New ingredients freshen menus at El Pollo Loco, Cracker Barrel and Mendocino Farms

Although pumpkin is starting to make its annual August appearance, most menus continue to highlight other ingredients. Flavor excitement is building in several categories, including burgers, sandwiches, salads and desserts. Here’s a look at what’s trending on menus now.

The Kreator Chopped Salad is El Pollo Loco’s newest item, the result of a partnership between the chain and TikTok content creator Yuri Lamasbella. The salad features a blend of crisp lettuce and super greens topped with citrus-marinated fire-grilled chopped chicken, Baja shrimp, avocados, queso fresco, tortilla strips, pepitas and salsa fresca. It’s available on digital orders only. El Pollo Loco named Lamasbella as its first “kreative director” for its double chopped salads campaign.

Cracker Barrel released four apple-centric items to quiet the August hoopla around pumpkin spice, said the brand. On the food side, there’s a Signature Fried Apple French Toast Bake topped with cheesecake filling, fried apples and brown sugar streusel, and a Southern Apple Cobbler with warm cinnamon apples topped with a flaky, buttery crust, vanilla ice cream and caramel. On the beverage side, guests can sip a Granny Smith Apple Mimosa and Granny Smith Apple Tea. And Hashbrown Casserole Shepherd’s Pie now joins Cracker Barrel’s permanent menu.

August is National Sandwich Month, reason enough for Mendocino Farms to offer a weekly rotation of select sandwiches for $8 each. Last week, the Summer Heirloom BLT was the sandwich special, and coming up this week is the Chicken Parm Dip—a combo of shaved roast chicken breast, Mendo’s Krispies, melted mozzarella and Parmesan, pomodoro sauce, basil and Calabrian chili aioli on a toasted sesame roll. The Happy Hippie vegetarian sandwich will be spotlighted from Aug. 19-25, followed by the Not So “Fried” Chicken from Aug. 25-Sept. 1.

Los Angeles chef and TV personality Eric Greenspan teamed up with Dog Haus to create the new Big Belly Burger. The burger features Greenspan’s signature New School American Cheese, an extra-creamy and melty cheese, that is layered with two smashed beef patties, caramelized onions, diced onion, dill pickles and a secret sauce, all sandwiched on a grilled sesame seed potato roll.

P.F. Chang’s introduced the Back-to-School Bundle to relieve families’ stress and expense this time of year. The bundle is a three-course meal that includes soup or salad, an appetizer for the table and a choice of entrees, starting for under $20 per person. Included on the entree list are the new Teriyaki Chicken and Teriyaki Beef, launching Wednesday.

Protein-rich Cahokia brown rice replaces quinoa as a base for bowls, wraps and salads at Protein Bar & Kitchen. The Chicago-based fast casual reports that the GMO-free rice has 53% more protein than conventional brown rice, making it a nutritious and diet-friendly choice for vegans, vegetarians and diabetics. Since the switch, 25% of orders have been swapped to include the new brown rice.

To celebrate 35 years as a breakfast destination, Polly’s Pies is rolling out two pancake specials, both value-priced. The Pancake Bite Breakfast Plate ($6.99) includes two eggs, a choice of bacon or sausage and three donut hole-style pancake balls. For $3.49, the Pancake Bites Starter offers five pancake balls served with a selection of dipping sauces.

The New Dirt Cup Shake is Johnny Rockets’ nod to nostalgia. It starts with a hand-spun chocolate shake that’s topped with Oreo cookie crumbles and tangy Trollisour brite crawlers candy to create a sweet-sour flavor profile. The limited-time shake is available through Dec. 31.

The latest Pizookie creation at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse has a base of a Ghiradelli triple chocolate cookie topped with graham cracker crumbles, toasted marshmallows and two scoops of vanilla bean ice cream, finished off with more graham cracker crumbles. The Graham Cracker S’Mores Pizookie was launched to celebrate National S’Mores Day on Aug. 10 but will be available on the menu for a limited time this summer.

Fogo de Chao’s new Cabernet Sauvignon, The Sonhadores, honors long-time employees Neri Giachini and Jean Boschetti who helped shaped the brand since its introduction from Brazil to the U.S. 30 years ago. The wine, created in collaboration with Cline Family Cellars with input from Giachini and Boschetti, joins Fogo’s Tribute Wine Collection. It’s available by the bottle or glass.

Pistachio ice cream has gone through a recipe makeover atHäagen-Dazs Shops. The flavor now features a blend of lightly roasted and salted California pistachios combined with velvety pistachio ice cream. To celebrate the transformation of this classic, Häagen-Dazs Shops will be giving away free mini cups or cones of the ice cream between August 18-20 to the first 500 guests each day.

Three new Conehead sundaes join the lineup at Friendly’s to kick off back-to-school season. The Shark Sundae, Martian Sundae and Clown Conehead are the latest “characters” on offer this summer, with the Shark featured in July, the Martian available through August and the Clown in September. Each is adorned with M&Ms and other branded candies.

Pumpkin season has arrived at Yogurtland in the form of Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Swirl frozen yogurt. A blend of spiced pumpkin and creamy cheesecake, the limited-time flavor will be available in-store, for delivery and via catering while supplies last. Seasonal flavors and toppings include an all-new S’mores frozen yogurt, returning Salted Caramel Pecan frozen yogurt and a new topper, Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bites.