Diets high in sodium are associated with high blood pressure, which increases your risk of heart disease and stroke and can also affect other parts of your body, like your kidneys and your brain.

Thankfully, even at restaurants with the unhealthiest menu options, there are low-sodium orders you can enjoy. We worked with a team of registered dietitians to look at the menus of 25 national restaurant chains to find the best low-sodium order from each.

How much sodium is low-sodium?

The FDA defines the term "low sodium" as 140 milligrams of sodium or less for packaged foods, but there is no formal guidance as to what is considered "low sodium" at restaurants.

To put together this list of low-sodium restaurant chain meals, we limited entrees to a third of the daily recommended limit of sodium and sides to 20% of the daily limit. That came out to 760 milligrams of sodium for an entree and 460 milligrams of sodium for an individual item.

The 25 best low-sodium restaurant orders

Chili's Santa Fe Chicken Salad

The Santa Fe Chicken Salad at Chili's has 650 milligrams of sodium in a bowl, and is loaded with spicy chicken, fresh vegetables, and tortilla strips for a good balance of fiber, carbohydrates, and protein, explains Wan Na Chun, MPH, RD, CPT, owner of One Pot Wellness.  Asking for the ranch and Santa Fe sauce on the side can also help you take more control over how much sodium (and fat) you add to the salad.

RELATED: 21 Best Low-Sodium Fast-Food Orders

Olive Garden Spaghetti with Meat Sauce (Lunch-size)

The lunch menu's spaghetti with meat sauce is one of the few lower-sodium options at Olive Garden. Each serving has the pasta and tomato-based meat sauce you love but with only 530 milligrams of sodium, or 23% of the recommended daily value (DV).

Ruby Tuesday Loaded Baked Potato (without bacon)

The Loaded Baked Potato at Ruby Tuesday fits into a low-sodium diet as long as you skip the bacon on top. A baked potato topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, whipped butter, and scallions has just 420 milligrams of sodium and 15 grams of protein.

TGI Fridays Seasoned Fries

French fries can be loaded with sodium, but the seasoned fries at TGI Fridays are surprisingly one of the lowest sodium options at this Franchise. Each side of fries adds only 230 milligrams of sodium, or 10% DV, to your meal.

Friendly's Broccoli

Unfortunately, the only low-sodium food option on the menu at Friendly's is their side of steamed broccoli. This isn't to say you can't make a menu item low-sodium by removing items like dressings, cheese, bacon, and other high-sodium toppings, but as is, steamed broccoli wins as the best choice with just 48 milligrams of sodium.

RELATED: 10 Warning Signs You're Not Eating Enough Fiber

Cheesecake Factory Tossed Green Salad Appetizer

Their tossed green salad has mixed greens, tomato, croutons, and a mix of vegetables like carrots and cucumbers for just 125 milligrams of sodium. You can keep this salad low in sodium by using just a tablespoon of any of their dressings. For the option of using up to two tablespoons of dressing, use a very low sodium option like their Citrus Honey, Cilantro, Caesar, or Balsamic Vinaigrette dressings.

Applebee's Mango Fruit Smoothie

If you're looking for a treat, the Mango Fruit Smoothie at Applebees has zero milligrams of sodium, and plenty of fresh and fruity flavor packed into a 6-ounce blended non-alcoholic drink.

Red Robin Wedgie Burger

While you might think most of the sodium in a burger comes from the burger itself, a lot of it is hiding in the bun. The Wedgie Burger at Red Robin solves this problem by using fresh, crunchy lettuce to wrap the burger and all its toppings, including bacon, tomato, avocado, and onion. Even with bacon and a burger, this meal has just 620 milligrams of sodium, or 27% DV.

PF Chang's Spicy Tuna Roll

Each spicy tuna roll has just 140 milligrams of sodium, meaning you could eat half of the order (8 rolls are included) and still be well within your sodium limits for the day. Just keep in mind that the wasabi and soy sauce are notoriously high in sodium, packing a lot in just a tiny amount. Enjoy your spicy tuna roll with the side of pickled ginger instead, which has a lot of flavor, without the extra sodium.

Red Lobster Roasted Atlantic Salmon

The Today's Catch entree, roasted Atlantic Salmon is a massive piece of salmon, averaging around 14 to 16 ounces. If you opt for grilled, the sodium increases by around 1,000 milligrams, so be sure you ask for roasted, as it has just 330 milligrams per serving.

RELATED: The 9 Healthiest Dishes to Order at Red Lobster

Denny's Berry Vanilla Crepes

Breakfast foods like waffles and pancakes can be surprisingly high in sodium, but two Berry Vanilla Crepes have just 430 milligrams of sodium. This is a great option if you're watching your salt intake but craving a sweet breakfast.

Outback Steakhouse Grilled Salmon with Remoulade

Outback Steakhouse's Grilled Salmon with Remoulade has 540 milligrams of sodium or 23% DV. While this entree does come with two sides, it's hearty enough to stand as a meal itself for most people, with 660 calories and 45 grams of protein. But, if you need a little something extra with it, a side of green beans adds only 5 milligrams of sodium and can help round out the meal.

RELATED: I Tried Every Bloomin' Onion Spin-Off at Outback & the Best One Was Better Than Steak

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse Fresh Mozzarella and Tomato Salad

For a starter salad, the Fresh Mozzarella and Tomato Salad packs a whole lot of flavor and a decent amount of fat and protein to help fill you up. The 14% DV of sodium likely comes from the balsamic glaze, which adds a huge burst of flavor, really tying this fresh salad together.

Hooters Onion Rings

For a side that won't put you over your sodium limit for the day, try the Onion Rings at Hooters! While they're seasoned, breaded, and fried, each serving has just 430 milligrams of sodium or 19% DV.

Golden Corral Bourbon Street Chicken

The sweet and savory Bourbon Street Chicken has just 350 milligrams of sodium in each 3-ounce portion, not including the rice it's often served with. A baked potato or side of buttered noodles are under 100 milligrams of sodium each if you're looking for a low-sodium side to pair with it!

Texas Roadhouse Grilled BBQ Chicken

The Grilled BBQ Chicken is a half-pound chicken breast, marinated and slathered with BBQ sauce for a ton of flavor and only 20% DV of sodium. This entree also has 46 grams of protein and just 1 gram of saturated fat, making it a filling and overall healthy menu option.

California Pizza Kitchen Wild Mushroom Pizza

"One slice of California Pizza Kitchen's Wild Mushroom Pizza has 380 mg sodium," recommends Lauren O'Connor, MS, RDN, owner of Nutri Savvy Health. While it's low in sodium, it's high in flavor, topped with  Cremini mushrooms, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, Romano & Mozzarella cheese, and scallions. You can even save 120 milligrams of sodium per slice if you choose the cauliflower crust instead of the original, bringing each slice to just 260 milligrams of sodium.

Long John Silvers Grilled Salmon

Not everything at Long John Silvers is fried; the Grilled Salmon is one of many grilled options and one that has the lowest amount of sodium, with just 406 milligrams per piece. The meal does come with two sides, most of which have more sodium than the salmon, although the applesauce and waffle fries are good choices, both with less than 50 milligrams of sodium each.

Carrabba's Italian Grill Tuscan Grilled Chicken

Tuscan Grilled Chicken features a wood-grilled chicken breast that's seasoned with olive oil and herbs, meaning it gets plenty of flavor without plenty of salt. Each serving has just 440 milligrams of sodium or 19% of the recommended daily limit. But keep in mind that the sauteed broccoli that's served on the side has a surprising 550 milligrams of sodium, so you may want to skip or split the portion.

Johnny Rockets Breakfast Potatoes

Johnny Rockets isn't known for having many low-sodium options on the menu, whether it be breakfast or lunch, but the breakfast potatoes come in at a surprising 310 milligrams per serving, making them one of the lowest sodium menu items.

IHOP Pesto Veggie Egg White Omelet With Fruit

Straight from the menu with no alterations, the Pesto Veggie Egg White Omelet is served with fresh fruit and has only 640 milligrams of sodium or 28% of the recommended daily limit. This meal is enough to fill you up and leave you satisfied with its 7 grams of fiber and 21 grams of protein.

RELATED: The 10 Best & Worst Orders at IHOP, According to Nutritionists

LongHorn Steakhouse Longhorn Salmon

A 7-ounce portion of the LongHorn Salmon has plenty of protein, healthy fats, and just 310 milligrams of sodium, or 14% DV. Even without the extra sodium, this dish has plenty of flavor from their signature bourbon marinade.

Cracker Barrel Spicy Grilled Catfish Filet

The Spicy Grilled Catfish Filet is a satisfying high protein low sodium entree at Cracker Barrel. If enjoying this as part of a meal, just be cautious of your sides as they can add up quickly. Great low-sodium side options are whole-kernel corn, applesauce, fried apples, steamed broccoli, steak fries, or seasonal fruit, which all have less than 100 milligrams of sodium each.

RELATED: The 10 Best Cracker Barrel Dishes to Order, According to Dietitians

Waffle House Egg Sandwich

"Go for the plain egg sandwich at Waffle House," says Lisa Andrews, MEd, RD, LD, owner of Sound Bites Nutrition, "the sandwich has just 320 milligrams of sodium and provides a decent dose of protein, with 10 grams." If plain egg on toast doesn't sound appealing, you can add a slice of cheese for a total of 570 milligrams of sodium, which is still only 25% DV.

On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina Grilled Shrimp Skewer

A side of grilled shrimp skewers from On the Border has just 390 milligrams of sodium and plenty of flavor with the cilantro-lime marinade and mesquite grilled flavor. To keep your entire meal low sodium, eat them over a house salad with a splash of olive oil, adding only 190 milligrams of sodium.

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Chicken Salad Chick, which serves a variety of chicken salads, sandwiches, soups, and sides, has expanded to more than 250 restaurants since it was founded in 2008. The company just announced that it has inked 18 agreements that will see franchisees develop 53 new restaurants over the next several years. The new units will be located throughout states like Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia, and Maryland.

RELATED: 15 Fastest-Growing Restaurant Chains Right Now

The release also revealed that Chicken Salad Chick is aiming to open 40 new stores by the end of 2024 alone, with some slated to debut in brand-new markets like New Mexico, Maryland, and Virginia's Fairfax County. A Chicken Salad Chick representative confirmed to Eat This, Not That! that the 40 locations it aims to open in 2024 will include some of the 53 franchised restaurants it plans to develop in the coming years. Varying construction timelines may result in the rest of the 53 planned locations opening after 2024.

These new development plans were announced right on the heels of a major year of growth for Chicken Salad Chick. The chain raked in $350 in systemwide sales throughout 2023, 15% more than it saw in 2022. It opened 32 new restaurants in states including Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and Colorado, a new market for the chain.

Additionally, Chicken Salad Chick saw major success with a new specialty sandwich called the Chick Melt, selling more than half a million between its October debut and the end of the year. The chain also bought the Atlanta bakery Piece of Cake and plans to start serving its scratch-made cakes in all of its restaurants.

RELATED: 8 Restaurant Chains That Serve the Best Chicken Salad

"Chicken Salad Chick has grown through the years with wonderful franchisees and corporate team members who share our purpose of spreading joy, enriching lives and serving others," CEO Scott Deviney said in a statement. "We accomplished another great year in 2023 with disciplined growth balanced between new and existing markets, and new and existing franchisees. We couldn't be more pleased with our brand's growth, and we look forward to a successful 2024."

