Taco Bell, California Pizza Kitchen, Mountain Mike’s Pizza, Pizza Inn, and Konala lead RestaurantNews.com’s Top 20 stories for the week ending December 21, 2025.
1) Taco Bell Brings Back the Quesarito With One Wish – That Nikola Jokic Will Finally Try It
Taco Bell has brought back the iconic Quesarito nationwide and has issued a playful challenge to NBA star Nikola Jokic to finally try the item that famously shared his 2014 draft-day spotlight.
2) Consortium Brand Partners to Acquire California Pizza Kitchen in Partnership with Eldridge Industries, Aurify Brands, and Convive Brands
California Pizza Kitchen is set for a new chapter of global expansion and retail growth following a definitive acquisition agreement by Consortium Brand Partners and Convive Brands.
3) Mountain Mike’s Pizza Proudly Welcomes Restaurant Industry Executive Sumi Ghosh as President and Chief Operating Officer
Mountain Mike’s Pizza has appointed industry veteran Sumi Ghosh as President and Chief Operating Officer to leverage his extensive experience at Starbucks and Nike for the brand’s rapid national expansion.
4) Pizza Inn Expands Footprint with Three New Stores in Three Weeks
Pizza Inn achieves its fastest growth in 18 years, opening three new locations in three weeks as it expands into Indiana, Virginia, and North Carolina.
5) Konala Signs 25-Unit Franchise Deal Across Utah and Idaho
Konala is set to transform the drive-thru category in the Northwest after signing a 25-unit franchise agreement with Speedy Foods LLC to develop high-protein bowl locations across Utah and Idaho.
6) Rock N’ Roll Sushi Caps 2025 With Strong Growth and High-Voltage Momentum
Rock N’ Roll Sushi concluded a record-breaking 2025 by opening 11 new locations and achieving unprecedented sales in Tucson, setting the stage for a massive 2026 expansion into major markets like Dallas, Las Vegas, and Nashville.
7) Perkins American Food Co. Appoints Industry Veteran Matt Carpenter as Brand President
Perkins American Food Co. has just appointed industry heavy-hitter Matt Carpenter as its new Brand President, bringing over 40 years of operational and franchising expertise to propel the beloved family-dining brand into a fresh era of modernization and growth.
8) San Antonio Becomes Home to Teriyaki Madness Shop 200, and the Hype Is Real
Teriyaki Madness celebrated the grand opening of its milestone 200th shop in San Antonio on December 19th with $6 Chicken Teriyaki Bowls, special prizes, and free bowls for a year for the first five lucky fans.
9) Pepper Lunch Opens First Hawaii Restaurant; Honolulu Location One of Three Coming Soon to the Area
Pepper Lunch, the famous Japanese experiential fast-casual concept, celebrated the grand opening of its first Honolulu, Hawaii location on December 12th by giving away free Beef Pepper Rice, the signature sizzling dish that has become an international favorite.
10) Taco Cabana Introduces the New Bean & Cheese Pie and Takes a Texas Icon to Its Next Evolution
Taco Cabana is evolving its culinary heritage with the launch of the Bean & Cheese Pie, a handheld pastry that reimagines the brand’s iconic refried bean recipe for modern consumers.
11) Savory Elevates Maryam Chaney to Chief of Supply Chain; Promotes Aaron Smith to VP of Development
Savory Fund has announced the strategic promotions of Maryam Chaney to Chief of Supply Chain and Aaron Smith to Vice President of Development to lead the next phase of growth for its 13-brand restaurant portfolio.
12) Potbelly Sandwich Works Marks Breakout Year of Growth as It Prepares for Major 2026 Expansion Surge
Your favorite neighborhood sandwich shop, Potbelly Sandwich Works, is gearing up for a major expansion surge in 2026, aiming for its 500th shop milestone and driven by strong sales, digital ordering success, and a major acquisition by RaceTrac.
13) Ono Hawaiian BBQ Deepens Its Anaheim Presence with Second Location
Ono Hawaiian BBQ has expanded its Orange County footprint with the grand opening of a second Anaheim location on December 19, featuring a modern drive-thru and an exclusive buy-one-get-one-free offer.
14) Twin Peaks Expands to Connecticut with New Franchise Agreement
Twin Peaks Restaurant is set to make its Connecticut debut following a new three-unit franchise agreement with New London Hospitality to develop sports lodges in key markets like New Haven and Hartford.
15) Field of Greens Poised for Rapid Expansion, Four New Locations to Open in Early 2026 with Additional Markets on the Horizon
Field of Greens has appointed three key executives to its leadership team as the chef-driven fast-casual brand prepares to open four new South Florida locations throughout early 2026.
16) Layne’s Chicken Fingers Promotes Alex Camp to VP of Operations Services Amidst Record Growth
Layne’s Chicken Fingers has promoted Alex Camp to Vice President of Operations Services to strengthen corporate infrastructure and franchisee support during a period of rapid national expansion.
17) FUSIAN Strengthens Leadership Team With Strategic Marketing Hire To Support Next Phase of Development
FUSIAN appoints Tyson Yirak as Marketing Director to drive brand expansion and enhance the fast-casual sushi experience through data-driven strategy and storytelling.
18) Teriyaki Madness Closes Out 2025 with Record Growth, National Recognition and a Whole Lot of Madness
Teriyaki Madness closed out a record-breaking 2025 by surpassing the 200-shop milestone, achieving $191 million in systemwide sales, and launching its first international location.
19) Mountain Mike’s Pizza Expands Fresh Menu With New Specialty Salad and Brings Back Popular All-You-Can-Eat Lunch Buffet Promotion
Mountain Mike’s Pizza is enhancing its seasonal menu with the introduction of a new Greek Salad and the return of its $9.99 all-you-can-eat weekday lunch buffet throughout January.
20) PJ’s Coffee Brings Crescent City Flavor to Drive-Thru Grand Opening in Statesboro
PJ’s Coffee has expanded its Georgia presence with a new drive-thru location in Statesboro, offering signature New Orleans-style roasts and fresh beignets.