CARPINTERIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Green Burrito™, the Mexican food concept affiliated with Carl’s Jr.®, today announces its culinary overhaul, launching a new menu that offers highly authentic, deliciously filling items at affordable price points, just like its globally successful parent chain; exciting changes will come to all 600-plus dual-branded Green Burrito/Carl’s Jr. restaurant locations, which are based primarily in the Western and Southwestern parts of the United States.
Today’s launch marks one of the most extensive menu overhauls since Carl’s Jr. began dual-branding restaurants with Green Burrito in the ‘90s. The new menu looks to bridge the gap between superior quality and good value in the Mexican-themed quick service restaurant (QSR) space, offering filling items crafted from authentic ingredients one would typically expect to find at a fast-casual restaurant or mom-and-pop taqueria at the affordable price points for which QSRs have become known. New featured ingredients include: cotija cheese, cilantro-lime rice, whole pinto beans, freshly-prepared pico de gallo, guacamole, Cholula® hot sauce and more.
In addition to these high-quality ingredients, and as a foundation of the menu relaunch, Green Burrito will now charbroil all of its chicken and steak offerings before they are hand-sliced in-restaurant — quite a unique feature in the QSR space given many competitors still simply re-heat their meat options. Lean, charbroiled steak or chicken will be featured in nearly all products including The Green Burrito, the anchor of the new menu, which features cilantro-lime rice, chipotle beans, fresh salsa, signature green sauce, Cholula hot sauce, crema and a four cheese blend, wrapped in a 12-inch flour tortilla. The Grilled Burrito will be offered as another menu highlight, featuring charbroiled chicken or steak, cilantro-lime rice, chipotle beans, a four cheese blend, fresh salsa and Cholula hot sauce, wrapped in a 12-inch flour tortilla before the whole thing is grilled once again. Other items featuring new, authentic ingredients include: crunchy and soft tacos, quesadillas, taquitos and Super Nachos.
The Grilled Burrito is available as an entrée with chicken for $4.99, or with steak for $5.79; customers can upgrade to the chicken or steak Green Burrito for $6.29 and $7.09, respectively. Prices may vary by location.
“The Mexican food space has historically been a land of extremes: you can either sacrifice quality in favor of price and convenience, or time and money in favor of a higher quality meal. Thanks to Green Burrito, that dichotomy is now a thing of the past,” said Eric Williams, chief operating officer for Carl’s Jr. and Green Burrito. “Carl’s Jr. has become known in the QSR industry for offering restaurant-quality burgers at fast-food prices, and now Green Burrito is following in its footsteps. With this new menu, you’ll never again have to wait for a table at a local taqueria to satisfy your cravings for an authentic Southwestern meal. We even serve authentic Coca-Cola® de Mexico made with cane sugar and sold in retro glass bottles. Green Burrito is ‘Real Mexican, Real Big™’ — and real fast.”
The food, however, isn’t the only thing that’s improving. Green Burrito restaurants also have an updated look and feel — all locations will feature more modern interior and drive-thru menu boards, new lobby displays and other merchandising.
“Just like Carl’s Jr., Green Burrito is about premium customer service in every aspect, so it’s our intention that every customer experiences a feast for the eyes and the stomach while dining on our delicious Mexican menu items,” added Williams.
About CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc.
CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. (“CKE”) is a privately held company headquartered in Carpinteria, Calif. CKE is not a franchisor and conducts substantially all of its restaurant activities and operations through its subsidiaries. Carl’s Jr. Restaurants LLC and Hardee’s Restaurants LLC own, operate and franchise the Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, Green Burrito™ and Red Burrito® concepts. Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s operate as one brand under two names, acknowledging the rich regional heritage of both banners. After opening their first restaurants in New York and New Jersey last spring and recent international openings in Japan, Australia and Kenya, Carl’s Jr. Restaurants LLC and Hardee’s Restaurants LLC now have a total of 3,729 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 44 states and 39 foreign countries and U.S. territories. Known for its one-of-a-kind premium menu items such as 100 percent Black Angus Thickburgers®, Made from Scratch™ Biscuits, and Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders™, as well as an award-winning marketing approach, the Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s brand continues to deliver substantial and consistent growth in the U.S. and overseas. The Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s system is now 94 percent franchised, with international restaurants representing 20 percent of the system. For more information about CKE, please visit www.ckr.com or its brand sites at www.carlsjr.com and www.hardees.com.