Chicken Salad Chick isn't the only chain whose footprint is about to get much, much bigger.  PJ's Coffee of New Orleans recently announced plans to open more than 40 new shops in 2024 after dozens of openings in 2023. Wingstop also revealed earlier this month that it anticipates opening a whopping 270 net new restaurants across the globe this year.

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The post Fast-Growing Chicken Salad Chain Plans to Open 53 New Restaurants appeared first on Eat This Not That.

The Hawaiian term "ahi" refers to two types of tuna: bigeye and yellowfin. So, when you see your favorite seafood chain or steakhouse use "ahi" or "yellowfin," just know that both mean the same thing. The word itself has nothing to do with style of preparation or cooking temperature.

Many of the signature seafood chains around the country have ahi tuna on the menu, but there are other places you can find it, too. Steakhouses and even some more casual restaurant chains serve ahi tuna. In short, expect premium-grade tuna at these establishments, prepared in many ways: in a poke bowl, as a tartare, on top of a salad, or as an entrée.

Eddie V's Prime Seafood

Eddie V's Prime Seafood offers three unique ahi tuna dishes. On the appetizer menu, you can try its ahi tuna tartare with avocado, mango, citrus with light curry, and sesame oil. Among its selection of sushi and sashimi, you can order a plate of yellowtail sashimi with cilantro, red chiles, and ponzu. And if you want a full entrée, there's the ahi tuna seared rare with togarashi spice, pickled ginger, wasabi, and soy sauce. The ahi tuna tartare, in particular, was a standout to one customer, who noted on Tripadvisor that it was the "best Ahi Tuna Tartare ever" and was "out of this world."

RELATED: 12 Restaurant Chains That Serve the Best Seafood Towers

Bonefish Grill

The menu at Bonefish Grill features many of the popular ways of preparing and serving ahi tuna, including the tuna poke bowl. It comes served with red onions, peppers, cucumber slices, sesame seeds, and cilantro tossed in a Hawaiian poke sauce over a bed of jasmine rice. To simplify things, opt for an ahi tuna poke with red onions, peppers, cucumbers, and cilantro tossed in a Hawaiian poke sauce.

For more of a crunch, Bonefish Grill offers a tempura crunch sashimi tuna made with sushi-grade tuna seared rare and sliced with sashimi sauce and tempura crumbles. It is served with wasabi, soy sauce, and a sriracha drizzle. One customer went outside their comfort zone and "dared" to try the raw fish and shared on Tripadvisor, "It was amazing. I'm surprised by the perfection of the tuna on a very busy Saturday night."

Yard House

Restaurant chain Yard House has locations across America, serving a menu filled with small bites, salads, sandwiches, and plates. Ahi tuna fans will be pleased to see the fish appear several times on its menu, not only as an appetizer but as multiple entrée options. To start, its blackened ahi sashimi is seared rare and served with a soy vinaigrette, wasabi, and pickled ginger. Another popular appetizer choice is the poke nachos with marinated raw ahi, crispy wontons, avocado, serrano peppers, white truffle sauce, sweet soy ginger sauce, Sriracha aioli, cilantro, green onions, nori, and sesame seeds.

When it's time to move on to the main course, you have choices. Its sesame-crusted ahi tuna is seared rare and served with crispy garlic, sesame seeds, jasmine rice, charred baby broccoli, baby tomatoes, and a creamy ponzu sauce. For an even lighter meal, its ahi tuna crunchy salad comes with ahi tuna that is seared rare and blackened along with field greens, broccoli slaw, crispy wontons, cilantro, and soy vinaigrette.

RELATED: 8 Seafood Chains That Serve the Best Steaks

Chart House

You can certainly order a great steak dinner at Chart House, but that's not necessarily why customers love it. The restaurant's menu is primarily built on a foundation of great seafood options, including its selection of ahi tuna. The seared pepper ahi tuna is served with avocado, cabbage slaw, and a wonton salad. There's also the spiced ahi with furikake rice, wasabi cream, and ginger soy to heat things up. Chart House's ahi tuna is also available on the Dock to Dine portion of the menu, where it can be prepared in a number of different ways.

Legal Sea Foods

Legal Sea Foods has several locations in the Boston area. Tuna aficionados will be pleased to see a few different options on the menu, starting with the nori-chili crusted yellowfin tuna. It comes with sesame and soy roasted broccoli and sesame and cilantro jasmine rice.

From there, you can order a yellowfin tuna steak as your entrée, which can be prepared blackened or grilled with your choice of two sides. The tuna can also be added to any salad as your protein of choice. The tuna steak was a standout to one Tripadvisor reviewer, who noted that it was the "best tuna steak ever," adding, "Been looking for a good tuna steak in Boston for a while. I'll definitely be back."

RELATED: 10 Seafood Chains That Serve the Highest Quality Fish

McCormick & Schmick's

Nutrition information unavailable.

McCormick & Schmick's is known for serving high-quality seafood, which extends to its ahi tuna. Many locations feature the fish as both an appetizer and an entrée. At the San Francisco location in Ghiradelli Square, you can even order a tasty plate of ahi Boom Boom nachos to start your meal. With taro chips as the base, the dish is topped with ahi tuna, mango, jalapeño, avocado, and Boom Boom sauce. Ahi poke also appears in the seafood tower, along with lobster, prawns, oysters, and crabs.

Ocean Prime

Nutrition information unavailable.

For a signature seafood dining experience, head to Ocean Prime. The chain excels at fish- and steak-centric dishes, including ahi tuna. You'll find ahi tuna in a few menu items, like the ahi tuna tartare with avocado, ginger ponzu, and sesame seeds. If you prefer a salad, opt for the ahi tuna salad with mango, avocado, cashews, and a spicy sesame soy glaze.

