Review: Church's Chicken - Original Fried Chicken

Church's Chicken Original Fried Chicken is the original menu item for the chain; when they first opened in 1952, it was the only thing they served.

I don't know how much it cost; the nearest Church's is a bit aways from me and a guest brought a box by, so here we go...

Neat! Starbucks Japan - Portable Personal Drip Coffee Brewer

In Japan, Starbucks offers an alternative to instant coffee called "Starbucks Origami Personal Drip coffee." While they have Starbucks Via as well, the Origami Personal Drip coffee is a convenient all-in-one disposable solution that brews fresh coffee anywhere as long as you have some hot water and a cup.

So how exactly does it work? Read on!

Review: El Pollo Loco - Chicken, Bacon & Guacamole Stuffed Quesadilla

El Pollo Loco's new Chicken, Bacon & Guacamole Stuffed Quesadilla features fire-grilled chicken, bacon, jack and cheddar cheeses, guacamole, and pico de gallo inside a grilled flour tortilla folded (Crunchwrap style) into a hexagon shape for easy eating.

My local El Pollo Loco has these for $5.49 each, which is on the pricey side for fast food.

My Starbucks is Not This Retro: Duddell St. Starbucks in Hong Kong

Starbucks has this neat concept store out in Hong Kong on Duddell St. where half the store is the typical Starbucks design and the other half is crafted to look like a bing sutt (literally "ice house" or "ice chamber").

A bing sutt is a type of Hong Kong cafe/diner popularized around 1950 to 1970, highlighting the convergence of East and West. They exist to this day, though in lesser numbers, and have traditionally served Hong Kong versions of Western comfort food as well as iced drinks, coffee, and tea.

News: Carl's Jr. / Hardee's - New Memphis BBQ Burger

Squeezing barbecue into the tail end of summer, Carl's Jr. and Hardee's now offer the Memphis BBQ Burger (well, Hardee's now offers, Carl's Jr. starts offering it tomorrow).

Touting the pairing of "meat-on-meat," the burger joins smoked, pulled pork and a charbroiled beef patty with crispy onion strings, American cheese, and Sweet Baby Ray's Memphis-Style BBQ sauce on a sesame seed bun.

Review: Green Burrito - Charbroiled Chicken Torta

I popped by my localCarl's Jr./Green Burrito recently to try their new Charbroiled Chicken Torta. The torta is a kind of Mexican sandwich and the Green Burrito's version takes a soft Telera roll and fills it with pieces of charbroiled chicken, guacamole, hot sauce, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, and refried pinto beans.

The suggested retail is $3.29, but it's slightly more expensive near me at $3.59.

News: Barilla - New Shelf Stable, Microwavable Meals

If you think Barilla makes good pasta, you might be interested to know that Barilla now offers new Barilla Microwaveable Meals, made with 100% natural ingredients and no preservatives, but are magically (please don't take the "magical" bit as fact) shelf-stable.

Since they're not frozen, the meals heat up in the microwave in just 60 seconds. The pasta and sauces are separated into compartments so you can mix them as you like.

News: Pizza Hut Offers $5.99 Medium Pizza Only on Twitter

Pizza Hut is running a Twitter-only promotion for a 1-topping medium pizza for $5.99.

The deal is only available at participating locations and only through this Saturday, August 25.

You can access the deal via Pizza Hut's Twitter or by clicking here.

News: Papa John's Returns the Buffalo Chicken Pizza

It hasn't been gone for that long, but it must have been popular because Papa John's returns the Buffalo Chicken Pizza for a limited time.

The Buffalo Chicken Pizza features ranch sauce (instead of pizza sauce), sliced chicken strips, bacon, onions, mozzarella cheese and a tangy Buffalo sauce. Just an FYI, as you may notice from the picture, the "sliced chicken strips" are breaded.

Review: Good Humor - Mounds Ice Cream Bars

Good Humor's Mounds Ice Cream Bars are a new add to the Good Humor ice cream portfolio and consist of coconut-flavored light ice cream with coconut flakes dipped in a dark chocolate flavored coating.

