Top Fast Casual News

As a third-generation butcher on both sides of her family, Kari Underly sees her profession not as a trade so much as a craft. When she met Megan O’Connor last year the two realized that the foodservice world was sorely lacking in a training program to close gaps left by the decline in apprenticeships. At […]

Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint is teaming up with local Atlanta breweries to host Pie & Pint nights starting May 14, 2015. The events will feature limited-edition beer selections from local breweries paired with Uncle Maddio’s famous pizzas. Brewery representatives will be on-hand to provide guests with information about the beers and offer recommendations. Atlanta breweries […]

“Fast-fine” dining innovator Fresh To Order has awarded a three-unit deal with restaurant and convenience store experts Tony Chong and Daryl Ortiz, partners of the Kephas Group. The pair plans to bring Fresh To Order’s chef-driven menu of freshly prepared, healthy dishes to diners in the Philadelphia area next year.  It will be the first […]

Sushi might be a popular fast-casual or carryout option, but it’s hardly conducive with on-the-go grubbing. Between chopsticks, soy sauce, and easily jostled fillings, the dish has always had certain limitations with portability. Enter the sushi burrito. Two fast-casual concepts—Sushirrito in the San Francisco area and soon-to-open Komotodo Sushi Burrito in Denver—are applying the convenience […]

Born on the banks of the Jersey Shore in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, Bubbakoo’s Burritos announced its strategic franchising plan. The initiative stands to satisfy widespread clamoring from crazed Bubbakoo’s fans calling upon the brand to expand. Bubbakoo’s is initially focused on dotting the map with new locations up and down the Garden State, pinpointing […]

Escape Enterprises of Columbus, OH introduces the Steak Escape Sandwich Grill in Hilliard, Ohio as the company's latest evolution of the fast-casual dining business. The new prototype is located at 2540 Hilliard Rome Road, where every aspect of the dining experience was re-imagined. “We went through a two-year process to re-imagine every aspect of our […]

Barbecue brisket and pulled pork may be unlikely candidates for healthy, on-the-go fare, but Southern Concepts Restaurant Group plans to change that with its upcoming fast-casual concept, Southern Hospitality. Borrowing inspiration from both its full-service counterpart Southern Hospitality Restaurant & Bar and Chipotle, the new concept will feature a customizable, Southern-style barbecue. The first location […]

Fast casual, build-your-own pizza restaurant Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint will open in New Jersey later this year. Franchisees Ben Perez-Ringus and Dipen Desai, partners, have signed a deal to build five Uncle Maddio’s restaurants in Morris, Somerset, Middlesex, Bergen, and Essex counties. The first restaurant is expected to open in late 2015. Perez-Ringus will serve as the […]

Dog Haus, the Pasadena-based concept known for its gourmet hot dogs, sausages, burgers, and one-of-a-kind creations, will be opening a franchise location in Centennial, Colorado, on May 9, 2015. Located at 12023 E. Arapahoe Rd., Centennial, Colorado, the restaurant from franchisee Jason Bell will be the ninth location of the emerging brand, and the first outside the […]

Carl’s Jr. continues to expand in Latin America with the opening of its first restaurant in Colombia today. Located at Parque de La 93 in the heart of Bogota, the restaurant marks the first of a multi-unit development agreement between Carl’s Jr. parent company CKE Restaurants Holdings Inc. (CKE) and International Meal Company (IMC). IMC […]

PizzaRev announced today that the Taco Pizza is back by popular demand. The award winning fast-casual pizza concept will feature the seasonal special throughout May and June at its 27 restaurants. The Taco Pizza features PizzaRev’s original homemade dough, organic red sauce, all-natural Italian cheese, chorizo, shredded greens, cilantro, tomatoes, sour cream, and Cholula sauce. […]

The Austin-based fast casual chain, VertsKebap, will open the doors to its first San Antonio restaurant in the Park North Shopping Center at 842 NW Loop 410 on Saturday, May 16.  VertsKebap Park North will celebrate its first day of business with a grand opening event from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. featuring one free, full sized entrée […]

Dunkin’ Donuts announced today the signing of a multi-unit store development agreement with existing franchise group, NMR LLC, to develop five Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants and four multi-brand restaurants with its sister brand, Baskin-Robbins, in Albuquerque and its surrounding areas. The first restaurant is planned to open in Summer 2016. Led by Amin Habib, Murad Fazal, […]

Boosting sales as much as 10 to 15 percent is a breeze—at least it was for Mama Fu’s following the launch of its branded delivery fleet. In December, the Asian fast casual kicked off its new delivery program at corporate-owned stores in Austin, Waco, Houston, Georgetown, and Braunfels, Texas, as well as Bentonville, Arkansas. Sporting […]

The Halal Guys has announced the signing of three major multi-unit franchise deals abroad. Nearly 40 new restaurants will open in the Philippines; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  The franchisee for the Philippines has signed a 20-unit deal for the entire country, with the first location expected to open in the summer of 2015 in […]

May is National Salad Month, and tocelebrate, beginning today, the 79 Fuzzy's Taco Shops nationwide are featuring a special entree salad for spring: the Shredded Chicken Salad, with a choice of two new dressings, a Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette or a Creamy Sriracha. Priced from $5.49 to $7.19 (varies by location), the hand-tossed salad features seasoned, shredded chicken that's been marinated […]

Houston-based Salata, the fast-growing salad and salad wrap restaurant company, will kick off summer with three new additions to its 50-plus ingredient list: watermelon, mango and blueberry. Now through June 15, guests can sweeten up their custom salad or salad wrap at any of Salata’s 42 locations in Texas, California, and Illinois. “We’re always looking […]

The Habit Restaurants Inc., an Irvine-based fast casual restaurant, has launched a free email program to let guests stay connected on all things Habit. For a limited time, joining the program also makes them eligible to win some free prizes.  By signing up, fans can become the first to know about limited-time offers and new […]

The Krystal Company is proud to announce that Tom Murrill will be joining the company as its new chief people officer (CPO), effective Monday, May 4, 2015. He will report to CEO Omar Janjua.  “The new CPO position is a critical role that will align our core values to the company's strategies and how we […]

Cincinnati-based restaurant Tom+Chee will open its first North Carolina location in Carrboro on May 15, 2015. The 54-seat, 2,000-square-foot restaurant, which also offers additional outdoor seating, is located at 370 E. Main Street, Suite 140, Carrboro, NC 27510. The Carrboro location will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:15 a.m. on […]

Today, Uncle Sam’s announced the opening of its first U.S. location just down the street from the Empire State Building at 307 Fifth Avenue in New York City on May 18. Fans of the company’s two Beijing locations will now be able to enjoy Uncle Sam’s creative spin on American classics, creating bold Asian flavors […]

Mexican quick service restaurant chain Taco John’s has added two new members to its leadership team: Ted Suor, vice president for supply chain, and Stephanie Forand, director of human relations. Both are focusing their attention on helping Taco John’s grow. Suor brings 35 years of food service purchasing experience to Taco John’s, most recently with […]

PepperJax Grill, home of “America’s Best Philly,” recently opened its 30th store location in Blue Springs, Missouri, in early April. PepperJax Grill started with an invention by PepperJax Grill’s owner and founder, Gary Rohwer, and has today developed into a rapidly growing fast casual restaurant chain that’s known for its “grilled right before your eyes” dining […]

Today, Panera Bread shared a comprehensive set of commitments around food. The Food Policy, which is a formal articulation of Panera’s long-held values, is expressed by a commitment to clean ingredients, transparency, and a positive impact (on the food system) rooted in craft. “Panera was founded on the belief that quick food could be quality […]