News: El Pollo Loco - New Grilled Chicken Sandwiches

El Pollo Loco has added two new Grilled Chicken Sandwiches to their menu: the Guacamole Grilled Chicken and the Jalapeño Grilled Chicken. The sandwiches feature a base of flame-grilled chicken breast on a telera roll (a dense, soft, Mexican-style bread) with shredded lettuce and pico de gallo. The Guacamole Grilled Chicken Sandwich adds to that a dollop of guacamole while the Jalapeno Grilled Chicken Sandwich adds sliced jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, and a spicy Southwestern sauce. Both sandwiches retail for $4.29.

El Pollo Loco has an online coupon for a small chips and small drink when you buy one of the new Grilled Chicken Sandwiches at regular price. Just click on the link and print it out. The coupon is valid from 5/1/10 to 5/25/10.

News: Jack in the Box - Free Deli Trio Grilled Sandwich

Good until Sunday, May, 2, 2010, you can print and use this coupon for a Free Jack in the Box Deli Trio Grilled Sandwich with any purchase.

Details: Expires 5/2/2010. FREE Deli Trio Grilled Sandwich with any purchase. One offer per person. At participating restaurants. No substitutions. Not valid in combination with any other offer. Not valid in Austin, TX, Beaumont/Pt. Arthur, TX, Boise, ID, Lake Charles, LA, Seattle, WA, Tulsa, OK, Twin Falls, ID, Waco, TX, Yakima, WA.

Local Review: Two Little Red Hens - Cheesecake

I had my brother buy and carry this roughly-ten-pound cheesecake from Two Little Red Hens on a cab and a plane from New York City to Los Angeles because it's supposed to be one of the best in the City.  He complained about having to carry the it on his lap for the six-hour flight.

Review: Taco Bell - Bean Burrito

Taco Bell Bean Burritos have been on the menu for as long as I can remember. Back in undergrad, a couple of my friends used to love them (actually, I still think they love them)... especially before a road trip. Cue "Beans, beans, the magical fruit..."

Review: McDonald's Mocha Frappe

McDonald's is doing a staggered rollout of their newest McCafe offering, the Frappe, an ice-blended coffee beverage, not unlike Starbucks' Frappuccino, that comes in Mocha and Caramel flavors. It wasn't until recently that my local McDonald's starting serving them and I tried one for myself.

The Asia Trip: MOS Burger - Spicy MOS Cheeseburger

MOS Burger is a Japanese burger chain popular in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore (It also has locations in Thailand, Indonesia, and until 2005, in Hawaii). The chain was inspired by the Original Tommy's in Los Angeles, CA which explains the similarities between their signature MOS Burger and Tommy's burgers. MOS stands for "Mountain, Ocean, and Sun."

News: Burger King Launches Whiplash Whopper Nationwide

Leading up to the much anticipated release of Iron Man 2, Burger King today announced the nationwide launch of the Whiplash Whopper, named after the film's villain and marking Burger King's continued sponsorship of the movie franchise (They had a conspicuous placement in the first movie that saw Tony Stark eating a Burger King cheeseburger).

What does the Whiplash Whopper and the villain Whiplash (played by Mickey Rourke) have in common?  According to Burger King, the sandwich "captures the sharp edge of the film’s villain, Whiplash, with an intense, red-hot flavor combination."

The Whiplash Whopper is priced near Steakhouse XT territory with a suggest price of $3.79 and is a Whopper variant with melted Pepper Jack cheese, crispy red peppers, and spicy mayo.

Review: Jack in the Box: New French Fries

So after one failed attempt, I managed to try Jack in the Box's new crispier French Fries.  As you can see, they look very McDonald's-like so I decided to get an order of McDonald's fries to compare.

Review: Burger King - Buck Double

It seems a bit redundant to review the Burger King Buck Double seeing how I already reviewed the Burger King Double Cheeseburger but I'm doing it anyway, just for the sake of posterity and all that.

Sunday Funny: Breakfast at McDonald's Philippines

An interesting way to get your morning breakfast on.

What's on the Menu: McDonald's Philippines

In this edition of "What's on the Menu," we take a look at one of the countries where McDonald's delivers: McDonald's Philippines.  That's right, for a flat fee of 40 pesos (about 90 cents), "McDo" (pronounced "mac-do") is delivered to your door in the land of Manny Pacquiao.

