Restaurant Industry Predictions for 2025: What’s on the Menu for Restaurant Growth

Economic forecasts pointing to steady growth and increased consumer spending paint an optimistic picture for the year ahead. For restaurants, this signals an irresistible opportunity to grab a chunk of a growing market of restaurant diners. With people expected to have more disposable income to spend, restaurants must be ready to welcome patrons with innovative dining experiences.

However, to claim your share of diners, you must adapt your strategies to evolving consumer preferences. To help you whip up a winning strategy for restaurant growth in 2025, we’ve gathered key predictions and trends in the restaurant industry this year.

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2025 Restaurant Industry Predictions

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1. Brace for Bookings as Consumers Opt for Dining Out

In the 2024 State of the Restaurant Industry report, 9 in 10 consumers said they enjoy going to restaurants, especially for dishes they can’t replicate at home. Expect a similar trend in 2025 as people crave new flavors and taste sensations.

With 37% of Gen Z meals purchased away from home, you may also want to tailor offerings to the younger crowd. Once you get their taste on point, you’ll have them coming back for more — and there’s a good chance they’ll bring their friends!

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2. Commitment to Sustainability Will Win Customer Support

Eco-conscious dining is no longer a niche — it’s the norm. Sustainability ranks high in the culinary forecast, with industry professionals underscoring how it affects customers' dining decisions. People will be more likely to support restaurants that prioritize environmental responsibility.

Embrace sustainable practices by sourcing local ingredients, reducing food waste, and using compostable packaging. Make your kitchen energy-efficient and leverage new tech to streamline your operations. Get more ideas for turning your kitchen green here.
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3. Seal the Deal With Healthy Indulgence

Approximately 50% of Gen Z treat themselves to dessert and sweet snacks. While consumers are giving in to their sweet cravings, they’re doing so in a more healthful way. Fruits and flower-infused creations are seen as guilt-free treats. New fruit flavors gaining popularity include guava, passion fruit, and dragon fruit. In particular, the presence of dragon fruit on menus is projected to grow by 105% over the next 4 years. Flower power comes from hibiscus, lavender, and cherry blossom as they infuse flavor, fragrance, and color into desserts and beverages.

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4. Meals That Heal: Food Will Increasingly Become a Tool for Health

Among the top highlights in Mintel’s 2025 Global Food and Drink Trends is the shift in how consumers view food as a tool for health. With a growing focus on meeting essential nutrient needs and prioritizing personal health, healthier food and nutrient-dense innovations are expected to gain traction this year. We’re likely to see brands develop food and drink products that support blood sugar management, hormonal balance, and overall health.

As wellness becomes a priority, diners are also seeking healthier options when dining out. Health-conscious customers will gravitate toward restaurants that expand their offerings to include plant-based, gluten-free, or allergy-friendly menu items. Dishes catering to specific diets like keto, paleo, and low-carb can help your restaurant capture this growing crowd.
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5. Unlikely Pairings Become Winning Combos

In 2024, we saw several food and beverage brands collaborating to release new and exciting flavors. From Subway’s Cinnabon Footlong Churros and Taco Bell’s Big Cheez-It Tostada to cola-infused Krispy Kreme Dr. Pepper Kickoff Doughnut and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar OREO, we’ve seen unlikely pairings winning consumer’s hearts. In Yum’s earnings conference call for Q2 2024, company executives noted that Taco Bell’s new product innovations helped drive sales up by 5%, while other fast food chains saw a sales dip for the same period.

For 2025, consider offering unlikely pairings in your restaurant specials. Perhaps experiment with cherry cola sauce or Cheetos dip. People are still talking about peanut butter on a burger, so you may want to grab a jar of Jif and try making a delightful sauce out of it.

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6. Flavors Get Favored: Palates are More Adventurous

Complex heat, innovative food mashups, and unique sauces are tickling the adventurous palates of today’s diners, especially Gen Z, who are driving this trend.

According to recent studies, 92% of Gen Z diners are willing to go out of their way to visit a restaurant just to try a specific sauce. Flavor trends like mild complex heat — spicy with a balance of citrus or sweetness — are growing in popularity as they enhance dishes without overpowering them. Think of options like mango habanero chicken wings or sweet and spicy dipping sauces that deliver just the right kick.

Ranch dressing, a long-standing favorite, is undergoing a transformation with exciting variations such as garlic ranch, bacon ranch, jalapeño ranch, and even globally inspired flavors like chimichurri ranch. Buffalo sauce is also evolving with flavors like honey garlic buffalo, hot honey buffalo (which has seen a 122% growth on chicken wing menus), and lemon pepper buffalo spicing up menus and driving cravings. 
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7. Swalty is the New Swicy

The swicy trend — sweet and spicy — is likely to continue this year, but swalty is also making a renewed splash as sweet and salty combinations captivate consumers’ taste buds. This dynamic pairing is projected to grow by 38% on restaurant menus over the next four years, according to flavor trend reports.

While this flavor combo has been a favorite for years (we all still love salted caramel and candied bacon), diners are now craving fresh takes on this irresistible balance. Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s salted maple drinks have been a hit with consumers and are quickly gaining popularity, and so is brown butter ice cream.

Try to incorporate sweet and salty flavor profiles into your restaurant menu to cater to the growing demand. Be creative and be inventive. Offer unique swalty creations from appetizers to desserts.

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8. The World on a Plate: Consumers are Looking Forward to a Global Flavor Explosion

Diners are ditching bland, one-dimensional meals in favor of complex fusion dishes that bring a world of flavors together. We’ve already seen Mexican birria in pizzas and Mediterranean zhug in burgers, but what’s leading the charge in global fusions are Southeast Asian flavors. Korean, Vietnamese, and Filipino cuisines are transforming everyday dishes into extraordinary culinary experiences.

Embrace their unique flavors by adding the bold heat of gochujang, the aromatic freshness of lemongrass, and the salty umami of fish sauce into your dishes. Other Asian flavors worth experimenting with in your new menu are Chinese orange sauce and Japanese ponzu.
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9. Automation Delivers Solutions for Restaurant Challenges

Rising food and labor costs are the main challenges restaurants face this year, with approximately 6 in 10 restaurant owners anticipating that food costs and labor expenses will increase further in 2025. These financial pressures, coupled with the ongoing issue of staffing shortages, compel restaurants to look for innovative solutions, including restaurant automation.

Technological solutions such as self-service kiosks, robot servers, and automated kitchens are helping restaurants address labor challenges. Restaurant management tools, like those offered by Push, can improve operational efficiency and optimize labor costs.

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10. AI Continues to Enhance Hyper-Personalized Dining Experiences

To make dining experiences more memorable, more restaurants will leverage AI-powered tools. Customer data will allow restaurants to analyze customer behavior and preferences and create hyper-personalized experiences, like targeted promotions, tailored menus, or customized rewards. 

Consider investing in AI solutions that can help you understand your customers better. Turn their data into valuable insights to enhance guest interactions and build loyalty.

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Get the Push You Need to Stay Ahead in 2025

Challenges may remain, but 2025 looks promising for the restaurant industry. Predictions and trends point to a year full of opportunities. By embracing these trends, your restaurant can attract customers, improve operations, and build resilience in a competitive market.

Use the insights we shared above to develop a strategy that positions your restaurant for growth. Stay ahead by incorporating sustainable practices, revamping your menu with exciting flavors, and implementing tech innovations. To ensure continued growth, learn how Push can optimize and swicy up your restaurant operations by connecting with a specialist today!