Ocean Prime is also where you can find a poke bowl made with ahi tuna, salmon, avocado, and Sriracha vinaigrette. One reviewer on Yelp noted that the ahi tuna at Ocean Prime was "spectacular," while another Yelp reviewer added that it "had a perfect sear" and paired wonderfully with the salad.

Truluck's

Nutrition information unavailable.

Seafood chain Truluck's has locations in several states across the U.S., including Texas, Florida, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. You'll find all the usual seafood suspects and yellowfin tuna on the menu. First up is the yellowfin tuna crudo with ponzu, avocado, and Dynamite sauce. Try Truluck's hiramasa ponzu with thinly sliced raw Dutch yellowtail tuna, tamari, citrus, and jalapeño. One satisfied customer noted in a Yelp review that the tuna served at Truluck's was delicious and "cooked perfectly."

RELATED: The #1 Healthiest Order at 8 Major Seafood Restaurants

Seamore's

Nutrition information unavailable.

Seafood chain Seamore's offers two different ahi tuna options on the menu. It has a yellowfin tuna poke with ponzu, avocado, peanut, crispy shallots, and scallions, as well as seared sesame tuna with ginger scallion rice, bok choy, napa cabbage, and honey-kimchi glaze. Both are great lighter options when you are heading out for lunch or dinner and are in the mood for a refreshing bite of ahi.

RELATED: 11 Amazing Benefits of Eating More Fish

Smith & Wollensky

Nutrition information unavailable.

Seafood restaurants are the most likely suspects when looking for ahi tuna, but a small selection of signature steakhouse chains also include the fish on their menus. One of those is Smith and Wollensky, which offers tuna tartare as an appetizer with cucumber salad, avocado mousse, gochujang, and crispy rice crackers. Customers can also order seared yellowfin tuna. It's prepared with nori and gochugaru-crusted and served with cucumber kimchi and coconut fried rice.

Morton's The Steakhouse

Nutrition information unavailable.

Another steakhouse chain that serves high-quality seafood is Morton's The Steakhouse. If you happen to find yourself at one of its locations but aren't really feeling in the mood for a heavy steak dinner, don't fear. You can always order its ahi tuna poke off the menu. Or, to kick things off, if most everyone in your party is a seafood fan, split an Ocean Platter. It includes cold-water lobster tail, jumbo shrimp cocktail, crab cocktail, oysters on the half shell, and ahi tuna poke.

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Despite its remarkable growth, In-N-Out's small and simple menu has barely changed in 76 years. This steadfast commitment to simplicity is central to In-N-Out's ethos, which emphasizes the use of high-quality, fresh ingredients and "handmade" burgers—a dedication that has garnered praise from award-winning chefs, including Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud. Beyond their craveable flavors, In-N-Out burgers' popularity also stems from their affordable prices, thanks to a streamlined menu, the company's ownership of all its locations, and buying their ingredients wholesale.

While everyone knows In-N-Out for its mouthwatering burgers, let's take a closer look at what's going on between the bun from a nutritional perspective. We're here to shed some light on which menu options are better for your body.

Tips for ordering a healthier meal at In-N-Out Burger

Since the menu is basic, it's quite easy to order better options at the chain. Here are three tips for how to order the healthiest choices when at the chain.

• Opt for Protein Style, where the bun is replaced with lettuce.
• Skip the Animal Style options, which means it has mustard in each patty plus pickles, grilled onion, and extra special sauce. More extra special sauce adds too much low-calorie
• Skip the special spread and ask for just ketchup and mustard to shave calories and fat. The special sauce is estimated to contain 80 calories and 9g fat.
• Avoid the not-so-secret menu. The options on this menu tend to be higher in calories, sat fat, sodium and added sugar.

4 Best Burgers

Best: Protein Style Cheeseburger

This core menu item is the regular cheeseburger (1 all-beef patty and 1 slice American Cheese) wrapped in lettuce rather than on a bun. This option makes our best bet due to its modest calories, and better saturated fat and sodium counts compared to other burger choices on the menu.

Best: Protein Style Hamburger with Ketchup and Mustard (No Spread)

This is the best option if you're managing your calories and want to eat a fast-food burger. Even ordering two protein style burgers would be better than many of the other menu items at In-N-Out.

Best: Hamburger with Ketchup and Mustard (No Spread)

This menu item is a great option because it has a modest number of calories, is relatively low in saturated fat and provides 16 grams fiber. The sodium is high but is lower than many other main items on the menu.

Best: Double-Double Protein Style with Ketchup and Mustard (No Spread)

This burger has two patties, two slices of cheese, and lettuce in place of a bun. The sodium is high, but the calories, carbs, and protein are all appropriate amounts.

Worst Burgers

Worst: 4×4 ('Quad Quad') Animal-Style

(Nutritional information is estimated from online sources.)

Also called the Quad Quad, this not-so-secret menu option is as its name suggests: four all-beef patties, four slices of American cheese, and all the standard condiments on a fresh-baked bun. Think of it as a double Double-Double. While the nutritionals are not readily available from In-N-Out, our best estimates show how horrific this option is for your health. It packs in more than half the calories you need in a day, more than a day's worth of saturated fat, all the sodium you should have in a day, and an excessive amount of protein that can be harmful to your kidneys.

RELATED: The #1 Unhealthiest Burger at Every Major Fast-Food Chain

Worst: Double-Double with Spread

This burger is a mainstay on the regular In-N-Out menu and it's one to avoid. It packs in excessive saturated fat and sodium. The saturated fat is the same as you'd get from eating 3 tablespoons of butter and the sodium would be equal to what you'd get from two servings of canned soup!

3×3 ('Triple Triple') with Spread

(Nutritional information is estimated from online sources.)

This is an option on the not-so-secret menu that includes three beef patties and three slices of American cheese on a bun with all the standard condiments. This heart-stopping burger has about 1.5 times the saturated fat you need in a day, half most adult's daily calories, and nearly all the sodium you should have in a day.

