This week’s Best Bites from the RestaurantNews.com Feed highlight the evolving landscape of dining, from nostalgic drive-in restaurants across the U.S. and Southern chains keeping regional flavors alive, to global sensations like Mixue Ice Cream & Tea redefining scale in the restaurant industry. Trends in social media and AI are reshaping marketing strategies, while operators experiment with value menus, delivery safeguards, and cinematic collaborations to engage diners. These stories, and more, are some of the restaurant news bites that caught our eye this week:
The Must Stop Drive-In Restaurants In Each State
Take a nostalgic road trip across America with this guide to the best drive-in restaurants in every state. From neon-lit classics serving burgers and shakes to hidden gems with decades of history, these stops deliver retro vibes, timeless flavors, and plenty of small-town charm.
Every State’s Most Popular Fast-Food Restaurant, New Study Finds
Every state seems to have its favorite fast-food spot, and McDonald’s tops the list most often – though in places like Idaho, unique choices like Domino’s claim the title. Find out how regional tastes and competitive chains define fast-food popularity across the U.S.
15 Chain Restaurants With The Best All-You-Can-Eat Deals Beyond Buffets
Ready to feast? Here are 15 U.S. chain restaurants offering standout all-you-can-eat or bottomless deals right now – from endless wings to unlimited pasta and more. Keep in mind: many promos are limited time and availability varies by location – so call ahead or check the app before you go.
10 Restaurant Chains You’ll Only Find In The South
Southern restaurant chains remain deeply rooted in the region’s culinary identity, serving up flavors that resonate beyond mere nostalgia. Their enduring popularity reflects a blend of comfort, tradition, and evolving tastes that keep diners coming back.
7 Fictional Film Restaurants We Wish Existed Off-Screen
From the intergalactic Mos Eisley Cantina to the nostalgic Jack Rabbit Slim’s, cinema has gifted us with unforgettable fictional eateries. Explore seven iconic film restaurants that fans wish were real, each offering a unique blend of atmosphere, cuisine, and cinematic charm.
4 Ways Your Favorite Restaurant Is Spying on You
Restaurants are increasingly tracking customers through loyalty programs, apps, and even surveillance tools, often without diners realizing it. Understanding these tactics can help you protect your privacy and make more informed choices when dining out.
Starbucks Will Close More Than 100 Locations and Lay off Another 900 Workers
Starbucks is closing over 100 locations and laying off an additional 900 non-retail employees as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts. These closures and layoffs are part of CEO Brian Niccol’s strategy to address declining traffic and improve the company’s financial performance.
Mexican Concept Abuelo’s Files for Bankruptcy
Starbucks is restructuring its operations to tackle declining customer traffic, closing over 100 stores and laying off 900 non-retail employees. The changes aim to streamline the brand and improve financial performance amid shifting market conditions.
The World’s Largest Chain Restaurant (No, It’s Not McDonald’s)
You might not have heard of it, but Mixue Ice Cream & Tea is a Chinese powerhouse boasting over 45,000 locations worldwide, potentially making it the world’s largest restaurant chain by store count. Discover how this ubiquitous brand achieved its massive scale and global dominance in the intensely competitive landscape of affordable treats and beverages.
Restaurants: Cinematic Culinary Crossover: Decoding the Blockbuster Brand Playbook
Hollywood isn’t just for blockbusters anymore; restaurants are strategically tapping into the cinematic universe, using movie and TV crossovers to drive massive customer engagement and profits. Discover the playbook behind these successful culinary collaborations, where themed menus and limited-time offerings create buzz that goes far beyond the typical dining experience.
Why 84% of Gen Z Are Trying Social Media Food Trends: And What That Means for Restaurant Marketing
A striking 84% of Gen Z actively tries food trends they discover on social media, fundamentally reshaping how this generation interacts with the dining landscape. For restaurants, this means shifting focus from traditional advertising to creating authentic, highly sharable content on platforms like TikTok to capture the attention and loyalty of the next generation of diners.
Purpose and Timing Matter Most for Restaurant Social Content, Influencers Say
Forget endlessly posting; social media influencers reveal that the key to viral restaurant content lies in perfect timing and a focused purpose. Discover the crucial elements that will transform your restaurant’s content strategy from a guessing game into a reliable engagement driver.
How Restaurants Can Tackle Delivery App Refund Abuse Without Losing Customer Trust
Delivery apps are facing increasing levels of fraudulent refund claims, creating a costly headache for restaurants that rely on third-party delivery services. Learn the subtle strategies and technology solutions restaurants can use to combat refund abuse without unjustly punishing loyal customers or damaging crucial consumer trust.
Effectively Using AI to Improve Restaurant Branding
AI is quickly moving past back-of-house operations to become a powerful tool for crafting a restaurant’s external brand identity and improving marketing efforts. Discover how restaurants are effectively using artificial intelligence to analyze consumer data, personalize communications, and ultimately build a stronger, more engaging brand.
How 6 Casual Chains Are Boosting Their Value
As inflation drives consumers away from high prices, casual dining chains are fighting back by rolling out affordable meal deals and value menus to compete with fast food. Learn how six major chains – including Applebee’s, Chili’s, and The Cheesecake Factory – are leveraging price and experiential value to lure guests back to the table.
Why Many Restaurant Technology Announcements Sound Bolder Than the Innovations Behind Them
Many new restaurant technology announcements often overpromise, using buzzwords and hype to mask incremental updates rather than true breakthroughs. This disparity between bold marketing and practical innovation often stems from a pressure to secure funding and grab market share in a fiercely competitive vendor landscape.
100 Must-Go Restaurants in Osaka
Welcome to the culinary heart of Japan, as Time Out curates a massive list of 100 essential restaurants that define Osaka’s incredible food scene. From Michelin-recognized excellence in Kaiseki to the finest street food staples like Kushikatsu and Okonomiyaki, this guide covers every must-try flavor and genre.
The 25 Best Restaurants in San Antonio Right Now, According To Reviews on Yelp
Stop searching aimlessly: this list of San Antonio’s 25 best restaurants is based entirely on the wisdom of the crowd—current Yelp reviews. Discover where locals and visitors are truly eating right now, covering everything from fine French bistros to exceptional Texas BBQ and more.
The 18 Hottest New Restaurants Opening in Orlando This Fall
Prepare your palate: Orlando’s culinary scene is heating up with 18 exciting new restaurants scheduled to open this fall. From unorthodox pizza and classic-style diners to Korean kitchens and the much-anticipated arrival of H Mart, your dining-out schedule just got a lot more interesting.
15 Restaurants That Opened in Tucson This Summer
Treat yourself to a delicious meal at a new local restaurant in Tucson’s impressive food scene! Here are the latest hotspots that have recently opened their doors, bringing unique and creative dishes – from Detroit-style pizza to iced matcha lattes.
14 Items in the Kitchen of the World’s Fastest Michelin-Starred Restaurant
Step inside the intimate, 18-seat kitchen of Chef Andy Beynon’s London restaurant, Behind, which famously earned a Michelin star in just 20 days. Discover the essential items and unique design of the counter-style dining room that gives guests a full “behind the scenes” look at fine dining.
From Stalls to Stars: Street Food’s Mark on Asia’s Cuisine
Street food is Asia’s great equalizer, a democratic dining ritual that carries the weight of memory, migration, and survival across all classes and cultures. Top MICHELIN-starred chefs weigh in on the fragile future of this authentic cuisine, debating whether tradition demands preservation or inevitable modernization.
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