habit Burger!

2. Papa Burger, A&W: I am highly suspicious of this being ranked No. 2. There are several better burgers on this list—there, I said it.

3. Jumbo Jack Cheeseburger, Jack in the Box: I have never eaten this, but the photo looks good, so, while No. 3 seems high, I’ll allow it.

4. Double Double, In-N-Out Burger: Listen, this is a great burger—I’m not a hater. I just don’t like it when the same people always win.

5. Double ButterBurger with Cheese, Culver’s: This is by far the best fast-food burger and should be No. 1. I feel lucky to live in the same region as Culver’s.

6. Cheeseburger, Five Guys: I just do not get the Five Guys hype.

7. ShackBurger, Shake Shack: For what it’s worth, I think it should be higher. I put the ShackBurger on par with In-N-Out at least.

8. Freddy’s Original Double, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers: Another one I’ve never tried, but apparently it includes a lot of mustard, which I love. People are sleeping on mustard as a burger condiment.

9. Whopper, Burger King: This used to be the gold standard for quality fast-food burgers. Unfortunately, in a competitive burger market, it doesn’t quite stand out anymore.

10. Double Meat, Whataburger: The cult-favorite Texas chain is usually compared to In-N-Out, and honestly, the burgers look identical.

It’s clear that there are many regional preferences when it comes to choosing the best fast-food burger. In my dream world, everyone has access to a Culver’s ButterBurger, but until the chain expands its locations, I’ll just have to make due with spreading the good word on the Internet. And the next time I’m on one of the coasts, I need to try a Double Char at Habit Burger.

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Noodles & Company Just Made a Huge Change to Its Menu for the First Time in 30 Years

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 21:41:31 +0000

I hold a very special place in my heart for Noodles & Company. I used to work a job that required a lot of travel, and between appointments in cities around the country, I would usually take my lunch break at a Noodles. The possibility of ordering a hot, delicious bowl of pasta without taking too much time or spending too much money (I was on the meager company per diem, after all) was such a nice change from inhaling burgers in my car. And my favorite dish has remained the same for years: pesto cavatappi. Sure, I changed it up every now and again, but it was hard to say yes to something that wasn’t my beloved, reliable pesto pasta.

Which is why I’m really very excited about the menu change that Noodles & Company recently launched. It’s the first time that something like this has been offered in the company’s 30-year history, and it’s called Delicious Duos.

What are Noodles & Company Delicious Duos?

Basically, this is a brand-new way to order and enjoy your favorite options from the Noodles & Company menu. For Delicious Duos, you select a small entree and protein plus a side dish. So this means I can get my beloved pesto cavatappi with Parmesan-encrusted chicken and a small Caesar salad, which is literally the perfect meal combination.

If you’re familiar with the “You Pick Two” option at Panera Bread, then this is similar. However, the one big difference is the price point. Delicious Duos start at $9.95, which is arguably the most budget-friendly version of this concept. In fact, I’d go so far as to call it revolutionary, especially considering how so many restaurants are raising their prices.

This feels like a perfect lunch option for so many situations, including:

People who only have 30 minutes for lunch: Smaller portions, but plenty of variety.
People who have children: Your toddler wants mac n’ cheese, and your 7-year-old wants chicken noodle soup.
People who are indecisive: Calling all Libras! (I’m a Libra; this is my dream come true.)
People who workout: A perfectly balanced meal full of protein and fiber so you can fuel up and/or replenish.
People who love making anything a tasting experience: If you go with someone else, you can try four menu items.

When will the Noodles & Company Delicious Duos be available?

The best news is that you can walk into your local Noodles & Company right now and order your own Delicious Duo. This new menu offering is available nationwide. If your mouth has been watering from just reading this article (I know mine has), it’s time to make a pit stop at Noodles. Please think of me if you get the pesto cavatappi and a Caesar salad!

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I Tried the New Heinz Ketchup Smoothie from Smoothie King, and I Think I Love It

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 15:50:15 +0000

Often in life, we find ourselves at a crossroads. Difficult decisions that shape who we are as people. My most recent crossroads as a food critic was deciding whether or not I wanted to taste the brand-new Heinz ketchup smoothie. While a teeny-tiny part of me was absolutely revolted, I was more so intrigued. Could this possibly be good? Like Alice following the white rabbit, I decided to quell my curiosity, and I’m so glad I did.

What is the new ketchup smoothie?

Heinz decided to cash in on the idea of certain celebs creating their own smoothies. I can see the marketing team thinking, we can get in on this! Thus, the ketchup smoothie was born. Partnering up with Smoothie King, Heinz finally wanted to prove that, if tomatoes are fruits, they can certainly be blended into a smoothie.

Now, it’s not just ketchup blended up with ice. This new smoothie incorporates a sweet acai sorbet, apple juice, plump strawberries, tart raspberries and the iconic taste of Heinz Simply Ketchup. Heinz is a favorite ketchup brand, so I can see how it worked in a drink. Besides, Simply Ketchup is made with all natural red tomatoes that are full of antioxidants and vitamins—everything you want in a smoothie, right? I think so at least.

With all of this in mind, I made my way to my local Smoothie King and ordered the delightfully off-putting ketchup smoothie. Here’s what I thought.

How does the Smoothie King ketchup smoothie taste?

Delicious! Are you surprised? I thought you might be. But’s let break it down a bit here. The smoothie itself is the kind of consistency you’d expect: a smooth, fruity beverage with some icy texture. It wasn’t bright ketchup red like I had hoped, but rather a deeper red that reminded me of the included raspberries. My initial reaction was that, honestly, it looked like any other smoothie I’d ever had. It even had a super cute Heinz Tomato Ketchup label on the cup. I enjoy attention to detail.

Before today, this would have never been on my radar for recipes using ketchup. However, I found myself taking sip after sip. I even got a small brain freeze!

You’re probably thinking, well, how much ketchup is actually in it? The answer is…not that much. The acai sorbet and raspberries really take the front seat here. While you do get a hint of the ketchup at the end, it’s definitely not the main flavor. It honestly could have used more. Overall, it tastes like a typical fruit smoothie with a bit of tomato tang coming in at the end. But it’ll still catch you off guard if you’re not paying attention. I think I’d order it again. It’s got me in its ketchup-y grip—a sentence I never thought I’d utter.

How can I get the Smoothie King ketchup smoothie?

The Heinz Ketchup Smoothie is available starting at $5.70 at select Smoothie King locations across New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver and Miami for a limited time. If you find yourself intrigued, take the trip. And, if you find yourself still repulsed, I wholeheartedly understand. Just remember that it’s not every day you have the opportunity to taste something so unique—make today a little weird!

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McDonald’s Is Dropping a New Shake Flavor That’s a Mystery to Us All

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 00:24:52 +0000

McDonald’s has rarely strayed too far from its tried-and-true milkshake offerings over the years: chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and—every spring—the iconic Shamrock Shake.

Now, times have changed and fast-food chains are in an endless race to land on the next viral food craze. On Aug. 12, McDonald’s is launching a new, limited-edition Mt. McDonaldland Shake with a mystery flavor.

What is the new McDonald’s milkshake?

The new milkshake is said to be “inspired by the vibrant blue ‘lava’ and pink clouds” of Mt. McDonaldland, which is said to be a major landmark of the “whimsical world” where Ronald McDonald and his friends like Grimace and the Hamburglar live, according to the lore spelled out in the company’s August 5 announcement.

Those are all the hints the company is offering for now about its first new milkshake flavor since 2023’s Grimace Shake, so it will be up to all of us to discover the “secret concoction” at the heart of the new shake’s secret flavor. As soon as we get a taste, we’ll share our theories.

The shake will be available as part of the chain’s new McDonaldland Meal, which also includes either a Quarter Pounder with Cheese or a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, fries and one of six collectible tins that come with souvenir stickers and postcards that pay tribute to Ronald and his friends.

