Double Down re-do! Spiced-up brew! And cauliflower at a chicken joint? From Reese's peanut butter
to all-truffle-everything, these are the tastiest new items on the menu in 2023.
Chicken Fries are among the tastiest snacks we've tried at Burger King. And when we found out that
there was a spicy version coming out this year, we were like, "BK, take all our money."
"Hey, you got one big hit on your hands."
One thing we were hoping for was that the Spicy Chicken Fries would actually be spicy. We want
some heat, people! Fortunately, they definitely pack a kick. We even compared them to Wendy's
Spicy Chicken Nuggets and found that the Chicken Fries reigned supreme in the spice department.
KFC's original Double Down — made with two pieces of fried chicken rather than a bun — was off the
menu for an entire decade. But in March 2023, the chain announced that the icon would be returning,
complete with cheese, bacon, and mayo or spicy sauce sandwiched between
chicken filets. Spoiler alert: the new Double Down is just as good as the O.G.
"It's always a good idea to Double Down."
It might even be a little bit larger than the old one used to be. But if there were
one thing we would change, it would be the roughly $9 price tag. Still,
when you consider that you're getting two pieces of chicken in one sandwich, it's not a bad deal.
If you're looking for something to add to your Taco Bell order that isn't more tacos,
try their Crispy Chicken Wings. They used to be on the menu at participating locations,
and they returned in January for another limited run. An order
includes five wings with Mexico queso seasoning and a side of spicy ranch dip.
Texture-wise, they remind us of the crispiness of KFC hot wings. But the flavor is really
impressive, especially from a fast food place. And dipping them into the ranch elevates the
flavor even more. The wings left the menu again at most restaurants for the time being. But
we suspect we might see them make an annual appearance just in time for the Super Bowl.
You don't want to miss the new Cinnamon Caramel Cream Nitro Cold Brew from
Starbucks. There's a reason you're seeing this drink all over Instagram and TikTok;
it's worth every bit of praise it's been getting since its March release.
"OK, this just in, this is the brand new drink from Starbucks,
and let me tell you it tastes like a flippin' cinnamon roll."
This heavenly cup blends cinnamon and caramel flavoring into cold brew coffee
and tops it off with cinnamon sweet cream cold foam and a cinnamon-caramel
topping. While you're always free to add extra sweetener or creamer,
we think it has the right balance of sweetness and coffee flavor, just as it is.
Wendy's delivered us a tasty gift when it announced its menu in December 2022,
with the Italian Mozzarella Chicken Sandwich and Garlic Fries. We tried both, and while
each one stood out in terms of flavor, the Italian Mozzarella Chicken Sandwich had us wanting more.
"You know what? You're just gonna want to eat it."
It's like a chicken parm on a bun. It comes with melty mozzarella and
aged Asiago cheese on a thick piece of chicken, drizzled with marinara sauce,
tucked inside a garlic knot bun — which knocks it out of the park.
If you're also considering the Garlic Fries, a quick word of advice: Together, the garlic
can become overwhelming. But, one at a time, their unique flavors shine a little brighter.
We realize that a plant-based sandwich from Chick-Fil-A goes against the company's chicken
brand. But we were pleasantly surprised by what this sando brought to the table,
since its debut in February 2023. It features a breaded cauliflower filet
paired with dill pickle slices and served on a signature toasted bun.
Aside from the cauliflower being thicker than the chicken filet,
this and the chicken sandwich were almost identical. Of course the
flavor and texture of the cauliflower is a bit different from the chicken version,
but the bite was enjoyable. Try it for yourself with your favorite Chick-Fil-A sauce.
In April , Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers announced its new Reese's
Peanut Butter Concrete and Shake, for a limited time. And while both desserts
are absolutely worth every penny, we think the concrete edged out the shake ever so slightly.
"You'll have to decide between the creaminess of the shake, or the crunchiness of the concrete."
The Concrete features Freddy's popular vanilla custard as a base, infused with everything you
love about Reese's Peanut Butter Cups — so you get peanut butter flavor in every bite.
There are also chopped peanuts, which gives it a texture we really enjoy.
In February, Shake Shack announced the return of its White Truffle Menu, an elevated selection of
burgers and fries incorporating organic white truffle oil. We left no stone unturned in our
taste test, grabbing one of each of the three new items: the White Truffle Burger,
the White Truffle 'Shroom Burger, and the Parmesan Fries with White Truffle Sauce.
We couldn't pick just one favorite, so we chose all three. The Parmesan Fries
with White Truffle Sauce are a great way to switch up our usual fry order. Also,
we love the cheesiness of the mushroom burger and the thickness of the patty. Finally,
the White Truffle Burger gives us an extra yummy touch from the truffle oil.
The best part of the menu is that each item costs less than $10, so you can enjoy an upscale-style
fast food meal for traditional fast food prices. In April 2023, Culver's added a Smokehouse BBQ
Cheddar Pub Burger and Crispy Chicken Sandwich to its menu. We liked the burger a bit more,
mostly because the toppings went so well with the flavor of the beef patty.
"Mmm."
"Mm-hmm."
"Mmm."
The Burger features cheddar cheese, a smoky barbecue sauce, mayo, pickles,
and crispy onion rings with the standard two beef patties – you can upgrade it to
three or downgrade it to one depending on how hungry you are. But our favorite was the bun,
which is infused with cheddar, making all our cheesy dreams come true.