News: Sonic - Half-Price Shakes All Day on December 21

Sonic is continuing their annual tradition of offering half-price shakes all day on the Winter Solstice (i.e. the longest night of the year), which falls on December 21 this year (this upcoming Saturday).

Beyond their regular and fairly expansive shake menu, Sonic is currently offering Holiday Mint Shakes in chocolate or vanilla flavor.

Review: Sonic - Holiday Mint Shake

Sonic's Holiday Mint Shake features vanilla ice cream shake blended with crushed holiday mints and finished with whipped topping, more crushed mints, and a maraschino cherry. It's also available with chocolate ice cream.

A Mini-sized cup goes for $2.29 but I received this one courtesy of Sonic.

News: Taco Bell - New Grilled Stuft Nacho

Taco Bell will be serving up new, limited-time Grilled Stuft Nacho starting tomorrow, Thursday, December 19th.

Designed as a more portable version of classic nachos, the Grilled Stuft Nacho comes in a grilled flour tortilla that is folded to resemble a triangular giant tortilla chip. Inside the tortilla is a filling of seasoned beef, new zesty nacho sauce, reduced-fat sour cream, warm nacho cheese sauce, and red tortilla strips for crunch.

News: Carl's Jr. / Hardee's - Philly Cheesesteak Burger Returns

The Philly Cheesesteak Burger is back at Carl's Jr. and Hardee's restaurants. It comes with thinly-sliced steak, grilled onions, green peppers, Swiss and American cheeses, mayo, and a beef patty (single, double, or Six Dollar / 1/3 lb.). The Six Dollar / 1/3 lb. version comes on the chains' new fresh-baked buns (an available upgrade on the single and double).

News: Sonic Offers $3.99 Footlong Hotdog and Tots Combo

Sonic has brought back quarter pound Footlong versions of each variety of their hot dogs for a limited time and are pairing them with an order of tots and charging $3.99 for the combo.

The hot dogs are available in four varieties: Chicago, New York, All-American, and Chili Cheese Coney.

Review: Starbucks - Frosted Snowman Cookie

Starbucks Frosted Snowman Cookie is a holiday offering and features a hand-decorated shortbread cookie shaped like a snowman and frosted with white icing and a milk chocolate hat.

I paid $2.25 for one.

News: Subway to Open Pizza Concept

Subway plans to open a new pizza concept called Subway Pizza Express next semester at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln according to the university's student newspaper, The Daily Nebraskan.

The concept eschews Subway's signature sub sandwiches for made-to-order personal pizzas with choose-your-own-toppings (basically the same pizzas currently offered at select Subway stores).

News: Domino's First Vegan Pizza Offered in Israel

After six months of work, Domino's has developed their first vegan pizza ever and just started offering it in Israel this week.

The new pizza is topped with a non-dairy soy-based "cheese" and vegetables such as olives, tomatoes, spinach, and eggplant.

Review: Jack in the Box - Fajita Ranch Melt

Jack in the Box's new Fajita Ranch Melt is only available for a limited time in California, Idaho, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah. It features grilled chicken, grilled onions, fire roasted red and green bell peppers, pepper jack cheese, ranch sauce, and taco sauce on grilled sourdough bread.

I picked one up for $3.99.

Around the World: McDonald's Canada - Chocolate Mint Pie

While we here in the States once again get the Holiday Pie for this Christmas season, McDonald's Canada gets a chocolate mint pie based on After Eight thin mints.

News: Chick-fil-A Opens Hawaiian Restaurant

Chick-fil-A opened a Hawaiian-themed restaurant last week in La Fayetteville, Georgia.

Going by the name "Truett's Luau," (named after the chain's founder Truett S. Cathy), it joins a number of Chick-fil-A concept restaurants including a diner concept (Truett's Grill), a full-service restaurant concept (Dwarf House), and a pizza concept (Truett's Pizza Cafe).

Beyond some regular Chick-fil-A mainstays, like the Original Chicken Sandwich, here's a sample of what you'll find on the menu:

News: Jack in the Box - Two for $3 New Southern Style Biscuit Sandwiches

Jack in the Box has replaced their old buttermilk biscuits with new "Southern Style Biscuits," which are also buttermilk biscuits... (hopefully they're more buttery).

To promote the new biscuits, Jack is offering a limited-time two Biscuit Sandwiches for $3 deal.