Denny’s is bringing a new handheld item to more than 240 restaurants, and it is coming from a brand tied to Sofía Vergara and Manolo Gonzalez Vergara. Starting October 28, the chain says four Toma empanadas will be available at participating Denny’s locations in California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida.
What Denny’s is putting on the menu
According to Nation’s Restaurant News, the Denny’s lineup includes four empanadas, with two flavors described as exclusive to Denny’s. One is the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Empanada, made with bacon, scrambled eggs, melted cheddar, peppers, and onions, and served with salsa.
The other flavors are Guava and Cheese, served with vanilla cream, Chicken in Salsa Verde, served with red salsa, and Beef, made with tomatoes, onions, and Kalamata olives and served with salsa. Nation’s Restaurant News reported that these items will be available for dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering.
The broader Toma brand already has a grocery presence. Nation’s Restaurant News reported that Toma is a CPG brand created and distributed by Nestlé and is sold in the frozen aisle at retailers including Walmart. Nestlé Professional also said in a 2025 announcement that it partnered with TOMA to launch empanadas in foodservice, including beef and chicken varieties.
Where the rollout starts and how much it costs
The rollout is limited to more than 240 Denny’s restaurants across four states, according to Nation’s Restaurant News. The company did not provide a city-by-city list in the source material, so shoppers and diners will likely need to check with local restaurants for participation.
For in-store orders, Nation’s Restaurant News says guests can buy any two empanadas with chips and salsa as an entrée for $13.99. A single empanada with dipping sauce can be added to any meal for $5.99, and the item will also be available as part of a Triple Play Combo meal.
For off-premises orders, the publication reported two online-exclusive offers: one empanada and a beverage for $8.99, or any two empanadas and a beverage for $14.99. It also reported that Denny’s catering menu, which the chain added in August 2026, will offer 10 empanadas in one flavor or 20 empanadas in up to two flavors.
Why this matters for Denny’s menu strategy
Denny’s CEO Chris Bode told Nation’s Restaurant News that the brand’s demographics “skew Hispanic,” while the core menu has long leaned toward classic American breakfast fare. He said the chain wants to evolve the menu more strategically in the markets where it competes and called Toma Empanadas “a great vehicle” for that effort.
The same report said this is one of the first brand partnerships announced under Project Grand Slam, Denny’s revitalization plan introduced earlier in 2026 under Bode’s leadership. That makes the empanada launch more than a one-off special, even if the company has not said how long the items will stay on menus.
Manolo Gonzalez Vergara also told Nation’s Restaurant News that Denny’s asked for breakfast empanadas and that the team worked through multiple versions to get them right. He added that more collaboration could follow, including the possibility of pancakes in the future, though no additional menu items or dates were announced in the sourced material.