• by Teresa Buyikian , Yesterday

Grocery prices may still be on the rise, and many consumers still plan on cutting back further on restaurant-going this summer.

According to a new study by restaurant tech supplier Popmenu, 67% of U.S. consumers say they are reducing spending on everything overall from food to consumer goods to travel, with 61% saying that restaurants will be their top category for budget-cutting. And while they may be eating at home, 34% still say they plan to also cut back on groceries.

The nationwide study, conducted in June 2025 on 1,000 U.S. consumers over 21, tracked their dining and purchasing behaviors.

The average consumer spends about $115 on restaurants and $235 on groceries every week. Intended cuts in spending across both categories were attributed to 75% of consumers feeling “concerned that the U.S. may go into a recession this year.”

When compared to this same time in 2024, 44% of consumers expected to lower their restaurant spend this year, while 18% expected to increase it, and 38% anticipated no change.

While attempting to cut back on restaurant spend, 57% of consumers said they still dine at or order from restaurants at least twice a week. Of those, 69% overwhelmingly selected QSRs such as McDonald’s and Culver’s as their top choice. This was followed by fast-casual chains (examples included Chipotle and Panera) at 47%, casual dining such as Applebee’s and Chile’s at 42%, and pizzerias at 38%. The list was rounded out by 18% hitting up coffee shop and cafes, 18% also frequenting bar and grills, and 16% going to buffets. Unsurprisingly, only 15% selected fine dining restaurants.

"While the demand for good food and hospitality continues, consumers are growing more discerning with their finances as confidence in U.S. economic performance dips," said Brendan Sweeney, CEO and co-founder of Popmenu in the announcement. "Restaurants not only have to compete harder with one another, they have to compete with every other business out there trying to get a bigger share of consumer spend. Continually engaging consumers across digital channels and providing financial incentives to dine with you are now more critical than ever."

The survey also covered how customers consumed restaurant food when they did opt to order out. The majority preferred takeout at 44% (the reasons cited include speed and saving money on delivery fees), followed by 34% wanting to dine in. Finally, 22% selected delivery.