There are 6 bars to an 18-fl-oz box. One of my local supermarket has these selling for a regular price of $4.29, but I raided one of these from my brother's fridge (money saved!).

Around the World: Dunkin' Donuts Korea - Monkey Banana Mini Donuts

So this summer, Dunkin' Donuts has been frying up donuts shaped like bananas in Korea. But, not just any bananas... mini bananas. They call them "Monkey' Banana" donuts (I think they mean "Monkey's Banana" or it could just be a random apostrophe).

They kinda look like bananas, but they also look like fat sausages. Maybe they should put them in a hot dog bun or roll for their next promotion.

As you can see, the promotion comes complete with a silly-looking monkey mascot.

Review: Twix Ice Cream Bars

Twix Ice Cream Bars are an ice cream version of the Twix candy bar. Each one features vanilla ice, caramel, and Twix cookie bits covered in a chocolaty coating.

A 11.58-fl-oz box of six retails for $4.99 at my local Ralph's. They were on sale for $2.99 though.

Around the World: McDonald's Taiwan - Hello Kitty McDonald's Plush Dolls

McDonald's x Hello Kitty in Taiwan.

While not as extravagant as the Hello Kitty Fairy Tales promotion in Hong Kong earlier this year, McDonald's Taiwan is currently offering a limited-time run of four Hello Kitty plush dolls dressed up as the McDonaldland characters.

The dolls are about 6" tall and the available characters are Ronald McDonald, Birdie, The Hamburglar, and Grimace. The Ronald and Hamburglar versions are currently available while the Birdie dolls are set to release on 8/20 with Grimace soon following after on 8/23.

Frozen Friday: Stouffer's - Farmer's Harvest Garlic Chicken

Stouffer's Farmer's Harvest Garlic Chicken features grilled white meat chicken, cavatappi pasta, asparagus, broccoli, and carrots in a creamy garlic sauce.

A single-serving, 12-ounce bag retails for $4.49 at my local supermarket (sale price usually about $2.50 to $3).

Around the World: The Kit Kat Chunky Peanut Butter Bar

The Canada version. The French gives it away.

So, Kit Kats come in a peanut butter version, but not in the U.S. Instead, it's available up north in Canada and across the Atlantic in the U.K. Sad, right?! It's called the Kit Kat Chunky Peanut Butter.

"Chunky" not because the peanut butter is chunky, but because the bar itself is chunkier than that standard Kit Kat bar and it comes as one big Kit Kat rather than four separable ones.

News: Burger King Offers 50 Cent Vanilla Soft Serve Cones

For a limited time, Burger King is offering their Vanilla Soft Serve Cones for only 50 cents. They're normally around a buck (price varies from location to location).

Not a bad deal to beat the summer heat.

Price and participation may vary.

Review: Carl's Jr. - Sweet Potato Fries

Carl's Jr. Sweet Potato Fries are a new addition to the menu this summer so I popped over to my local Carl's Jr. for a try.

A small order set me back $2.29.

News: Sonic - New Cheesesteak and Chipotle Breakfast Burritos

Sonic is serving two new breakfast burritos for a limited time: the Zesty Cheesesteak Breakfast Burrito and the Smoked Chipotle Breakfast Burrito.

Both are variations of Sonic's existing Steak & Egg Breakfast Burrito.

News: Kraft - Lunchables Now Available with Smoothies

Move over fruit juice! Three varieties of Lunchables now feature Chiquita Strawberry Banana Smoothies.

The smoothies are made with real fruit with no added sugar or sweeteners and count as a 1/2 cup serving of fruit.

Review: El Pollo Loco - Original Pollo Bowl

El Pollo Loco's Original Pollo Bowl features a bowl of seasoned rice and pinto beans topped with flame-grilled chicken breast, onions, cilantro, and pico de gallo.

It's $4.69 a bowl at my local El Pollo Loco restaurant.