Krispy Krunchy Chicken, Miami Grill, and Pepper Lunch lead RestaurantMagazine.com’s Top Ten stories for the week ending April 27, 2025.
1) Krispy Krunchy Chicken Opens in Montana, Its 48th State
Krispy Krunchy Chicken, one of the fastest growing hot food concepts in the convenience store business, is now open in Montana, achieving a presence in all 48 contiguous United States and meeting the nation’s need for ridiculously good, Cajun-spiced fried chicken from coast to coast.
2) Miami Grill Launches New Express, All-Takeaway Concept
Miami Grill’s first all-takeaway concept features a double drive-thru lane and a walk-up window with outdoor seating for the ultimate in fast-casual convenience.
3) Pepper Lunch Builds on a Banner 2024 with Continued Momentum
Pepper Lunch, a one-of-a-kind Japanese fast-casual concept with more than 540 locations across 17 countries, is continuing momentum generated from a banner 2024 year, thanks to increases across all sales and guest satisfaction metrics.
4) Famous Dave’s Fires Up Third Annual All-Star BBQ Series This May, Leading Up to the 2025 World Food Championships
Kicking off this May and running through August, the series will travel to ten Famous Dave’s locations across the country, igniting the flames of competition and community to find the nation’s best backyard and professional pitmasters.
5) Enzo’s & CarmelCorn Launches Franchise Opportunity: Two Iconic Chicago Brands in One Franchise Model
Enzo’s & CarmelCorn, two of Chicago’s longest-standing and most recognizable food names, have announced the launch of a joint franchise opportunity.
6) Houston TX Hot Chicken Heats Up Expansion With 25th Location
Since launching in 2021, HHC has experienced explosive growth across the U.S., with locations now in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Idaho, Washington and Michigan. The brand continues to attract a cult-like following for its uncompromising flavor, top-tier service and social media-worthy presentation.
7) Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ Reopens in Ocala, Florida!
Crave Hot Dogs and BBQ is making significant strides in expanding its presence across the United States with select sites inside Walmart stores, brick and mortar units, and food trucks.
8) Shaver Hall Unveils Designs for Highly Anticipated Midtown Food Hall
Shaver Hall, the highly anticipated food and entertainment destination set to open in Midtown Manhattan later this year, has released design plans offering a first look at the transformation of the historic Lord & Taylor building into an immersive culinary experience.
9) Top 100 Brunch Restaurants in America for 2025
With Mother’s Day consistently ranking as the busiest dining day of the year, securing the perfect table is more competitive than ever. To help families navigate this much-anticipated celebration, OpenTable has released its annual list of Top 100 Brunch Restaurants in America for 2025, compiled by analyzing more than 10 million diner reviews, along with diner ratings, reservation demand, percentage of five-star reviews among other factors.
10) UKIAH Japanese Smokehouse Set to Debut in Fort Lauderdale Late Spring 2025
The highly anticipated UKIAH Japanese Smokehouse (UKIAH) is set to open its doors in Downtown Fort Lauderdale, late Spring 2025. The new restaurant will bring its signature blend of Japanese flavors and American barbecue techniques to South Florida’s dynamic culinary scene.
