"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."
"Yelp includes eight items in its list of 2026 Food & Drink Trends. Indian food is No. 1, but categories tend to overlap and complement each other. Indian cuisine is going mainstream, said senior community director Margaret Palanca, who lives in Southern California. Searches are up 459% for Indian buffets, she said in a phone interview. Takeout searches are up 153%, according to Palanca. Dishes that generate searches include biryani chicken, a dish with spicy marinated meat and basmati rice that's up 49%."
Multiple trend analyses identify overlapping restaurant interests for 2026, including spicy flavors, reimagined classics and communal dining. Yelp’s data shows notable increases in searches: Indian buffets up 459%, takeout searches up 153%, and biryani chicken searches up 49%. Black sesame has gained traction within Asian-American cuisine and paired items like black sesame matcha show significant search growth. Matcha continues to expand beyond traditional forms with novel flavors such as guava matcha and horchata matcha. Chains are adding Indian-inspired items, and menu innovation focuses on global influences, bold tastes and approachable formats for sharing.
Read at www.ocregister.com
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