Worst: Cheeseburger with Spread

This burger is considered the best of the worst. It has moderate calories and saturated fat but sodium is quite high. Tweak this choice by skipping the spread and have ketchup and mustard and you'll shave some calories and sodium. For a bigger transformation, order a protein-style cheeseburger.

RELATED: How Many Calories Are In A Cheeseburger?

Best Sides and Shakes

Best: French Fries

The French fries on In-N-Out's menu are better than those from many other chains. They use 100% sunflower oil, which is a highly unsaturated fat. This helps keep the saturated fat content of their fries lower than the fries at other national chains.

Best: Vanilla Shake

Even though this shake is the "healthiest" milkshake option, it's not a recommended menu item. However, if you are going to order a shake, vanilla is marginally better than either the chocolate or strawberry options. The best bets for beverages on the menu include unsweetened tea, water, or a diet soda.

Worst Sides and Shakes

Worst: Animal Style Fries

This not-so-secret option is a larger order of fries topped with melted cheese, In-N-Out spread and grilled onions. It exceeds the calories, fat, saturated fat, sodium, and carbs that you'd want to have in an entire meal.

Worst: Chocolate Shake

This is by far one of the worst In-N-Out menu items, based on calories, saturated fat, and added sugar. This shake packs in just over 15 teaspoons of added sugar and nearly a day's worth of artery-clogging saturated fat.

RELATED: The 9 Worst Fast-Food Milkshakes of All Time, Says Dietitian

Worst: Strawberry Shake

Like the chocolate shake, the strawberry shake has all the same nutritional flaws: excessive calories, saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar. The vanilla shake is only modestly better than the strawberry or chocolate flavors.

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The post The Best & Worst Menu Items at In-N-Out Burger, According to a Dietitian appeared first on Eat This Not That.

Following the publication of this story on Feb. 27, Wendy's reached out with the following statement regarding its dynamic pricing plans: "Earlier this month we issued our fourth quarter and full year 2023 earnings results and included an update on investments we are making in our digital business. One initiative is digital menuboards, which are being added to U.S. Company-operated restaurants. We said these menuboards would give us more flexibility to change the display of featured items. This was misconstrued in some media reports as an intent to raise prices when demand is highest at our restaurants. We have no plans to do that and would not raise prices when our customers are visiting us most. Any features we may test in the future would be designed to benefit our customers and restaurant crew members. Digital menuboards could allow us to change the menu offerings at different times of day and offer discounts and value offers to our customers more easily, particularly in the slower times of day. Wendy's has always been about providing high-quality food at a great value, and customers can continue to expect that from our brand."

An updated version of the original story follows below.

How much does it cost to eat at Wendy's? In the future, the answer to that question could fluctuate constantly as the fast-food chain prepares to roll out a new pricing strategy.

During a recent earnings call, Wendy's announced plans to start testing "dynamic pricing" at its restaurants as early as 2025. Also commonly known as "surge pricing," this is a practice in which businesses adjust their prices based on demand, the time of day, or other factors.

RELATED: 10 Discontinued Wendy's Items Customers Want Back

Wendy's plans to spend roughly $20 million on installing new digital menu boards at all of its company-owned restaurants in the United States by the end of 2025. The upgrade will be a key factor in rolling out the dynamic pricing strategy because it will allow Wendy's restaurants to quickly and easily tweak their prices.

In a statement shared with TODAY.com, the company said that surge pricing "can allow Wendy's to be competitive and flexible with pricing, motivate customers to visit, and provide them with the food they love at a great value."

However, how Wendy's customers will respond to the pricing strategy remains to be seen. Other fast-food chains, like McDonald's and Taco Bell, have been facing significant online criticism in recent months after raising their prices. While Wendy's hasn't revealed many details about how its dynamic pricing will work, the strategy is already garnering some pushback from consumers worried that the chain will become less affordable.

RELATED: 9 Major Changes You'll See at America's Most Popular Fast-Food Chains In 2024

"Starting today I will no longer be eating at @Wendys. It is wrong to charge 'surge pricing' on food because you are busy," one consumer posted on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.

"If Wendy's really does surge pricing that's my last time eating there," another wrote.

When contacted for comment on its dynamic pricing plans and the criticism, Wendy's shared the following statement with Eat This, Not That!:

"As we've previously shared, we are making a significant investment in technology to accelerate our digital business. In addition to evolving our loyalty program, one of the other benefits of these investments will be the flexibility to change the menu more easily and to offer discounts and value offers to our customers through innovations such as digital menu boards, which will roll out in some U.S. restaurants."

RELATED: 8 Big Changes You'll See at Taco Bell This Year

"Wendy's has always been about providing high-quality food at a great value to our customers and this recent investment will continue that by driving traffic and providing value during slower parts of the day," the statement continued. "As early as 2025, we plan to test a number of features such as AI-enabled menu changes and suggestive selling based on factors such as weather that we think will provide great value and an improved customer and crew experience."

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The post Wendy's to Start Testing 'Surge Pricing'—Here's What We Know appeared first on Eat This Not That.

This new Costco bakery item—a Multigrain Bread—was first spotted late last week by Laura Lamb, who runs the Costco fan account @costcohotfinds. The hearty loaves are made with sesame seeds, golden flax seeds, sunflower seeds, and oats, and boast a deep golden brown crust.

RELATED: 12 Best Winter Bakery Items at Costco Right Now

Lamb raved about the bakery offering in an Instagram post on Feb. 24, describing the interior as "light and fluffy." Meanwhile, fellow Costco shoppers were also drooling over the loaves in the comments section on Lamb's post. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Laura Jayne Lamb (@costcohotfinds)

"Yum! I'll have to check my local Costco for this!" one fan commented.

"Looks so good," another said.

