After a 50-year history focused on serving smoothies, Dallas-based Smoothie King is rolling out its first-ever food menu on Tuesday.
The "Power Eats" menu fits well with the brand's healthy image, offering a selection of nutritious Loaded Toasts and Protein Boxes that complement the liquid side of the menu. The items were successfully tested in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and are now primed to launch nationwide across 1,200-plus locations.
"This menu has been over a year in the making, and we're thrilled to finally share it with guests nationwide," said Smoothie King CMO Claudia Schaefer in a statement. "Every item was intentionally crafted to not only pair perfectly with our smoothies, but to embody our vision of making the world a better place by nourishing healthy habits, all while celebrating the delicious and nutritious flavors and convenience our guests love."
The health-forward menu includes three Loaded Toasts, starting with Peanut Butter Toast -- a build of peanut butter, bananas, strawberries and blueberries with a drizzle of honey. Chocolate Hazelnut Toast is layered with chocolate hazelnut spread, strawberries and blueberries and sprinkled with granola, while Avocado Toast is topped with fresh avocado and finished with everything seasoning.
Joining the toasts are two boxes. The Egg & Cheese Protein Box features two hard-boiled eggs, three types of cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack and pepperjack), fresh strawberries and blueberries, and flax and sea salt crackers. There is also a Peanut Butter & Fruit Protein Box with Justin's Peanut Butter, a Vermont meat stick, Monterey Jack and pepperjack cheeses, strawberries and blueberries, and flax and sea salt crackers.
Additional food items are available at Dallas/Fort Worth Smoothie King locations and scheduled to debut later this year on a rolling schedule, ultimately coming to all stores by early 2026. These include Egg Clouds made with cage-free eggs, baked until fluffy and available in three versions: Veggie, Sausage and Turkey Bacon. Rounding out the lineup are Savory Chicken Tenders on skewers in two flavor profiles -- Zesty Garlic and Spicy Habanero -- with a choice of dipping sauces.
Smoothie King isn't the first smoothie concept to diversify the menu with something guests can chew on. Rival Tropical Smoothie Café has a core menu of about 20 food items and typically launches two limited-time foods and two smoothies in each of its five to eight promotional windows a year. "We put an equal focus on smoothies and food when innovating the menu," Kristi Bullock, senior director of menu innovation at the Atlanta-based chain, said in an interview with Restaurant Business in 2022.
Tropical Smoothie's core menu revolves around heartier flatbreads, wraps, sandwiches and quesadillas, with some selections carrying out the "tropical" theme. There's a Caribbean Jerk Chicken wrap, for example, but also a Salsa Verde Chicken quesadilla and a Turkey Bacon Ranch Sandwich. Among breakfast items are the Southwest Wrap with eggs, chicken, cheese, tomatoes, spinach and chipotle mayo.
And 140-unit smoothie and juice chain Robeks -- tiny in comparison to Tropical Smoothie's 1,500 locations and Smoothie King's 1,200 -- just introduced a line of Harmonious Bites on Monday. The selection includes five warm, handheld items, starting with an Impossible Breakfast Sandwich on a toasted English Muffin and moving into lunch offerings. There's a Margherita Pizzolo, a folded pizza pocket enclosing mozzarella and marinara; a Southwest Chicken Wrap in a flour tortilla; a Spinach & Egg Folded Flatbread with cheese in lavash; and a Spinach & Feta Stuffed Pretzel with mozzarella and herbs.
Robeks already had toasts on the menu, but customers have been asking for more food options that are both convenient and better-for-you, according to Mitch Baker, VP of marketing for the Los Angeles-based concept.
While smoothies can be blended with fruits, vegetables, protein powders and other nutrient-rich ingredients, apparently sipping a meal is not as satisfying as eating one for many people.
"For the first time in our history, we're going beyond smoothies and bowls -- and it's all because we wanted to give our guests what they've been asking for," said Gavin Felder, president & CFO of Smoothie King, in a statement. "They've told us they want more flexible, nutritious choices throughout the day, and we've responded with an incredible range of food options that are not only delicious, but designed to leave you feeling great about your choice."