Last updated 2/4
- 2010 NEW ON THE MENU: This is a running list of new menu items found at fast-food chains and popular O.C. restaurants. I will also use this space to point out new meal deals I discover because I know you LOVE value deals. I archive pages (see list below) due to constant menu changeover.
- 2009 New on the Menu archive
- New on the Menu (January-July 2009 Archive)
- 2008 New on the Menu list
- Starting today (2/4/), all Beach Pit BBQ locations have added smoked vegetables to their menu. Also, the chain is now offering a la carte for all items on the menu due to customer demand.
- Jack in the Box debuts Thursday (Feb. 4) two grilled, panini-style sandwiches. Get full details here.
- For a limited-time only in February, Sonic restaurants will give you a free medium order of onion rings when you buy the chain’s new Steak Melt Toaster (made with sirloin steak). Locally, Sonic operates carhops in Mission Viejo and Anaheim.
- Pei Wei restaurants added Caramel Chicken entree to its menu, a sweet & spicy Vietnamese-inspired wok-prepared dish. Cost: $7.75-$9. Customers can sub chicken for beef, shrimp, vegetables or tofu.
- Irvine-based Taco Bell is introduce a cheap $5 meal dubbed the “Five Buck Box.” The box comes in two combinations. Volcano Box: includes the volcano taco, volcano double beef burrito, crunchy taco, cinnamon twists and a medium drink. The Cheesy Gordita Crunch Box features the cheesy gordita crunch, burrito Supreme, crunchy taco, cinnamon twists and a medium drink.
- Carl’s Jr. added a Grilled Sourdough Sandwich to its menu in late January: Get details here.
- Baja Fresh is promoting on its Facebook page four new “primo” tacos: Spicy Marinated Fire-Grilled Steak, Blackened Mahi Mahi, Blackened Shrimp and Langostino Lobster. No word on price. Stay tuned.
- Jamba Juice is now offering $1 oatmeal on Wednesday. It’s also added a new flavor to the morning hot meal: Berry Cherry Pecan.
- T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants said Monday (1/11) that it is bringing back its “3 for $12.99″ dinner menu. The value deal allows diners to combine three items (an appetizer, main entree and dessert) for $12.99. The restaurant claims more than 300 food combinations are possible. Six new dishes have been added to the menu, and are included in the meal deal: three types of Wedge Salads (Italian, Southwest and Classic), Sizzling Parmesan-Crusted Chicken, Sizzling Chicken Mexicali and a Southwest Southwest Chicken Quesadilla. The dinner for two $20 deal is also a great option. You get a shrimp cocktail, two entree choices, and dessert. (Menu details)
- Wienerschnitzel is offering the following three items for $3.99: chili cheeseburger, chili cheese fries and a chili cheese dog. Deal good through Jan. 30.
- Also, a Laguna Hills operator tells us that turkey dogs are coming back. A company rep confirms that the dogs return Feb. 1. They will sell for 99 cents.
- Hooters has added a weekly cheap eats deal dubbed “More than a Mouthful Mondays.” For $5.99, the restaurants will offer a 1/2 pound cheeseburger with fries all day, every Monday. (By the way, on Wednesdays, Hooters sells a $5.99 boneless wing platter.)
- Denny’s is testing a Value Menu in Southern California, as well as other regions in the country. Prices range from $2 to $8 for items such as a value slam and a BBQ sandwich.
- Ruby’s Diner has added four new eggs Benedict dishes to its breakfast menu. Get details and 2-for1 coupon here.
- For a limited time only, KFC is selling fiery grilled wings.
- Applebee’s introduced five new dishes under 550 calories: Asian Crunch Salad for $7.99; Grilled Dijon Chicken for $9.99; Spicy Shrimp Diavolo for $9.99; Grilled Shrimp & Island Rice for $ 10.99; Asiago Peppercorn Steak for $12.99
- Del Taco’s Facebook page (yes, DT is finally doing social media!) announced that due to popular demand Shredded Beef is now a permanent part of the menu.
- El Pollo Loco is starting off the New Year with a major menu addition: The Costa Mesa-chain has added sirloin steak to its menu. To get the full scoop, and see pics of the new steak meals, read this blog post: El Pollo Loco chickens out, adds steak.
- Taco Bell rebrands its Fresco menu, and tweaks nutritional value of some food items. Read more: Drive-Thru Diet campaign.
- Chick-fil-A adds a yogurt parfait to its breakfast menu as of Jan. 4. Cost: $2.25. The chain also upgraded its coffee.
- McDonald’s new $1 breakfast menu should be in full swing by Jan. 1. Read details here.
Have a tip on a new product or deal? Send me an email at nluna@ocregister.com
2010 menu changes:
