Chick-fil-A's Pimento Chicken Sandwich, Starbucks' PSL, and More New Fast-Food Items to Try This Month

Chick-fil-a honey pepper pimento chicken sandwich

Lacey Muszynski / Cheapism

Cheapism is editorially independent. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on our site.
Chick-fil-a honey pepper pimento chicken sandwich
Lacey Muszynski / Cheapism

New Fast-Food Items To Try

Fast-food restaurants are always innovating (and competing), and that means there's always some new menu item to try. McDonald's, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell, Subway, and other big chains introduce limited-time offerings regularly to entice customers to keep coming back. Here's what's new this month in the fast-food world. 


Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

Burger King Royal wraps
Burger King

Burger King: Royal Crispy Wraps

Burger King is taking aim at McDonald's beloved and discontinued Snack Wraps with the debut of Royal Crispy Wraps. Each one contains a crispy chicken strip, lettuce, and tomato inside a flour tortilla, with either honey mustard, spicy glaze, or creamy Royal sauce. That's not the only new chicken, either. The Italian BK Royal Crispy Chicken sandwich includes the chain's fried chicken breast topped with marinara and melted mozzarella, while the Honey Mustard BK Royal Crispy Chicken sandwich includes honey mustard, Swiss, bacon, lettuce, and tomato.

Pizza Hut Cheesesteak
Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut: Cheesesteak Pizza and Melt

Cheesesteak is coming in pizza form at the Hut this month. The brand-new cheesesteak pizza is topped with creamy alfredo sauce, strips of sirloin steak, green bell peppers, onions, parmesan, and oregano. You can also get it sandwich style in a melt that comes with a side of ranch for dipping.

Taco Bell cheesy jalapeno mexican pizza
Taco Bell

Taco Bell: Rolled Chicken Tacos, Cheesy Jalapeno Mexican Pizza

Taco Bell's Volcano Menu is gone (here's what we thought of the Lava Sauce), but another fan favorite is back this month. The Rolled Chicken Tacos are the Bell's version of taquitos, filled with shredded chicken in a corn tortilla, deep fried and served with spicy ranch for dipping. There's also a new Cheesy Jalapeno Mexican Pizza variation with nacho cheese sauce and pickled jalapenos. And finally, on the sweet side, you can grab new Strawberry Twists — they're like Cinnamon Twists but with pink, strawberry-flavored sugar coating.

McDonald's peanut butter crunch McFlurry
McDonald's

McDonald's: Peanut Butter Crunch McFlurry

There's a new ice cream treat in town at McDonald's: the Peanut Butter Crunch McFlurry. It's got chocolate peanut butter cookie pieces and crispy cereal mixed into vanilla soft serve. There's also a new "As Featured In Meal" that ties in with the Marvel TV series "Loki." Each meal comes with a Loki-branded sweet and sour sauce, plus McNuggets, Big Mac or Quarter Pounder, fries, and a drink.


In case you missed it, the chain also announced that it's making changes to improve its burgers, including melting the cheese on top, adding onions to the patties on the grill, and cooking the beef at a higher temperature. It all sounds a little like PR spin to us, but you'll have to try it for yourself. 


Related: 35 Secrets for Better, Cheaper Meals at Your Favorite Chains


Arby's Big Game Burger
Arby's

Arby's: Big Game Burger

Strangely, Arby's has found success with its burgers over the years, so there's a new, unique burger coming to the menu on September 12, 2023. The Big Game Burger features a meat patty with a blend of venison, elk, and beef. It's topped with Swiss cheese, crispy onions, pickles, and cherry steak sauce for an unusual sandwich with a hefty $9 price tag. For something more familiar, boneless wings are back, in both buffalo and new hot honey BBQ. 


Related: Fast-Food Dishes With Downright Obsessive Followings

Starbucks pumpkin spice latte lineup 2023
Starbucks

Starbucks: Pumpkin Spice Latte

Love it or hate it, it's Pumpkin Spice Latte time again! Starbucks' fall menu was released on August 24 this year, and here's what it includes.

  • Pumpkin Spice Latte: espresso, steamed milk, pumpkin spice, and whipped cream served hot, iced, or blended
  • Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew: cold brew with vanilla syrup and pumpkin cream cold foam
  • Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato: espresso, cinnamon, and apple flavors served hot, iced, or blended
  • Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso: a cold, blonde espresso version of the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
  • Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte: brand new this year with creamy chai and pumpkin cream cold foam

Dunkin Pumpkin spice lineup 2023
Dunkin'

Dunkin': Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte

Of course, Dunkin' has also released its fall pumpkin spice menu to the masses. Here's what the fall menu includes for 2023.

  • Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte: espresso, pumpkin, vanilla, fall spices, and milk with whipped cream and caramel, served hot or iced
  • Nutty Pumpkin Coffee: pumpkin, cream, and a touch of hazelnut, served hot or iced
  • Pumpkin Bakery: cake donuts, Munchkins, and muffins

Looking for more A.M. options? Check out our roundup of the best fast-food breakfast deals going on right now.

Wendy's pumpkin spice frosty
Wendy's

Wendy's: Pumpkin Spice Frosty

Not to be outdone by the big coffee chains, Wendy's is jumping on the pumpkin spice bandwagon with the brand new Pumpkin Spice Frosty. Starting September 12, 2023, you'll be able to grab a Frosty with hints of pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg. You'll also be able to get a Pumpkin Spice Frosty Cream Cold Brew if you need your PS in drink form. 


If sandwiches are more your style, there's a new Loaded Nacho Cheeseburger and Chicken Sandwich that are both topped with roasted poblano queso, American cheese, crispy tortilla strips and corn, and spicy chipotle sauce on a new jalapeno-cheddar bun. You can also get that gooey queso on new Queso Fries.


For more great fast food guides and deals, please sign up for our free newsletters.

Papa Johns epic garlic stuffed crust pizza
Papa Johns

Papa Johns: Garlic Epic Stuffed Crust Pizza

Stuffed crust pizza is a getting a pungent upgrade at Papa Johns. The Garlic Epic Stuffed Crust pizza includes garlic-seasoned cheese inside the crust, a garlic parmesan sauce baked on the crust, and garlic parmesan seasoning. And don't forget there's always the garlic sauce for dipping, in case that wasn't enough garlic for you.

White Castle french toast sliders
White Castle

White Castle: French Toast Sliders

There's a new breakfast sandwich at White Castle. The French Toast Slider includes egg, American cheese, and sausage or bacon between two pieces of cinnamon swirl French toast. After breakfast, you can also grab the new Cheddar Cheese Rings, which are shaped like onion rings, but filled with cheddar. 


Related: 33 Things You Didn’t Know About White Castle

Dairy Queen fall Blizzards 2023
Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen: Fall Blizzards

The Dairy Queen fall Blizzard menu is out, and you better believe it incudes pumpkin.

  • Pumpkin Pie: pumpkin pie pieces in vanilla soft serve
  • Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough: chunks of chewy, cinnamon snickerdoodle cookie dough in vanilla soft serve
  • Oreo Hot Cocoa: Oreos and cocoa fudge in vanilla soft serve
  • Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Pie: peanut butter cups and graham pie crust in vanilla soft serve
  • Caramel Fudge Cheesecake: cheesecake pieces and fudge-covered caramel bits in vanilla soft serve
  • Choco-dipped Strawberry: strawberry topping and chocolate chunks in vanilla soft serve
  • Royal Reese's Fluffernutter: peanut butter cups and peanut butter topping in vanilla soft serve with a marshmallow core

Hardee's Peaches and cream fried pie
Hardee's

Hardee's: Peaches and Cream Fried Pie and Super Sausage Biscuit

Rejoice, because it's fried pie season again! Hardee's is diving right in with the peaches and cream version, filled with peach pie filling and cream cheese in a crispy pastry crust. For something more like breakfast, try the new Super Sausage Biscuit that comes with two sausage patties, two slices of cheese, and a fried egg. 

Sonic buffalo chicken bites
Sonic

Sonic: Buffalo Chicken Dip Bites

The new deep-fried hotness at Sonic is something you'd normally find at a sit-down restaurant, not a fast food chain. Buffalo Chicken Dip Bites look like fried ravioli, but they're crispy and stuffed with chicken, buffalo sauce, and cheddar cheese. For some reason, they don't come with a dipping sauce, which seems like a big oversight. On the burger side, there's also a new Bacon Peppercorn Ranch Grilled Cheese Burger.


If you're in search of more Sonic deals, check out our ranking of the Sonic Value Menu.

  • Panera Cinnamon Crunch latte and bagel
    Panera

    Panera: Cinnamon Crunch Latte

    Whoa — Panera doesn't have a pumpkin spice latte. Instead, they bust out the Cinnamon Crunch Latte every fall with espresso, foamed milk, cinnamon syrup, whipped cream, and cinnamon crunch topping. And new this season is the weird-but-possibly-delicious ham, egg and cheese sandwich on a Cinnamon Crunch Bagel.

    Del Taco smoky honey chipotle brisket
    Del Taco

    Del Taco: Honey Chipotle BBQ Brisket

    There's a new hearty protein option at Del Taco right now. The honey chipotle BBQ brisket is pit-smoked for 16 hours and shredded. You can get it in a quesadilla, in a burrito with fries and bacon, and on top of loaded fries, all with smoky honey chipotle barbecue sauce.

