"Chicken tenders and sweet-and-spicy sauces led trends at fast-food and chain restaurants. Value meal deals and nostalgic menus drove fast-food innovation and customer interest. Trendy flavors like Dubai chocolate and chicken sandwiches may lose popularity in 2026. It's been a blockbuster year for chain restaurants. Fast-food giants like McDonald's and Taco Bell doubled down on value and nostalgia, rolling out meal deals and throwback menus that sparked major customer buzz."
"We also saw crispy chicken, dunkable sauces with bold flavors, and dippable appetizers dominate menus and social feeds throughout 2025. But as we enter 2026, not every trend is poised for survival. Here's a recap of some of the biggest chain-restaurant trends of 2025 - and three we think are on their way out."
Chain restaurants experienced a blockbuster year in 2025, driven by value offerings and nostalgic menu returns. Major fast-food brands emphasized meal deals and throwback menus, generating strong customer buzz and engagement. Crispy chicken items, dunkable sauces with bold sweet-and-spicy flavors, and dippable appetizers became menu staples and social media drivers. Affordability and familiar flavors boosted customer interest and marketing momentum. Some novelty flavors and saturated formats, including Dubai chocolate and multiple chicken sandwich variations, face potential declines entering 2026. The landscape shows enduring consumer appetite for value and nostalgia alongside a natural cycle of trend fatigue.
Read at Business Insider
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