Local Review: Porto's Bakery - Bread Pudding

Porto's Bakery is very popular in the southern California area and are famous for their Cheese Rolls and Potato Balls.  However, their bakery display is quite expansive and I decided to try something new in hopes of finding something yummy.  The Bread Pudding looked pretty interesting so I bought one for 95 cents.

Review: Corner Bakery Cafe - Bavarian Ham on Pretzel Bread

I went to Corner Bakery Cafe and ended up trying the Bavarian Ham on Pretzel Bread which is pretzel bread filled with your choice smoked ham or smoked turkey, shaved red onions, plum tomatoes, caraway Havarti cheese, and stoneground mustard-mayo. The price is $6.79 which included a pickle spear and kettle-cooked chips.

News: Carvel - Free Ice Cream All Day on April 29, 2010

Carvel is tempting customers to try their new Low Fat Ice Cream and Flavor Shotz by offering a free 3.5-ounce cup to anyone who stops by on April 29, 2010.

When: All day, Thursday, April 29, 2010

Where: Participating Carvel ice cream shops nationwide. Shop Locator

Why:  It's free!  Plus their new lowfat ice cream has 75% less fat and 30% fewer calories. You also get your choice of a Flavor Shotz on your ice cream.  Flavor Shotz are flavored syrups and come in 12 flavors, including Acai Berry, Banana, Black Raspberry, Blueberry, Bubble Gum, Cotton Candy, Mango, Mint, Orange, Peach, Pistachio and Pomegranate.

Details: One serving per customer.

Review: Starbucks - Perfect Oatmeal

It's quite a claim to call your breakfast product "perfect" but there you go: Starbucks' Perfect Oatmeal. Perfect Oatmeal features hot oatmeal with your choice of brown sugar, dried fruits, and nuts for $2.49 at my local Starbucks. I wasn't actually offered a choice the guy behind the counter just handed me a bag with a lidded cup of hot oatmeal and a bag of each topping.

News: Burger King - New Buck Double Sandwich

Burger King today announced the nationwide launch of their Buck Double Sandwich, a new addition to their BK Value Menu that is really just an old mainstay less a slice of cheese.  A replacement for the controversial $1 Double Cheeseburger (controversial because of all the grumbling of franchisees over lost profits), the Buck Double Sandwich features two flame-broiled beef patties, a slice of American cheese, a couple slices of pickle, ketchup, and mustard on a sesame seed bun.

It retails for $1. Surprise I know. Actually the fine print states: "Price and participation may vary. Not available in AK and HI." But it would be weird for a Burger King franchisee to offer a Buck Double Sandwich for more than a buck, no?

P.S. The picture is a mock-up via Burger King's website's "Have it Your Way" burger customization.  I'm pretty sure an actual Buck Double Sandwich will have the cheese slice between the beef patties.  Update: I posted a picture of the actual Buck Double posters.

Review: Burger King - A.1. Steakhouse XT Burger

Burger King's Steakhouse XT Burger features a thick 7-ounce flame-broiled beef patty with mayo, crispy onions, A.1. Thick & Hearty Steak Sauce, a slice of American cheese, bits of lettuces, and two slices of tomato. A kingly feast for the kingly sum of $4.79 (Get it? Because it's Burger King! I can feel the eye rolls a-coming).  It does not however get a kingly robe and is wrapped in plain wax paper unbecoming of a premium burger.

Review: Jack in the Box - Iced Kona Classic Coffee

Jack and the Box's new Iced Kona Classic Coffee is a slightly sweetened blend of Kona Classic coffee and 2% milk, served over ice. It is available in regular, vanilla, and caramel flavors and is $1.99 for a 24-ounce cup.

The Asia Trip: 7-Eleven Taiwan

While I was in Taiwan, I came across many a 7-Eleven so I thought I'd point out some interesting differences in the food served there.

News: Jack in the Box - New Kona Classic Coffee

Jack in the Box restaurants are now serving a new premium blend of coffee made with real Kona coffee beans from Hawaii. The new Kona Classic coffee blend replaces Jack in the Box's old coffee and is used for both hot and iced coffees.

Kona Classic is available at participating Jack in the Box restaurants for a suggested price of $1.39 and $1.59 for regular and large hot coffees, respectively, and $1.99 for a 24-ounce iced coffee. The iced coffees are available in regular, vanilla, and caramel flavors.

Kona Classic is not offered in Hawaii which continues to serve a different blend of Kona coffee produced by local vendor Hawaiian Paradise Coffee.