Beyond Juicery + Eatery, Handheld Ordering, Self-Service Kiosks, Paris Baguette, Taziki’s Mediterranean Café, and Huckleberry’s Breakfast & Lunch lead RestaurantNews.com’s Top 20 stories for the week ending August 24, 2025.
1) Beyond Juicery + Eatery and Everyday Dose Team Up to Launch Functional Coffee and Matcha Lineup
Beyond Juicery + Eatery has teamed up with wellness brand Everyday Dose to launch its first-ever functional coffee and matcha lineup – featuring six new drinks, including iced, hot, and smoothie options – infused with functional ingredients like collagen, chaga, lion’s mane, and L-theanine to support energy, focus, and wellness. Guests can personalize each handcrafted beverage with milk alternatives, sweeteners, collagen cold foam, and wellness boosts such as electrolytes, creatine, and blue spirulina.
2) New Research Report Reveals How QSRs Are Driving Speed, Efficiency, and Profitability with Handheld Ordering and Self-Service Kiosks
A new eBook from Starfleet Research, in collaboration with Restaurant Technology News and supported by Square, reveals that quick-service and fast-casual restaurants adopting handheld POS devices and self-service kiosks are reaping measurable benefits – handhelds cut wait times for 68% of operators and boost average ticket size for 63%, while kiosks deliver results like 76% faster service, 67% higher check averages, and 69% improved order accuracy. The report underscores that these technologies, paired with real-time analytics and effective training, are evolving from optional upgrades into essential tools for increasing speed, efficiency, and profitability in both new and existing restaurants.
3) Paris Baguette Celebrates 250th Café Opening in Frederick, Maryland, Accelerating Expansion and Reviving the Neighborhood Bakery Café
Paris Baguette’s newest café in Frederick, Maryland, reflects the brand’s focus on fostering neighborhood connections through fresh pastries, specialty coffees, and welcoming spaces. Local franchisees say the concept has been well-received, fueling confidence in the bakery-café’s continued regional and national growth.
4) Taziki’s Mediterranean Café Launches Kýpelos: A Customizable Bowl Experience Rooted in Heritage
Taziki’s Mediterranean Café has introduced Kýpelos, a customizable bowl experience available at all locations, featuring a choice of basmati rice, parmesan pasta, or quinoa topped with grilled vegetables, feta, spicy harissa, and the brand’s signature taziki sauce, with an option to add proteins like lamb, salmon, chicken, or shrimp. The name honors the Greek word for “bowl” and reflects the brand’s commitment to combining Mediterranean culinary heritage with personalized, nutritionally balanced meals.
5) Huckleberry’s Breakfast & Lunch Brings a Bite of the Bayou to Arlington, Texas
Huckleberry’s Breakfast & Lunch has opened its second Texas location in Arlington, delivering its signature “Southern Cookin’ with a California Twist!” to the Dallas–Fort Worth area with dishes like Mardi Gras Beignets and Stacked Chicken & Waffles in a playful bayou-themed setting. The brand, backed by Heritage Restaurant Brands, plans further expansion including a third Texas location in Sachse and aims to reach 50 total locations nationwide by 2026.
6) SAMBAZON Announces Ten-Store Agreement for Cincinnati Market
SAMBAZON has announced a franchise agreement with Açaí OH to open 10 new açaí bowl shops in the Cincinnati area over the next five years, with the first location expected to open in Q1 of 2026. This expansion marks SAMBAZON’s first brick-and-mortar presence in the Midwest and is led by Parin Chokshi, a veteran operator with nearly 20 years of experience in retail and convenience store operations.
7) Party Fowl Brings the Celebration to East Nashville with More Locations Coming Through 2025
Party Fowl is set to open a new Nashville hot chicken restaurant in East Nashville by late September 2025, marking the brand’s continued expansion under R&R Brands. The new location will feature the signature hot chicken, boozy slushies, and Southern-inspired cocktails in a lively, bar-centric environment, reinforcing Party Fowl’s presence in Nashville and its connection to the local community.
8) Introducing Zipotle: Chipotle Partners With Zipline for Aerial Delivery
Chipotle has introduced “Zipotle,” a new delivery service utilizing Zipline’s autonomous, zero-emission aircraft to deliver digital orders directly to customers’ homes in the greater Dallas area. Currently available to select guests in Rowlett, Texas, Zipotle aims to provide fast, convenient, and environmentally friendly deliveries, with plans for broader expansion in the coming weeks.
9) Burger King Introduces the Latest “Whopper by You” With a Crispy Onion Twist on the Classic
Burger King is launching the Crispy Onion Whopper, a new addition to its “Whopper by You” platform, available at participating U.S. locations starting August 26. This burger features over a quarter-pound of flame-grilled beef topped with crispy lettuce, juicy tomatoes, creamy mayo, melty American cheese, bacon, crunchy pickles, golden onion rings, crispy onions, and a sweet & smoky BBQ sauce. For a smaller option, the Crispy Onion Whopper Jr. is also available. Customers can submit their own Whopper creations through the “Whopper by You” platform for a chance to win Royal Perks rewards, including a $0.01 Whopper sandwich each week for a year.
