Around the World: McDonald's Arabia Offers Grilled Cheese on a Pita

McDonald's Arabia's latest is a grilled cheese breakfast pita sandwich that they're calling the "McArabia Halloumi." Halloumi being the cheese type of  used. It's a brined Middle Eastern cheese with a texture similar to mozzarella.

The grilled cheese is joined by lettuce, tomato, and a black olive paste folded into a pita.

Around the World: Burger King Japan Offers Turkey Legs for Holidays

KFC rules the roost for Christmas in Japan but it looks like Burger King is trying to horn in on the action with the introduction of smoked turkey legs this year.

The "King's Turkey" legs are each about 21 cm each (~8.27 inches) and smoked with a blend of oak and beech chips.

Review: Starbucks - Eggnog Frappuccino

Starbucks Eggnog Frappuccino is a chilly holiday beverage featuring eggnog and Frappuccino Roast coffee blended with milk and ice, and topped with whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg.

A 12-ounce Tall was $3.95.

News: Sonic - Half-Price Cheeseburger on November 26

Sonic is celebrating "Un-Turkey Day" (I'm pretty sure they made that up) on Tuesday, November 26, by offering half-price cheeseburgers.

The deal is good on single-patty Sonic Cheeseburgers only and only at participating locations.

News: Red Robin - New Smoke & Pepper Signature Burger

Red Robin adds the new, limited-time Finest Smoke & Pepper Signature burger as the first of a line of premium burgers featuring handmade half-pound Black Angus beef burgers topped with "superior bacon, cheeses, sauces, and produce."

The burger is inspired by the winning recipe of this year's Best of the Bash Award at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival's Burger Bash.

News: Bojangles Offers Seasoned Fried Turkey for Thanksgiving

If Bojangles is your fried chicken of choice, you'll be happy to know that they're offering a limited-time Seasoned Fried Turkey available for pre-order through Thanksgiving (November 28, 2013).

The Thanksgiving birds weigh in at 10 to 13 pounds and feature Bojangles' signature blend of seasoning. Each one is meant to feed six to eight people and must be reheated before serving.

Review: Taco Bell - Chipotle Ranch Chicken Loaded Griller

Taco Bell's Chipotle Ranch Chicken Loaded Griller is one of the new items that they've been testing at a local Taco Bell as a possible replacement for the Spicy Buffalo Chicken Griller. It's basically the same thing (grilled chicken, sour cream in a grilled flour tortilla) but with their chipotle ranch sauce rather than their lava sauce.

To get people to try it, they were offering it for 79 cents a pop (compared to the more typical $1.29).

-Update 1/23/14: these made it through test and are currently available for a limited-time at $1 each.

News: Arby's Hawaiian Roast Beef Sandwiches Return with Limited Availability

Arby's King's Hawaiian Roast Beef and Roast Beef & Swiss Sandwiches are back for a limited time but only at in select participating markets and not nationwide.

The sandwiches were introduced earlier this year in April when I tried the Roast Beef & Swiss and primarily feature a soft, sweet bun made by King's Hawaiian.

News: Panda Express - New Sriracha Shrimp

Panda Express jumps on the sriracha train with the introduction of new Sriracha Shrimp.

The new dish features battered and deep-fried jumbo shrimp, string beans, and sweet red bell peppers sauteed in a wok with a spicy sriracha sauce.

Review: Sonic - Island Fire Chicken Sandwich

Sonic's Island Fire Chicken Sandwich features a spicy battered and deep-fried chicken filet, sweet habanero sauce, mayo, lettuce, and tomato on a toasted ciabatta bun i.e. it's basically their Spicy Chicken Sandwich with the addition of the habernero sauce.

I bought one for $4.19.

News: Sonic - New Natural-Cut Fries

Sonic has switched to skin-on fries with the launch of their new Natural-Cut Fries.

The new fries are cut from whole, unpeeled russet potatoes and then blanched and dusted with starch before frozen and shipped out to Sonic locations.

News: McDonald's Adding Second Drive-Thru Pick Up Window

Spurred by longer drive-thru wait times, McDonald's plans to add a second pick up window as part of what they're calling the "Fast Forward Drive-Thru."

According to this AP report, the second pick-up window allows customers to drive to a third stop (the first stop being where they order and the second being where they would normally pick up their order) if their order isn't ready.