Overview
In October 2025, Torchy’s Tacos®—the fast-growing, Austin-based restaurant chain known for “Damn Good Tacos”—put peanuts at the center of a bold limited-time offering (LTO). Founded in 2006 as a single food trailer and now operating over 120 locations across 14 states, Torchy’s spotlighted peanuts’ flavor, satisfying crunch and impressive versatility in a globally inspired Taco of the Month: The Ronin.
The Background:
NPB and Torchy’s connected through the Culinary Institute of America’s Healthy Menus R&D Collaborative, an initiative designed to craft highly targeted, sector-specific, practical solutions that contribute to expanding healthy choices in the foodservice industry. NPB’s 2024 collaboration with Compass Group’s Foodworks division for a peanut-centric recipe contest for neighborhood restaurants and food trucks, opened the door for Collaborative members to explore the near limitless possibilities of peanuts on menus.
The Innovation: The Ronin Taco
Torchy’s The Ronin delivered a Japanese-style flavor experience built on flame-grilled teriyaki steak, chipotle slaw, grilled onions, cotija cheese, chopped peanuts, sriracha sauce, avocado sauce and fresh mint on a warm flour tortilla. The chopped peanuts added a standout savory crunch and elevated depth—showcasing how peanuts can unlock creativity in modern street-food formats.
Torchy’s sets a high bar for its LTO program: any Taco of the Month that surpasses 200,000 units sold is considered a success. The Ronin cleared that threshold with ease, signaling strong guest enthusiasm and validating the power of peanuts as a crave-worthy ingredient.
“We created The Ronin to push flavor boundaries and offer something unexpected. The chopped peanuts added great texture and a savory crunch that brought the whole taco together. The strong guest response confirmed we were onto something special,” said Cheryl Drummond, senior director of culinary innovation, Torchy’s Tacos®.
Customer Feedback
The social buzz was hot: guests took to Instagram to share their love for The Ronin and the peanut component clearly caught their attention. Sample comments included:
- “Peanuts on a taco? Mind blown. 🔥”
- “Just when I thought Torchy’s couldn’t get better—peanut crunch FTW.”
Why It Matters
This success demonstrates how peanuts can fuel menu differentiation, global flavor storytelling and high-performance LTOs. Peanuts bring unmatched versatility, affordability and operational ease—making them an ideal ingredient for chains seeking fresh, exciting offerings that resonate with guests.
Partner With Us
Whether you’re creating a seasonal feature, global-inspired specialty or signature menu item, peanuts can help you stand out. Contact NPB to explore how peanuts can bring your next innovation to life.