    Popeyes Sweet N Spicy Wings
    Popeyes

    Popeyes: Sweet 'N Spicy Wings

    Popeyes' Girl Dinner may be gone already, but it's been replaced with something more substantial. The Sweet 'N Spicy Wings feature the chain's crispy breaded wings tossed in a sweet and hot blend of chili, garlic, and ginger. For dessert, grab an Oreo Cheesecake Cup.

    Chick-fil-a honey pepper pimento chicken sandwich
    Lacey Muszynski / Cheapism

    Chick-fil-A: Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich

    Chick-fil-A has a brand new Southern-inspired item: the Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich. It's the chain's fried chicken breast topped with creamy, cheddar-filled pimento cheese spread, pickled jalapeno slices, and honey. It's pretty great as is, but we think it's even more amazing with the spicy chicken filet swapped in.

    Zaxby's funnel cake
    Lacey Muszynski / Cheapism

    Zaxby's: Southwest Zalad and Funnel Cakes

    The Southwest "Zalad" salad is still at Zaxby's, and it includes tomatoes, roasted corn, cheddar jack cheese, tortilla strips, and your choice of chicken with Southwest ranch dressing. But what really gives off lingering summer vibes is the brand new funnel cake. The deep fried, fluffy treat is sprinkled with powdered sugar just like at the fair, and comes with a more fall-esque caramel sauce for dipping. 

    Whataburger BLT
    Whataburger

    Whataburger: BLT Sandwich and Banana Pudding Shake

    There's a bunch of new items on Whataburger's menu this month.

    • BLT sandwich: bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise on Texas toast.
    • Southern bacon double burger: two beef patties, three pieces of bacon, Monterrey jack and American cheese, shredded cabbage, creamy Southern-style sauce, onions, and pickles
    • Jalapeno cheddar biscuit: a cheddar and jalapeno biscuit sandwich with egg, cheese, and sausage or bacon
    • Banana pudding shake: a vanilla shake mixed with banana pudding flavor

    Bojangles chicken sandwiches
    Bojangles

    Bojangles: Sauced Up Sandwiches

    Bojangles has sauced up its popular fried chicken sandwich. The Bo's Carolina Gold chicken sandwich includes dill pickles, coleslaw, and a golden, mustard-based barbecue sauce, while the Bo's BBQ chicken sandwich includes sweet and smoky barbecue sauce on buttermilk fried chicken.


    Related: From Bo-Tato Rounds to Dirty Rice: 6 Bojangles Sides, Ranked

    Little Caesars 4 quarter calzony
    Little Caesars

    Little Caesars: 4-Quarter Calzony, Pepsi Pineapple

    While everyone else is excited about PSLs, Little Caesars is hyped about football. The new 4-Quarter Calzony is a cross between a pizza and a calzone, and it includes toppings of pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and ham. It also comes with a side of Crazy Sauce for dipping in between QB sneaks. Wash it down with limited edition Pepsi Pineapple, a soda you can only get at Little Caesars. 

    Jack in the Box double bacon sourdough
    Jack in the Box

    Jack in the Box: Breakfast Taco, Loaded Potato Wedges

    There is a lot going on at Jack in the Box this month. Here's everything that's new.

    • Breakfast Taco: breakfast sausage, scrambled eggs, cheese, and taco sauce in a crispy shell
    • Double Bacon Sourdough Jack: two beef patties, bacon, cheese, mayo, and ketchup grilled on sourdough toast
    • Sauced & Loaded Potato Wedges: wedges topped with cheese sauce, cheddar, bacon, and ranch (also available in spicy with jalapenos)
    • Jack's Fan Faves Box: a mix of fries, tiny tacos, mini churros, and stuffed jalapenos with two dipping sauces
    • Iced Creamaccino: sweet, blended iced coffee in vanilla, mocha, and caramel flavors

    Long John Silver's Cheesecake
    Long John Silver's

    Long John Silver's: Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake

    You won't have to go to Cheesecake Factory and spend $10 just to get a slice of cheesecake anymore. Long John Silver's has added two cheesecake options from Cheesecake Factory to its menu: classic cheesecake with graham cracker crust, and triple chocolate cheesecake with chocolate cookie crust, chocolate ganache, and chocolate chips.

    Jimmy John's wraps
    Jimmy John's

    Jimmy John's: Wraps

    After a successful test run of wraps this summer, Jimmy John's is officially adding wraps to the permanent menu. There are three to choose from.

    • Jalapeno Ranch Chicken: chicken, provolone, jalapeno ranch, crispy jalapenos, and red pepper flakes in a plain wrap
    • Chicken Caesar: chicken, parmesan, caesar dressing, and mini croutons in a garlic and herb wrap
    • Tuscan Italian: salami, capocollo, ham, parmesan, oil and vinegar in garlic and herb wrap

    Noodles and Co chicken parmesan
    Noodles & Company

    Noodles & Company: Chicken Parmesan

    There's a brand new noodle bowl at Noodles & Co.: Chicken Parmesan. It's the first ever baked dish on the menu, and it contains penne pasta tossed in marinara, topped with crispy parmesan-crusted chicken and mozzarella cheese. It's only available to Noodles Rewards members until September 20, after which anyone will be able to order it.

    subway deli heroes
    Subway

    Subway: Deli Heroes

    Subway has added four new Deli Heroes sandwiches to the menu:

    • Titan Turkey (#15): turkey, double provolone, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and mayonnaise on artisan Italian bread
    • Grand Slam Ham (#99): ham, double provolone, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and mayonnaise on artisan Italian bread
    • Garlic Roast Beef (#17): roast Beef, double provolone, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and roasted garlic aioli on artisan Italian bread
    • The Beast (#30): pepperoni, salami, turkey, ham, roast beef, double provolone, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, mayonnaise, and MVP vinaigrette on artisan Italian bread

    KFC hot and spicy wings
    KFC

    KFC: Hot & Spicy Wings

    Football season has arrived, and KFC figures you want hot wings. New Hot & Spicy Wings debut on September 10, and they're marinated in spicy seasonings and coated in the chain's Extra Crispy breading. If you have a lot of people to feed, the new Fill Up Box, with four pieces of chicken, a dozen nuggets, a side of fries, four biscuits, and dipping sauce, might be for you — though at $20, it's not a great deal.

    Qdoba Cholula hot and sweet chicken bowl
    Qdoba

    Qdoba: Cholula Hot and Sweet Chicken

    There's a returning protein option at Qdoba. The Cholula hot and sweet chicken is made with grilled chicken thighs that are diced and tossed in Cholula hot sauce and honey. You can get it as your protein option in any burritos, bowls, tacos, and nachos.

    Shake Shack Hot Menu
    Shake Shack

    Shake Shack: Hot Menu

    Things are heating up at Shake Shack just in time for chilly weather. Here's everything that's on the new spicy limited-time menu.

    • Hot Chicken Sandwich: crispy, spicy seasoned chicken breast topped with pickles and cherry pepper slaw
    • Spicy Shackmeister Burger: cheeseburger seasoned with hot pepper blend and topped with crispy onions, cherry peppers, and ShackSauce
    • Spicy Fries: crinkle-cut fries seasoned with hot pepper blend and served with ranch for dipping
    • Spicy Cheese Fries: crinkle-cut fries seasoned with hot pepper blend, topped with cheese sauce, and served with ranch for dipping

    Church's purple pepper sauce
    Church's

    Church's: Purple Pepper Sauce

    A popular dip has returned to Church's: Purple Pepper Sauce. It's made with bell and habanero peppers, and it's sweet and hot with a jam-like consistency. You can get it with chicken tenders or add it to any chicken sandwich. 

    Wingstop cajun meal deal
    Wingstop

    Wingstop: Cajun Meal Deal

    Wingstop just created a new way to enjoy its wings and fries. The Cajun Meal Deal covers fries and your choice of protein in cheese sauce, ranch, and Cajun seasoning, all in one beautifully messy takeout container. You can choose from a chicken sandwich, tenders, or boneless or bone-in wings. (See how Wingstop's sauce flavors stack up in our ranking.)

    Panda Express chili crisp shrimp
    Panda Express

    Panda Express: Chili Crisp Shrimp

    Panda Expess is capitalizing on the popularity of the Asian condiment chili crisp with a new entree. Chili Crisp Shrimp includes tempura battered shrimp mixed with peppers and onions in a spicy chili garlic sauce inspired by chili crisp. 

    Fazoli's pizza baked pasta
    Fazoli's

    Fazoli's: Pizza Baked Pasta

    Fazoli's is going full comfort food this fall with Pizza Baked Pastas. The three dishes include penne pasta in a tomato sauce topped with melted mozzarella cheese and various pizza toppings, including a Supreme version with pepperoni, sausage, bacon, onions, peppers, and onions; Classic with pepperoni; and Meaty with pepperoni, sausage, and bacon.

    Culver's pepper grinder pub burger
    Culver's

    Culver's: Pepper Grinder Pub Burger

    A fan favorite burger has returned to Culver's after a number of years. The Pepper Grinder Pub Burger is topped with Swiss and cheddar cheeses, two slices of bacon, and a spicy peppercorn mayo. It's all on a flavorful everything-seasoned bun topped with onions, garlic, and seeds.