Top 20 Food Trends in 2017

The National Restaurant Association surveyed 1,298 American Culinary Federation members in October 2016, asking them to rate 169 items as a “hot trend,” “yesterday’s news,” or “perennial favorite” on menus in 2017. The results of the survey reveal food and beverage trends at restaurants in 2017.

According to the survey, menu trends that will be heating up in 2017 include poke, house-made charcuterie, street food, food halls and ramen. Trends that are cooling down include quinoa, black rice, and vegetarian and vegan cuisines.

TOP 20 FOOD TRENDS

1. New cuts of meat (e.g. shoulder tender, oyster steak, Vegas Strip Steak, Merlot cut)

2. Street food-inspired dishes (e.g. tempura, kabobs, dumplings, pupusas)

3. Healthful kids' meals

4. House-made charcuterie

5. Sustainable seafood

6. Ethnic-inspired breakfast items (e.g., chorizo scrambled eggs, coconut milk pancakes)

7. House-made condiments

8. Authentic ethnic cuisine

9. Heirloom fruit and vegetables

10. African flavors

11. Ethnic spices (e.g. harissa, curry, peri peri, ras el hanout, shichimi)

12. House-made sausage

13. House-made pickles

14. Ancient grains (e.g. kamut, spelt, amaranth, lupin)

15. House-made/artisan ice cream

16. Whole grain items in kids' meals

17. Protein-rich grains/seeds (e.g., hemp, chia, quinoa, flax)

18. Artisan cheeses

19. Savory desserts

20. Gourmet items in kids' meals

TOP 10 CONCEPT TRENDS

1. Hyper-local sourcing (e.g. restaurant gardens, onsite beer brewing, house-made items)

2. Chef-driven fast-casual concepts

3. Natural ingredients/clean menus

4. Environmental sustainability

5. Locally sourced produce

6. Locally sourced meat and seafood

7. Food waste reduction

8. Meal kits (e.g. pre-measured/prepped raw ingredients for home preparation)

9. Simplicity/back to basics

10. Nutrition

TOP TRENDS BY CATEGORY

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES 1 Craft/artisan spirits
2 Onsite barrel-aged drinks
3 Locally produced wine/spirits/ beer
4 Regional signature cocktails
5 Culinary cocktails

NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES 1 House-made/artisan soft drinks
2 Gourmet lemonade
3 Locally/house roasted coffee
4 Specialty iced tea
5 Cold brew coffee

BREAKFAST/ BRUNCH1 Ethnic-inspired breakfast items
2 Avocado toast
3 Traditional ethnic breakfast items
4 Overnight oats
5 Breakfast hash

CONDIMENTS AND ACCOUTREMENTS 1 House-made condiments
2 Ethnic spices
3 House-made pickles
4 Protein-rich grains/seeds
5 Artisan cheeses

CULINARY CONCEPTS 1 Hyper-local sourcing
2 Natural ingredients/clean menus
3 Environmental sustainability
4 Locally sourced produce
5 Locally sourced meat and seafood

DISHES 1 Street food-inspired dishes
2 House-made charcuterie
3 Vegetable carb substitutes
4 Seafood charcuterie
5 Pho

GLOBAL FLAVORS 1 Authentic ethnic cuisine
2 African flavors
3 Ethnic fusion cuisine
4 Middle Eastern flavors
5 Latin American flavors

KIDS’ MEALS 1 Healthful kids’ meals
2 Whole grain items in kids’ meals
3 Gourmet items in kids’ meals
4 Kids’ entree salads
5 Fruit/vegetable kids’ side items

PRODUCE
1 Heirloom fruits and vegetables
2 Unusual/uncommon herbs
3 Hybrid fruits/vegetables
4 Exotic fruit
5 Dark greens

PROTEIN
1 New cuts of meat
2 Sustainable seafood
3 House-made sausage
4 Free-range pork/poultry
5 Heritage-breed meats

RESTAURANT CONCEPTS
1 Chef-driven fast-casual concepts
2 Food waste reduction
3 Meal kits
4 Pop-up/temporary restaurants
5 Food trucks

SWEETS
1 House-made/artisan ice cream
2 Savory desserts
3 Donuts with non-traditional filling
4 Smoked dessert ingredients
5 Bite-size/mini-desserts