2025 Fast Food Holiday Deals and Menu Items
The holiday season is upon us, and fast-food chains are getting into the spirit with new menu items, merchandise and deals that capture the flavors and fun of this festive time of year. Here’s a list of what’s already available:
Global Food Chains Want a Piece of the American Market
While U.S. restaurants battle rising costs and cautious consumers, international chains are rushing in the opposite direction. They're coming to America at roughly double the pace of a decade ago.
Chick-fil-A Debuts Daybright Coffee Concept in Georgia
Chick-fil-A opened Daybright Coffee & Refreshment, a standalone café concept in Hiram, Georgia, marking its latest venture beyond chicken sandwiches. The new location opened Thursday, Oct. 30, serving "handcrafted coffee beverages, smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and food made with simple ingredients," according to a company spokesperson. Unlike its parent restaurant, Daybright won't feature any Chick-fil-A menu items.
Taco Bell's Live Más Café Expands to Texas
Taco Bell is bringing its Live Más Café concept to Texas. To continue its push to transform itself into a beverage powerhouse, the fast food giant will open a Dallas location on November 6 and a Houston spot on November 20. Earlier this year, Taco Bell announced it’s targeting 30 new cafés by the end of 2025, with plans to expand the concept nationwide eventually.
Starbucks to Give 1,000 Cafes a Major Makeover by End of 2026
Starbucks brings back the cozy coffeehouse vibe that made it famous. The coffee giant plans to refresh 1,000 U.S. locations by the end of 2026, investing roughly $150,000 per store to create warmer, more welcoming spaces that invite customers to stay longer. The makeovers represent a dramatic shift from recent years, when Starbucks prioritized digital ordering over the in-store experience.
Pumpkin Spice Returns While Chains Test Creative New Flavors
Summer's getting to its end, and the pumpkin spice season has already begun at quick-service restaurants. Several major chains launched their fall flavors early this year, giving fans their seasonal favorites ahead of the traditional autumn rollout.
How QSR Beverage Innovation is Changing the Restaurant Industry
The simple drink menu has become America's quick-service restaurants' most powerful tool. From Taco Bell's Churros Chillers to McDonald's colorful refreshers, chains are investing heavily in beverages to increase profits and draw younger customers. Leading this beverage change are refreshers - light, fruity drinks that pack caffeine without coffee's boldness. These drinks typically use green tea or lemonade bases and appeal to health-conscious consumers wanting energy boosts with lower sugar content than traditional sodas.
Dutch Bros Aims to Double Store Count by 2029, Expands to Retail
Dutch Bros Coffee recently opened its 1,000th store in February. Now, the coffee chain aims to double to 2,029 shops by 2029. Looking ahead, the company sees room for more than 7,000 stores across the country, a big jump from its earlier goal of 4,000 shops.
Dutch Bros Eyes Major 2025 Expansion Following Mobile Order Success
Dutch Bros just opened its 1,000th store in Orlando, Florida this February after adding 151 new shops in 2024. The company plans to open at least 160 more locations in 2025, growing by 16%. This expansion comes as the drive-thru coffee chain reports strong financial results.
Dunkin's New Celebrity Drink with Sabrina Carpenter Goes Viral
Dunkin' is starting 2024 by partnering with pop star Sabrina Carpenter for a new drink that's already getting attention on social media. The coffee chain introduced "Sabrina's Brown Sugar Shakin' Espresso" on New Year's Eve, featuring espresso shaken with oat milk and brown sugar flavor.