To be clear, some commenters noted that their local Costco warehouses had already been selling Multigrain Bread loaves for some time. But the fact that it's reportedly arriving at other locations for the first time now indicates that the availability of the bakery item has been limited.

Costco is selling the loaves in two-packs that were priced at $7.99 at the warehouse where Lamb spotted them. But as with any other Costco bakery offering, prices could vary by location. Members hoping to try the Multigrain Bread for themselves should make sure to check directly with their local warehouse to confirm the cost and availability.

RELATED: 12 Best-Ever Costco Essentials, According to Our Groceries Editor

The Multigrain Bread is only the latest in a series of exciting new bakery items that Costco has launched since the start of 2024. Earlier this month, the retailer introduced new Kirkland Signature White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies that immediately began racking up enamored reviews. 

"These were so soft that they literally melted in my hands, and let me tell you, it's hard to eat just one," Lamb said of the new bakery item in an earlier post.

In late January, Costco also launched a massive Cherry Topped Cheesecake that weighs nearly six pounds. The dessert features a sour cream layer, cheesecake filling, a sweet cherry topping, and a ring of white buttercream. Other new bakery items that have hit shelves at Costco since the start of the new year include a Triple Chocolate Cream Pie and Cookies 'N Cream Mini Cakes.

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The post Costco's Bakery Just Launched a 'Light & Fluffy' New Bread appeared first on Eat This Not That.

If your birthday falls on Feb. 29, then you're in luck. On Thursday, you can score a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts for free, no purchase necessary. To redeem this offer, you'll need to show proof of your birthday. This freebie is only available in-shop and at the drive-thru and is limited to one free dozen per customer.

RELATED: Fast-Growing Dessert Chain Plans to Open 70 New Locations

Additionally, those who don't have a Feb. 29 birthday can still get in on the Leap Day fun. Playing off of the "2/29" date, Krispy Kreme is offering a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts for $2.29 with a purchase of any regularly priced dozen on Feb. 29. This promo is available in-store, online, and at the drive-thru.

To redeem the deal digitally, you must use the code LEAPDAY at checkout. The offering is limited to two per guest for in-shop and drive-thru orders and one per guest for pickup and delivery. Both Leap Day offers are available at participating locations nationwide.

"An extra day in the year is an irresistible opportunity for Krispy Kreme to be extra-sweet to our guests," Dave Skena, global chief brand officer for Krispy Kreme, said in a company statement. "So, we're sweetening Leap Day by the dozens, including for fans whose true birthday comes around only every four."

The Leap Day promo isn't the only Krispy Kreme freebie this month. On Feb. 22, the doughnut chain offered free Original Glazed doughnuts to anyone without cell service amid a widespread AT&T cellular network outage.

RELATED: 8 Bakery Chains That Serve the Best Cupcakes

For doughnut fans looking to try a new treat at Krispy Kreme, the chain recently dropped its limited-time "Chocomania" collection, which includes four doughnuts featuring Hershey's chocolate.

First, there's the Hershey's Galaxy Brownie, which is a doughnut filled with Hershey's dark fudge cream, dipped in Hershey's chocolate icing, and topped with crunchy brownie pieces and rainbow sprinkles. For the black and white cookie fans, there's the Hershey's Black & White Chocolate Chip Dream. This is an Original Glazed doughnut with white icing, a Hershey's chocolate icing drizzle, and mini chocolate chips.

Then, there's the Hershey's Chocolate Cake Overload. This sweet treat features a Hershey's fudge-flavored old-fashioned cake doughnut topped with Hershey's milk chocolate icing and a dollop of Hershey's dark chocolate fudge buttercream.

Rounding out the new doughnuts is the Hershey's Chocolate Iced, which is an Original Glazed doughnut with Hershey's milk chocolate icing and a chocolate drizzle.

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The post Krispy Kreme Is Giving Out Free Doughnuts This Week—Here's How To Claim Yours appeared first on Eat This Not That.

This fast-growing competitor is PJ's Coffee of New Orleans, a chain that's mostly concentrated in the South aside from a select few East Coast and Midwest locations. It serves a variety of coffees, lattes, frozen drinks, energy drinks, sandwiches, and pastries, including fresh beignets in a nod to its Louisiana roots.

RELATED: The 15 Best Coffee Chains In America

According to a recent blog post on its website, PJ's opened 28 new stores last year in various states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, Iowa, Florida, and New Jersey. This year, it plans to "outshine 2023" by opening more than 40 additional locations, the post revealed.

RELATED: Every Dunkin' Drink—Ranked by Sugar Content

These dozens of planned openings will further accelerate PJ's already rapid pace of expansion in recent years. The chain said that it doubled its total unit count in less than six years upon opening its 175th location in Pensacola, Fla., this past August. Meanwhile, coffee-loving customers have also been flocking to PJ's stores in droves. Customer visits were a whopping 91.6% higher this past November than they were in 2019, QSR Magazine reported in December 2023.

In the blog post, PJ's attributed its recent successes to both the quality of its products and the franchisees who run its shops and connect with local communities.

"As we head into 2024, we eagerly anticipate more milestones, partnerships, and the continued growth of our brand as a beacon of quality coffee and community engagement," the post read.

RELATED: 15 Fastest-Growing Restaurant Chains Right Now

PJ's isn't the only major coffee chain that's ramping up its expansion plans right now. Dutch Bros. Coffee, which opened an impressive 159 new shops in 2023, recently announced that it plans to open between 150 and 165 additional new stores in 2024. Since the company ended 2023 with 831 locations, the new openings in 2024 could push it much closer to the 1,000-unit milestone.

Starbucks is also working to further strengthen its title as the world's largest coffee chain. In November 2023, the chain revealed plans to open 17,000 additional stores by 2030. Starbucks also said that it eventually wants to expand to a whopping 55,000 locations globally, a major jump from the more than 38,000 locations it has now.

