Fast Food's Best New Menu Items Of August 2026

Us doom-scrolling amateur foodies aren't alone in enjoying the occasional greasy paper sack of fast food — celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay gets his favorite burger from a drive-thru, while Mr. Taylor Swift himself, newlywed NFL star Travis Kelce, has been known to wolf down a Whopper when he gets the chance. No matter what fast food chains you love best, it's a relatable feeling of excitement when these outlets drop new menu items. In the month of August, we're seeing a splash of fresh offerings from big-name players in the high stakes, high-speed grub game ... and we're ready to dive in. (Can you tell that it's hot out and we're thinking of cool swimming pools?)

Unlike the list of forgotten old-school fast food mascots, these menu offerings are very much of-the-moment, and most are limited-time items. This means that you shouldn't hesitate in trying them out. Have you been looking for an excuse to not heat up your kitchen by cooking in the dog days of summer? Consider this permission obtained to load up the fam-bam and treat the gang to a round of snacks or value meals. Pricing and franchise participation are subject to change, naturally, but all information is current as of this writing. 

Our favorite McDonald's hacks sometimes involve swapping sauces, but the Golden Arches might have won the condiment derby for August with its new sweet and creamy Honey Brown Butter topping, which is lovingly drizzled over the perennial favorite Bacon Egg & Cheese biscuit. We've never met a biscuit that didn't sing with honey and butter, so we're placing our bets on this combination being a home run. The Honey Brown Butter BEC Biscuit isn't hanging around forever, so get your fingers sticky ASAP. 

Some folks dislike coffee, even when it's the type of coffee that java monolith Starbucks uses. For decaf sugar fiends who want a grab-and-go sip that couldn't be more sunny, there comes a creme-based Frappuccino meant to evoke the childhood nostalgia of a creamsicle. It's citrusy, milky, and indulgent, thanks to the downy cloud of whipped cream on top. Scoop one up before the inevitable Pumpkin Spice juggernaut invades the Siren's shores.

With its Destination Desserts line of limited-time filled donuts, Krispy Kreme is taking no prisoners among those with a sweet tooth. We're particularly charmed by this lofty pink guava-cheesecake donut that blends both delectable flavors in a gooey filling guaranteed to ooze onto your fingers for shameless consumption. It's not that we don't know how to keep donuts fresh overnight; we just don't think a box of these will last until morning! 

A cross between a cheese curd and a stuffed pretzel, these mozz-packed pretzel bites look like a pint-sized party for your mouth. We are usually unable to resist the scent of baking dough that lures us towards that Auntie Anne's kiosk in the mall, and it seems like our resolve is about to become that much weaker. These limited-time mouthfuls are pictured with marinara, but we might go queso crazy and dip them in some spicy cheese sauce! These launch on August 5th. 

When we want a quick smoothie (even when we know how to prepare a breakfast smoothie in half the time), we sometimes hit the Tropical Smoothie Cafe drive-thru. The spice queens and kings among us might be awfully tempted by this new handheld, which combines the piquant flavors of Cholula Chili Lime chicken with chili mayo, habanero-spiced crispy onions, and even a sriracha tortilla. Like all TSC wraps, it can even be converted into a wrap-free bowl.