When can I get the new Mt. McDonaldland Shake?

McDonald’s new milkshake arrives in restaurants nationwide on August 12. Because the chain is calling it a limited-edition offering, you won’t want to wait too long before going to get a taste of the new mystery flavor for yourself.

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Dairy Queen Just Dropped 2 Brand New Treats for Fall—Here’s When You Can Get Them

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 00:00:05 +0000

Did you know that Dairy Queen’s unique soft serve formula was first developed in 1938? As both an ice cream and a history lover, this fact surprised me. DQ soft serve has been around for a whopping 87 years! The new product, created by J.F. McCullough and his son, Alex, was first sold at an ice cream parlor in Kankakee, Illinois. It was so popular that they sold 1,600 servings in two hours, according to DQ history!

Since it was clear that their new ice cream product had potential, the McCulloughs opened the very first Dairy Queen in Joliet, Illinois in 1940. While that building is no longer a DQ, there’s still a plaque designating it as a landmark.

All of this is to say that Dairy Queen has been at the forefront of treat invention for nearly a century. So it’s no surprise that every year, the chain keeps creating more reasons for us to enjoy its offerings. And this fall is no exception, because the Dairy Queen fall menu is debuting two new treats and a returning favorite.

What’s on the Dairy Queen fall menu?

Firstly, let’s talk about what’s returning: the Pumpkin Pie Blizzard. This has become a regular rotation for DQ’s fall menu. With seasonal items, you never really know if they are going to stick around year after year, so it’s nice to see it coming back. It has real pumpkin pie pieces blended with soft serve and topped with whipped cream and nutmeg.

Now, the new items. There are two brand-new treats coming to Dairy Queen’s fall menu. The first is a Maple Cookie Shake. It combines a maple cookie crumble base with real milk and soft serve, all topped with whipped cream. This sounds really simple, but has the potential to be really delicious. I love maple-flavored anything, and it’s nice to see it included on the fall menu. Sometimes, I think we get a little too obsessed with pumpkin and forget about other stellar fall flavors! Maple, pecan and cinnamon to the front, please.

The other new item is a Caramel Toffee Cookie Blizzard, and I know for sure that I will be grabbing one of these this fall. This Blizzard combines thick chewy cookie pieces with toffee and caramel into one delicious treat. I actually think this sounds so good that it could become a permanent addition to the menu—caramel is for every season, isn’t it?

When is the Dairy Queen fall menu available?

The best part about the new menu items is that you don’t even have to wait until fall to enjoy them. They will be available at participating Dairy Queen locations nationwide starting on August 29. They’re seasonal and also limited-edition, so once they’re gone, they’re gone for good! If you’re interested in the Maple Cookie Shake or the Caramel Toffee Cookie Blizzard, make sure to head out to your local Dairy Queen on Labor Day weekend. Cheers!

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This Simple Ikea Food Court Hack Is Cheap and Delicious

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:54:58 +0000

There’s a lot to love about Ikea. The Swedish retailer is home to affordable furniture, cute accessories and a food court so iconic that it’s often reason enough to trek to the store.

I have a soft spot for Ikea that rivals anyone else’s because my mom worked there for over 20 years. And yes, it was as fun as it sounds—especially on Take Your Child to Work Day. I have always been able to spot an Ikea product a mile away in any TV show or movie I watched growing up. You might say I’m a bit of an Ikea expert.

So when I see people extolling the virtues of Ikea, I always wait to see if they also know the secret tip that I learned in my youth. But I never see anyone talking about it, so it’s now my duty to share with you the single most delicious Ikea food court hack.

What is the cheap and delicious Ikea food court hack?

No, it has nothing to do with meatballs (although they are undeniably delicious). This hack has to do with the soft drink station. For $2, you can buy a drink to enjoy with your meal or while you explore the store. And I have mastered the perfect crisp and refreshing combination to accompany you while you shop. It’s a simple combination of the cola drink with the lingonberry drink.

Lingonberries, for the uninitiated, are tiny bright red berries native to the boreal forests of North America and Eurasia. They grow in abundance in Scandinavia, especially in Norway and Sweden. They’re tiny, tart and acidic—more similar to cranberries than other red berries. Ikea sells lingonberry preserves that are so good, I always end up picking up a jar when I’m there.

And lingonberry juice is one of the options at the soft drink station in the Ikea cafeteria. It’s worth a try on it’s own if you’ve never had it before, but my favorite thing to do is add it to their cola. It’s basically my version of a Scandinavian cherry cola, and it’s delicious. Everyone’s preferred ratio of juice to cola will vary, but I like to do about 80% cola, 20% lingonberry juice.

It’s such a small hack, but it’s absolutely delicious. I like to get one with a hot dog to kick off my shopping trip, then grab a refill to take with me on the drive home. If I’m honest, this drink combo is exciting enough that sometimes I’ll even make up some excuse to go to Ikea just to sip on it. Talk about customer service!

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This Dessert from Toadstool Cafe Is the Best Thing at Universal Epic Universe

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 22:48:00 +0000

This summer, my family and I set out on a theme park adventure and visited all three Universal Orlando Resort parks—including the brand-new Universal Epic Universe, which opened in May 2025. And while the rides were every bit as exciting as promised (yes, I laughed my way through Donkey Kong’s Mine-Cart Madness), the food was just as memorable.

I’ve always believed that a theme park day is only as good as its snacks. Some people ride for the adrenaline. I ride for dessert.

What is the tiramisu dessert from Toadstool Cafe?

There were plenty of contenders for the best food at Epic Universe. But one dessert stood out so much that I’ve been thinking about it ever since we got back home: the ? Block Tiramisu from Toadstool Cafe in Super Nintendo World.

This adorable treat is a tiramisu layered with fluffy, coffee-soaked lady fingers and topped with a chocolate power-up and sweet cream. The dessert looked exactly like something Mario or Luigi would pause to snack on mid-adventure. And, honestly, in the middle of a hot summer Florida day, it tasted like a power-up too.

The theme of the Toadstool Cafe is just as delightful as the food it serves. Between immersive screens, the Toad servers in their colorful uniforms and the Super Mario soundtrack, I felt like a ’90s kid living out my childhood dreams. (Because I was.) And while it’s technically a single-serving dessert, the portion size was perfect for sharing. Myself, my preschooler and two teens ate the tiramisu together and, after a large meal, it was just enough sweetness to enjoy without feeling stuffed. Besides, we had to save room for all the other treats throughout the day!

The ? Block Tiramisu Price and Taste

The price of the ? Block Tiramisu was $9.99. That’s a bit of a splurge compared to my normal dining budget. But for theme park food—especially at a location as charming as the Toadstool Cafe—the price felt like it was worth it.

We also kept our vacation food budget in check in other ways. The kids and I shared snacks, ate breakfast before arriving at the parks, packed road trip snacks and brought refillable water bottles. Those efforts made it easier to justify the indulgences we did choose to make.

Beyond the nostalgia of the Toadstool Cafe and the cute design of the ? Block Tiramisu, the dessert itself was remarkable. The flavor was rich, the texture was creamy, and it wasn’t too sweet. Despite the cartoonish design, the taste reminded me of a classic dessert you might order at a sit-down restaurant, not something to grab in between theme park rides.

Between the flavor, presentation and the nostalgia factor, the ? Block Tiramisu has officially joined my list of Universal Epic Universe must-haves—right alongside an icy, frozen Butterbeer.

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I Tried 6 Jeni’s Summer Ice Creams—This One Nostalgic Flavor Blew My Mind

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 22:55:03 +0000

If you’re anything like me, every trip to the ice cream parlor starts with the same intention of trying a fun, new flavor…and ends with ordering a classic scoop of cookies and cream. What can I say? Old habits die hard.

