Krystal lovers in Greenville, South Carolina can rejoice as the brand new Krystal drive-in, drive-thru and dine-in officially opened its doors today at 6 a.m. and is now serving up delicious menu items hot off the grill.

The state-of-the-art restaurant features a full-service drive-in with classic carhop service, in-your-vehicle Wi-Fi internet access and digital menu boards with integrated TVs positioned directly in front of each parking space.

Not only that, the new restaurant (which is only one of three in the nation) is serving up an expanded menu that includes brand new items.  This, of course, is in addition to the popular Krystal favorites, such as Krystal burgers, Krystal Chiks and Pups.

The new menu choices now available include items such as: Hot ‘N Country Wings®, chicken wings covered in a deliciously crispy and spicy breading; Krystal Smoothies®, a line up of all-natural, all-fruit smoothie beverages; Mac ‘N Cheese Wedges®, small, tasty wedges of fried mac ‘n cheese bites; RockSlides®, a line of ice cream-based beverages that include mix-ins such as M&Ms, Butterfinger and Snickers; and Krystal Toaster Sandwiches®, a variety of Krystal-sized sandwiches served on toasted bread including Philly Cheesesteak, Turkey Club, Grilled Cheese, BLT and Grilled Bacon and Cheese.

The new Krystal also includes a full-service drive-in for those who need a quick meal on the go as well as a traditional dining room for those who want to eat in.

So for those in the Greenville area, there’s a new place to eat in town.  Why not stop by today and let us know what your favorite part of the new Krystal is.  Is it drive-in? The new menu items? Or maybe both?

We know everyone is familiar with the Famous Krystal Burger, Krystal Chiks, Pups, MilkQuakes and Freezes, but what about menu items like Chik ‘N Bites, the side salad and the B.A. Burger?

Well, that’s why we’re going to start a new series of post around here where we feature and review some of the lesser known products at Krystal.

Now we know there are many Krystal connoisseurs out there who are familiar with the ins and outs of the entire Krystal menu and tend to mix things up at each visit.  And we see emails all the time from folks raving about products such as the Lemon Ice Box Pie or the Chili Cheese Fries, but what about the rest of us that are stuck in a rut and tend to order the same Krystal combo meal each and every time?

What are we missing out on?

Well, that’s what this series is for.  We’re going to order up a different product here and there, then we’ll post our photos and our review for your reading pleasure.

So, let’s not waste anytime.

Our first featured product: Krystal Chik ‘N Bites.

Never having tried the Chik ‘N Bites before (but a huge fan of most chicken nugget items in general), we decided to start our series out with this snack option.

Served in a traditional french fry holder, these bite-sized chicken nuggets are deliciously crispy and juicy.  The breading, which is thick, has a zesty, peppery flavoring that is perfectly seasoned - not bland in the least.  The chicken is all white meat and has been cooked to perfection, leaving it juicy and not dry.

Smaller in size, these are definitely a great option for those looking for an afternoon or late night snack. They’d also make for a great lighter lunch option.

Priced at $1.49 at our local Krystal (keep in mind, prices may vary) Chik ‘N Bites are also a great children’s menu alternative, one that will have you stealing bites when your kid isn’t looking.

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Rating: 4 out of 5 Krystals

Will we order it again? Yes, but we don’t think it will replace our standard order of a Number #1 Combo with Cheese.  We’ll just keep it in mind the next time we want something a little less filling.

Insider Tip: Ask for a packet of ranch dressing to dip your Chik ‘N Bites in.  It adds an extra dimension of flavor that makes the bite-sized chicken even more delicious.

As you may have already read in this morning’s Times Free Press, the Krystal restaurant in Hixson, Tenn., will host its second sampling event this Saturday, giving local residents the chance to taste for free the restaurant’s expansive menu options.

In addition to the free food samples, everyone will be able to enter a drawing for a $100 gift card from the fast food icon.

Simply stop by the Krystal on Hixson Pike this Saturday between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.  There you’ll have the opportunity to taste test Krystal menu items such as MilkQuakes, Krystal Chiks, Krystal Pups and various Krystal Freeze flavors.

And don’t worry if you can’t make it this weekend, there will be one more free sample event next Saturday.  Yay for free food!

Tomorrow the final “Sample Saturday” event will take place in Springdale, concluding the highly popular series. 

In addition to sampling free menu items such as Krystal Chiks, MilkQuakes, Krystal Pups and the new Krystal Freeze, the American Red Cross will be onsite hosting a blood drive, giving local residents a chance to give back.

Tomorrow’s event will take place between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the Krystal located at 1503 S. Thompson St.

 

Just a quick reminder for all you Krystal lovers in Springdale:

Tomorrow between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Krystal will be handing out free samples of Krystal Chiks, Krystal Pups, MilkQuakes and the brand new Krystal Freeze as a part of “Sample Saturday”.

So don’t miss out!

Beginning mid-June, Krystal lovers in Chattanooga will be handed a little something extra when they order a bottle of water with their Krystal meals.

That’s right, you lucky folks will receive a packet of Crystal Light On The Go to mix in - making your water more flavorful and refreshing, just in time for summer (whew - it was all we could do to type Crystal with a “C” and not a “K”).

