From Percy Jackson to Marvel villains, restaurant collabs heat up this fall

Restaurant brands are borrowing fans this fall. Since early October, more than a dozen fast casuals have announced collaborations with TV shows, movies, video games,

Dave & Buster's is adding three Marvel-inspired cocktails and two mocktails, available Nov. 16 through Jan. 31, including the Multiversal Mule, made with Smirnoff vodka, blue orange liqueur, dragon fruit and ginger beer and served with an LED glow cube. Photo: Dave & Buster's

athletes, musicians, social media creators and other consumer brands, most pairing a limited-time menu item with merchandise, a sweepstakes or an in-store event.

The tie-ins range from a Greek chain's "Percy Jackson" meal and a Knicks star's signature wrap to lip balms inspired by a Mexican chain's craft drinks. The common thread is reach: each partner brings its own audience to the counter.

"Both brands have incredibly passionate fan bases, and we knew we could create something unexpected together," Alex Dunn, CEO of Swig, said in a press release about the dirty soda chain's Halloween collaboration with Liquid Death.

Here's a look at recent restaurant collaborations.

Screen and game tie-ins

Nick the Greek, which has over 100 units, is bringing a little mythology to the counter. The Greek street food chain launched a nationwide collaboration with Disney+'s "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" on Nov. 3, rolling out a shareable meal and a sweepstakes ahead of the series' third-season premiere Nov. 20 on Disney+ and Hulu.

The Titan Meal serves four to six people and includes a choice of gyro meat or falafel, Greek salad, rice and pita. It's available at all Nick the Greek locations throughout the third season. The Demigod Experience Sweepstakes runs through Jan. 3, 2027, with a grand prize trip for two to Athens, Greece, plus instant-win food prizes, and is open to residents of the eight states where the chain operates.

Dave & Buster's is handing its name to a Marvel villain. Starting Nov. 16, the chain becomes Doom & Buster's for a limited-time nationwide takeover ahead of Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Doomsday," in theaters Dec. 18. Locations will add themed Doomsday Zones, games and collectibles.

The bar menu adds three Marvel-inspired cocktails and two mocktails, available Nov. 16 through Jan. 31, including the Multiversal Mule, made with Smirnoff vodka, blue orange liqueur, dragon fruit and ginger beer and served with an LED glow cube. The takeover also brings Doomhour, a surprise hour of double tickets on green-swipe games, with D&B
Rewards members getting advance alerts in the app.

Kura Sushi USA partnered with Nintendo of America on a promotion tied to the Nintendo Switch 2 game "Yoshi and the Mysterious Book." Since Nov. 1, guests have earned a

Kura Sushi USA partnered with Nintendo of America on a promotion tied to the Nintendo Switch 2 game "Yoshi and the Mysterious Book

randomized capsule prize from the chain's Bikkura Pon machine after eating 15 plates, 25 plates and every 15 plates after that. Prizes include acrylic carabiners, magnet bookmark sets and a microfiber cloth.

The menu adds three limited-time items: the "Ground Pound" Crunch Roll, Shrimp Avocado "Tail Flick" Nigiri and "Gobble" Up Matcha Parfait. Kura Sushi Rewards members who spend at least $85 in the restaurant can get a two-piece plate set on Nov. 4 and a blanket on Nov. 18, while supplies last.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers teamed up with The Hershey Co. on three frozen custard treats, available Nov. 4 through Jan. 5 at participating locations: the Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie Concrete, made with Reese's Peanut Butter Sauce and Hershey's chocolate chips; the Heath Caramel Cheesecake Concrete; and the Hershey's Snowfall Sundae. Guests who visit during the promotion can buy two tickets and get two free for the movie "Hershey," which opens in theaters Nov. 25.

Founded in Wichita, Kan., in 2002, Freddy's has more than 600 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt is going to the dogs. Starting Nov. 9, participating locations will run a promotion tied to "Doozie's Doghouse," a DreamWorksAnimation series from the world of "Gabby's Dollhouse" that premieres on Netflix the same day. The promotion runs through Dec. 31.

The featured swirl pairs Birthday Cake and Dole Orange frozen yogurt and is finished with white bone-shaped sugar sprinkles. Stores will also add full-size photo standees and coloring sheets for kids through the holiday season.

"Doozie's world is full of imagination and surprises, and we love giving kids a chance to bring a little of that magic into something they create themselves," Erik Jensen, vice president of marketing for BRIX Holdings, said in a press release.

Founded in 2008, Orange Leaf has more than 50 stores nationwide and is a franchise brand of Dallas-based BRIX Holdings.

Athletes, artists and creators

Just Salad put its partnership with New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson on the menu Oct. 19 with the Clutch Wrap, available at all locations through Dec. 31. The wrap combines oven-roasted chicken, roasted corn, hot honey goat cheese and spicy harissa pita with the chain's chipotle vinaigrette and has 48 grams of protein. Brunson, who joined Just Salad as a partner and equity owner in June, worked with the culinary team on the recipe, and a connected TV spot supports the launch.

Founded in 2006, New York-born Just Salad has more than 125 locations in seven states and Washington, D.C.

