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Outback Steakhouse, Sunrise Social, KFC, Portillo’s, and Hangry Joe’s lead RestaurantNews.com’s Top 20 stories for the week ending October 11, 2026.
1) Outback Steakhouse Doubles Down on Steak With Its Best Steaks Ever
Outback Steakhouse is upgrading its lineup with enhanced cuts, careful hand-trimming, and improved seasoning standards. The refreshed menu features new options like the Down Under Delmonico Ribeye and classic New York Strip alongside traditional favorites. To celebrate the launch, the brand has named a Chief Steak Officer and introduced interactive booth experiences for customer reactions.
2) Sunrise Social, Made-From-Scratch Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch Franchise, Expands Across Six States
Sunrise Social is expanding its breakfast, brunch, and lunch franchise opportunities across six states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Florida, and Texas. The daytime-dining concept focuses on a life-first business model that allows owners to keep their evenings free while serving scratch-made meals. Its menu highlights signature items like the S.G.G., which features fried catfish, shrimp, and crab meat over gumbo grits.
3) KFC Puts a Snackable Spin on its Iconic Bucket with $3.49* Go Buckets
KFC is introduced Go Buckets to target the growing market for everyday snacking and convenient meals on the run. The new line pairs a choice of chicken nuggets, wings, or tenders with fries or wedges starting at an affordable price point. Furthermore, the compact packaging is specially designed to fit inside standard car cupholders for easy handheld eating.
4) Portillo’s and OREO Brand Go Beyond the Ordinary This Halloween by Launching a Trio of Tantalizing Treats
Portillo’s is teaming up with the OREO brand to introduce a limited-time trio of sweet treats across its locations. The special menu features an OREO Shake, an OREO Cake, and a unique OREO Cake Shake that blends the restaurant’s signature cake directly into a hand-spun shake. Loyal customers can also take advantage of special promotional pricing on the new cake slices through the restaurant’s rewards program.
5) Hangry Joe’s Names Brandon Wilhelm CEO
Hangry Joe’s has appointed Brandon Wilhelm as its new chief executive officer to guide the hot chicken franchise through its next phase of expansion. Wilhelm brings over two decades of franchise experience to the role, having previously served as a multi-unit operator and the brand’s acting chief marketing officer. His primary leadership goals include prioritizing franchisee profitability, improving operational efficiency, and steering disciplined growth as new locations prepare to open.
6) Chaiwale & Co. Signs 10-Unit Franchise Agreement, Enters Central California With First Drive-Thru
Chaiwale & Co. has signed a new ten-unit franchise agreement that introduces the brand into Central California with its very first drive-thru location. The Indian-fusion café concept specializes in handcrafted chai and unique culinary recipes originating from its founders. This latest multi-unit deal pushes the growing brand’s total signed franchise agreements past thirty within its first year of franchising.
7) Trick or Tweet! Krispy Kreme Teams Up with Warner Bros. for a Deliciously Mischievous and Looney Halloween
Krispy Kreme is teaming up with Warner Bros. to release a limited-edition Halloween collection featuring several iconic Looney Tunes characters. The spooky lineup includes custom creations decorated like Bugs Bunny, Tweety, Sylvester, Taz, and Lola Bunny. Fans can pick up these themed treats at participating locations or find select six-packs at partner retail stores.
8) Twin Peaks Unveils Inaugural Class of Peaks Elite Brand Ambassadors
Twin Peaks has selected twelve stand-out team members from across the restaurant system to form its inaugural Peaks Elite brand ambassador class. Chosen through public voting and committee reviews, the group will participate in professional media training, content creation, and brand events throughout the year. This new program is designed to invest in team members while helping them build their personal platforms and connect with fans.
9) First Full-Service Rusty Taco Opening at Dulles International Airport this November
Rusty Taco is expanding its presence at Washington Dulles International Airport with franchise partners Aero Taco LLC by setting up a brand-new restaurant concept. The upcoming location will feature a larger footprint, a spacious dining room, a convenient grab-and-go option, and an expanded bar area for travelers. This new full-service model aims to give airport guests more room to relax and enjoy the brand’s signature street tacos and drinks before catching a flight.
10) The Sicilian Butcher Carves Out New Chapter With Nicole West as President
The Sicilian Butcher has appointed restaurant veteran Nicole West as its new president to help guide the brand’s ongoing growth. West brings more than twenty-five years of multi-unit leadership experience to the modern-casual concept known for its hand-made pastas and charcuterie boards. She will work alongside founder Chef Joey Maggiore to steer the brand through its next phase of expansion.
