Del Taco Vs. Taco Bell: The Week's Top Fast Food News

Super Bowl LVIII kicked off quite a week for Dunkin', as it led to the reveal of the new Ben Affleck–helmed DunKings Menu and a merch collection to match. But Dunkin' was hardly alone in having a big week. Read on to learn about Taco Bell's big plans for 2024, Starbucks' new café designs, and more.

Historically, McDonald's has maintained such a loyal customer base that price hikes have done little to deter people from ordering their Big Mac Meal. However, the brand's leadership noted in the most recent earnings call that lower-income McDonald's customers might finally have reached their limit. – Angela L. Pagán Read More

Around September each year, Apple gears up to announce its latest version of the iPhone and any other tech innovations it might be releasing soon. In 2024, it seems food brands have begun adopting this same approach, perhaps to create as much hype as possible around the menu as a whole, rather than focusing on one limited menu item at a time. Last year White Castle laid out its entire 2023 promotion schedule in one fell swoop, and now Taco Bell has taken the strategy to a whole new level by announcing every single new item that will hit the menu throughout all of 2024. – Angela L. Pagán Read More

After Taco Bell dropped its entire 2024 menu plan like it was a new iPhone release, you'd think the chain wouldn't be too worried about being upstaged by its competition. But according to a new report from Restaurant Dive, there's an underdog in the fast food taco space ready to challenge Taco Bell's nationwide footprint: Del Taco has announced major expansion plans and has its sights set on supremacy. – Angela L. Pagán Read More

Maybe you're like me and you get a severe migraine every time you see a famous actor attached to an ad campaign. Still, there is something undeniably charming, and dare I say natural, about Ben Affleck endorsing Dunkin'. Every time I think "Wow, what a cash grab," I remember the many 2016 photos of Ben Affleck smoking a cigarette, looking forlorn. In some of those photos, he's got an iced coffee from Dunkin'. As much as I want to hate it, the partnership just makes sense. He is this East Coast coffee chain's soulmate. – Danny Palumbo Read More

Shake Shack is a New York City–founded chain that has built a national following thanks to its fatty angus beef from Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors, its pillowy Martin's potato buns, and its consistently fresh vegetables. The restaurant also uses cast iron skillets to smash its burgers, and that dedication to quality ingredients and techniques informs every item on the restaurant's beloved menu. But can Shake Shack stick the landing when it comes to a serving up a non-dairy version of its famous chocolate shake? It's a tricky treat to get right. – Danny Palumbo Read More

Starbucks announced today that all newly built and freshly renovated locations will feature a new design and some major upgrades, and your local shop could be the latest one to feature them. From digital order trackers to redesigned countertops, the stated aim of this Starbucks revamp is to "support access and inclusion for the partners, customers and communities it serves." – Angela L. Pagán Read More

Although The Takeout often writes about fun fast food promotions like purple Grimace shakes or footlong cookies, we also know that some aspects of the industry remain extremely problematic. In addition to various fast food franchises blatantly violating child labor laws in recent years, an investigation from The Associated Press has revealed some brands might also be unknowingly exploiting prison labor as well. – Angela L. Pagán Read More

When you imagine wandering through the mall, your mind might reflexively call up the sweet, warm scent of Cinnabon wafting through the air. The Cinnabon stand is a food court fixture, but in recent years, the chain has made its way well beyond the confines of the shopping mall. In fact, the nearest Cinnabon product is probably a lot closer to you than you think. – Dennis Lee Read More