Some restaurants are steadfastly committed to a menu that’s worked for them and their customers for decades. Others stay abreast of changing consumer preferences and the latest trends in dishes, beverages, and dining experiences. According to Toast, over 30% of restaurateurs update their menus monthly, and almost 25% do it seasonally.
We know that global fusion is here to stay, and menus should have a dedicated place for plant-based options, but what else are diners looking for?
Here, we’ll explore some of the latest trends as summer nears.
Trends Per Yelp
With millions of daily interactions, Yelp is one of the top online spots to discover the latest sensations and which brands are hitting it out of the park. Restaurants comprised over half of Yelp’s Top 50 Fastest Growing Brands of 2025. This list was decided based on new business openings, comparative searches on Yelp, and consumer interest.
Jersey Mike’s Subs and BB.Q Chicken were top in the restaurant category. Other well-known highlighted brands include LongHorn Steakhouse, The Habit Burger & Grill, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, Playa Bowls, and Texas Roadhouse. CAVA went down 46 notches, squeezing into the list as number 47. Rally House and Dave’s Hot Chicken lead regional growth.
In food categories, searches for Japanese food increased by 179%, while Mediterranean food increased by 132%.
Yelp was right when they suggested Hawaiian food would take center stage in 2025. Some of the trending dishes include Hawaiian macaroni salad and kalua pig. Their other 2025 trend forecast pointed to food and drink flights grabbing customers’ attention, particularly those looking for varied experiences and shareables. Some of the leading contenders are wine flights, martini flights, egg flights, and pasta flights.
In the Social Media Limelight
Of course, another top contender that sparks the trendsetting gene is social media, particularly TikTok and Instagram. You can also start a movement by making food over-the-top visually appealing.
Some of the most posted items include:
- Birria Tacos: While these tacos started making headlines a few years back, they look like they’re here to stay. A global phenomenon, they consist of red-dipped tortillas filled with slow-cooked meat. In many restaurants, you’ll find a consommé dipping sauce on the side.
- Butter Chicken: This Indian dish remains extremely popular due to its rich, smooth flavor.
- Sinigang: Social media conversations about Sinigang have increased by almost 20%, but it’s still in very few restaurants. This Filipino stew or soup has a savory and sour taste with a tamarind-based broth as its core.
- Viral Bowls: This interesting combination had some viral success this year. It consists of ground beef, sweet potato, avocado, cottage cheese, and hot honey. Another bowl to see over 1 million views and numerous imitations is the sweet potato taco bowl.
- Turkish-Style Pasta: This pasta dish became ultra-viral at the end of 2024. It contains ground meat, paprika, butter sauce, and garlic yogurt.
Restaurant News
Shawarma is on the rise, whether in mushroom or chicken form. Restaurant Hospitality shared Mazi’s version, a restaurant in Charlotte, N.C. Instead of meat, they’re wrapping Lion’s Mane mushrooms in collard greens. This recipe hits the plant-based and functional food trend, with Lion’s Mane mushrooms used in traditional medicine for centuries. Some health benefits include improving cognitive function, reducing inflammation in the brain, and boosting the immune system.
Functional mushrooms are on the rise due to increasing demand. Searches for mushroom drinks grew by 501%.
Bon Appétit Magazine
If a recipe reaches Bon Appétit, chances are it will eventually be trending. They recently highlighted shareables in their popular April recipes. A few of these include Spicy Shrimp and White Beans served in a shareable skillet with warm flatbread. Instagram-worthy dishes include Green Falafel Smash Burgers with chickpea falafel, harissa mayo, and pickled onion; and Scallops with Creamy Spinach Sauce.
Seafood
Restaurant Hospitality highlighted some unique seafood dishes that are gaining nationwide attention. These include naeng-chae, a Korean dish made with shrimp, octopus, squid, and seaweed, served at Howoo, a fine-dining restaurant in New York City. Other mentions include Beggars Banquet and their oyster stew with puff pastry and Bulla Gastrobar’s muchame, a Peruvian dish incorporating tuna instead of the traditional dolphin. Bulla Gastrobar was inspired by Spain’s tapas scene and now has five locations.
Nation’s Restaurant News recently named the winners of their MenuMasters Awards for 2025. The winner of the Smart Menu Overhaul or Best Menu Revamp went to Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, a casual dining chain with 21 locations. The brand managed to cut its offerings in half while still adding 12 new items. Impressive.
Is your menu drawing in the crowds? If not, it may be time for a revamp.