Smoothie King turned a viral moment into a menu item. Comedian and podcast host Connor Wood went viral after actress Jennifer Lawrence called him out for paying her no mind as he sipped a smoothie, according to Smoothie King's media team. Guests may order "Connor's Paid Me No Mind Smoothie," in-store only, at all Smoothie King locations. The 20-ounce smoothie is made with strawberries, bananas and electrolytes and has 26 grams of protein and no added sugar.

Hat Creek Burger Co. teamed up with food creator Chance Cozby of 3 Pieces of Pecan on the Enchilada Burger, which launched Nov. 3 at all 26 locations while supplies last. It stacks two beef patties with pepper jack, grilled onions, jalapeños, crispy tortilla strips, jalapeño ranch and enchilada sauce on a Martin's Potato Roll, and guests who order it get half off a frozen margarita.

"We like finding new ways to approach a burger, and working with Chance gave us the opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to our menu," Drew Gressett, CEO of Hat Creek Burger Company, said in a press release.

Gressett founded the Texas-based chain out of a food truck in Austin in 2008. All 26 locations are in Texas.

Fatburger,based in Los Angeles,celebrated Anderson .Paak and Cordae's new album, "Heavy Is the Crown," with a block party outside its West Hollywood, Calif., restaurant Oct. 25. The event featured two items built to the artists' orders, the .Paak Burger, two turkey burgers with cheese, tomato, ketchup and mustard, and the Cordae Sando, a fried chicken sandwich with cheese, barbecue sauce and bacon, plus limited-edition merch and live entertainment. Ticket proceeds went to .Paak's Brandon Anderson Foundation.

"Throwing an album block party celebration for two award-winning artists who already love our food, and bringing both of our communities together, is a dream collaboration for us," Jessica DePrizio, senior director of marketing for Fatburger, said in a press release.

Mountain Mike's Pizza is donating $1 from every Heart-Shaped Pizza sold in November to Jared Allen's Homes for Wounded Warriors for the second straight year. Allen, a retired NFL star and Pro Football Hall of Famer, founded the nonprofit in 2009 to build and remodel accessible, mortgage-free homes for combat-wounded veterans. Mountain Mike's donated $10,000 to the group in 2025.

Founded in 1978, Mountain Mike's has nearly 350 locations.

Brand-on-brand mashups

Swig and Liquid Death launched their first collaboration Oct. 26 with Blood Thirsty, a drink that pairs Liquid Death's Blood Zero Energy with raspberry purée, vanilla, fresh lime and vanilla cream, served in a 20-ounce color-changing collectible cup. Swig said the cups sold out nationwide within 48 hours. The drink stayed on the menu in a standard Swig cup through Oct. 31.

Founded in St. George, Utah, in 2010, Swig operates more than 170 locations in 17 states.

The Salty is adding Táche pistachio milk to its permanent menu at all locations and celebrating with a limited-time menu Nov. 13-22: a Pistachio Orgeat Latte, in espresso or matcha, for $8 and a Pistachio Tres Leches Donut for $5.25. The donut-and-coffee brand's Georgetown shop in Washington, D.C., will host a pop-up on Nov. 7 with early menu access and co-branded merch, and the first 10 guests at each location who order the drink-and-donut pairing Nov. 13-15 will get a keychain or bandana.

Both brands were founded by women, The Salty by Amanda Pizarro and Táche by Roxana Saidi.

Founded in 2015 as a pop-up in a vintage camper in Miami, The Salty has more than 20 locations in eight states.

Cafe Rio teamed up with Idaho beauty brand Poppy & Pout on three lip balms inspired by its drinks: Mucho Mint, based on its Mint Limeade; Lotta Horchata; and Berry Bueno, based on its Blueberry Mojito Mocktail. The balms launched Oct. 13 at select Cafe Rio locations in Utah and Idaho and online through Poppy & Pout, priced at $9.95 each or three for $26.95.

"We're famous for big flavors and surprising guests, so this collaboration was a natural fit," Mike Burns, CEO of Cafe Rio, said in a press release.
Founded in 1997, Salt Lake City-based Cafe Rio has nearly 150 restaurants in 11 states.

Peet's Coffee partnered with fragrance brand Lavanila on a limited-edition collection inspired by its Vanilla Latte: a $25 Vanilla Latte Candle, sold at participating Peet's coffee bars

Peet's Coffee partnered with fragrance brand Lavanila on a limited-edition collection inspired by its Vanilla Latte: a $25 Vanilla Latte Candle, sold at participating Peet's coffeebars

as well as Lavanila.com, Amazon and Ulta, and a $29 Vanilla Latte Body & Hair Mist, sold through Lavanila.com, Amazon and Ulta.

The collection arrived Nov. 4 alongside Peet's holiday menu and a sweepstakes offering Southwest Airlines e-vouchers through Dec. 14.

Kentucky-based Fazoli'spartnered with The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit funded by Southeast dairy farm families, on its new Cheesy Bread, available at participating locations through Jan. 18, 2027. The item tops the chain's Italian-style crust with garlic butter, whole milk mozzarella and provolone and a Parmesan spice blend, served with marinara. The Dairy Alliance also recently worked with Round Table Pizza on a Dr Pepper-inspired pizza.

Founded in 1988, Fazoli's owns and operates about 150 restaurants in 26 states.

Editor's Note: All information came from company press releases announcing the partnerships. Most are limited-time offers running through the holidays or into early 2027.