---
title: "Is Starbucks really back?"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/99fb81ed-1fb4-4c8a-9a03-5b17b7f3a1df
source: "Restaurant Business"
original_url: https://restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/starbucks-really-back
category: "Coffee & tea"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Coffee & tea"
published: 2026-04-30T22:04:57.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T14:58:47.933Z
image: https://cdn.informaconnect.com/platform/files/public/2026-05/background/TWIR%205-1-26.png?VersionId=T7Fb4GorLO7Rnp6ul6teRN1ihJUEv8SD
---

# Is Starbucks really back?

**TL;DR:** Starbucks has released its best earnings report in over two years, and Subway has introduced a new under $5 menu. Chili's has also reported strong same-store sales.

*originally published in Restaurant Business on 2026-04-30. [Read the original](https://restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/starbucks-really-back).*

## Story

Starbucks is apparently back.

This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks the latest earnings report from Starbucks, its best in more than two years. Is the coffee chain out of the wilderness for good?

We also look at Subway, which just introduced its newest value offer, an under $5 menu. Can the sandwich chain finally find the right note on value? Robert Byrne from Technomic also explains why Subway is having challenges.

And Chili’s once again reported strong same-store sales. We talk about one scary thing—for the chain’s competitors—as it looks into the next few years.

Tech Check this week looks at the recently concluded Restaurant Leadership Conference.

*Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.*

## Entities

- QSR (sector)
- menu pricing (topic)
- Starbucks (company)
- Restaurant Business (publication)
- Subway (company)
- Technomic (company)
- same store sales (topic)
- Chili's (company)
- earnings report (topic)
- Robert Byrne (person)

---
Originally reported by Restaurant Business (https://restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/starbucks-really-back). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/99fb81ed-1fb4-4c8a-9a03-5b17b7f3a1df).