Qdoba, Bob Evans and Taco Bell ready their menus for May

As May approaches, menus start getting a bit of a summer vibe. Lighter ingredients, barbecue flavors and seasonal produce are coming out of kitchens. And with the Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day falling early this month, restaurants are gearing up with themed food and drink specials.

Mexican Street Corn is the newest addition to Qdoba’s menu, available as a warm topping on any entrée for no additional charge. Inspired by authentic street corn, it features a combo of sweet corn kernels, poblano chilies, red bell peppers, creamy elote sauce and lime juice. Guests can also order Loaded Mexican Sweet Corn as a side for $3. It starts with the same base, then is topped with chile crema, cotija cheese and chopped cilantro.

Beverage innovation continues to be a focus at Taco Bell with Churro Chillers in test in Dallas and Chicago. The sippable blended treats come in Sweet Vanilla, Mexican Chocolate, Dulce de Leche Coffee and Wild Strawberry layered with churro crumbles. And the $5 Taco Discovery Box is back on the menu, available on Tuesdays only through June 4. The deal includes one Crunchy Taco, one Doritos Locos Taco and the new Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco plus a fountain drink.

The spring menu at Bob Evans is packed with farm-inspired salads and fresh twists on classics. The salad lineup includes a Steakhouse Salad, Grilled Chicken Chopped Salad and Sumer Berry Salad with grilled chicken, strawberries, blueberries, pecans and feta. The family-dining chain also added a Fresh Start Omelet and Legendary Turkey Sandwich to the menu, both of which feature fresh combos of ingredients.

In honor of Derby Day on Saturday, Panera Bread is launching a limited-edition “Bread Head” hat, available for $21—a nod to the 21 new and enhanced dishes on Panera’s latest menu refresh. The 3-D printed bread bowl is surrounded by ostrich feathers and fashioned to look like the fascinators perched on the heads of female Kentucky Derby attendees. Hat purchases come with a $100 Panera gift card so buyers can try the new menu.   

Borracho Beans return to Texas locations of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. The seasoned pinto beans are cooked with bacon, pico de gallo and a splash of Modelo Especial beer. The side is available at participating units only.

Two LTOs inspired by America’s top regional barbecue styles—Texas, Alabama and the Carolinas—are coming to Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que Thursday. Called the Tour of BBQ, the feast for four includes baby back ribs, pulled pork, Texas-style beef brisket, smoked pork belly burnt ends, BBQ rib tips, Texas red hot sausage, jalapeno cheddar sausage and barbecue chicken. The meal also includes Texas toast, bread-and-butter pickles, pickled red onions, house-made biscuits, a variety of sauces and two family-size sides. There’s also a Feast for Two with one appetizer, three meats and one dessert.

Baked falafel has arrived at Taziki’s Mediterranean Café due to popular demand. For years, falafel has held the top spot as the most requested item at the fast casual, and the griddle-finished baked version provides a healthier alternative to traditional fried falafel. The plant-based, gluten-free protein can be added to any bowl, pita or platter.

Jimmy John’s has teamed up with Zing Zang, makers of cocktail mixes, on the “Brunch in a Cup” kit for Mother’s Day. The kit includes a limited-edition Jimmy Pickle Bloody Mary Mix along with a custom glass, Bloody Mary recipe and a skewer to hold a garnish of a sub sandwich and pickle. Each $34.99 kit comes with a Jimmy John’s gift card for a sub purchase; customers can also opt for bottles of Jimmy Pickle Bloody Mary mix for $9.99.

The Taco Grande Pizza returns to Papa Murphy’s as a take ‘n bake option for Cinco de Mayo. The pizza, which is currently available through May 19, features the chain’s signature freshly made dough covered with a base of refried beans and salsa, then topped with ground beef or grilled chicken, Roma tomatoes, onions, black olives, grated cheddar cheese and whole-milk mozzarella.

Known as a destination for premium chicken sandwiches, Birdcall is introducing a Mediterranean Salad as a seasonal LTO. It features romaine, baby spinach, diced tomatoes and cucumbers, feta crumbles, crispy chick peas and lemon tahini dressing. Several salads are on the permanent menu too, including Curry Chicken, Caesar, Chopped, Asian and Buffalo Chicken.

St. Louis-based Lion’s Choice debuted “The Remix,” a reboot of the Original Roast Beef Sandwich that earned the concept its claim to fame. The Remix features lean top-round roast beef, two slices of Swiss cheese and garlic aioli on two slices of buttered Texas Toast—a departure from the former sesame bun. Guests now have the chance to customize as well, by adding beef by the ounce to build a sandwich sized to their specs.

National Bubble Tea Day falls on Tuesday and Krak Boba is celebrating with free boba toppings on every drink ordered. To tie into spring, the chain is holding a social media contest based around Sakura boba pearls that are pink like the cherry blossoms they translate to in Japanese. Through May 7, participants can follow Krak Boba on Instagram and guess the number of Sakura boba pearls that are in the cup.

From Friday through Sunday, Pinkbox Doughnuts is offering a collection of Star Wars-themed doughnuts for “May the 4th Be With You Day.” There’s a Boba Fett green-frosted doughnut, and others decorated to resemble Stormtroopers, Galaxy Pee Weez, Galaxy Ring, Maple Ewok, The Wookie, Princess Leia, Yoda Pooh and Vegan Space. For Cinco de Mayo, Pinkbox has the Mango Tango doughnut with mango filling, chamoy drizzle and tajin, running through June 2.