In an effort to broaden my ice cream horizons, I recently secured a box of Jeni’s new Super Fun Times collection. These seasonal pints—many of which are so popular they already sold out—play on the nostalgia of summers past. My box included quirky, childhood classics like Pink Bubblegum, Toasted S’mores, Root Beer Float, Strawberry Pretzel Pie and Popcorn Brittle.

But one surprising flavor stole my heart—and it just might be the best ice cream I’ve ever had. (Yes, even better than my beloved Oreo.) Here’s what you need to know about Jeni’s Watermelon Taffy ice cream.

We Tried It

Watermelon Taffy Ice Cream

Pucker up! This tart and juicy ice cream flavor is oh-so nostalgic.

How I Tested Watermelon Taffy Ice Cream

When I first pulled the Watermelon Taffy pint from the box, I didn’t even give it much thought. I like watermelon, sure, but it’s far from my favorite summer fruit. And taffy? My molars hurt just thinking about it.

Still, Jeni’s has surprised me in the past. When testing the brand’s ice cream subscription, the underdog from that box, Maple-Soaked Pancakes, ended up being my favorite of the bunch.

After taste-testing some of the other summer flavors I knew I was going to like (hello, Strawberry Pretzel Pie), I moved on to Watermelon Taffy. And I’m not even lying when I say that first bite changed my brain chemistry. I love tart-sweet desserts. And this flavor is perfectly puckery. It reminded me of that juicy mouthfeel you get from a pink Starburst. (Or, ya know, watermelon taffy.)

Each bite was impossibly refreshing. And on a humid, 90-degree day, this is now the only thing I want to eat.

I took a peek at the ingredient list to see where the magic happens. And it comes from a “watermelon taffy base” loaded with watermelon juice and a touch of citric acid, which is what helps give the flavor that incredible sour candy pucker. There’s also yogurt and buttermilk for an oh-so-creamy texture that melts in your mouth—and makes the flavor easy to scoop straight from the freezer.

I was also happy to see that any colors come from natural sources, like pumpkin, apple and beet, rather than food dyes. While Jeni’s ice creams are on the pricey side, you’re paying for a high-quality treat with premium ingredients.

One word of caution? Only try this flavor if you’re prepared for all other ice creams to be ruined for you. It’s that good.

Where to Buy

You can buy Watermelon Taffy ice cream on the Jeni’s website. It costs $12 per pint, and there’s a 5-pint minimum for online orders. You can also visit your local Jeni’s Scoop Shop or check a local grocery stockist.

The post I Tried 6 Jeni’s Summer Ice Creams—This One Nostalgic Flavor Blew My Mind appeared first on Taste of Home.

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I Tried the ‘Secret Sauce’ at 7 Fast-Food Restaurants to Find the Best One

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 22:23:18 +0000

7. McDonald’s Big Mac Sauce

Instead of arriving in a tidy dipping cup or packet, like every other restaurant reviewed, McDonald’s plopped a sad scoop of Big Mac Sauce into an empty chicken nugget box. Visually, this presentation brought down the ranking. The chunks in the sauce didn’t do much for me either. While nostalgic and familiar, the sauce was one-note and underwhelming—like someone stirred mayonnaise, Thousand Island and pickles together and called it a day. It lacked the complexity you’d expect from something so iconic.

Bottom Line: More famous than it is flavorful, this one didn’t live up to the hype, especially stacked against bolder competitors. I’ll stick with these other stand-out McDonald’s sauces.

6. Arby’s Sauce and Horsey Sauce

Arby’s may “have the meats,” but its sauces aren’t pulling their weight. The Arby’s Sauce was aggressively vinegary. It had a hint of sweetness, but not enough to balance the acidity, leaving the flavor flat and borderline harsh (my mouth kept salivating in a bad way). Meanwhile, the Horsey Sauce was…fine. It’s a basic horseradish mayo—creamy with a mild kick—but not particularly memorable. You can find something nearly identical at most deli counters.

Bottom Line: Two sauces, zero standouts. Sure, they add some flavor, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to dip my fries in either of these.

5. In-N-Out Spread

In-N-Out is legendary for many things, but the “Spread” doesn’t quite live up to the hype as a fry dip. Sure, the packet was generously sized—easily the biggest of the bunch—but once you get past the portion, there’s not much to get excited about. It’s a standard chunky Thousand Island-style sauce with a tomato-y base and a hint of sweetness.

Bottom Line: I’d say the spread is best suited for burgers, not fries.

4. Shake Shack ShackSauce

Shake Shack nails a lot of things—crinkle fries, smashburgers, milkshakes—but ShackSauce didn’t quite deliver. The texture was noticeably gluey and gloppy, almost like it had been sitting in the fridge too long. Flavor-wise, it leans heavy on the dill, which may work for some, but felt a bit imbalanced to me.

Bottom Line: If you love dill, this might be your new go-to secret sauce. Otherwise, ketchup might be a better option.

3. Jack in the Box Good Good Sauce

With a name like Good Good Sauce, you’d hope it delivers, and it does! This one packed the most heat of the lineup, with a peppery kick that actually livened up the fries. It’s creamy and easy to dip, tangy and a little smoky, making it versatile enough to slather on just about anything. Nuggets, burgers, sandwiches, you name it. It’s bold without being overwhelming, and it actually tastes like someone developed it on purpose.

Bottom Line: Spicy, flavorful and surprisingly craveable—this sauce earns its double name.

2. Raising Cane’s Cane’s Sauce

If you’ve ever wondered what keeps people lining up for chicken fingers, Cane’s Sauce is a big part of the answer. It’s thick and luscious, creamy, savory and packed with spices. The peppery, garlicky notes are totally addictive. The texture is spot-on. It clings perfectly to fries and lingers just long enough on your palate to make you reach for more.

Bottom Line: Cane’s Sauce is easy to love. It’s not flashy, and it doesn’t need to be. This is comfort sauce, executed at a near-perfect level.

1. Chick-fil-A Sauce

Chick-fil-A Sauce isn’t just good—it’s obsession-level good. This golden blend of honey mustard, barbecue sauce and something almost smoky hits all the right notes. You’ll sense a bit of sweetness and tanginess. The flavor is layered and complex, which makes it shockingly hard to stop dipping. Fries? Better with it. Nuggets? Built for it. Your fingers when you’re out of fries? Don’t judge.

Bottom Line: This is the GOAT of fast-food sauces. Once you start, you will not stop—and honestly, why would you?

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This New Fall Starbucks Drink Is More Exciting Than the Pumpkin Spice Latte

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 21:46:00 +0000

Someone at Starbucks surely must be a mind reader. Every time a new seasonal menu drops, I’m astonished by how closely the new and returning drinks fit my flavor preferences. Now, I know fall menus typically center themselves around the legendary PSL, but it would be quite uncritical of me as a foodie not to give every other crafted beverage a fair shot. You never know when the next best thing is ready to shine in the spotlight (and my stomach).

With that being said, the fall Starbucks menu has officially been announced, and we’re here to give you all the spicy details.

What’s on the fall Starbucks menu?

As expected, the ever-amazing Pumpkin Spice Latte is making its honorary comeback. Originally introduced on the 2003 fall Starbucks menu, the PSL is over 20 years old. It wouldn’t be a full fall menu without our pumpkin pride and joy, now would it? We’ve also got some returning favorites joining the bunch, including:

Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai
Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte

And, of course, we can’t forget to mention the new beverage in town. Coined the Pecan Oatmilk Cortado, this new variation of the popular Starbucks cortado fits in harmoniously with the rest of the fall flavors. A cortado consists of equal parts espresso and milk, making it slightly different than a regular latte. While it hasn’t been around for very long at Starbucks, it has made quite the impression.

Is pecan going to be the flavor that beats the PSL this year?