10) JINYA Ramen Bar to Debut at The Wharf in Washington, D.C.
JINYA Ramen Bar opened its eighth Washington, D.C., location at The Wharf on August 20, 2025, featuring a spacious waterfront patio and authentic ramen dishes. The opening included a promotion where the first 100 guests received a voucher for a free bowl of ramen on their next visit.
11) Teapioca Lounge Celebrates 10 Years of Franchising with New Dallas Location, Fresh Promos, and Enhanced Rewards
Teapioca Lounge celebrated its 10th year of franchising by opening a new location in Dallas, Texas, marking a significant milestone in its expansion. The brand introduced several customer-focused innovations, including new menu items like Mulberry and Matcha Lemonade, a revamped loyalty program with enhanced rewards, and a nationwide partnership with GiftAMeal to donate meals to local food banks.
12) Taco Cabana President Announces Partnership With Dr Pepper and Major League Eating for World Taco Eating Championship
Taco Cabana partnered with Dr Pepper and Major League Eating to host the inaugural World Taco Eating Championship on September 20, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Competitors will attempt to eat as many Bean and Cheese Tacos as possible in 10 minutes, with a Guinness World Records judge on hand to certify a new record for the most soft-shell tacos eaten in three minutes.
13) ‘Southern Hospitality With a Twist’ and More: Shoney’s Is a Winner in the 2025 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards Contest for Best Buffet Chain
Shoney’s was named a winner in the 2025 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Buffet Chain, recognized for its “Southern Hospitality with a Twist.” This honor underscores the brand’s reputation for value, menu variety, and service, supporting its ongoing revitalization and expansion efforts.
14) Tattle Secures $5 Million in Strategic Growth Capital to Accelerate AI-Driven Customer Experience Innovation
Tattle secured $5 million in strategic growth capital from existing insiders, Flow Capital, and Contour Ventures to accelerate the expansion of its AI-driven customer experience platform. The funding will support the rollout of its AI Coach technology, which has already delivered significant improvements in guest satisfaction for brands like Cotton Patch Cafe.
15) Nick the Greek Brings Authentic Greek Street Food to Lee’s Summit
Nick the Greek opened its third Kansas City-area location in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, marking its second in the state. The fast-casual chain, known for authentic Greek street food like gyros, souvlaki, and baklava, now operates nearly 90 locations across seven states, with plans to reach 100 by the end of 2025.
16) Mountain Mike’s Pizza Debuts Record-Breaking Location in Dixon, California
Mountain Mike’s Pizza opened its largest restaurant to date in Dixon, California, spanning 5,600 square feet and seating over 250 guests. The new location features amenities such as a 14-screen sports viewing area, an all-you-can-eat pizza and salad bar, a kid’s arcade with 25 games, and three private party rooms, enhancing its appeal for families and group gatherings.
17) Twin Peaks Expands in North Carolina with New Lodge Coming to Fayetteville
Twin Peaks is bringing its signature lodge experience to Fayetteville, North Carolina, offering guests a new spot to enjoy hearty food and a lively atmosphere starting in October 2025. The 8,200-square-foot location represents the brand’s third conversion of a former Smokey Bones restaurant, showcasing an efficient, cost-conscious expansion strategy.
18) Dog Haus Signs Area Development Agreement to Launch in Florida
Dog Haus has signed an area development agreement with seasoned franchisees Livingston and Terri Chatman to introduce its gourmet hot dog and burger concept to Florida. The Chatmans, both University of Florida alumni with over 20 years of experience in franchising, plan to open the first Dog Haus location in Tampa by late 2025 or early 2026, with potential for additional sites across the state in the future.
19) Arizona’s Cutest Bubble Tea Shop Expands to Florida: New Boba Cucue Coming Soon to Broward County
Boba Cucue, known for its whimsical, Disney-like atmosphere and imaginative boba drinks, is expanding into Florida with a new location in Broward County, marking its first in the state. This expansion adds to the brand’s growing national presence, which includes locations in California, Texas, Nevada, Montana, Ohio, Arizona, Alaska, North Carolina, and Alabama.
20) NFL Star Deatrich Wise Jr. Celebrates First Year as Co-Owner of Boston’s Veggie Galaxy
NFL star and Super Bowl champion Deatrich Wise Jr. celebrated his first anniversary as co-owner of Boston’s Veggie Galaxy, a beloved vegetarian diner and vegan bakery. Under his co-ownership, the restaurant introduced new menu innovations, launched brand partnerships, and deepened its commitment to making plant-based meals more accessible to underserved communities in the Boston area.