Health and value headline menus in January

Chain menus launch specials to tie into New Year’s resolutions. | Photo: Shutterstock

“Eating healthier” tops many lists of New Year’s resolutions, and chain restaurants are helping consumers stick to that commitment. Protein-rich menu items continue to trend, along with nutrient-packed bowls and plates and calorie-controlled choices. But value is still a focus, with operators offering meal deals and discounts to lure budget-conscious customers. Here’s what’s trending on menus right now. 

The Good Fit Menu launched at Shake Shack for a limited time. It features a curated lineup of healthy options built from the fast casual’s core menu, with a number of veggie-forward, low-carb and gluten-free items. These include several bun-free choices, such as the Single ShackBurger Lettuce Wrap, Chicken Shack Lettuce Wrap, Double SmokeShack in Lettuce Wrap and Double Avocado Bacon Burger in Lettuce Wrap. There’s also a Gluten-Free Double ShackBurger with American cheese, tomato and ShackSauce on a gluten-free bun and the Double Veggie Shack Lettuce Wrap featuring two veggie patties packed with mushrooms, sweet potatoes, carrots , faro and quinoa. All the items boast good amounts of protein. 

Shake Shack’s Good Fit Menu. | Photo courtesy of Shake Shack.

White sweet potatoes are back at Cava, and along with new Power Greens, they form the foundation of two nutritious bowls. The Spicy Lamb + Sweet Potato Bowl is filled with spicy lamb meatballs, white sweet potatoes, the power greens and brown rice, topped with tzatziki, red pepper hummus, new sumac slaw, pickled onions, feta, cucumber, tomatoes and tahini Caesar, while the Harissa Chicken Power Bowl includes harissa honey chicken, white sweet potatoes, power greens, Crazy Feta, hummus, sumac slaw, tomato, onion, broccoli, cucumber, avocado skhug and yogurt dill dressing. New Mediterranean flavors are also on hand in items such as Sumac Sour Cream + Onion Pita Chips and Tangerine Aleppo, a sweet-tangy beverage with a shot of heat.

Well-balanced Mindful Meals are Lazy Dog Restaurant’s ticket for guests to meet healthy eating goals. The casual-dining chain’s new Protein Crunch Bowl features oven-roasted garbanzo beans, jammy eggs, avocado, almonds, tomatoes and feta cheese on a bed of supergreens with honey apple cider vinegar dressing. Those seeking more protein can add chicken, steak or salmon. Also under the Mindful Meals banner are a Chili Crunch Ahi Tuna Bowl, Thai Chicken Salad, Seared Ahi Tuna Salad, Grilled Lemon Chicken, Wild-Caught Sea Bass and Chicken Lettuce Wraps—all designed to be lower in calories and high in protein. Lazy Dog also introduced handcrafted zero-proof drinks, including the Cold Brew Carajillo, Strawberry Jalapeño Mockarita and Pomegranate Sour Fauxtini. 

Chili Crunch Ahi Tuna Bowl in the Mindful Meals lineup at Lazy Dog. | Photo courtesy of Lazy Dog Restaurant.

Starbucks is leaning into protein with its winter menu rollout. Beginning Tuesday, guests can sip a Caramel Protein Latte (27-29 grams protein per grande drink) or Caramel Protein Matcha (28-31 grams protein), each combining protein-boosted milk and caramel syrup. Joining the beverage lineup are the new Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha and Iced Dubai Chocolate Mocha, both tying into the characteristic chocolate and pistachio flavor profile. Pistachio is also trending on the returning Pistachio Cortado, Pistachio Cream Cold Brew, Pistachio Latte and Pistachio Frappuccino. On the food side are new Truffle, Mushroom & Brie Egg Bites cooked sous-vide style, a couple of varieties of Ellenos Greek Yogurt and Khloud Protein Popcorn, delivering 7 grams protein per serving. 