Listen, I’m a pumpkin tried-and-true. It’s got that full, rustic flavor that just melds so well with nutmeg, cinnamon and clove. And of every spice on this expansive planet, cinnamon is my queen. It’s an objective fact that it goes well with everything, but when it comes together as a PSL, it’s an ethereal experience. It makes me want to throw on a sweater, post up next to a campfire, and fish until the sun sleeps. I’m sure you understand.

However, I am also a massive fan of all things nuts. Peanuts, walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, macadamias—the list goes on. And when it comes to fall, pecan takes the throne. It’s a subtly sweet and slightly savory flavor that keeps me intrigued. I can drink it for a while without tiring of the flavor. This isn’t Starbucks’ first rodeo with pecan, either. The returning Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte made a huge splash last year among Starbucks fans, and it looks like Starbucks took note. Makes sense, too. With the overwhelming popularity of the pistachio-filled Dubai chocolate and tahini coffee trends, it seems only natural that the people would crave an array of nuttier flavors and textures.

But what does that mean for the PSL? Honestly, I don’t think our Pumpkin Spice will ever go out of style. It’s become a quintessential piece of fall. That being said, I will always be first in line for new drinks. The Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte surprised me last year with its grittier texture and heavy aftertaste. It wasn’t so sweet that I wanted to toss it after the first sip (which sometimes does happen with the PSL…sorry!). I think the new Pecan Oatmilk Cortado will be the perfect compact, nutty drink for those looking for more flavor bang for their buck. I’ll be right there with you.

When is the fall Starbucks menu available?

The fall Starbucks menu officially drops on August 26. Mark your calendars—it’s gonna be one for the ages!

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I Tried the New Reese’s Cinnabon, and It’s a Dream Come True for Your Sweet Tooth

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 21:32:56 +0000

In my book, nothing beats the scent of a freshly baked Cinnabon. It’s a smell that brings me right back to childhood trips to the local mall with my family, when you could smell the Cinnabon five stores down and know a treat wasn’t far away. You’d get your first bite of that pillowy, sugary goodness and everything was OK in the world.

I’m a couple decades older now and can’t recall noshing on a Cinnabon cinnamon roll in such a long time. When I learned the iconic mall brand had come out with a limited-time Reese’s Cinnabon menu, I knew I had to taste it for myself as soon as I could. Maybe it would taste like my childhood?

What is the new Reese’s Cinnabon?

The new collaboration is currently available in three varieties:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Bon with Reese’s: A classic Cinnabon roll (or Center of the Roll) topped with a caramel sauce and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup pieces.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy Bon with Reese’s Pieces: A classic Cinnabon roll (or Center of the Roll) topped with a chocolate sauce and Reese’s Pieces minis.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Chillatta with Reese’s: Cinnabon’s creamy frozen beverage blended with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup pieces and topped with whipped cream and Reese’s Pieces minis.

How does the Reese’s Cinnabon taste?

I tried all three of the available Reese’s Cinnabon collab items, and let me tell you, the brands did not skimp on the sugar.

The Chillatta was my favorite of the three, and the first item I tried. The signature peanut butter and chocolate flavor of a Reese’s comes through as clear as a bell. Reese’s Pieces minis and the partially blended Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup pieces provided a nice variety of textures. I kept going back for more!

Next, I dug into the cinnamon roll topped with the caramel sauce and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup pieces. I think this roll suffered from its maximalist ethos, as the caramel, chocolate and peanut butter flavors were a bit at odds with the flavor of Cinnabon’s iconic original cinnamon roll. This item would have been more successful without the caramel sauce in my opinion.

Finally, it was time for the cinnamon roll topped with chocolate sauce and the Reese’s Pieces minis. Here, the combination of the candy-coated Reese’s Pieces flavor and the chocolate was, again, so at odds with the signature Cinnabon that the toppings fully overpowered the flavor of the cinnamon roll itself.

All of that said, if you have a sweet tooth and no amount of sugar is too much, you’re going to love these. For me, these sweets felt like too much of several good things.

How long is the Reese’s Cinnabon going to be available?

This collab is being promoted as a limited-time offering, so if you want to try it for yourself, you’ll want to get yourself to a Cinnabon location as soon as you can.

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The Dunkin’ Fall Menu Was Leaked, And I Can’t Wait to Try This New Item

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 01:11:46 +0000

While some people might be mad that Halloween decorations are already popping up in stores, I’m not one of them. I’m currently living in an area of the country that’s experiencing a massive heat wave, so anything that can help me think cool thoughts is a welcome respite. All the pumpkins and spiders are helping in this regard!

And speaking of pumpkin, it’s also time for our favorite coffee shops to drop their fall menu lineups. Blogger @Markie_devo recently posted what’s in store for the upcoming Dunkin’ fall menu. While nothing has been officially confirmed yet, Markie has a history of releasing the correct information—it’s usually just a little bit earlier than the brand announcement.

Here’s what to expect from the Dunkin’ fall menu. There is one drink in particular I cannot wait to get my sweaty little hands on.

What’s on Dunkin’s fall menu?

There’s a really good mix of new and returning items on this year’s menu, which is exciting. Even if you haven’t been a fan of Dunkin’s previous fall releases, I have a feeling that at least one of these new ones will catch your eye. I am particularly interested in trying the Cereal N’ Milk latte, because how fun does that sound?!

New Items:

Cereal N’ Milk Latte
Mixed Berry Daydream Refresher
Chipotle Loaded Hash Browns
Kreme Delight Donut
Iced Pumpkin Loaf

Returning Items:

Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte
Maple Sugar Snacking Bacon
Maple Sugar Bacon Sandwich
Maple Sugar Wake Up Wrap
Glazed Pumpkin Donuts and Munchkins
Pumpkin Muffins
$6 Meal Deal

Halloween Items:

Candy Bar Signature Latte
Spider Specialty Donut
Halloween Sprinkle Takeover
Halloween Munchkin Bucket

When will Dunkin’s fall menu be available?

The new menu should drop nationwide beginning August 20, but the Halloween items won’t be available until October 15. They’ll be limited items for Halloween time, and then will slink off into the night like the ghosts of iced lattes past. If you are ready to get a head start on your cozy fall, then head over to Dunkin’ in late August!

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I Tried the Chicago Hot Dog Deep-Dish Pizza, and I’m Genuinely Shocked

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 22:40:36 +0000

Chicago’s food scene is among the best in the world. The diversity of options, from Michelin-starred restaurants to hole-in-the-wall dive bars, is truly spectacular. On the most recent season of Top Chef, three Chicago chefs competed for the top prize, and one made it all the way to the final. And, of course, here’s my obligatory mention of Malört: Malört!

We could argue for years about what the quintessential Windy City food is, but there are usually two that come to the top of the list: Chicago-style hot dogs and Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. Before I talk about the Chicago hot dog deep-dish pizza, let’s break down what they are individually.

A Chicago hot dog is a beautiful culinary feat: a poppy seed bun, Vienna beef frank, yellow mustard, sweet pickle relish, diced white onion, tomato wedges, sport peppers, a pickle spear and a dash of celery salt. It’s sometimes playfully referred to as being “dragged through the garden” because of the toppings. The cardinal rule? No ketchup.

Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is another beast entirely. Deep-dish pizza crust is cooked in a cast-iron skillet, topped with a bit of tomato sauce and toppings, including an unhinged amount of cheese. Now, I am not really a fan of deep-dish pizza, nor do I consider it the quintessential “Chicago” kind of pizza. That would be tavern-style pizza, which boasts a thin crust and square slices. I could eat this Chicago-style pizza every day.

But anyway, I digress. What if you combined both foods into one Chicago superfood? Then you would get the Portillo’s x Lou Malnati’s Crosstown Pizza, aka the Chicago hot dog deep-dish pizza.