Flavors that will be available include: Peach Tea, Lemonade and Raspberry Ice.

You can learn a little more about Crystal Light here.

We’re big fans of Crystal Light, so our summer just got a whole lot better as we’re pretty excited about washing down our Krystal Chiks with Peach Tea, our favorite flavor. Yum.

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it twice - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and after seeing this article we’re flattered…again.

It appears as though a fast food company (ahem, Burger King we’re looking at you) is “rolling out what it claims to be the first burger made for sharing”. Called the 6 Pack, the meal consists of one big Aberdeen Angus patty inside six rolls, stuck together to allow consumers to tear off portions.

Perhaps the Burger King got this idea after his recent visit to Krystal? We’re pretty sure he ordered a Sackful, which Krystal created in 1932 for the sole purpose of sharing with family and friends. Or, could it have been a large order of Krystal Pups or the Mix ‘n Match Combo that inspired the King’s new concept? All we know is Krystal has been in the business of creating food to share for over 75 years now, so we’re actually a little surprised it has taken another company this long.

Now the 6 Pack is only being rolled out in the UK, Spain and Germany, so those of us in the U.S. won’t get a look at the new burger. That’s alright though, if you’re in the mood for some food sharing, just head on over to Krystal — not only will you be able to choose between burgers, Chiks and Pups to share, but you won’t have to bother with tearing them apart like you do with BK’s 6 Pack.

And you know, we shouldn’t be surprised by this latest creation of the Burger King’s. This isn’t the first time he’s used Krystal as a source of inspiration. Take a gander at this. Yeah, it’s Burger King’s FryPod, the container he “invented” to make enjoying fries on-the-go easy and convenient. You know, one that fits perfectly inside your car’s cup holder. Sound familiar? Yeah, it’s just like the fry container Krystal has been using for years and years. Curious, don’t you think? What’s next King? Breakfast menu items stacked in a bowl so that you can mix them together or enjoy layer by layer? Don’t even think about it.

Now for more about that Krystal Drive-In, Drive-Thru and Dine-In we promised to tell you about earlier in the week. You know, the one in Chattanooga that recently earned recognition for the cool menu boards that have individual TVs integrated into them. Yeah, that one.

The modern, new Krystal Drive-In design was the brainchild of Fred Exum Jr., the company’s President and CEO, and was created as a way to serve up the ultimate Krystal experience for customers while at the same time building upon the company’s history of hospitality.

As one of the pioneers of the original drive-In concept (Krystal operated a number of drive-in units throughout the South from 1952 through the early ’60s), the new Krystal Drive-In pays homage to the company’s heritage by featuring dedicated Carhop servers who personally take orders right at your vehicle rather than you having to say your order into a speaker.

In adding a modern new twist to the location, each of the 14 parking stalls feature a large, three-panel menu and digital media board (yes, the award winning one) positioned directly in front of the parking space, making it easy for everyone in the car to view. The 32-inch LCD screens also feature individual TVs (as we told you about earlier), and to hear the programming, you simply tune your car stereo to a specified frequency.

That’s not it. Like all Krystal locations, customers have access to free Wi-Fi and at this drive-in, your car in no exception.

So yes, you can watch TV, surf the web and chow down on your favorite Krystal food items without ever stepping foot out of your car.

And just when you think it couldn’t get any better, it does. The Krystal Drive-In features an expanded menu. So in addition to Krystal burgers, Chiks, Pups, Scramblers - you know, the favorites - Krystal has added items such as a full line of real fruit smoothies, icy cold floats, ice cream sundaes and Krystal-sized toasted sandwiches for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night.

Along with the drive-in, this location features a 38-seat dining room (complete with a digital jukebox), and a traditional drive-thru.

So where exactly is this super, mega Krystal located so you can plan your next road trip? The address is 5401 Brainerd Road, Chattanooga. Here’s a map.

Whether it’s a post about a delicious MilkQuake someone enjoyed that day, or a mention of how they’re surfing the web at one of our locations, we love reading what folks are writing about Krystal on their blogs.

It’s not so much of an ego thing, but more about the warm, fuzzy feeling we get from knowing that Krystal plays a role in people’s day-to-day lives.

Below are a few links to some blogs that have mentioned Krystal recently. We’re sure there are more, but these are just some of our favorites.

Enjoy!

A Krystal wedding surprise for the groom. Click here.

Hip NYC-based marketing firm loves the Reece’s Peanut Butter MilkQuake. Oh, and our blog. Click here.

Nothing is better than best friends, the beach and Krystal burgers. Click here.

Addicted to Krystal burgers and Chiks. Click here.

Staying at Grandma’s with no Internet. Thank goodness Krystal has free Wi-Fi. Click here.

Our Krystal Chik for the month of May is Nastassja from Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

If Taj, as she likes to be called, looks familiar to you, it’s because she appeared in Krystal’s 2007 Cheese Krystal commercial.

Taj attends Florida Community College in Jacksonville, and when she’s not hitting the books, she’s hitting the beach to catch waves.

Her favorite Krystal meal is Krystals with cheese, ketchup and no pickles.

For more photos of our 2008 Krystal Chik calendar girls, visit our Flickr page or krystalchiks.com.