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The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends limiting your added sugar intake to no more than 6% of your total calories each day. That works out to about 25 grams for women and 36 grams for men. Eating a diet high in added sugar can contribute to a higher risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and other chronic illnesses.

So if you're going the extra mile and ordering a salad instead of a cheeseburger and fries at your favorite fast-food chain, you'll also want to make sure the bowl of greens you're choosing isn't riddled with sugar. Check out the highest-sugar salads on restaurant menus below, and order these 10 Best Restaurant Salads to Order, According to Dietitians instead.

Chopt Crispy Chicken Ranch

With 10 grams of sugar, this Chopt salad isn't the worst option on this list. Most of the sugars come from the fresh produce, including the corn, carrots, grape tomatoes, and pickled red onion. Just watch out for the dressing you choose to pair with this crispy chicken bowl – some of the higher-sugar options include most of the vinegar-based dressings and the vinaigrettes (like the Balsamic Vinegar, the Sweet and Smoky Chipotle Vinaigrette and the White Balsamic Vinaigrette). To keep your salad less sweet, opt for the Mexican Goddess or Chopt Vinaigrette, which both have zero grams of sugar.

RELATED: 10 Unhealthiest Salad Dressings on Grocery Shelves

Culver's Bacon Bleu Salad With Vinaigrette

Culver's packs its salad with grilled chicken, bacon bits, and bleu cheese crumbles, but the sugar comes from what they call a "generous helping" of dried cranberries. While dried cranberries serve up antioxidants, they're also high in sugar because manufacturers add sugar to help mask the berry's naturally tart flavor and increase palatability. Fresh fruit is always a better bet because it's less calorie-dense and contains less sugar per calorie.

Sweetgreen Garden Cobb

America's favorite salad chain serves up a commendable selection of fresh, delicious, and locally sourced ingredients. That doesn't necessarily mean that all their salads will align with your personal health goals. Sweetgreen's twist on the classic Cobb salad contains 14 grams of sugar, which is more than half of your daily value. However, it admirably contains more fiber than sugar — and we love to see that because fiber works to steady your blood glucose levels. That means your blood sugar is less likely to spike and then crash, leading to energy dips and cravings later in the day.

RELATED: 9 Restaurant Chains That Serve the Best Chopped Salads

Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl

Sweetgreen's harvest bowl is studded with roasted sweet potatoes, apples, goat cheese, roasted almonds, and wild rice, and basically screams "fall." While it doesn't have quite as much sugar as a PSL, 15 grams is still pretty high, contributing more than half of your daily value. The balsamic vinaigrette dressing alone contributes 3 grams of sugar, so try swapping it out for the Caesar dressing or the Lime Cilantro Jalapeño Vinaigrette, which are both free of sugar.

Wendy's Taco Salad

If your goal is to make taco Tuesdays a bit healthier, this Wendy's salad isn't the best bet. It's made with romaine lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, tortilla chips, and the chain's hearty chili. Let's zoom in on the chili: The second ingredient in it is sugar, which contributes to most of the 16 total grams in the entire bowl. But we do like that this salad is high in fiber, providing 12 grams (which is about half of your recommended daily value) to help stabilize blood sugar levels and keep cravings at bay.

Sweetgreen Super Green Goddess Salad

Most of the sugar in this salad comes from the diced apples, a natural and nutrient-dense source of the sweet stuff. So while this salad is higher in sugar than other options at Sweetgreen, it also helps you hit your daily fruit goal with a healthy serving of fresh apples. Plus, this Sweetgreen salad contains a respectable 15 grams of fiber.

Wendy's Apple Pecan Salad

Just like Sweetgreen's Super Green Goddess salad, this pick is packed with apples, a source of natural sugar. However, this Wendy's salad also contains dried cranberries, sugar-coated roasted pecans, and a syrupy pomegranate vinaigrette dressing that contributes unnecessary added sugars to your meal. You can easily improve this salad's nutritional profile by doing without either the pecans or cranberries and skipping the vinaigrette.

RELATED: 10 Unhealthiest Wendy's Orders, According to Dietitians

Panera Fuji Apple Salad With Chicken

You'd be surprised to find out that most of the sugar in Panera's Fuji Apple Salad doesn't come from the apples. In fact, the popular salad and sandwich chain uses no-added-sugar apple chips in this bowl of greens for subtle sweetness and a whole lotta crunch. The majority of the added sugar comes from the white balsamic vinaigrette dressing, so swapping that sauce out can save you loads of added sugar.

Chick-fil-A Market Salad

This Chick-fil-A salad contains as much sugar as a Snickers bar. Sure, it's brimming with fresh fruit including red and green apples, strawberries and blueberries but it also comes with the chain's Harvest Nut Granola. And while we're intrigued by the idea of adding granola to salad for crunch, this unnecessary topping contributes added sugars, so you're better off skipping it.

Subway Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Salad

Subway lets you turn your favorite sub into a salad by piling the sandwich's toppings onto a bed of greens. Subway's Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Chicken is one of those classic, always-good choices, but it's also swimming in sugar. So much so that this salad contains a staggering 31 grams of sugar — that's more than a full cup of vanilla ice cream. Instead of going for the sweet teriyaki-slathered chicken, top your salad with a lean protein, such as grilled chicken or roasted turkey breast.

RELATED: The 15 Unhealthiest Yogurts—Ranked by Sugar Content

Chopt Sweet Apple Orchard Salad

Who would've thought that ordering a fresh salad for lunch could put you over your maximum sugar quota for the day? Chopt Sweet Apple Orchard Salad dumps an entire serving of sweetened cranberries onto its salad — and it turns out that the cranberries alone contribute a whopping 31 grams of added sugar. Skip the cranberries and add a serving of grilled chicken to this salad, and you've got yourself a pretty healthy lunch that'll hold you over without giving you the equivalent of 1.5 cups of ice cream's worth of sugar.