What does the Chicago Hot Dog Deep-Dish Pizza taste like?

Firstly, Portillo’s and Lou Malnati’s are longtime Chicago establishments known for their hot dogs and pizzas, respectively. If I was going to eat a hot dog pizza, then these are probably the only people I would trust to get it right.

I visited Lou Malnati’s to try the concoction, and I was blown away by how good it tasted. I took one bite of the pizza and said out loud, “Oh my God, hot dog?” It might sound silly, but imagine biting into a piece of pizza that tastes like a Chicago-style hot dog. See? It’s wild!

And by wild, I mean absolutely incredible. There is so much to love about this pizza. It contains every aspect of both food items, and it’s beautifully balanced. My favorite part had to be the poppy seed crust and the mustard drizzle over the top. Every bite had all the flavors, and it made me proud to grow up alongside these traditions.

Where can I get the Chicago Hot Dog Pizza?

This is a limited-edition menu item that is currently available in 21 Lou Malnati’s dine-in locations throughout the country. If you live near a Lou’s, I highly recommend stopping in to try one. If you don’t live in an area that has a Lou Malnati’s, you could actually try recreating this at home. Start with a cast-iron skillet pizza recipe, and load it up with all those classic Chicago hot dog toppings.

This is truly unlike any other pizza I’ve ever had, and I will dream of it for years to come.

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The Starbucks Secret Menu Is Officially Live—Here’s the Catch

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 00:31:19 +0000

There are endless ways to make a Starbucks drink. Even if you don’t like coffee (couldn’t be me!) you can still enjoy many of the chain’s best drinks. In fact, one of my best friends always orders the Straberry Açai Refresher with no berries—she doesn’t like how they get stuck in her straw.

It’s this kind of creativity and customization that makes Starbucks so accommodating to different preferences and needs. I remember how excited I was the first time I could order oat milk in my grande extra-hot latte. And while my friend and I have very basic swaps, there is an entire world full of the most magical creations you could ever imagine: the Starbucks secret menu.

But the whole point of a secret menu is, well, the secrecy. So in a move that is equal parts funny and iconic, Starbucks is bringing its secret menu front and center. Here’s everything we know about this new announcement.

What is the new Starbucks Secret Menu?

Whispers of a Starbucks secret menu have been going around Reddit threads and TikTok posts for years. Sometimes the “secret” items were simply discontinued seasonal or specialty drinks that could still be made with the ingredients always in stock at Starbucks locations. A lot of the most famous secret menu items were the drinks that Starbucks baristas would make for themselves.

How to order off the Starbucks secret menu

According to Starbucks, the new secret menu will be available through the Starbucks app. Once you open the app, you can navigate to the “offers” tab, and the secret menu items will populate there. From what I can tell, the catch is that Starbucks will be making a handful of secret items available at a time for customers to choose from. The first four to celebrate the launch are:

Cookies On Top: Cold Brew + two pumps of vanilla syrup + Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam + cookie crumble topping
Dragonfruit Glow-Up: Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade Refresher + peach juice blend + blended + Sweet Cream Cold Foam
Lemon, Tea & Pearls: Black tea + lemonade + raspberry-flavored popping pearls
Just Add White Mocha: Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso + White Chocolate Mocha Sauce + Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam

How long is the Starbucks secret menu available?

The only real secret here is how long the menu will be available. So far, I can’t see anything about the secret menu being a limited-time offer, but the website does hint at customizations changing in the offers tab from time to time.

Starbucks is also holding a contest for customers to submit their own secret drink ideas, and voting will take place to choose four finalists August 18 through 20. The finalists will have their drinks available from August 18 through 25 on the secret menu in the Starbucks app, and the grand prize winner will receive $25,000. So, if you’re always the one thinking up creative drink combos, now might be your time to shine!

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Domino’s “Secret Menu” Pizzas Are Here, and I Tried All Three

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 17:36:23 +0000

My roommates and I are food people to the utmost degree. And, when we’re all feeling comfy and cozy and ready for a chill movie night in, we set our gaze on one spot: Domino’s. I mean, come on. It’s one of our top pizza joints for a reason! It’s got that gooey, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle-lookin’ cheese with a delicious garlic crust that’s simply irresistible.

Now, for all you delivery pizza lovers out there, have you heard of the Domino’s Pizza secret menu? Something tells me you haven’t. It all started back in February when Domino’s introduced the any-topping pizza for $9.99 deal. I remember it well. That’s how I found out my perfect pizza is sausage, green pepper and pineapple. Highly recommend it. Anyway, I’m here to tell you this “Best Deal Ever” is back, and it’s got some truly unique pizza combos to go with it.

What is the Domino’s Pizza Secret Menu?

We’re used to fast-food restaurant secret menus, but from a pizza place? Yup, it’s real! And while most other secret menus are usually created by their dedicated clientele, this one’s just a bit different. To accompany the $9.99 any-topping pizza deal, Domino’s turned to its own chefs for their topping expertise.

Rachel’s Sweet Buffalo

This is for all you hot and sweet fans out there. Start with a New York Style crust, and add the classic Robust Inspired Tomato Sauce, bacon, pepperoni, pineapple and hot Buffalo sauce. Now, as a pineapple pizza fanatic, I might be a bit biased, but this pizza was absolutely calling my name.

First of all, the New York Style crust was a phenomenal choice. As a Chicago gal, choosing other famous state crusts feels somewhat treasonous. For this ‘za, though, it was the right choice. The thin crust made a great canvas that let the toppings shine. That being said, the pineapple and hot Buffalo sauce were the highlights here. They brought the most wondrous sweet heat, and I finished my slice before I even realized. Unfortunately, the pepperoni and bacon did take a backseat flavor-wise, but they still made a fantastic fusion overall. This was my favorite of the bunch.

Spencer’s Garlic Parm Bananza

We’re starting with Handmade Pan crust for this one. Next, add Garlic Parmesan Sauce, banana peppers, sausage and shredded Parmesan Asiago cheese. This one automatically wins points for me since it’s my favorite crust from Domino’s. Sadly, if you’re a fan of the Handmade Pan, you know it’s only available as a medium size—no large or XL available. That just means you’ll have more room for Loaded Tots!

Spencer’s is for the serious cheese lover. I enjoy my fair share, but I’ve never been a cheese-on-everything kinda girl. That being said, it was still incredibly tasty. The cheese was soft, the sausage provided good texture and the banana peppers rounded out the saltiness. And, of course, the crust was unmatched. For me personally, I would have liked at least twice as many banana peppers, or maybe even some hot Buffalo sauce drizzled on top for that extra kick. Either way, it’s still a stellar deal.

Hannah’s Alfredo Veggie Melt

Not into meat? No problem! Hannah’s got you covered. Start with the Crunchy Thin crust and add Alfredo sauce, green peppers, mushrooms, onions, spinach, feta and shredded Parmesan Asiago cheese.

I was a bit skeptical of this one even though I could absolutely house a supreme pizza any day of the week. Needless to say, I was thoroughly impressed. The thin crust created a flatbread feel, and it made it so easy to keep eating. And what it lacked in meat, it made up for in flavor.

The Alfredo created a cheesy base that balanced the variety of veggies. I’m not a huge fan of mushrooms and onions on my pizza, but they did nothing to detract from the taste. I noticed the spinach and feta over everything else, and those two were my favorite toppings by far. The myriad textures made each bite special. My only criticisms are that it was a bit too salty for my taste, and, of course, I wished for a little heat. Otherwise, this is a lovely veggie option.

How long is the Domino’s Pizza Secret Menu going to be around?

While the deal only lasts through the end of July, the secret menu won’t magically disappear if you find yourself eternally bonded to one of these three options. Since these are all regular menu toppings, you can make these whenever you please! Just be prepared to pay a little extra after the $9.99 deal flutters away. But then again, can you really put a price on happiness?