11) RestaurantData Highlights 10 Pre-Opening Multi-Unit Restaurant Sites
RestaurantData has released its latest weekly pipeline research highlighting ten pre-opening restaurant sites across multiple states. These upcoming projects span various food concepts, coffee houses, and entertainment brands gathered from recent business filings and regional news sources. The report provides restaurant operators and researchers with a helpful look at projected development timelines stretching into future seasons.
12) Blue Mint Thai Honored for Military Support, Texas House Recognition and Veteran Leadership
Blue Mint Thai & Asian Cuisine is receiving high-level military and civic honors for its strong support of service members and veterans. The restaurant group has earned top employer awards from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, alongside a formal Texas House Resolution. These accolades highlight the brand’s veteran leadership and ongoing commitment to community service during its regional expansion.
13) Dunn Brothers Coffee Enters Illinois, Grows Iowa Footprint Through Deal With New Multi-Unit Franchisee
Dunn Brothers Coffee is expanding its regional footprint by entering Illinois and growing its presence in Iowa through a new multi-unit franchise agreement. Experienced multi-unit operators Kevin and Michelle Ramirez will lead the development of the upcoming shops. The brand continues to build momentum with its daily in-house roasting model and community-focused approach.
14) Subway Unveils Blueprint, a Reimagined Restaurant and Brand Experience for EMEA
Subway has unveiled Blueprint, a reimagined restaurant design and guest experience strategy created for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The new concept features modern layouts, digital self-order kiosks, and expanded day-part offerings like breakfast and evening menus. This initiative is designed to modernize operations for franchise owners while providing diners with more flexible, customized ways to order.
15) Red Lobster Names Andy Pitts Chief Marketing Officer and Jon Tryzbiak Chief Information Officer
Red Lobster has named Andy Pitts as its chief marketing officer and promoted Jon Tryzbiak to chief information officer to strengthen its executive team. Pitts brings nearly two decades of restaurant marketing experience to his new role, while Tryzbiak will lead the brand’s technology transformation and systems modernization. These strategic appointments aim to support guest engagement and drive long-term growth for the seafood restaurant chain.
16) Erbert & Gerbert’s Unveils New Pot Roast Sandwich PIONEER
Erbert & Gerbert’s is introducing a hearty new seasonal menu item called the PIONEER, featuring juicy pot roast, creamy cheese sauce, and crispy fried onions. This comforting sandwich is designed to satisfy cold-weather cravings while bringing an extra layer of flavor to participating locations for a limited time. Alongside the new launch, the chain is also bringing back popular customer favorites like bread bowls and lasagna soup for the cooler months.
17) Angry Chickz Brings Nashville Hot Chicken to San Dimas Oct. 16
Angry Chickz is expanding its footprint by bringing its Nashville hot chicken concept to San Dimas, marking its 49th location nationwide. The new restaurant will serve up made-to-order tenders, sliders, and bowls with heat levels ranging from mild to very spicy. This regional addition continues the brand’s steady growth across Southern California and beyond.
18) Restaurant News Bites: Restaurant Slop, The Lure of the Loo, Iconic Burger Joints, and More!
This weekly roundup covers a diverse mix of trending topics, including a growing industry backlash against artificial intelligence-generated menu photos and automated reservation software. The feature also explores quirky design trends like extravagant restaurant bathrooms alongside nostalgic looks at classic burger joints and shuttered chains. Other highlights include new website projects mapping independent donut shops and safety discussions surrounding outdoor dining protections.
19) Sauce Pizza & Wine Makes Mondays Delicious With BOGO Pizza All October Long
Sauce Pizza & Wine is celebrating National Pizza Month by offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal on cheese and pepperoni pizzas every Monday throughout the month. Rewards members can access the exclusive discount directly through the brand’s digital app for both dine-in and takeout orders. This limited-time promotion gives guests an easy way to enjoy a favorite neighborhood meal while sharing a slice with friends and family.
20) The Freak Hits Miami: Chèvre and Prince St. Pizza Team Up for a New Greek-Inspired Pie
Prince St. Pizza has teamed up with Miami’s Chèvre to introduce a new Greek-inspired specialty pie called The Freak. This limited-time collaboration features marinated ribeye, smoked mozzarella, feta crumbles, and a signature house-made Greek sauce on a crispy square crust. The special release brings together two popular culinary brands for an inventive flavor combination available through online delivery channels.