Which US restaurant chains put chili crisp on the menu, when each launch ran, and who got there first.
MenuLaunches has tracked 3 chili crisp menu launches across 2 US restaurant chains between 2026 and 2026, peaking in 2026-09. The chains that use it most are Panda Express, Wingstop.
Ordered by announce date.
| # | Chain | Item | Announced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wingstop | Lemon Pepper Chili Glaze | September 11, 2026 |
| 2 | Wingstop | Lemon Pepper Chili Crunch | September 11, 2026 |
| 3 | Panda Express | Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken | September 14, 2026 |
Bite-sized boneless dark meat chicken coated in a light, crispy-fried breading, tossed in a dry spice blend of tamarind, tomato, garlic, and onion with crispy fried kale, served with Chili Crisp Aioli.
Lemon Pepper dry rub finished with crispy Korean chili crunch for texture and heat, rated two flames out of five on the chain's heat scale.
A citrusy glaze with sweet heat topped with crispy Korean chili crunch, rated three flames out of five on the chain's heat scale.