#value-meals

#value-meals

Food trends for 2026 include sweet-and-spicy flavors, as well as bite-sized menu items. Cabbage and Indian food are gaining popularity on fast-casual and restaurant menus. Value meals and nostalgic foods, such as chicken tenders, remain important for fast-food chains. The new year brings a fresh crop of food trends, from sweet-and-spicy sauces to the hottest new vegetable hitting menus. We looked at trend reports from Tastewise, Pinterest, Yelp, and more to identify nine of the biggest food trends you can expect to see in 2026.

Going out to dinner as a family of four can cost more money than you might think. Since prices are consistently rising, too, knowing which chain restaurants can be relied upon for a meal that's tasty and affordable is helpful. After all, many chains offer family meals, kids menus, and discounts for older people (among potential deals). Other chains have generally lower prices when it comes to full meals, reducing the likely cost for a family dining experience.

For years, dating back to the 2022 inflation wave, McDonald's and its fast-food rivals have contended with shopper frustration over rising menu prices, with combo meals increasingly breaking into double digits. Customers at the higher end of the income spectrum continue to order premium products and use delivery apps at healthy rates. Lower-income diners, however, are cutting back, Kempczinski argued in an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box," treating fast food less as a daily convenience and more as an occasional splurge.

Spending data indicates that, despite consumers' belief that they are dining out less to save money, restaurant spending per household actually increased 2.1% between March and June.

In my quest for the cheapest cheeseburgers, I found that all options at Applebee's, Chili's, and TGI Fridays were cooked properly and served with ample fries.