Value, Convenience Drive Restaurant Choice as Consumers Pull Back on Spending

Restaurant operators may be seeing modest improvement in consumer spending, but diners remain highly price-conscious and increasingly selective about where and how they spend. A new report from Popmenu found U.S. consumers are spending an average of $100 per week on restaurants, up from earlier in 2026 but still $15 below June 2025 levels.

The report underscores a key challenge for operators: consumers still want to dine out, but they are actively looking for ways to spend less. According to Popmenu...

Friendly’s Introduces the Conehead Crew, Turning Kids Meals Into a Collectible Adventure

Friendly’s is giving kids something parents and grown-ups will wish they’d had at that age. Rolling out systemwide on Sept. 16, the new kids’ experience pairs a redesigned menu with sealed packs of collectible trading cards, engaging activity sheets, and five familiar ice cream sundae characters with newfound personalities and a built-in fan base. Say hello to the Conehead Crew!

The Crew guides the program and pops up everywhere from the menu cover to the standees by the front door:

• Conehead, the friendly...

Chi-Chi's Revives Fan Favorites, Introduces Lunch Menu as Brand Comeback Gains Momentum

Chi-Chi's, the beloved Mexican restaurant brand that made its highly anticipated return last year, is continuing its comeback with the launch of a new lunch menu and the return of three of its most-requested legacy items: the Twice Grilled BBQ Burrito, Seafood Nachos, and Margarita Chicken Tacos using its beloved margarita marinade.

The additions come as the brand looks to continue reintroducing itself to longtime fans and a new generation of diners. Since reopening in Minneapolis last fall, Chi-Chi's has...

Denny’s Launches Summer Menu, Adds New Value Items Under $10

Denny’s is rolling out a new summer menu designed to blur traditional daypart boundaries, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner items all available any time of day across its US restaurants beginning June 24.

Dubbed The Clock’s Off Menu, the lineup is built around an all-day dining strategy that leans into changing consumer habits and the idea that demand is no longer tied to conventional meal times.

The expanded menu includes core Denny’s staples such as Moons Over My Hammy, Country Fried Steak & Eggs, Sirloin Steak, and...

Gen Z and Millennials Reshape British Dining with a Health-First Mindset

Gen Z and Millennials are driving a health-first shift in British dining, with 45% following specific diets and reshaping how foodservice menus are developed. According to Circana, nearly one in four (23%) British consumers seeking higher-protein, lower-calorie meals will switch dining venues to match their preferences. Demand for energy, immunity, and weight management products is also among the fastest-growing segments.

While GLP-1 adoption remains limited in Britain due to regulations, Circana reports growing momentum. Awareness...

Hardee's® Introduces Prime Rib Platform Designed to Fuel Hardworking Appetites

Hardee's is doubling down on its commitment to keeping hardworking people full and satisfied with new items on the menu. Following the success of its Second Breakfast Insurance campaign, the brand is introducing The Prime Experience alongside a lineup of new beverages and sweet treats.

Starting April 15, Hardee's will introduce The Prime Experience, a limited-time lineup that brings prime rib to the menu across breakfast, lunch and dinner. The lineup features indulgent, satisfying options that highlight the brand's made-from-scratch quality while giving guests...