#dining trends

Recently, I did some illustration work for an article about Fast Food Value Menus at Eater. Check it out! I had a fun time drawing people from the 80s, shoving burgers and fries in their faces.

Options in the Fast Food Market have become an inseparable part of modern daily routines, driven by the frantic pace of contemporary lifestyles and the ever-growing demand for quick, convenient dining solutions. As working professionals, students, and families navigate increasingly packed schedules, the reliance on ready-to-eat, accessible, and affordable meals continues to escalate. This deep-seated reliance ensures that the broader quick-service dining sector remains one of the most resilient and dynamic components of the global food industry, constantly adapting to shifting consumer habits and macroeconomic changes across diverse regions worldwide.

Behind this massive consumer shift lies an intricate economic engine that continues to expand year after year. Industry analysts note that the U.S. Fast Food Market was valued at USD 360 billion in 2024 and is estimated to reach a value of USD 522 billion by 2033 with a CAGR of 4.0% during the forecast period. This steady compound annual growth rate highlights the massive revenue potential that still exists within the country, driven by continuous expansion from major industry players and the steady entry of innovative new brands looking to capture market share.

To sustain this impressive trajectory, major players are heavily focusing on diversifying their current menu selections to align with evolving health trends. While classic items like burgers, fries, and pizzas remain absolute staples of the industry, there is a visible, rapid pivot toward integrating healthier alternatives, organic ingredients, and plant-based proteins to cater to health-conscious consumers. This product diversification allows brands to attract an entirely new segment of health-oriented customers while maintaining their traditional core base, thereby expanding their overall consumer reach and enhancing long-term revenue streams.

Digital transformation plays an equally vital role in pushing the sector forward by entirely redefining how consumers interact with their favorite dining brands. The rapid deployment of highly intuitive mobile applications, seamless third-party delivery service integrations, and advanced self-service kiosks inside physical locations has significantly reduced friction in the ordering process. Utilizing these advanced tech integrations, companies are successfully gathering vast amounts of user data, allowing them to optimize their operations and deploy highly targeted promotional campaigns that maximize overall profitability.

By Jordan Valinsky

9 December 2025

Froggy, We Hardly Knew Ye Frog Club, the quirky West Village restaurant famed for its strict photography ban and outrageous $1,000 “Kiss the Chef” menu, announced on Instagram this past Monday that it would close its doors this weekend after just a fleeting 10 months of existence. Though its time was short-lived, the peculiar questions it raised will linger on. Years from now, when fortunate…

The Delicious

A Companion to New Food Culture

From modern foraging and entomophagy to future foods involving 3D printing, this book compiles current food trends from around the world.

Today, food and beverages are a vital part of creative culture. The Delicious presents pioneers, traditionalists, and entrepreneurs who are breaking new ground and enriching the culinary world with their innovative concepts. The book also presents eatery owners who are creating unusual spaces for the enjoyment of food, moving away from the classic restaurant setting.

Eating is more than a pastime, it’s a party; food is more than nourishment, it’s a social experience. The Delicious helps you stay up-to-date with the world’s cooking and dining trends.

Catalog Price: €39.90 /  $55.00 /  £35.00                                                                                    Shop Price: €39.90          

The Social Changes in Dining Habits

Chef Michael Bennett tells what we should expect for the future of our Food Business – The Social Changes in Dining Habits When you think about it, we will never dine again like we did a decade ago.

With the generational gap between the 70’s counter culture people – the Boomers – that demanded uber-chic foods from their restaurants in the 1980’s – to today’s diners – the Y-generation that has…