Fast-Food Giants' Newest Summer Menu Items

Most Googled New Menu Item: Double Down Sandwich

It may not be new for summer, but KFC has been drawing massive media attention for a fried chicken sandwich unlike any other. In response to customer surveys that revealed a general dissatisfaction with the size of chicken sandwiches, they answered the call with the Double Down: a sandwich "so meaty there's no room for the bun." KFC fans are so smitten by this bunless bacon, Monterey Jack, and pepper jack cheese chicken sandwich that the limited-time offering has been extended.

Most Popular New Menu Item: Fire-Grilled Ribs

Burger King may have gained fast-food-titan status through flame-broiled burgers, but it's the BBQ-style Fire-Grilled Ribs that are hogging the spotlight this summer. In the first three weeks, BK sold more than 10 million of these bone-in pork ribs, which are marketed as an affordable summertime snack, add-on, or meal. Prepared in BK's new "game-changing" broiler, the bone-in pork riblets come in 3-, 6-, or 8-piece orders and come with a smoky barbecue dipping sauce.

New-Twist Menu Item: Lasagna Fritta

What's better than cheesy, Parmesan-dusted lasagna? Fried bite-size portions of cheesy Parmesan-dusted lasagna, according to the folks at the Olive Garden. On a recent idea-generating trip to northern and central Italy, the menu-development team came across a street-food version of the oven-baked Italian favorite. The bite-size Parmesan-crusted fried lasagna pieces are arranged atop a pool of alfredo sauce, topped with marinara sauce and still more Parmesan.

Most Popular New Menu Item on a Stick: Mango-Jalapeño Shrimp Skewers

Red Lobster's new cooking platform, the Wood-Fire Grill, is responsible for many of this seafood restaurant's new menu items, including the Wood-Grilled Shrimp Bruschetta, Salmon BLT, and Bourbon Shrimp and Scallops. The oak wood–fed grill is used to cook up this sweet and spicy grilled shellfish dish, which comes with crispy fried onion rings on the side.

Freshest Summer Menu Item: Strawberry Poppyseed and Chicken Salad

Summer signals the return of Panera Bread's biggest-selling seasonal menu item, the Strawberry Poppyseed and Chicken Salad, a mix of romaine lettuce, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, Mandarin oranges, pecans, and grilled chicken. Over the past few years, Panera has upped the freshness factor by switching to all-natural, antibiotic-free chicken and halving the time it takes to get the lettuce from field to café.

Newest Flavor Inspired by a Music Festival: Bonnaroo Buzz

Inspired by the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, the "Flavor Gurus" at Ben & Jerry's came up with this super-creamy combo of light coffee and malt ice creams with a whiskey caramel swirl and bits of crunchy English toffee. Available in scoop shops around the country, this southern-fried flavor is a tribute to Tennessee's Coffee County, home to Manchester, which hosts the festival each year.

Newest Donut: Monkey-See Monkey Donut

Judges at this year's create-a-donut challenge were wowed by Rachel Davis's Monkey-See Monkey Donut, a bananas foster cream–filled doughnut, frosted with chocolate icing, and topped with Reese's® Peanut Butter shavings. Davis, a self-proclaimed doughnut devotée, said she was inspired by her favorite dessert, frozen chocolate-covered bananas.

Coolest Summer Menu Items: Frappés and Smoothies

In addition to the McCafé beverages, which include coffee, lattes, mochas, and iced versions of each, McDonald's will release a new beverage category in July 2010 — blended drinks. Starbucks, say good-bye to your frap monopoly! The golden arches will offer their own thick, creamy coffee frappés in mocha and caramel, as well as fruit-and-yogurt smoothies in strawberry-banana and wild berry.