Swipe. Like. Crave. More and more, the line between restaurant menus and dining is blurring, thanks to social media platforms such as TikTok, where restaurant dishes become viral sensations and in the right culinary hands, popular social “food fads” are translating to menus and limited-time offers. That’s according to the United States National Restaurant Association’s 2024 What’s Hot Culinary Forecast and insights pulled from a survey of 1,500 culinary professionals from across the country - its largest to-date - who identified incorporating social media as one of the top ten hottest trends in 2024.
The survey uncovered several broader menu trends to watch for next year as well as specific dishes, ingredients, flavours, and condiments that are set to become fast favorites among consumers. Topping the list of trends, world soups and stews check all the boxes for consumers and restaurant operators. They’re a safe way for customers to experience new ingredients, an economical way to diversify a menu, and they can be an easy way to integrate healthier options.
According to the survey, the top culinary trends for 2024 will be:
- World Stage Soups and Stews (Birria, Chicken Tom Kha, Laksa, Salmorejo, Upscale Ramen)
- Global Chicken Wings
- International BBQ
- Incorporating Social Media Trends (TikTok)
- Grilled/Cooked Cheeses (Provoleta, Queso Fundido, Raclette, Halloumi, Juustoleipa)
- Wagyu Beef
- Stuffed Vegetables (Chiles en Nogada, Stuffed Peppers, Stuffed Cabbage Rolls)
- Regional Menus
- Streamlined Menus
- Hot Honey Breakfast Sandwiches
“This year’s trends are dominated by consumer craving for comfort and community with a healthy side of curiosity influenced by social media,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of Research for the Association.
“Old favourites like BBQ are taking on new flavours, and social sharing is influencing the spread of regional fares like Nashville Hot. Even the chicken competition is going global on local menus.”
Across all the food categories, comfort foods were by far the most popular, with respondents pointing to soups and stews, stuffed vegetables, and melty cheeses as next year’s hottest trends. In a sign of increasingly sophisticated preferences, natural flavours took centre stage for alcoholic drinks, including botanicals like spices and herbs, along with low-alcohol spirits, while drinks with perceived health and energy benefits led the way for non-alcohol offerings.
The survey was conducted in October 2023.