Protein has infused the indulgent shake menu at Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer with the debut of the Blueberry and Corn Protein Shake Classic this month. The $12 shake is blended with vanilla ice cream, fresh blueberries and sweet corn, balanced with Catalina Crunch, a low-carb, high-protein cereal. This is protein with a decadent twist, as the shake is ice cream-based and topped with whipped cream and a cherry. 

Dry January falls onto the resolutions list to promote healthier drink habits. At The Greene Turtle sports bar, four zero-proof cocktails rolled out this month. The Cucumber Fresca is a combo of Seedlip Notas de Agave, cucumber, lime and agave; the Blackbezzy Refresher features the same Seedlip product mixed with blackberry puree, lemonade and fresh mint. There’s also a Passion Fruit Sparkler made with passion fruit, pineapple, lime and ginger beer, and Boardwalk Lemonades & Teas with strawberry or peach.

The zero-proof Blackbezzy Refresher at The Green Turtle. | Photo courtesy of The Greene Turtle.

The Human Bean taps directly into resolution-making with three new drinks. The Protein Power Brew is a creamy cold brew “wellness” shake with 32 grams of protein plus a good dose of caffeine to rev up the morning routine. For the coffee abstainers, there’s Sweet Victory Bright Energy, a sparkling sustained-energy beverage elevated with sugar-free watermelon and coconut flavors. And for those who crave cozy comfort, the Salted Gold Whole Milk Latte fits the bill. It’s a swirl of sea salt caramel and English toffee flavors topped with Heath toffee crumbles.

The Monterey Melt and Chicken Fajita Taco are both back for a return engagement at Whataburger. The Melt features two beef patties topped with Monterey Jack and American cheeses and grilled onions and peppers, finished with Jalapeño Ranch sauce, while the Taco combines grilled chicken breast, seared onions, poblano and red peppers piled into a flour tortilla. New on the menu is the Big Ranch Wrap, a warm flour tortilla filled with a crispy chicken strip, leaf lettuce, sliced tomato, buttermilk ranch and melted American cheese. The Wrap is available for $3 for a limited time.

New flavors kick off the new year at Nothing Bundt Cakes. On Monday, the chain’s very popular Biscoff Cookie Butter Cake is back—a spice cake with Biscoff Cookie Butter baked into the batter and drizzled on top as well as Biscoff cookies baked into the base and layered on top. The following week, the New-Fashioned Marble with Chocolate Frosting makes it debut, featuring yellow-and-chocolate marble cake topped with chocolate ganache cream cheese frosting and finished with chocolate-coated wafers. It’s available in Bundtlet size only. Then in February, the Chocolate Raspberry Heart Made with DOVE is themed for Valentine’s Day. It’s crowned with a chocolate heart.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Jason’s Deli created a Deli-Bration Cookie—a sugar cookie topped with multi-colored sprinkles—free to Deli Dollars Rewards members through Jan. 8. Joining the permanent menu is the Deli Cowboy, a half-pound of pit-smoked beef brisket with melted cheddar, red onions and barbecue sauce on toasted French bread. January also marks the launch of two seasonal offerings: Chicken & Wild Rice Soup and Cheesy Truffle Pasta with Chicken. 

A trio of Mac-n-Cheese Bowls is the latest LTO from Cowboy Chicken, all starting with the fast casual’s creamy white cheddar mac. The selection includes a Smoky Brisket Mac-n-Cheese Bowl made with tender brisket, melted cheese, onion rings, scallions, barbecue sauce and a dusting of signature Cowboy Dust seasoning; the Chicken Bacon Mac-n-Cheese Bowl with diced rotisserie chicken, cheese, bacon, scallions and Cowboy Dust; and Crispy Buffalo Mac-n-Cheese Bowl topped with Buffalo tenders, cheese, bacon, scallions and a ranch drizzle.

To help cushion post-holiday doldrums, Huddle House introduced the Hangover Helper menu, running through Jan. 7. With any entrée that’s $8 or higher ordered “All The Way,” customers can get a free Hashbrown Casserole. The family-dining chain also has a new Value Menu that starts at $5.99 along with the Classic Huddle Breakfast at $4.99, which includes two eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast. 

