Foodie Forecast: 4 Firms’ Predictions on Restaurant Trends for 2026

What’s cooking in the restaurant business for the coming year? A quartet of recent studies/surveys serves up some possible answers to that query. Below is a link to each of those research efforts, and a few of the most noteworthy findings from each.

* Hotel/restaurant operator Kimpton’s Culinary + Cocktail Trend Forecast for 2026 predictions from its in-house bar and restaurant staff include charcoal experiencing a renaissance both as an ingredient and as a medium for cooking and “snacky suppers” becoming more popular as diners skip a larger traditional main course in favor of smaller plates.

* The National Restaurant Association’s What’s Hot 2026 Culinary Forecast predicts “from smash burgers and Caribbean curry bowls to protein-packed meals and low-alcohol drinks, diners will crave fusions of past trends and modern flavors. Familiar favorites are being reimagined with global influences, while wellness and affordability remain top of mind for consumers.”

* Online restaurant reservation service OpenTable’s Top Trends Set to Define Dining in 2026 points to such changes as a cooling off of the shared-plates era but an increase in group dining; and that such classic dishes as chicken pot pie, meatloaf and shrimp cocktail will enjoy a resurgence in the coming year

* The State of the Plate 2026 from PopMenu sees strategic belt-tightening by restauranteurs taking center stage. “Ongoing concerns around inflation, trade wars, weaker consumer spend and other economic headwinds are prompting restaurant operators to take actions that protect margins and profitability,” said Brendan Sweeney, CEO and Co-founder of the restaurant technology platform. “… Consumers may see fewer menu options or changes to dishes, more meal deals and more tech-driven experiences at their favorite eateries.”