White Castle, Layne’s Chicken Fingers, Angry Chickz, Teriyaki Madness, and Biscuit Belly lead RestaurantNews.com’s Top 20 stories for the week ending October 26, 2025.
1) White Castle Unveils Its “Castle of Tomorrow,” Blending Innovation, Hospitality and Craveable Tradition
The legendary White Castle has unveiled its stunning new Castle of Tomorrow prototype in Columbus, Ohio, blending the comfort of classic Sliders with high-tech features like AI ordering and mobile pickup windows!
2) Layne’s Chicken Fingers Signs Landmark 44-Restaurant Deal, Shatters Records in Monumental Third Quarter
The Texas-based Layne’s Chicken Fingers just had a monumental third quarter, smashing revenue records and inking a landmark 44-unit deal that signals a massive expansion is coming to a state near you.
3) Angry Chickz Secures Growth Capital from Saratoga Investment Corp.
Rapidly growing Nashville Hot Chicken chain Angry Chickz just secured major capital from Saratoga Investment Corp. to fuel its massive expansion into a national brand!
4) Teriyaki Madness Makes Restaurant History With First Fully AI-Generated Ad Campaign, And Yes, the Food is Still Real
Teriyaki Madness is making restaurant history with the first fully AI-generated ad campaign in the fast-casual industry. Partnering with Genre.ai, the Denver-based teriyaki brand produced every element of the campaign – from actors to environments – entirely through artificial intelligence. The result is a bold, tech-driven national campaign that proves while everything on screen may be AI, the food is 100% real and irresistible.
5) Biscuit Belly Expands Across the Southeast U.S. With Six New Locations
Get ready for some incredible Southern comfort food because Biscuit Belly is nearly doubling its footprint with six new restaurants set for Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina!
6) Bob Evans Unveils 2025 Thanksgiving Meal Lineup with Brand-New Sides, Desserts and More
Bob Evans has unveiled its 2025 Thanksgiving menu, featuring the ready-to-heat Farmhouse Feast, a hot carryout option, and new farmhouse sides like Green Bean and Cheesy Potato casseroles.
7) The Rustic Begins an Exciting Transition to a New Home in Downtown Houston
Houston, your favorite spot for food and live music, The Rustic, is just moving down the street to a brand-new, even better location near the Toyota Center! We’re talking expanded parking and a dedicated rideshare area, so getting your fix of good tunes and great food just got easier.
8) Ono Hawaiian BBQ Expands into Texas, Marking Major Growth Milestone
Get your appetite ready, Texas, because Ono Hawaiian BBQ is bringing its famous plate lunches, Kalua Pork, and signature Aloha spirit to the Dallas-Fort Worth area with ten new restaurants!
9) Cracker Barrel Sets the Table for a Delicious Holiday Season with Classic Comforts and All Things Joy
The most wonderful time of the year has officially arrived at Cracker Barrel! Their holiday menu is stacked with classics like Country Fried Turkey and Cinnamon Swirl French Toast, plus a must-try new Breakfast Burger. For stress-free celebrations, pre-order your Heat & Serve Feast for Thanksgiving today!
10) Pick & Cheese to Debut First U.S. Location at Shaver Hall in New York City
Get ready for the fanciest conveyor belt you’ve ever seen: Pick & Cheese, the London concept that serves artisan cheese and pairings on a revolving track, is opening its first U.S. spot in New York City in February 2026!
11) Powerhouse+Co. Proudly Honored by Mountain Mike’s Pizza as Vendor of the Year
Mountain Mike’s Pizza has honored long-time partner Powerhouse+Co. with the prestigious Vendor of the Year Award for significantly contributing to the brand’s growth and success.
12) South Block Brings Fresh Flavors to Reston with Grand Opening
South Block, Northern Virginia’s homegrown smoothie and açai bowl brand known for spreading good vibes one block at a time, opened its newest location in Reston with a high-energy celebration on Saturday, Oct. 25.
13) Son of a Butcher and King’s Hawaiian Get Buns Deep in a New Collab
Get your dunk on, Texas: Son of a Butcher and King’s Hawaiian have created the perfect limited-time Rip It & Dip It slider series that smashes beef and sweet rolls together with bold dipping queso!
14) SONIC Turns Up the Flavor with Craveable New Menu Items for Fall and Winter Festivities
SONIC is indulging our savory and sweet sides this season with the decadent Pretzel Bacon SONIC Smasher burger and the festive Peppermint Brownie Bark Shake, available now in the app!
15) Grand Opening of Newtown Square Paris Baguette Café on October 24th as the Brand Continues to Dominate the Bakery Café Space
As their growth continues, Paris Baguette is looking to reach the 1,000-unit mark in the U.S. & Canada by 2030 and working to expand through meaningful partnerships with local entrepreneurs who show a genuine interest in uniting their neighbors through connections over fresh baked goods and artisan coffee beverages.
16) Applebee’s Announces Return of FREE Boneless Wings on Halloween for Online Orders
Don’t ghost your Halloween party this year – Applebee’s is hooking you up with a FREE order of their famous Boneless Wings with any qualifying To Go or delivery order placed on October 31!
17) The Point Pub & Grill Secures First of Three Franchise Locations in Utah
You’re on point, Ogden: The Point Pub & Grill is bringing its beloved comfort food and riverside views to Utah with the first of three new franchise locations opening in early 2027!
18) Panera Bread Names Earl Ellis Chief Financial Officer
Panera Bread names Earl Ellis as its new CFO, a veteran finance executive from ABM Industries and Best Buy. Learn how this hire will impact Panera’s strategy for long-term growth and guest experience in the fast-casual space.
19) Savory Fund Promotes Taylor Dehart to Director
The investment team behind your favorite growing spots like Swig and South Block is getting a huge boost as Taylor DeHart steps up to Director at Savory Fund to guide the next wave of successful restaurants!
20) Beyond Juicery + Eatery to Debut in Georgia, Marks 50th Location
It’s time to refresh, Atlanta, because Beyond Juicery + Eatery is celebrating its 50th location milestone by opening its first Georgia spot in Buckhead on November 8th with its fresh, flavor-packed smoothies and bowls!