CPK's Not-So-Secret, Pizza-Inspired Baked Mac ‘N' Cheese is Official (For Now)
Earlier this year, CPK quietly introduced the new line of Mac 'N' Cheese for takeout only, featuring 'noodle-ized' versions of every pizza on the menu. After a tongue-in-cheek social campaign in which a rogue intern leaked the menu, fans caught on and started asking for the dishes in the restaurant.
"Something magical happens when you take our most beloved pizzas and reimagine them through the lens of comfort food," said Paul Pszybylski, VP of Culinary Innovation at CPK. 'With our new Baked Mac 'N' Cheese lineup, we're not only expressing pizza flavors in a new way, we're also glowing up our iconic Mac 'N' Cheese, which so many of our guests grew up eating.'
Also spicing up the menu is the return of last summer's hottest (or sweetest?) pizza, CPK's Nashville-Style Hot Honey Pizza. This fan-favorite is the perfect mash up of hot honey pizza and Nashville hot chicken, featuring crispy hand-battered chicken with spicy cayenne seasoning, fresh Mozzarella, housemade ranchito sauce, dill pickle slices and a fiery drizzle of Mike's Hot Honey® – Extra Hot.
To further respond to guest demand, CPK is introducing spiked versions of its longtime popular mocktails. The Strawberry Mango Cooler features fresh strawberries blended with Fresca and vibrant flavors of mango, guava and a splash of ginger, while the Cucumber Reviver mixes freshly puréed pineapple and cucumber with torn mint and agave sour, topped with sparkling water. Both beverages are now available with a choice of Tito's Vodka, Bacardi Rum or Bombay Sapphire Gin for guests to choose their own refreshing adventure.
The new Mac 'N' Cheese lineup is based on the brand's best-selling pizzas. The five varieties steal the pizza toppings and replace the crust with CPK's signature spiral Mac 'N' Cheese, all baked in its hearth oven:
BBQ Chicken Baked Mac 'N' Cheese – The OG legend since 1985, now in creamy, cheesy form with CPK's iconic BBQ sauce, grilled chicken, smoked Gouda and that signature cilantro finish.
Burnt Ends BBQ Baked Mac 'N' Cheese – Smoky brisket burnt ends meets molten cheese perfection, crowned with tangy pickled red onions for the ultimate flavor bomb.
Carne Asada Baked Mac 'N' Cheese – Charred marinated steak meets cilantro pest magic, with roasted salsa verde that'll make you question everything you thought you knew about comfort food.
Five-Cheese Baked Mac 'N' Cheese – Pure indulgence with Mozzarella, Monterey Jack, smoked Gouda and Romano creating the ultimate cheese lover's dream.
Wild Mushroom Baked Mac 'N' Cheese – Earthy cremini mushrooms and three premium cheeses create an umami explosion that's anything but ordinary.
CPK's new Baked Mac 'N' Cheese lineup, Nashville-Style Hot Honey Pizza and spiked beverages are available at all participating locations nationwide. For more information, visit www.cpk.com and follow @ cpk on Instagram, @ calpizzakitchen on TikTok or @ calpizzakitchen on X.
About California Pizza Kitchen
Founded in 1985, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) revolutionized casual dining with its first restaurant in Beverly Hills, introducing the world to gourmet, California-inspired pizza. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary year, CPK is a beloved global brand, serving creative California cuisine across 26 states and in nine countries and U.S. territories. CPK continues to redefine casual dining, fueled by a passion for fresh, seasonal ingredients and bold global flavors. From iconic hearth-baked pizzas like The Original BBQ Chicken and California Club, to inventive salads like Thai Crunch, unique pastas like Chicken Tequila Fettuccine, and industry firsts like Cauliflower Crust and Take & Bake Pizzas, CPK combines familiar foods with a fresh, imaginative California twist that guests continue to crave.
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The proliferation of dual-income households has led to increased spending on children's products, including toys, as parents seek to provide enriching experiences for their children. Additionally, the resurgence of classic toy lines, integration of advanced technology into toys, and the popularity of franchise-based products have fueled consumer interest. Toy manufacturers are constantly innovating to include features such as augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning components, which align with modern parental preferences for educational and interactive play options. Moreover, the impact of social media and influencer marketing, particularly on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, has contributed significantly to the virality and demand for certain toys, often leading to rapid surges in sales for trending products. North America continues to dominate the global toys market, largely due to its robust retail infrastructure, high purchasing power, and strong presence of leading toy brands such as Hasbro, Mattel, and LEGO. The region's mature market has been bolstered by continued innovation, nostalgic reboots of popular toy lines, and a culture that values entertainment and play. The United States, in particular, leads in terms of consumption, supported by seasonal surges in demand during holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, as well as a growing e-commerce ecosystem. The prevalence of licensed toys based on blockbuster movies, television series, and digital content also plays a critical role in maintaining high sales volumes in the region. Furthermore, strong brand loyalty and early adoption of tech-integrated toys make North America a key testing ground for new launches. 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To register, please go to the Registration Page: Q&A Session An online Q&A session will be conducted with consecutive translation in Japanese, English, and Korean. When asking a question, please wait for the permission to speak prompt to appear on your screen, as some translations take longer to complete. Audio Archive and Transcript An audio archive and a transcript will be available on Nexon Investor Relations website ( This press release is prepared to offer reference information about Nexon to investors and is intended to generally provide investors and analysts with financial and operational information about Nexon, but not to solicit or recommend any sale or purchase of stock or other securities of Nexon. About NEXON Co., Ltd. Founded in 1994, NEXON Co., Ltd. (Nexon) ( is a global leader in the production, development and operation of online games. First listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 2011, Nexon has since been listed on JPX400, Nikkei Stock Index 300, and Nikkei 225. Nexon currently has more than 40 games operating in more than 190 countries on PC, console, and mobile. Major game franchises include MapleStory, Mabinogi, and Dungeon&Fighter. In 2024, the company set a multi-year IP Growth Initiative that details vertical growth with new experiences in existing major franchises and horizontal growth with the creation of new pillars in the company's IP portfolio. ___________________________________ 1 Official titles are EA SPORTS FC™ONLINE (PC) and EA SPORTS FC™ONLINE M (mobile). 2 Constant currency is a non-GAAP measure used to show performance unaffected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Constant-currency basis amounts are calculated using the average foreign currency exchange rates for the comparable period in the prior year and applied to the current period. 3 Net income refers to net income attributable to owners of the parent. 4 Asia excluding China and Japan. 5 Excludes China, Vietnam, and other specified regions 6 In most situations, the exchange rates of both the South Korean Won and the Chinese Yuan are linked to the U.S. dollar. For simplicity, forex sensitivity is calculated based on the assumption that Korean Won and Chinese Yuan move similarly against Japanese yen when there is an exchange rate movement in the U.S. dollar and Japanese yen.
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