• by Teresa Buyikian , November 20, 2024

Wellness, hot honey and a continued desire for Southeast Asian cuisine are among next year’s most popular food trends, according to the newly released 2025 "What's Hot Culinary Forecast" from the National Restaurant Association, available for download here. Approximately 300 U.S. culinary and industry professionals provided input for the forecast in October 2024.

"This year's forecast highlights a powerful shift toward enhancing both individual wellness and the health of our planet," said Dr. Chad Moutray, vice president of research and knowledge for the National Restaurant Association. “As customers seek sustainable choices and new flavor experiences, restaurants are responding with options that emphasize locally sourced ingredients and innovative menu offerings. The popularity of Southeast Asian flavors also speaks to a more adventurous consumer palate, with many diners interested in global cuisine that brings added depth to their dining experiences."

The number one food trend predicted in the report is sustainability and local sourcing, as “diners increasingly prefer locally sourced ingredients and waste-reducing efforts that support the planet and local farms.”

Coming in at number two, to the surprise of no coffee drinkers, is the continuation of the cold brew craze, “satisfying those seeking energizing, smooth, and refreshing drinks without the bitterness.”

Also remaining trendy into 2025 is Korean cuisine.  With its wide range of spicy and umami  flavors, Korean cuisine fulfills those diners “seeking adventurous and bold meals.”

With a recent surge in popularity, especially as a new topping for pepperoni pizza at chains such as Pizza Hut, hot honey is in fourth place.  A mix of honey and chilis, the condiment is said to go well on everything  from pizza to chicken to ice cream.

Back to Asian-inspired flavors for fifth place with Vietnamese cuisine, cited as “light, herbaceous and packed with fresh flavors, … ideal for health-conscious diners who love a balanced, flavorful meal.”

For those fast casuals serving beer and wine, number six predicts consumers staying in their neighborhood for drink as well as food, gravitating toward  hyper-local beer & wine, with consumers pledging to support regional brews and nearby craft producers.

Number seven is the increasing popularity of fermented/pickled foods, including kimchi, pickled veggies -- and essentially anything that can be pickled, as diners like these zesty sides for their “unique flavor punch.”

Number eight: wellness drinks, which now have expanded to include “functional beverages,” non-alcoholic drinks that contain ingredients intended to provide health benefits beyond hydration, per Wikipedia. These ingredients can include vitamins, probiotics and adaptogens..

Back to the alcohol category for ninth place. Consumers will also be more health conscious imbibing low-alcohol creative spritzes, with innovative flavors such as lavender with Earl Grey and watermelon with basil, as they provide  “a bubbly experience without the buzz.”

And lastly, as inflation continues to be more top of mind than ever, consumers will maintain their focus on value deals, still needing to get the most for their dining buck into 2025.