News: Carl's Jr. - Jumbo Chili Dogs Return to SoCal

In honor of founder Carl Karcher's January birthday, participating Carl's Jr. restaurants in the greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas will once again be offering limited-time Jumbo Chili Dogs at two for $3.

Each Jumbo Chili Dog features a Farmer John hot dog nestled in a toasted hot dog bun along with spicy beef chili, chopped onions, and mustard.

News: White Castle - New Potato Bacon Chowder

White Castle is offering new Potato Bacon Chowder for the cold winter months.

The new soup features a thick, creamy chowder with chunks of potatoes, veggies, and bacon crumbles. It's available daily from 10:30 am to 11 pm for a limited time only (until early spring or while supplies last) at all White Castle locations.

Review: Popeyes - Bayou Buffalo Wicked Chicken

Popeyes' Bayou Buffalo Wicked Chicken throws some Buffalo sauce onto their limited-time Wicked Chicken offering. Basically, they're thin-cut strips of fried chicken breast tossed in buffalo sauce.

It was $3.99 for a combo that came with Cajun fries and a biscuit.

News: Dickey's Barbecue - New Cornbread Sandwiches

Dickey's Barbecue adds new, limited-time Spicy Chicken and Sweet Pork Cornbread Sandwiches heading into the new year.

The new sandwiches' key feature is a new buttery cornbread bun.

News: Panda Express- Firecracker Chicken Returns for Chinese New Year's

In what's become an annual ritual, Firecracker Chicken Breast is back at Panda Express. The dish usually makes its appearance in celebration of Chinese New Year, which happens to fall on January 31 this time around.

News: El Pollo Loco - Under 500 Calories Menu

El Pollo Loco starts the new year with the new 5 Under 500 Calories Menu.

Like the name suggests there are five entrees on the menu and they each clock in at less than 500 calories.

The entrees are:

Review: Starbucks - Caramel Flan Latte

Starbucks' Caramel Flan Latte is made with steamed milk, espresso, caramel flan-flavored syrup, and topped with caramel-infused whipped cream and a caramelized sugar drizzle.

I bought a 12-ounce Tall for $3.95.

Around the World: Lotteria - New Chocolate French Fry Dipping Sauce

Japanese fast food chain Lotteria's latest promotion is a Ghana chocolate-themed promotion featuring a chocolate turnover-style pie, a chocolate shake... and a chocolate dipping sauce for their French fries.

News: Applebee's Adds Two New Dishes to Under 550 Calories Menu

Applebee's ushers in the new year by pushing their Under 550 Calories Menu (of course) with two new entrees: Roma Pepper Steak and Savory Cedar Salmon.

Roma Pepper Steak features a grilled 7-ounce sirloin steak topped with a chunky Roma pepper relish with a grilled portobello mushroom stuffed with white wine artichoke cheese spread and red potatoes on the side.

News: Tim Hortons - New Turkey Sausage Breakfast Sandwiches

Like rival Dunkin' Donuts, Tim Hortons now offers turkey sausage with the recent addition of new Turkey Sausage Breakfast Sandwiches.

The sandwiches are made to order and come with a choice of seasoned egg or egg white omelet plus cheese on either an English muffin, flatbread panini or homestyle biscuit.

Review: Del Taco - Turkey Taco

Del Taco's Turkey Taco features seasoned ground turkey, lettuce, shredded cheese, and pico de gallo in a crunchy taco shell (it's also available in a soft flour tortilla but I prefer the hard shell).

The Turkey Taco costs $1.29 each (30 cents more than the similarly proportioned Double Beef Classic Taco), but I received this one courtesy of Del Taco.

News: The Coffee Bean - New Latte Macchiato

The Coffee Bean starts off the new year with the new, limited-time Latte Macchiato. 

Like Starbucks' so-called Macchiato (which the new drink is almost identical), the new drink is a twist on the traditional caffe macchiato (macchiato literally means "marked" in Italian), albeit one whose name makes a little more sense.