Long John Silver’s $6 value meal. | Photo courtesy of Long John Silver’s.

The $6 Fish & Chicken Basket is back for a limited time at Long John Silver’s. Each basket contains a thick piece of wild-caught Alaska pollock, the chain’s signature Chicken Planks, and a choice of a side and two hushpuppies. Winter also brings a trio of cheesecake desserts from The Cheesecake Factory Bakery. There’s Classic Cheesecake, Triple Chocolate Cheesecake and Red Velvet Cheesecake.

Mountain Mike’sPizza taps into both the health and value trends with its limited-time offers. On the lighter side, the pizza brand is expanding its menu with a new Greek Salad, a Mediterranean-style combo of cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, pepperoncini slices, black olives and garbanzo beans on a bed of lettuce with a drizzle of Italian dressing. And throughout January, the chain’s all-you-can-eat pizza and salad bar lunch buffet is available at the discount price of $9.99.

Del Taco is also into deals, with the launch of its Two for $3 Grilled Chicken Tacos featuring grilled, marinated chicken topped with Del’s signature sauce, lettuce and shredded cheddar in a warm flour tortilla. Also on offer are Strawberry Lemonade, Strawberry Sprite and a Strawberry Shake, all made with real strawberries.  

The Tokyo Drifter and Red Bull Strawberry Limeade at Torchy’s. | Photo courtesy of Torchy’s Tacos.

The Tokyo Drifter is 2026’s first Taco of the Month at Torchy’s Tacos. The fan favorite features teriyaki green chile pork topped with crispy wonton strips, sweet and sour veggie slaw and house-made sesame Sriracha mayo. Also debuting in January is Red Bull Strawberry Limeade as the Drink of the Month. The alcohol-free energy-boosting drink blends Red Bull with strawberry puree and fresh lime juice.

Starting Monday, Portillo’s rewards customers can score a new dipping sauce for free. Aptly named “Comeback Sauce” to celebrate the winning streak of the Chicago Bears, Portillo’s hometown pro football team, the item is a blend of black pepper, garlic and paprika in a creamy, tangy base. Members of the Portillo’s Perks loyalty program will get a free Comeback Sauce with any purchase at participating locations in Illinois while supplies last. 

Scooter’s brunch-inspired beverages and breakfast sandwich. | Photo courtesy of Scooter’s Coffee.

Brunch is the winter theme at Scooter’s Coffee with beverages that take on the flavors of classic dishes. Salted Caramel Waffle Latte is a buttery, salty latte served with a mini waffle garnish, and Cinnalicious is a cinnamon-sweet spin on the coffee concept’s Caramelicious. Also on hand is Banana Bread Chai and Banana Bread Latte topped with whipped cream and banana streusel. The French Toastie is a new breakfast sandwich  featuring bacon, Havarti cheese and a fried egg patty stacked between two pieces of cinnamon swirl bread glazed with cinnamon butter. A baked Cinnamon Roll and Banana Bread Muffin round out the treat side of the menu.

Cinnamon sugar beverages also grace the menu at Caribou Coffee. Launched Friday is a Cinnamon Sugar Nitro High Rise with nitro cold press, milk, caramel and cinnamon sugar sauce, as well as a new Cinnamon Sugar Cold Foam made with oatmilk. Cinnamon Sugar Latte, Cinnamon Sugar Mocha and Cinnamon Sugar Espresso Shaker return to the lineup. Additionally, the chain introduced two protein-rich bowls: the Denver Breakfast Bowl and Vegetarian Breakfast Bowl. The latter contains eggs, potatoes, onions, red bell peppers, spinach, Monterey jack cheese and salsa verde and comes in under 200 calories with 12 grams protein.

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Pat plans and executes menu, food and drink stories for Restaurant Business and hosts the weekly Menu Talk podcast. She provides in-depth coverage of chefs, trends and menu innovation.

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