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I Tried the New McDonald’s Spicy McMuffin and, Yes, It’s Actually Spicy

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 19:18:09 +0000

I’m a certified McDonald’s pro at this point. Whether it’s testing Filet-O-Fish hacks or writing about new releases like the McCrispy Strips, I’ve been trailing the McDonald’s menu for a long while. But if you asked me what my all-time favorite item is from the Golden Arches, it, without hesitation, is the sacred egg McMuffin.

In my humble opinion, nothing makes food better than some spice. Enter: the brand new McDonald’s Spicy McMuffin. Yes, that’s right. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the greatest breakfast sandwich known to humankind, McDonald’s has blessed us with a spicy spin on the old classic. The best part? I got to taste it immediately. Here’s what I thought.

How does the new Spicy McMuffin taste?

Let’s start with what’s on the new McMuffin. It’s got all the regular components: melted cheese, Canadian Bacon and a fresh, 100% cage free egg cracked on a buttered English Muffin. Now take all that and add McDonald’s signature Spicy Pepper Sauce. The sandwich is also available as the Spicy Sausage McMuffin and Spicy Sausage McMuffin with egg.

You’re probably thinking, “Is it actually that spicy?” I tried the spicy McNuggets from Mickey D’s back in the day and found myself thoroughly unimpressed with the level of overall heat. However, the spice on the McMuffin is noticeable from the start. It’s got a kick that lingers after every bite. I opened the sandwich initially to inspect it, and the top half of the English muffin was indeed slathered with the Spicy Pepper Sauce. I was thrilled to see it.

The sandwich itself was as delicious as expected. The English muffin was soft, and the egg was fluffy. Mine came with sausage, and, truthfully, that was probably the right decision. I don’t normally order the Sausage McMuffin, but the meat was a fantastic match with the Spicy Pepper Sauce. The kick of heat was present, but not overwhelming. I think it’s actually the upgrade my McDonald’s breakfast has been missing this entire time. My spice-loving, McDonald’s-enamored heart is thriving right now. I have a mind to go grab another one as we speak.

How long will it be available?

The Spicy McMuffin is available right now and will be available at participating McDonald’s locations nationwide for a limited time. While we’re unsure of the actual time frame, this isn’t something you should be sleeping on.

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I Tried White Castle’s New Crispy Chicken Slider, and It Was Seriously Surprising

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 23:08:44 +0000

Some fast-food chains are more experimental than others, adding and subtracting new menu items constantly to try and keep their customers entertained—while others tend to stick to the tried-and-true classics. White Castle, one of the country’s oldest food chains, is in the latter camp; it isn’t known for changing things up on the menu. But in a surprise move, the chain has announced it’s adding its first new permanent menu addition in three years: the White Castle Crispy Chicken Slider.

What is White Castle’s New Crispy Chicken Slider?

The Crispy Chicken Slider is a sure sign that the fast-food fried chicken sandwich wars are far from over. Just this year, McDonald’s announced McCrispy Strips, Popeyes dropped a pickle-glazed chicken sandwich, and even Taco Bell brought back chicken nuggets for a bit.

White Castle’s new chicken sandwich is available in two forms. Its standard preparation consists of a crispy buttermilk breaded chicken patty covered in a tangy new honeycomb sauce between the chain’s signature soft bun for $2.39. For 20 cents more, you can go with a Crispy Chicken Slider Deluxe, which comes with the honeycomb sauce plus a slice of American cheese, lettuce and tomato on top.

Is White Castle’s Crispy Chicken Slider good?

As a chicken sandwich aficionado, I had to try White Castle’s version. My personal favorite fast-food offering belongs to Popeyes. Could these sliders even come close? I got myself to the nearest White Castle I could find and ordered the Crispy Chicken Combo, which comes with two of the Crispy Chicken Sliders, fries and a drink.

Admittedly, I’m not sure I ever tried White Castle’s original Chicken Slider. When I’ve been in the mood for chicken at White Castle in the past, I’ve gone with the chain’s perfectly satisfying Chicken Ring Slider. But even without its predecessor to compare it to, I have to say I was impressed by the new Crispy Chicken Slider.

Though I wanted to try the Crispy Chicken Slider Deluxe, the restaurant I’d traveled to somehow did not have any lettuce or tomatoes on hand. Instead, they served me the standard Crispy Chicken Slider with the honeycomb sauce and a slice of American cheese.

The slider was delicious and nostalgic—especially at its $2.59 price point for the Deluxe offering. The honeycomb sauce was the star of the slider, with its sweet tang pairing perfectly with the very crispy, quite thick chicken patty. The crispy patty also contrasted deliciously with the pillowy bun. The freshness and pop of lettuce and tomato would have benefited the slider even more, but I truly couldn’t find much to complain about.

As for how the White Castle Crispy Chicken Slider stacked up against other fast-food chicken sandwiches, I do think the slider is a very worthy competitor for the likes of Popeyes and Chick-fil-a. I’d definitely order it again—but I do wish the chain would do something about its fries, which unfortunately were a bit mushy with a strange aftertaste. But the new slider is a winner—maybe just pair it with onion rings or mozzarella sticks instead.

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This New Starbucks Frappuccino Will Only Be Available for 1 Week, and We Can’t Wait to Try It

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 17:49:04 +0000

I have always appreciated that Starbucks listens to and understands its customers. Like how we want cold foam on literally everything and that free refills are nice. Recently, we were given the opportunity to taste test the latest Strato Frappuccino line. These layered drinks combine the heft of a Frappuccino with the cloud-like topping of sweet cold foam. And, now, Starbucks is about to drop another specialty layered drink for us. PSA: It’s only available for one week, so there’s no time to waste!

What is the new Starbucks Frappuccino?

It’s called the Firework Frappuccino, and it’s possibly the most beautiful thing Starbucks has ever gifted us. This new Frappuccino combines some of Starbucks’ most delicious summery flavors into one firecracker of a beverage. It features the Summer-Berry Refresher blended with creamy coconut milk and poured over bright raspberry-flavored pearls. Then, as a final touch, a fluffy combo of strawberry puree and vanilla sweet cream cold foam floats on top.

If you’re a fan of the Iced Cherry Chai, or basically anything with sweet cream cold foam (like the Teddy Grahams Shaken Espresso), you’re bound to love this drink. I’m already a huge fan of the matcha latte with strawberry sweet cream cold foam, so I know I’ll be giving this a sip as soon as it hits the menu. My taste buds can’t wait any longer.

What week can I get the Firework Frappuccino?

The Firework Frappuccino will only be available from July 1 through July 7 while supplies last. We’re used to drinks being limited-edition, but this is ultra-limited-edition. And if you find you love the Firework Frap and miss it when it inevitably leaves the lineup, don’t worry. The Starbucks summer menu will be stickin’ around for a bit longer.

The post This New Starbucks Frappuccino Will Only Be Available for 1 Week, and We Can’t Wait to Try It appeared first on Taste of Home.

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Who Has the Best Stuffed Crust Pizza: Papa Johns vs. Pizza Hut vs. Domino’s

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 22:52:56 +0000

3. Papa Johns

Coming in at the bottom of our list for the best stuffed crust pizza is the Epic Stuffed Crust Pizza from Papa Johns. It’s important to note that oftentimes, each restaurant only offers the stuffed crust in a certain size pizza. For Papa Johns, that meant ordering a large. In addition to its Epic Stuffed Crust, it also offers a Garlic Epic Stuffed Crust option. That one is described as “even more flavor with our Special Garlic Sauce stuffed into and drizzled on the cheesy crust.”

The pizza sells for $21.99 with the original pizza dipping sauce cup costing an additional $0.75. Of course, Papa Johns always includes a cup of its Special Garlic Dipping Sauce with every pizza as well as a couple of pepperoncini peppers.

