Summer flavors sizzle at Smoothie King, Jamba and Golden Corral

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, and restaurants are ready to welcome the season with fresh flavors and ingredients. From bowls to beverages, quesadillas to salads, burgers to ice cream and every category in between, summer menus are sizzling.

SK Refreshers join the menu at Smoothie King, a line of icy, lightly caffeinated fresh fruit beverages. It’s a new category for the chain and includes two options: Pineapple Mango and Strawberry Guava, both made with real fruit, enhanced with Vitamins A and E, and naturally caffeinated with green coffee beans. Each flavor also comes in a lemonade version for an extra touch of sweetness. Also launching are Lemonade Smoothies in two new flavors—Raspberry and Blueberry—as well as fan-favorite Watermelon, returning for a repeat performance.

Watermelon is also in the summer spotlight at Jamba in three smoothies. The new Watermelon Tajin Smoothie embraces the swicy trend, combining watermelon, pineapple, strawberry and Tajin mild hot sauce for a kick of sweet heat. Also new is a Watermelon Lemonade Smoothie featuring lemonade along with watermelon, pineapple and strawberry. And the Watermelon Breeze Smoothie is making a comeback, a blend of watermelon, pineapple and strawberry. All are available through Sept. 9.

Golden Corral is firing up consumers’ appetite for summer grilling with its latest menu. The lineup includes Grilled Carne Asada, Cheddar Bacon Ranch Chicken and Bruschetta Chicken, a lighter choice that tops grilled chicken breasts with garlic, basil and fresh tomatoes. Refreshing mango-flavored beverages are also on hand, such as Mango Lemonade, Mango Tea and Mango Citrus Splash.

The “Dolly Southern Sweets Doughnut Collection” debuted at Krispy Kreme, created in collaboration with no other than superstar Dolly Parton. The assortment of four includes the Dolly Dazzler Doughnut, an original glazed dipped in strawberry icing with glitter sprinkles and a chocolate butterfly; Peachy Keen Cobbler Doughnut filled with real peach filling and dipped in brown sugar icing and cobbler crunch; Banana Puddin’ Pie filled with banana pudding, dipped in yellow icing and swirled with white; and Chocolate Crème Pie, an original glazed doughnut topped with a chocolate brownie cream swirl, whipped topping and cookie crumble sprinkles.

It’s Carvel’s 90th birthday and the treats chain is kicking off the celebration with a new soft-serve flavor aptly called “Birthday Cake.” The rainbow-sprinkled cake-flavored take on Original Soft Serve can also be had in a Birthday Cake Shake, scooped ice cream, a sundae, Carvel Flying Saucer and ice cream pop. Memorial Day specials include limited-edition celebratory cups and 90th birthday commemorative swag.

The Guest Custom Contest held by Cava invited fans to build bowl creations and win a chance to see their idea end up on the menu. Three limited-time bowls made the cut and are running through June 2. Jonathan’s Custom Bowl is a combo of half braised lamb and half grilled chicken with crazy feta, tzatziki, pickled onions, olives and other veggies, dressed with yogurt-dill dressing. Chloe’s Custom Bowl goes big on hummus, roasted eggplant, falafel, chicken, saffron basmati rice, pita crisps and yogurt-dill dressing, while Nat’s Custom Bowl (pictured) is a toss of half grilled chicken, half roasted veggies with tzatziki, hummus, fiery broccoli, fire roasted corn, more veggies and feta, again finished with yogurt-dill dressing.

Street corn, a.k.a. elote, comes to Mendocino Farms’ menu, appearing in the Street Corn Chicken Sandwich. It’s prepared with al pastor chicken over creamy street corn, with roasted peppers and onions, pickled red onion, tomatoes, shredded romaine, cilantro and jalapeno salsa verde on a toasted sesame roll. The Sweet Peach & Goat Salad is another summer item, composed of shaved roast chicken, peaches, a drizzle of hot peach honey, marinated goat cheese, almonds, pickled onions, mint and assorted greens.

At Starbird, street corn shows up in an Elote Chop Salad with crispy chicken, romaine and cabbage blend, cotija cheese, cilantro, pickled jalapeno, Tajin spiced tortilla strips and jalapeno lime dressing. Two other summery salads join the menu too: Cali Mediterranean Salad spiced with za’atar and Calabrian Chili Vinaigrette, and Miso Caesar Salad.

The Portillo’s x Lou Malnati’s Italian Beef Deep Dish pizza is a partnership between the two Chicago-born chains that’s been ongoing for three years. The pizza features Portillo’s famous slow-roasted Italian beef and can be ordered with either sweet peppers or hot giardiniera for nationwide shipping through Lou Malnati’s Tastes of Chicago. The return of the collaborative pie coincides with Italian Beef Week, scheduled for May 20-26.

On another pizza front, CaliforniaPizza Kitchen is running a Grab & Grill pizza promotion through Labor Day. Guests have a choice of six signature CPK pizzas, including Original BBQ Chicken, Thai Chicken and California Veggie, all prepped and ready to pop on the grill to bake in minutes. The promotion offers special pricing of two pizzas for $25 or four for $40, geared to larger gatherings.

Two new stuffed quesadillas come to the menu at El Pollo Loco for a limited time. The Chicken Poblano Stuffed Quesadilla combines the chain’s fire-grilled chicken, jack cheese, avocados, roasted poblanos, salsa fresca and creamy cilantro dressing. There’s also a new Shredded Beef Stuffed Quesadilla with avocado salsa, diced onions, jack cheese and cilantro, along with the permanent Chicken Avocado Stuffed Quesadilla. All are wrapped in a warm flour tortilla and grilled.

National Burger Day is Tuesday and Shake Shack is commemorating the event with two barbecue-inspired burgers. The Smoky Classic BBQ Burger is topped with American cheese, bacon, pickles, crispy onions and classic smoky barbecue sauce on a toasted potato bun, while the Carolina BBQ Burger with Fried Pickles swaps in pepper jack cheese, fried pickles and Carolina-style barbecue sauce. BBQ Fries and BBQ Cheese Fries extend the flavor profile to potatoes.

Ted’s Montana Grill is celebrating National Burger Day all week by bringing back its popular No.10 Burger from May 27-June 2. The fan favorite is a twist on a classic cheeseburger and includes the choice of fresh-ground bison or beef and two slices of American cheese. It’s then topped with house-made sweet-and-spicy pickles, shredded iceberg lettuce, vine-ripened tomato slices and zesty chip dip sauce. The No. 10 is sided with hand-cut french fries and salt-n-pepper onion rings. 

Two new limited-time cheese steaks launch at Jersey Mike’s, both elevated with signature sauces. The Smoky Southwestern Cheese Steak is layered with freshly grilled beef, onions, peppers, melted cheese and smoky Southwest sauce, while the Salsa Verde Chicken Cheese Steak combines grilled chicken, onions, peppers, melted cheese and salsa verde sauce for a shot of heat.

Four additions have been made to the menu at Shuckin’ Shack. The Flatbreads category expands, with choices of cheese, Buffalo chicken, Buffalo shrimp or shrimp scampi as toppings. Also on offer are Blackened Shrimp Poutine made with fries, chorizo gravy, gulf shrimp and cheese curds; the Seafood Plateau piled with oysters, clams, shrimp cocktail, ahi tuna tartare and crab salad; and a Shrimp Skillet with shrimp and bread points cooked any style, including scampi, Buffalo, jerk and New Orleans BBQ.