"When we go to restaurants in 2026, we'll be looking for spicy flavors, new takes on old favorites and some good company. That according to dining trend reports that come out this time of year. We're looking at three of them, each compiled with its own research methods. They reach different conclusions but there's a lot of overlap. We'll begin with Yelp, the social media platform, whose researchers look for rising words, phrases and business mentions from millions of searches and reviews."
"Black sesame, which has a stronger taste than white sesame seeds, came in second. Palanca describes it as a staple in Asian-American cuisine that's used in sweets and beverages. Searches for black sesame matcha are up 147%. Koreatown in Los Angeles is a good place to find it. Palanca mentioned Cafe De Mama at 1102 S Western Ave. She said Cafe Upper at 300 S Hobart Blvd., No. 101 is known for its Black Sesame Einspänner, a variation on a Viennese coffee with whipped cream."
Three dining trend reports use different research methods but show overlapping conclusions about future restaurant preferences. Yelp identified eight 2026 Food & Drink trends, with Indian cuisine leading as mainstream and showing large search increases for buffets and takeout. Specific dishes such as biryani chicken are attracting attention. Black sesame flavors are trending, especially in sweets and beverages, and black sesame matcha searches have risen substantially. Local neighborhoods and specific cafés are highlighted as places to sample these trends, and chains are incorporating some flavors into seasonal menus.
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