We found this pizza to be less flavorful than the other two we tried. The crust was soft and pillowy but also had a hint of sweetness that we didn’t find necessary. There was a lot of cheese in the crust, and it was perfectly melted, but the cheese lacked flavor. The garlic dipping sauce is always great for crust dipping, but the original pizza dipping sauce we ordered was thin and under-seasoned.

Bottom Line: We love the additional garlic dipping sauce that comes with an order from Papa Johns, but, overall, this stuffed crust pizza was not the most impressive on the list.

2. Pizza Hut

Next up: the Hut. We ordered a large original stuffed crust for $24.78 and a cup of marinara sauce for $0.89. This pizza was a bit greasier than the other two we tested. It also had the most substantial pepperoni toppings, so that could have contributed to the greasiness. The stuffed crust wasn’t as full as the other two pizzas on our ranked list. The crust almost felt a bit deflated in comparison. That being said, even though it wasn’t as stuffed, the cheese was quite flavorful, and the pizza overall was more delicious than Papa Johns.

The dipping sauce was a bit thinner than we would have liked, but it was well-seasoned.

Bottom Line: Pizza Hut’s stuffed crust pizza was middle of the road in terms of taste and value.

1. Domino’s

The leader in our quest for the best stuffed crust pizza came from Domino’s. The Parmesan Stuffed Crust Pizza is only available in medium for $20.24. It has a cheese stuffed crust and a garlic and Parmesan seasoning sprinkled over the crust for added texture and flavor. The marinara dipping sauce we ordered was an additional $1.39.

This pizza was tops in all categories. The pie itself was the most delicious, making us excited to nibble all the way to the crust and keep the party going. The dough was flavorful and perfectly cooked. The cheesy stuffing was prevalent through every bite and was significant enough to make us feel like we got a bonus cheesy bread side dish with our meal. Finally, the marinara dipping sauce was head and shoulders above the others. It was rich and thick, making it adhere nicely to the crust on each dip. Also, the sauce was well-seasoned with notes of oregano standing out on our palate.

Bottom Line: Domino’s also ranked near the top of our list of the best pizza chains so it’s no surprise that it has the best stuffed crust. It’s safe to say the chain knows what it’s doing in terms of crafting ‘zas.

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The Lil McDonald’s Happy Meal Has to Be the Cutest Collection Since Teenie Beanies

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 16:52:22 +0000

McDonald’s Happy Meals give us that glimmer of childhood we so often crave. Remember begging your parents to stop at Mickey D’s for those addicting fries and a new Teenie Beanie toy? I do. My sister and I collected like fiends. Not only that, but I also collected the old Disney toys (like Tarzan), Disney glass cups and, of course, the tiny McFurbys to match my real one. It was such a special time to be alive.

Now, the chain is switching things up with the brand-new Lil McDonald’s Happy Meal, a nostalgic throwback to a time that once was. While we’ve grown up a bit since then, that doesn’t mean we have to throw the towel in on fun. Even better, we get to share it with a darling new generation.

What is the Lil McDonald’s Happy Meal collection?

Imagine your local McDonald’s, and shrink it to fit in the palm of your hand. That’s the Lil McDonald’s Happy Meal collection. Miniature versions of brand name products have been a trend on social media for some time now, so it’s no surprise that McDonald’s is cashing in on the popularity. But let’s not pretend the tiny Boo Buckets, drive-thrus and Happy Meals aren’t the gosh darn cutest things you’ve ever seen.

With the new Happy Meal, you get the chance of finding one of 21 mini toys—all pieces that resemble McDonald’s food or restaurant locations. Some toys include the signature Golden Arches, the trash cans, individual Happy Meals and even a branded McDonald’s truck. Gather them all, and you can have a dazzling time playing restaurant with your kids, nieces and nephews. Or yourself. We don’t judge here.

Much like the Minecraft Happy Meal, the toys are nearly impossible to resist and call back to a time of childhood peace and excitement. There’s nothing quite like popping open those tiny golden cardboard arches to see what’s inside that McDonald’s plastic bag. It’s always about the thrill of the hunt!

When is the Lil McDonald’s Happy Meal collection available?

You can order your own Lil McDonald’s Happy Meal starting July 1, 2025 at participating McDonald’s locations nationwide, and we recommend getting a head start. If you know anything about the market for old McDonald’s toys, you know they can go for a lot of money. These little guys are so adorable that I can see them becoming a huge hit for the nostalgic McDonald’s community. They’re the perfect segue into the reintroduction of the Snack Wrap to the McDonald’s menu. This summer really is one for the fast-food books.

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I Went to 7 Drive-Thrus to Find the Best Spicy Chicken Sandwich

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 15:34:45 +0000

7. Wendy’s

Anyone who grew up in the ’80s might remember the iconic Wendy’s tagline, “Where’s the beef?” Upon opening our order for the Wendy’s classic spicy chicken sandwich, our first thought was “Where’s the chicken?” The sandwich was covered with such a huge piece of lettuce that it obscured all the other ingredients. We lifted the bun and found the chicken patty, slice of tomato and a dab of mayonnaise.

We wouldn’t call this one a spicy chicken sandwich; it’s more of a “seasoned” chicken sandwich. It sells for $6.29, which is pricier than others we sampled.

It’s worth noting that there’s a brand-new limited-time chicken sandwich that Wendy’s just added to its lineup. The Cajun Crunch is made with spicy chicken, Cajun crispy onions and spicy mustard. This may have been added to the menu for those looking for a sandwich with more heat.

Heat Level: Just slightly above a zero.

Bottom Line: If you’re afraid of too much heat but want to dip your toes into the world of spicy chicken, Wendy’s mild sandwich fits the bill.

6. McDonald’s

The Spicy McCrispy from McDonald’s is the chain’s contribution to the spicy chicken sandwich game. It’s described as a southern-style fried chicken on a toasted potato roll with spicy pepper sauce. While this does sound mouth-watering, we found this sandwich to be lackluster in reality. The bun was flimsy and the sauce on the chicken patty wasn’t substantial enough to give the sandwich any real kick.

Sliced pickles offered a briny contrast to the spice, but were almost too vinegary. At $4.99, this was one of the less expensive sandwiches. The Deluxe Spicy McCrispy sells for $5.99 and comes with the addition of lettuce and tomato.

Heat Level: Two.

Bottom Line: The price point is easy to swallow and the spice level is moderate, making this sandwich a good deal for spicy chicken neophytes.

5. Burger King

Burger King’s contribution to the spicy chicken game is its Fiery Royal Crispy sandwich for $6.09. It’s part of the chain’s new Fiery lineup, which also includes Fiery Nuggets, Spicy Chicken Fries and the Ghost Pepper Whopper sandwich. We were impressed with the chicken patty at first glance, as it seemed more robust than other chicken sandwiches we had previously tried from Burger King. However, the spice level just wasn’t there for us. We were looking forward to the fiery glaze on the chicken, but there wasn’t much burn.

Heat Level: One.

Bottom Line: While we did appreciate the plump and juicy chicken patty, overall, this sandwich flamed out for us.

4. KFC

The spicy chicken sandwich at KFC is massive and sells for a bargain at $5.19. The oversized bun and huge piece of crispy, breaded chicken made this sandwich a feast for the eyes even before the first bite. After taking a peek underneath the bun, we were also impressed by the generous amount of pickle slices as well as the slather of spicy mayo sauce.

Since KFC didn’t skimp on the sauce, the spice level also came to play. We were excited to finally taste some real heat. One thing we didn’t love was how big the sandwich was. All the breading almost made it hard to bite into. Also, the chicken underneath all that crispy coating was dry and rubbery.

Heat Level: Five.

