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10 Fast Food Items Coming to Your Favorite Restaurant Next Year

Smothered fries, maple bacon burgers, and vegan chicken and tacos? Fast food is going fast gourmet with these new options.

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collection of junk food, american food
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Fast food goes gourmet

Fast food restaurants have been upping the ante when it comes to offerings and quality lately and 2019 looks to be no different. Additionally, they are also catering to the changing consumer taste. From global flavors, creative offerings, and even vegan options, there has been a push to give consumers the best tasting and most authentic food possible, without having to wait. Restaurants from Taco Bell to Burger King have been testing new food items that may make it to menus around the United States next year. Check out some of the items that may end up at your favorite fast food joint sooner rather than later. Find out what’s on the secret menus of these 9 fast food restaurants.

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HICKORY, NC, USA-9/27/18: A newly constructed Wendy's fast food restaurant, with outside seating.
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Wendy’s Bacon Maple Chicken Sandwich

While this is rolling out now, the new bacon maple chicken sandwich from Wendy’s is expected to be available nationwide in 2019, the company announced. It made of a crispy-fried chicken breast filet with a maple glaze, Swiss cheese and three strips of applewood-smoked bacon on a toasted croissant bun. According to the company, Wendy’s spent more than three years testing the new product in order to get it right. “The first time I tried the Bacon Maple Chicken sandwich, it honestly blew me away,” said Kurt Kane, Wendy’s executive vice president, chief concept and marketing officer. “I highly recommend treating yourself to one, or two, to see just how good our homestyle chicken fillet is when you add bacon and our new maple glaze to it.” You won’t find these European fast-food chains in America. 

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PARIS - JULY 24: Subway fast food on July 24, 2011 in Paris, France. At the end of 2010 Subway surpassed McDonald's as global fast food leader with 33,749 restaurants.
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Subway’s Sriracha Melts

Made with chicken or steak, Subway is spicing things up with its new Sriracha melts. They’re rolling out next year, reports Nation’s Restaurant News, the sandwiches will be topped with creamy Sriracha sauce, pepper Jack cheese and a choice of vegetables.

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DALLAS, Tx, USA - APR 17, 2016: Taco Bell fast food restaurant. Taco Bell is an American chain of restaurants that serve a Tex-Mex foods
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Taco Bell’s Midnight Melt Taco

While this may only be a rumor, Taco Bell has been testing the Midnight Melt taco—and it’s blue corn taco shell—in the Minneapolis area. The taco shell is lined along the bottom with a layer of a melted three-cheese blend, said Brand Eating. Look for the Triplelupa as well, which is currently being tested in California. Taco Bell tested several new items in 2018, including the popular nacho fries and naked chicken chips, which both made the menu for a limited time. Find out the most convenient fast-food restaurants.

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Kokomo - Circa November 2016: Burger King Retail Fast Food Location. Every day, more than 11 million guests visit Burger King II
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Burger King’s Big King Sandwich

Burger King will be bringing its Big King sandwich back permanently. The sandwich, which was tested last year, is made of two beef patties topped with proprietary King Sauce, lettuce, American cheese, pickles, and white onions all served on a sesame seed bun. Like the Big Mac, this sandwich will also have a middle bun, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.

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WILSON, NC - MAY 20, 2017: An Arby's restaurant in Wilson, NC. Arby's is the second-largest quick-service fast-food sandwich restaurant chain in America with more than 3,300 restaurant locations.
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Arby’s Beer Can Chicken Sandwich

Arby’s has been testing a beer can sandwich throughout Minnesota with hopes to add it to the menu in 2019, according to Delish. The sandwich, which uses Miller High Life as its beer-can base, also contains melted cheddar cheese, crispy onions, bacon, lettuce and tomato on marinated chicken. The sandwich is served with garlic aioli on a toasted roll.

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Huizhou, China - Aug. 2017: Some younger men walking outside the Starbucks Coffee store storefront in Huizhou urban
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New Starbucks food

While the company has been tight-lipped about which specific menu items will be hitting the market in 2019, reports suggest that new food items will be top-of-mind for the brand. The coffee house is attempting to capture customers that aren’t necessarily coffee drinkers in order to grow their business. Here are some of the healthiest options on the Starbucks menu.

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Ubonrachathanee - Apr 19 2018 : KFC - Kentucky Fried Chicken in Thailand, Corporation is the world's largest chain of fried chicken restaurants, during the day hours
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KFC’s Vegan Chicken

According to Newsweek, KFC will jump into 2019 by offering vegan fried chicken. The chain is currently testing the recipe, which will still use the same 11 herbs and spices that it’s regular fried chicken uses—the chain is still mum on what will make up the “meat”—though a likely guess is the wheat-based protein substitute seitan.

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Las Vegas - Circa July 2017: Del Taco Fast Food Location. Del Taco specializes in Mexican and American food V
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Del Taco’s Vegan Taco

In September, Del Taco announced it was partnering with Beyond Meat to bring vegan options to the chain. The fast-food restaurant is currently serving up the meat substitute at two locations in California but may expand depending on the demand. Check out these healthy fast-food options at your favorite restaurants.

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NEW YORK - NOV 27: An exterior view of a Dunkin Donuts coffee shop in New York City, on November 27, 2013. Dunkin Donuts has over 15,000 restaurants in more than 30 countries.
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Dunkin’ Nitro-Infused Cold Brew

Going into 2019, Dunkin’ Donuts will be known only as Dunkin’, however, that’s not the only change. The company recently opened a new store in New York City which is aimed at giving customers a look at the rebranding efforts. One of the new items that should be hitting the rest of Dunkin’s outlets in 2019 is nitro-infused cold brew, reports Business Insider.

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Los Angeles, CA, USA - April 20, 2016: Jack in the Box is an American fast food restaurant chain serving a variety of hamburger and cheese burger primarily in the West Coast of the United States.
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Jack In The Box Sauced and Loaded Fries

According to the company, they will be looking to add more “culturally relevant” items to the menu in 2019. Food Business News recently reported that big changes will be coming for the company, including adding menu items that are “uniquely flavorful, culturally relevant and affordable,” said Leonard Comma, chairman and chief executive officer. These may include teriyaki bowls along with the continuation of items like the Sauced and Loaded Fries (cheese sauce, guacamole, and other options served over fries). Next, find out the fast-food “facts” that are actually false.