There was plenty to chew on this week, with new menu offerings and limited-time deals giving diners more options, while restaurants marked new openings and food organizations highlighted efforts beyond the dining table.
New rice bowls for comfort food cravings
Taco Bell is adding two rice-based dishes to its menu for a limited time: the Beef Rice Bowl and the Grilled Chicken Barbeque Rice Bowl.
The Beef Rice Bowl comes with Mexican rice, seasoned beef, shredded iceberg lettuce, seasoned nacho chips, sour cream, jalapeno peppers, and diced tomatoes.
The Grilled Chicken Barbeque Rice Bowl, meanwhile, features Mexican rice, char-grilled chicken, shredded iceberg lettuce, seasoned nacho chips, fiesta salsa, garlic sauce, and barbecue sauce.
Both are priced at P249 a la carte, or P279 with a 12-ounce soda.
The new rice bowls are available at Taco Bell stores for dine-in and takeout, as well as through its delivery channels. Prices may vary.
A weekend deal for Jolly Hotdog fans
Jollibee is giving customers a chance to get two Jolly Hotdogs for P149 through its limited-time Joy-Thru Deal.
The offer runs every Saturday and Sunday until September 13 at participating Jollibee Drive-Thru stores, giving customers a P27 savings.
“For many of our customers, a weekend drive-thru stop is part of their usual routine, whether they’re picking up food for the family or grabbing a quick bite. Since the Jolly Hotdog is a favorite among many, we wanted to give them a little more to enjoy during those weekend stops,” Dorothy Ching, vice president for marketing of Jollibee Philippines, said.
“We hope this gives our Jolly Hotdog fans something to look forward to on weekends and makes their food runs a little more enjoyable,” she added.
More Crunch Time stores in Negros Oriental
7-Eleven marked a milestone in Negros Oriental with the opening of its Crunch Time location at Claytown, Daro, Dumaguete.
The opening celebrated the presence of more than 100 Crunch Time stores in the province. The concept, which offers fried meals and snacks, is now available in 2,000 stores nationwide, according to the company.
Its lineup includes fried chicken, chicken fillet, siomai, corn dog, and Crunchy Pan.
The Dumaguete opening featured a motorcade, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and toast at the branch.
A new TGIFridays spot opens in BGC
TGIFridays has opened its newest branch at Uptown Mall in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. The opening was attended by celebrities Max Collins, James Reid and basketball player Dwight Ramos, among others.
The new location follows the restaurant’s recent expansions in Laoag, La Union and Iloilo City. It can accommodate up to 180 guests and has a private function room for up to 50 people, as well as a smaller room for up to 16.
Its All Yours All Day Menu Season 4 starts at P375 and includes a starter, an entrée, and a drink.
The branch also serves TGIFridays staples such as its Signature Whiskey-Glazed Baby Back Ribs, Fried Mozzarella, burgers and shareable platters.
Food, community and disaster response
A food initiative is also highlighting the role freshly prepared meals can play in helping communities affected by disasters.
Art Relief Mobile Kitchen (ARMK) was established in 2013 after Typhoon Yolanda, when artists and volunteers began cooking for displaced survivors arriving at Villamor Air Base.
The volunteer-led nonprofit has since developed a network of 12 mobile kitchens across the Philippines, from Batanes to Zamboanga. Each kitchen can prepare between 500 and 3,000 meals in one cooking operation.
ARMK is part of the network of local organizations connected through the Jollibee Group Foundation’s FoodAID program, which supports disaster preparedness through training, prepositioned ready-to-cook meals, and connections among organizations and other stakeholders.
“Obviously, [the role of community kitchens is] to comfort people when it’s needed,” ARMK co-founder Precious Leaño said. “Whether it’s a disaster or a fiesta, it is there.”
The FoodAID program has served more than 18 million meals since 2020, with the support of over 100 partners. In 2025 alone, it provided 3.4 million meals to communities in need.
Mega Milyonaryo winners look ahead
Mega Prime Foods also gathered selected winners of its Mega Milyonaryo promotion for a lunch at its Mega Kitchen Studio in Quezon City.
The nationwide promotion, launched for the company’s 50th anniversary, offered a total of P50 million in prizes. Entries were accepted until June 30, with the final grand draw held in July.
Among the winners were Jussel Eligio, who won a brand-new car, and Nora Quilla and Marivel Obia, who each won P1 million in their respective draws.
The winners shared how their prizes could help their families plan for the future and address important needs.
“Malaking bagay para sa pamilya namin ang pagkapanalo na ito. Nagbigay ito sa amin ng pagkakataong makapag-plano para sa kinabukasan, maasikaso ang mga importanteng pangangailangan, at unti-unting maabot ang mga pangarap – siyempre kasama pa rin ng sipag at tiyaga – na dati ay parang malayo sa amin. Higit pa sa premyo, nagpapasalamat kami sa mga bagong oportunidad at pagkakataon na nabuksan nito para sa aming pamilya,” the invited winners said.
Henry Camacho, marketing associate director of Mega Prime Foods, said the promotion was also a way to recognize the consumers who have supported its brands.
“Our consumers have been with us every step of the way, and Mega Milyonaryo is our way of showing real gratitude for that trust. We want to honor the incredible families and real stories behind every single win. They represent the millions of Filipinos who choose to make our products part of their hapag-kainan every day,” Camacho said.
A new challenge for Hakot Relay runners
Puregold’s Hakot Relay is set to return to Southern Luzon with its first-ever 8-kilometer Individual Challenge.
The race is scheduled for September 19 at Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus City, Cavite, and will be part of the three-leg nationwide series.
The new category will give qualified participants the option to take on the course individually, alongside the traditional relay format.
“The response to Hakot Relay has encouraged us to keep innovating with every edition,” said Puregold Senior Marketing Manager Ivy Hayagan-Piedad. “This is our first Southern Luzon leg, and we want to introduce an exciting challenge while staying true to the experience that runners have come to know and enjoy.
“We hope the new 8KM Individual Challenge gives more people an opportunity to test themselves while still being part of the panalo energy that makes Hakot Relay special.”
Participants will receive event kits, while finishers will receive different grocery-themed rewards depending on the category.
Coca-Cola backs recycling efforts in Davao del Sur
Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines has partnered with the municipalities of Sulop and Matanao in Davao del Sur to strengthen waste management and recycling efforts.
Through its Tapon to Ipon program, the company provided each municipality with a baling machine to help with the collection, storage, and transport of clear PET plastic bottles for recycling.
Sulop Mayor Jose Jimmy Sagarino said the initiative reflects the community’s efforts toward responsible waste management.
“We are proud to be among the LGUs championing the collection and diversion of PET bottles in Davao del Sur, a testament to our community’s collective efforts toward responsible waste management,” Sagarino said.
“We consider this initiative a significant step in strengthening our partnership with Coca-Cola as we continue working together to foster a more sustainable community for our residents. Isa ka tinguha, usa ka lihok, kalambuan sa tanan (One aspiration, one action, progress for all),” he added.
Matanao Mayor Irick Agbon said the equipment would help improve the recovery of recyclable materials.
“We believe in the power of partnerships between the public and private sectors in building effective waste management and recycling systems. The baling machine is a valuable contribution that will help bolster our environmental protection and solid waste management programs, particularly by improving the recovery of recyclable materials such as PET bottles,” Agbon said.
The partnership builds on Coca-Cola’s previous collaborations with local governments in the Davao region to support PET bottle recovery and recycling.