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The post 11 Popular Fast-Food Salads—Ranked by Sugar Content appeared first on Eat This Not That.

Although lobster bisque pops up on many seafood and steakhouse restaurant menus today, it's nothing new. In fact, according to Tasting Table, this soup has roots dating back to 17th-century France when it was a popular dish for fishermen. As the story goes, these fishermen would make this soup using the shellfish they caught—shrimp, lobster, and crab—and thicken the stock using crushed shells.

Making lobster bisque isn't hard, but can be time-consuming—ordering one at a restaurant is easier than cooking it at home. From an upscale restaurant chain that puts its own spin on the delicious soup to a Japanese Hawaiian fusion spot that incorporates tasty ingredients like Thai aromatics and coconut milk, here are nine restaurants with the best lobster bisque. Don't be surprised if you're inspired to order a bowl of this tasty dish.

The Capital Grille

The Capital Grille has the best of both worlds—top-notch steaks and fresh seafood prepared to perfection. If you're near one of the upscale restaurant's locations, give the lobster bisque a try. Available in two sizes—a cup or bowl—Capital Grille's version is made in a traditional style and is garnished with fresh Maine lobster.

One X user enjoyed the Capital Grille's lobster bisque enough to write, "Had the best lobster bisque of my life at Capital Grille last night." Now that's saying something.

RELATED: The #1 Healthiest Soup at 10 Major Restaurant Chains

Eddie V's Prime Seafood

If you want a lobster bisque with some edge to it, indulge in a bowl at Eddie V's Prime Seafood, the famous seafood restaurant founded in Austin, Texas, in 2000. This chain's variation is whipped up with juicy Maine lobster, cream, and—wait for it—cognac. Order it with East Coast oysters, a bone-in rib-eye, and a side of truffled macaroni and cheese, and you're set.

"The lobster bisque soup was one of the best I ever had," shared one TripAdvisor user. "And the way it was presented was unique. Our seafood was tasty, and so were the 'sides'. I would definitely go back."

Legal Sea Foods

Compared to other lobster bisques on this list, Legal Sea Foods may be the most affordable. The chain's lobster bisque is prepared with cream sherry, leaving quite an impression on restaurantgoers. One TripAdvisor reviewer mentioned that Legal Seafoods serves the "best lobster bisque on the planet" and elaborated, "Everything was perfect. Generous and friendly staff. Quiet table. Popovers with the best apple butter ever. And… I've eaten a lot of lobster bisque. This wins the prize."

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse

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Head to Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse for a lobster bisque that will leave an impression. This restaurant's recipe is made with crème fraîche and chopped chives. Enjoy it as a starter, or order it as a side to filet mignon or bone-in prime strip.

Many reviews on Yelp note that the lobster bisque is a must-have. "The drinks were ok, but the food was amazing. I had Lobster bisque soup and the Chilean Sea Bass with lobster fried rice; it was DELICIOUS," one Yelp reviewer shared. Another one went so far as to say, "Let me tell you, I've had lobster bisque from many upscale places, and Del Frisco wins! There [was] spoonful lumps of lobster so yummy."

Ocean Prime

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Ocean Prime is famous for its seafood dishes, so ordering this tasty soup is a no-brainer. This restaurant makes its lobster bisque with juicy butter-poached lobster, making for a savory, creamy, hearty soup that is an excellent choice for lunch or dinner. The lobster bisque is well-loved by customers, with other menu standouts including the Chilean sea bass, filet mignon, truffle macaroni and cheese, and butter cake for dessert.

"Lobster Bisque was to die for, with large pieces [of] lobster," one TripAdvisor reviewer stated. That says it all!

RELATED: I Tried Every Soup at Panera & One Can't Be Beat

Cousins Maine Lobster

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Whether you snag an order of lobster bisque at one of its food trucks or sit down to enjoy a bowl at one of its dine-in locations, the raved-about Cousins Maine Lobster is an excellent place to pick up some lobster bisque. This steamy soup is prepared with Maine lobster, a roux-thickened stock, Spanish sherry, light cream, and a sprinkling of white pepper.

That's not the only fantastic soup on offer, however. The restaurant's New England clam chowder, featuring fish stock, rendered salt pork, sautéed onions, and soft potatoes, also deserves an honorable mention.

RELATED: 9 Restaurant Chains That Serve the Best Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Truluck's

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You don't want to overlook the second-course offerings section of the menu at Truluck's—that's where you'll find the lobster bisque. Finished with sherry and tender lobster morsels, this lobster bisque is a delightful dish that will become one of your new favorite go-to orders at the chain.

"The lobster bisque is amazing. The service is always great and the atmosphere is so romantic," one Yelp reviewer mentioned. Another reviewer said, "We absolutely love this place. The service and the food are always impeccable. I would highly recommend the Lobster bisque. It's by far the best we have ever had."

RELATED: 10 Restaurant Chains That Serve the Best Chicken Soup

McCormick & Schmick's

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McCormick & Schmick's, the high-end seafood and steak restaurant renowned for its happy hour and unbeatable seafood specials, makes an excellent lobster bisque. It's available in two sizes—a cup or a bowl—and is made with hearty Maine lobster and sherry, which adds flavor and dimension to the dish. It makes an excellent starter to some of the restaurant's other menu highlights, including lump crab cakes, center-cut filet mignon, and Parmesan-crusted flounder.

Roy's

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Last but certainly not least is Roy's, the high-end American restaurant focusing on Hawaiian and Japanese fusion cuisine. Founded by James Beard Foundation award-winner Roy Yamaguchi in the late 1980s, Roy's has a menu filled with expertly prepared sushi, steak, and seafood options that perfectly combine flavor and creativity. If you want an iconic lobster bisque, Roy's version is for you. It's made with Maine lobster, Thai aromatics, a touch of red curry, and creamy coconut milk.

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