Bottom Line: If you want the biggest sandwich possible with a significant amount of heat, KFC is the way to go. However, it wasn’t tops in terms of the quality of the chicken itself.

3. Chick-fil-A

The spicy chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A was a complete 180 from what we experienced at KFC. This was a more modest-sized sandwich without a lot of bells and whistles, selling for $5.99. The bun was average, the sandwich had no additional sauce and there were a few pickles present. However, as we’ve come to expect from Chick-fil-A, the quality of the chicken was top-notch. The patty was tender and juicy with a moderate amount of spice. Next time, we’ll order the spicy chicken sandwich but also use our favorite Chick-fil-A hack for a hot honey twist to kick it up a notch.

Heat Level: Four.

Bottom Line: If you want the highest-quality chicken possible, Chick-fil-A is the way to go.

2. Arby’s

Arby’s contribution to the spicy chicken game comes in the form of a Buffalo-style sandwich. The first thing we noticed when we opened the Arby’s Buffalo Crispy Chicken Sandwich, was the fact that it was coated in a generous amount of sauce. A crispy chicken breast was dipped in spicy Buffalo sauce and then served on a toasted brioche bun with shredded lettuce and Parmesan peppercorn ranch sauce.

The chicken was dipped in the sauce—no skimpy smear or drizzle like some of the others we tried. This was lick-your-fingers messy in the best way possible. Plus, this sauce brought the heat we had been hoping for all along. It was the kind of heat that burned, but not enough to make you want to stop eating. The fire was balanced with the cooling ranch dressing.

Heat Level: Eight.

Bottom Line: Since we so often associate Arby’s with roast beef, this chicken sandwich was a huge surprise and a big hit in our taste test.

1. Popeye’s

Popeye’s has mastered the art of fried chicken, and those skills are apparent in the chain’s chicken sandwich game. The spicy battered chicken breast struck the perfect balance between moist chicken and crispy coating. It was big and impressive without being overwhelming. Plus, the addition of a generous slathering of spicy mayonnaise and the tangy homestyle pickles brought everything in this sandwich into harmony. The sweet brioche bun tied it all together.

We liked that this sandwich had nuanced spicy flavor, rather than pure heat. A little more sauce would bring even more heat. For those who aren’t afraid to push the envelope even further, Popeye’s has added a Ghost Pepper sandwich to the lineup as well.

Heat Level: Three or four.
Bottom Line: Even though the heat level wasn’t too high, this was undoubtedly the best spicy chicken sandwich we tested in terms of heat, chicken quality, toppings and bun.

The post I Went to 7 Drive-Thrus to Find the Best Spicy Chicken Sandwich appeared first on Taste of Home.

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Dunkin’ Summer Munchkins Buckets Are Here, and You Can Take Them to the Beach

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 22:56:59 +0000

Going to the beach with my dad remains my most prized childhood memory. On days we didn’t have softball, he’d gather the goods (towels, beach bag, sunscreen and the radio), load ’em into the car and excitedly tell me to change into my swimsuit. We’d jam to John Fogerty and Queen on the drive and hurriedly rush to an unclaimed piece of sand so I could begin my favorite task—making sandcastles.

If only I’d had the new Dunkin’ Summer Munchkins Buckets back then, I would have been living the good life! That’s right, Dunkin’ is making this summer all about Munchkins, sand and fun in the sun.

What’s special about the Dunkin’ Summer Munchkins Buckets?

For starters, the new summertime version comes with a small shovel. No…not for the Munchkins, but for the sand! If you keep up with the Dunkin’ news, you know that Munchkins Buckets have been around for a while. Last year, we reported on the chain’s adorable Munchkins Bucket comeback for Halloween. They sold like crazy. Since then, Dunkin’ fans have been on the lookout for the latest collectible drop. This summer, they’re getting one fit for a king. A sand king, that is.

Dunkin’s Summer Munchkins Buckets are, to say the least, absolutely adorable. While we love collecting as a hobby, it’s nice when the objects we collect are also practical. For those with little ones (and those who are still young at heart), these Munchkins Buckets will bring you back to the good ole times.

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That’s right, they double as a sandcastle bucket! I was absolutely obsessed with making sandcastles when I was a kid, so my dad was always collecting new buckets for me to use on our next beach trip. We used all shapes and sizes, sometimes when it wasn’t even meant to be a bucket. If he was able to snatch this Munchkins Bucket so we could snack on little doughnuts while building tiny castles at the same time, he would have been thrilled.

When do the Dunkin’ Summer Munchkins Buckets drop?

According to @markie_devo, some locations have already been spotted selling the Munchkins Buckets for summer. Taste of Home‘s Senior Social Media Manager, Tommy Byrne, spotted the buckets at his local Dunkin’ in New Jersey. While we don’t have an official drop date, it’s likely we’ll see the rest of them roll out to participating Dunkin’ locations across the country in the next week or so. Make sure to ask your local Dunkin’ the next time you visit. Which, if you’re like me, will probably be tomorrow morning. I just cannot get enough of that pistachio latte.

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I Tried Chipotle’s New Adobo Ranch—Here’s What I Thought

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 22:53:12 +0000

I like to consider myself something of a dip expert. Spinach artichoke, seven-layer taco, Buffalo chicken—I love any and all dips that pair with tortilla chips. So the news that Chipotle just dropped its first new dipping sauce in five years had me firing up the chain’s app almost immediately to see exactly when I could get my hands on it.

As of June 17, the Mexican fast-casual chain is offering a new Chipotle Adobo Ranch sauce. Here’s what I thought of the dip as I sampled it with three of Chipotle’s most popular items: a burrito bowl, a quesadilla and its iconic tortilla chips.

What does Chipotle’s Adobo Ranch taste like?

The chain describes the dip as “a smoky, spicy twist on America’s beloved dipping sauce” and its publicly disclosed list of ingredients includes adobo pepper, sour cream and “a unique blend of herbs and spices.”

For my first taste of the sauce, I tried it all on its own and was surprised by its thickness—much thicker than a typical ranch dressing. All on its own, the sour cream comes front and center. I likened it more to an aioli than to a spicy ranch dressing. I did find the flavor to be intriguingly zesty and easily addictive even if I wasn’t fully convinced.

In a news release, Chipotle’s VP of Culinary Nevielle Panthaky suggested dipping the chain’s quesadilla into the new adobo ranch, so I did exactly that. I must admit I could not stop eating my chicken quesadilla half with the new sauce. Its smoky, tangy flavor paired perfectly with the quesadilla’s texture and kept it from feeling too dry.

What was really the move, though, was dipping a chip into Chipotle’s Adobo Ranch sauce before dipping that same chip into my carnitas burrito bowl. The sauce pumped up the volume of the burrito bowl’s contents without overpowering any of the flavors or textures therein. I was genuinely impressed because it is no small feat to stand up to the bowl’s other ingredients.

When it comes to the question of whether I’ll order the adobo ranch again, however, I have to admit I’m not entirely sure. Unfortunately, the chain’s two other star dipping sauces—guacamole and Queso Blanco—are both exceptional, so I’m just not convinced that the Chipotle Adobo Ranch has surpassed these rivals in their quest for a coveted spot in my go-to Chipotle order.

How long will the Chipotle Adobo Ranch be on the menu?

As is the case with any food chain’s newly launched product, it’s unclear how long Chipotle’s Adobo Ranch will be around for. If you want to get a taste of it, I suggest you do so soon.

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Restaurant News—Fast Food & Dining | Taste of Home

I Tried the New McDonald’s Gold Sauce and It Tastes Like Sweet, Smoky Heaven

What is the new McDonald’s Gold sauce?

What does McDonald’s Gold sauce taste like?

How long will the new McDonald’s Gold sauce be available?

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When will McDonald’s menu prices be changed?

How long will the McDonald’s menu prices stay at this price point?

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