After months of testing, Chick-fil-A is finally bringing several test items to its customers nationwide.
While Chick-fil-A has built its reputation on iconic staples like its chicken sandwich, waffle fries, and signature sauce, the fast-growing quick-service chain has been experimenting with new menu items to keep customers engaged in a highly competitive restaurant environment.
The company recently earned the top spot among quick-service restaurants for the 11th consecutive year, receiving a score of 83 out of 100 in the American Customer Satisfaction Index 2026 Restaurant and Food Delivery Study.
As competition in the restaurant industry intensifies, Chick-fil-A is rolling out a major seasonal menu expansion for fall 2026, bringing several new flavors to customers nationwide.
Chick-fil-A unveils 9 new items for its fall 2026 menu
Chick-fil-A is making nine test items available across all its restaurants nationwide beginning Aug. 24 through Nov. 14 as part of its new fall 2026 menu, the company told TheStreet.
The nine-item lineup consists of two Chicken & Waffles Sandwiches, each available with multiple chicken options, plus a plain waffle and two treats.
The new items include:
- Chicken & Waffles Breakfast Sandwich: Available in spicy, grilled, or original crispy chicken filet
- Chicken & Waffles Sandwich: Available in spicy, grilled, or original crispy chicken filet
- Plain Waffle: Can be ordered on its own
- S’mores Milkshake
- S’mores Frosted Coffee
Each Chicken & Waffles Sandwich features a spicy, grilled, or original crispy chicken filet, applewood-smoked bacon, and honey butter spread, sandwiched between two maple waffles and served with a side of syrup. The breakfast version is smaller, while the lunch/dinner sandwich is full-sized.
The breakfast offering will be available during standard breakfast hours, from opening until before 10:30 a.m., while the larger entrée size will be available from 10:30 a.m. to close.
The handspun S’mores Milkshake is made with Chick-fil-A’s signature icedream dessert mixed with toasted marshmallow syrup and chocolate shortbread and graham cracker crumbles. It is topped with toasted marshmallow whipped cream and a cherry.
The S’mores Frosted Coffee blends brewed coffee and Chick-fil-A’s signature icedream dessert with toasted marshmallow syrup and chocolate shortbread and graham cracker crumbles.
“Both Chicken & Waffles and S’mores are much-loved classics, and we challenged ourselves to bring those flavors to our menu in a playful and unexpected way,” said Chick-fil-A Director of Menu and Packaging Allison Duncan in a statement sent to TheStreet.
“After seeing the incredible response and excitement from Guests in our test markets, we couldn’t wait to share these flavors nationwide.”
Alongside the fall 2026 menu release, Chick-fil-A is also releasing limited-time merchandise through its official online shop and at participating restaurants.
Why Chick-fil-A is bringing the former test items nationwide
Before the nationwide launch announcement, Chick-fil-A first tested the breakfast and lunch/dinner versions of the Chicken & Waffles Sandwiches at select locations in Baltimore, Maryland, and San Antonio, Texas, from Dec. 1, 2025, through Jan. 24, 2026.
The company also tested the S’mores Frosted Coffee and S’mores Milkshake at select restaurants in Austin, Texas, from late October 2025 through November 10.
The nationwide rollout follows those limited-market tests, giving Chick-fil-A an opportunity to gauge customer response before making the items available across its restaurant network.
Fernanda Tronco/TheStreet
Chick-fil-A fosters innovation to stay relevant amid competition
Chick-fil-A frequently tests experimental menu items in select markets before expanding them nationwide.
Limited market tests like these allow brands to evaluate consumer demand before committing to a broader launch. Pilot programs also generate consumer buzz while reducing the financial risk associated with introducing a new menu item.
Innovation has long played a role in Chick-fil-A’s strategy. The company opened HATCH Innovation Labs in 2012, a dedicated creative workspace designed to develop new ideas informed by customer feedback and operational testing.
Industry experts say this type of experimentation has become increasingly important as consumers’ expectations around food and dining continue to evolve.
“Consumers are no longer choosing food purely on category familiarity or brand recognition,” said Tastewise industry expert Kelia Losa Reinoso. “They are making decisions based on function, occasion, and flavor experience simultaneously, and they expect both their restaurant and retail choices to keep up.”
Here’s some of my previous coverage on Chick-fil-A innovation:
- Chick-fil-A reveals seven new menu items for Spring 2026
- Chick-fil-A is making a major change to 425 restaurants nationwide
- Chick-fil-A tries a growth plan
Menu innovation is also happening at a time when the foodservice industry faces mounting financial pressure.
Prices for food away from home increased 3.4% in the 12 months ending July 2026, according to recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Meanwhile, food and labor costs for the average restaurant have each risen by about 35% over the past five years, according to the National Restaurant Association.
To offset those increases, menu prices climbed an average of 31% between February 2020 and April 2025, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
At the same time, overall traffic in the food service industry declined 1% in the quarter ending June 2025, according to Circana.
The combination of higher costs and pressure on restaurant traffic has prompted many chains to find new ways to keep customers engaged and strengthen brand loyalty. For Chick-fil-A, limited-time offerings and nationwide launches of successful test items provide another way to generate interest while continuing to expand its menu.
