Bobby’s Burgers, Bread & Vine, Yum! Brands, Huckleberry’s, and Feng Cha lead RestaurantNews.com’s Top 20 stories for the week ending December 14, 2025.
1) Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay Set for Pacific Northwest Expansion
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay is finally bringing his Bobby’s Burgers to the Pacific Northwest with a new restaurant set to open inside the stunning Muckleshoot Casino Resort in Washington, featuring the famous Bacon Crunchburger and creamy milkshakes.
2) Bread & Vine Accelerates National Expansion With Two New Openings and Five More in the Pipeline
Bread & Vine, the elevated fast-casual café blending French flair with global flavors, is accelerating its national expansion with two new restaurant openings in Geneva, Illinois, and Tampa, Florida, plus five more locations scheduled for early 2026.
3) From Craveable Drinks to Sauce Rituals: Yum! Brands Unveils its First-Ever Food Trends Report
Yum! Brands just released its first-ever Food Trends Report, revealing that modern diners are focused on solo dining as self-care, demanding sauce rituals for emotional excitement, and choosing brands based on whether they are “very cool” rather than just the food itself.
4) Huckleberry’s Breakfast & Lunch Brings Cajun Comfort to Redding, California
Huckleberry’s Breakfast & Lunch just opened its newest location on Hilltop Drive in Redding, California, transporting diners straight to the Louisiana bayou with its signature Cajun comfort food like Mardi Gras Beignets and Chicken and Waffles.
5) Feng Cha Appoints Dessie Brown, Jr. as Director of Marketing
Feng Cha, the fast-growing tea brand known for its handcrafted drinks and community vibe, is appointing marketing veteran Dessie Brown, Jr. as its first Director of Marketing to supercharge digital growth, loyalty, and brand storytelling.
6) Juici Patties Announces Grand Opening of Church Avenue Location in Brooklyn on December 20
Juici Patties, one of Jamaica’s most beloved fast-casual brands, is finally celebrating the grand opening of its new Church Avenue location in Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean on December 20th with a festive party, a live DJ, and a raffle for Free Patties for a Year.
7) Teriyaki Madness Makes Fresno Debut With Massive Bowls and Epic Opening-Day Freebies
Teriyaki Madness is finally making its Fresno debut on December 19th with a grand opening featuring massive, glaze-drenched bowls and epic giveaways, including Free Teriyaki Madness for a Year for the first five fans in line.
8) Ascent Hospitality Management Ushers In New Leadership to Shape Its Next Chapter
Ascent Hospitality Management, the group behind beloved family dining spots Perkins and Huddle House, is strengthening its leadership with the appointment of Jon Gordon (Chief Creative Officer) and Jenifer Perrett (VP of Marketing, Huddle House) to boost brand innovation and growth.
9) Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream Scoops Industry Veterans to Expand Leadership Team
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, the legacy brand famous for its homemade ice cream, is strengthening its executive team by hiring industry veterans Garrett Snyder (VP of Development) and Deepak Kahlon (VP of Operations) to accelerate its record-breaking national expansion.
10) Incentivio Launches Loyalty Pulse: A New Benchmark for Measuring and Optimizing Restaurant Loyalty Performance
Incentivio has launched Loyalty Pulse, a powerful new reporting suite that finally gives restaurant operators a clear, end-to-end view of how effectively their loyalty programs are driving revenue, engagement, and long-term guest lifetime value.
11) Sunny Street Café Warms Up Winter with Comfort-Forward Menu
Sunny Street Café is warming up the season with a cozy new Winter Menu debuting December 8th, featuring indulgent dishes like Breakfast Nachos, a Queso Breakfast Burrito, and decadent Butter Pecan Pancakes.
12) Celebrate the Magic of the Holidays at LouLou Santa Monica
LouLou Santa Monica is bringing the glamour of the French Riviera to the coast this season with an enchanting Christmas Eve dinner, a delicious Winter Menu including Lobster Linguine, and a dazzling New Year’s Eve soirée to ring in 2026.
13) Shipley Do-Nuts to Open First Clearwater Location Dec. 15
Shipley Do-Nuts, the famous purveyor of hot and fresh glazed donuts and kolaches, is finally opening its first Clearwater, Florida, location on December 15th, making it easier than ever for Tampa Bay locals and travelers to grab a sweet treat.
14) Polly’s Pies Brings Holiday Flavor to the Table with Winter Specials
Polly’s Pies is rolling out a cozy, limited-time Winter Menu through February 16th, featuring tempting new dishes like Honey Butter Pancakes, a Pesto Chicken Parmwich, and a decadent Snickerdoodle Cheesecake.
15) Nothing Bundt Cakes Recognized Among Yelp’s “Most Loved Brands” of 2025
Nothing Bundt Cakes, the specialty cake company famous for its Bundtinis and amazing service, was named one of Yelp’s “Most Loved Brands” of 2025 at an impressive #7, showcasing its commitment to guest satisfaction.
16) Celebrate Hanukkah With Atlanta’s Original Jewish Deli
Goldbergs Fine Foods, Atlanta’s original Jewish deli, is making your Hanukkah stress-free and delicious with a catering menu full of traditional classics like Brisket with Gravy, Sweet Noodle Kugel, and essential latkes, available for pickup Dec. 13-22.
17) Wichita Will Get ‘Extra with Every Bite’ as Newk’s Eatery Launches First Kansas Location
Newk’s Eatery is finally making its Kansas debut in Wichita on December 10th at The Waterfront, inviting guests to enjoy its fresh, scratch-made salads, sandwiches, and signature cakes in a massive dining room.
18) CRISP & GREEN Expands in Northwest Arkansas With New Springdale Restaurant
CRISP & GREEN, the popular fast-casual spot for chef-crafted healthy food, is opening its second Northwest Arkansas location in Springdale on December 16th and is celebrating with a Grand Opening Free Food event.
19) BIGGBY COFFEE Recognized on Forbes’ 2026 Best Customer Service List
BIGGBY COFFEE, the people-focused franchise with over 450 locations, was officially recognized by Forbes on their 2026 Best Customer Service list, proving that their commitment to making guests “feel seen, valued and cared for” is truly making an impact.
20) Edo Japanese Grill Advances U.S. Expansion with Scottsdale Fashion Square Opening
Edo Japanese Grill, the popular Canadian teppanyaki-inspired franchise, has opened its second major U.S. location at Scottsdale Fashion Square in Arizona, serving up their famous Teriyaki meals, sushi, and poke bowls as part of a brisk national expansion.