From Caviar Nuggets to Heart-Shaped Pizza: Valentine’s Fast Food

Fast-food chains across the United States are embracing Valentine’s Day with limited-time menu items and promotions designed to draw in diners during one of the restaurant industry’s busiest holidays.

Valentine’s Day is the second-most popular dining occasion in the U.S., trailing only Mother’s Day, according to industry data — though fast-food outlets typically see less of a sales boost than casual sit-down restaurants.

This year, brands are hoping creativity can close that gap. McDonald’s is launching a limited McNugget Caviar kit inspired by a viral social-media trend that pairs chicken nuggets with caviar. The promotion includes a tin of caviar, crème fraîche, and a gift card for nuggets, tapping into the high-low food pairing that has circulated online for years.

The company says the idea came directly from fans and social media buzz, where the combination has been widely discussed.

Other fast-food chains are also getting festive. White Castle is once again transforming hundreds of its restaurants into “Love Castles,” complete with table service and Valentine’s décor, with some locations already booked. Meanwhile, chains including Chick-fil-A, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut, Auntie Anne’s, Hardee’s, and 7-Eleven are rolling out heart-shaped versions of nuggets, pizzas, pretzels, biscuits, donuts, and even straws.

Whether driven by romance or curiosity, chains are betting that playful menus can turn Valentine’s Day into a fast-food occasion.