Dubai chocolate makes a comeback at IHOP in two menu items. | Photos courtesy of the brands.
TikTok feeds were flooded with Dubai chocolate bars last year, inspiring chains to develop menu items based on the ingredients. The trend continues, with several returning favorites and new additions launching this summer. We’re also seeing iterations of dot cakes and plenty of dirty sodas, both getting their start on social media. In other menu news, red-white-and-blue food and drinks are ready for July 4th celebrations and summer favorites continue to roll out.
The social scene
The Dot Cake Inspired Sundae has arrived at Baskin-Robbins, a riff on the viral dot cake that’s trending on social media. The original frosted sponge cake features a layer of colorful, crunchy nonpareil candy sprinkles coating the top, and the sundae captures that experience. It includes a confetti cake as a base, topped with any Baskin-Robbins ice cream flavor, then covered with smooth icing and a layer of rainbow sprinkles in the classic round nonpareil shape.
Baskin-Robbins’ taps the viral Dot Cake for its new sundae.
IHOP is doubling down on the Dubai chocolate trend, bringing back its viral Dubai Chocolate Pancakes and adding a Dubai Chocolate Shake to the mix. The pancakes debuted at just three restaurants last year, but now they’re rolling out nationally to participating locations for a limited time. The LTO is composed of two buttermilk chocolate chip pancakes with hazelnut and cocoa spread, pistachio-flavored mousse, roasted kataifi, and crushed pistachios, garnished with whipped topping. The Dubai Chocolate Shake is a blend of vanilla ice cream and chocolate and pistachio syrups with whipped topping and chopped pistachios.
There’s also a new Dubai Chocolate Brownie Sundae at Ruby Tuesday, along with an extensive menu refresh at the casual-dining chain. Starting with dessert first, the sundae layers warm chocolate brownies with pistachios, kataifi, vanilla bean ice cream, and chocolate sauce. Also on the dessert end is a Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet. The remaining 13 menu intros include three bowls: Hawaiian Ahi Tuna Bowl, Garlic Steak Bowl, and Hot Honey Chicken Bowl. Other entrées include a Big Chicken and Ribs Feast, Big Shrimpin’ Platter, Big Steakhouse Kabobs, a Big Smokehouse BBQ Chicken Sandwich, and Big Country Fried Chicken, all with an emphasis on protein, with each dish clocking in at either a half pound or pound of chicken, steak, or seafood. Ahi Tuna Nachos, a Jalapeño Smashed Burger, and Buffalo Chicken Dip complete the mega-launch.
New versions of dirty sodas continue to roll out, with Long John Silver’s jumping on the trend with a line of Summer Cream Sodas. Guests can add a shot of coconut cream to any fountain drink.
Three dirty sodas debuted at Freddy’s.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers gets a little more elaborate with five summer drinks, all with Starry lemon-lime soda as a base. There’s the Golden Hour Orange Custard Cream Soda with candied orange, Peach Peach Baby Custard Cream Soda blended with peach, Coco Loco Custard Cream Soda blended with coconut, Blue Rizzberry Custard Cream Soda blended with blue raspberry syrup, and Mango Magic Custard Cream Soda blended with mango. All are topped with Freddy’s custard cream.
Not technically a dirty soda but a proprietary soft drink mashup launched at Noodles & Company in partnership with Coke. The Fanta Vanilla Cherry Spritz combines Fanta Cherry, Sprite Vanilla, and Minute Maid Cherry Limeade dispensed from the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine.
Celebrating America’s birthday
Red, white, and blue is the color combo of the week as chains get into the July 4th spirit — amplified this year by America’s 250th birthday. Krispy Kreme is all in with a collection led off by the USA Doughnut, an unglazed shell doughnut with cookies & cream filling dipped in red icing with red, white, and blue stars and a USA sugar piece. Also in the collection is the Firework Doughnut, a glazed doughnut dipped in vanilla icing with gold glitter and a firecracker sugar piece; the Freedom Ring Doughnut dipped in white icing with blue sprinkles and white stars piped with red icing stripes; and the Chocolate Iced doughnut with red, white, and blue sprinkles.
Krispy Kreme’s star-spangled doughnuts.
Del Taco is commemorating July 4th with a red, white, and blue beverage lineup. The Independence Poppers Vanilla Shake is a vanilla shake blended with strawberry popping boba pearls and blue raspberry syrup. The same boba and syrup go into Independence Poppers with Sprite and Independence Poppers with Minute Maid Zero Sugar Lemonade. On the food side, slow-cooked pork carnitas come to the menu in eight variations: the Carnitas Big Fat Taco, Carnitas Quesadilla, Carnitas Loaded Nachos, Carnitas Breakfast Big Fat Taco, Carnitas Breakfast Burrito, Carnitas Street Taco, Carnitas Combo Burrito, and Carnitas Loaded Fries.
The signature Pizookie takes on holiday colors at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse. The Stars & Stripes Pizookie is an oversized chocolate chunk cookie topped with vanilla bean ice cream, strawberries, strawberry purée, and red, white, and blue sprinkles. To sip, there’s the Firework Fizz, a mix of blue raspberry syrup with Starry soda topped with whipped cream and strawberry popping boba. BJ’s also introduced fried chicken sandwiches to the permanent menu in three versions: BJ’s Original Crispy Chicken Sandwich with honey mustard, BJ’s Classic Crispy Chicken Sandwich with a choice of sauces, and the Korean Sweet & Spicy Chicken Sandwich with a sweet and spicy Asian glaze, pickled vegetables, sesame seeds, and Sriracha aïoli.
The Stars & Stripes Misty Slush Float is Dairy Queen’s contribution to July 4th festivities. It’s layered with cherry Misty Slush, soft serve, and blue raspberry Misty Slush, topped with star sprinkles. Running past the holiday weekend are a Strawberry Mango-flavored Blizzard Treat with mango-flavored mochi pieces and strawberry topping, a Biscoff Cookie Blizzard Treat, and a Mexican-style Hot Chocolate made with Abuelita Blizzard Treat, Abuelita being a hot chocolate mix.
Summer odds and ends
Lobster rolls in two styles are back at Burton’s Grill & Bar for July and August. The Maine-style roll, served chilled, features five ounces of lobster meat with house-made aïoli, while the Connecticut-style roll includes the same amount of lobster served warm with butter. Both come tucked inside a brioche bun and are served with fries.
Summer’s Maine-style lobster roll at Burton’s.
Chatacoffee and Chatacoffee Cream pair iced coffee with horchata flavor in two summer drinks at El Pollo Loco. The latter is topped with sweet cold foam, as is Iced Coffee Cream, also new on the menu. Previously in test but now available at all locations are a Queso Loaded Quesadilla, Street Corn Loaded Quesadilla, and BBQ Black Beans.
And Little Caesars introduced the Webberoni Pizza, developed in conjunction with the summer release of “Spider-Man: A Brand New Day.” The pizza is topped with a two-cheese blend and shredded pepperoni instead of the traditional slices.
Check out additional menu launches on this week’s Menu Tracker.
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