menu trends

By Patricia Cobe on Feb. 12, 2026

Behind the Menu: The fast-casual poké concept pivoted from an all-raw menu without losing focus on flavor, scratch prep and its California-Asian pedigree.

Food

Color and flavor brighten winter menus

By Patricia Cobe on Feb. 11, 2026

Taste Tracker: Sweetgreen, Starbucks, El Pollo Loco, Gong Cha, Moe’s, Smoothie King, McAlister’s, Wayback, Qdoba and more headline restaurant menu news and trends.

Premium

Food

Taco Bell taps into snacking trend with Mini Taco Salad

By Patricia Cobe on Feb. 04, 2026

Behind the Menu: The Mexican fast-food chain refreshed the format and flavor of its classic Fiesta Taco Salad to launch as part of its new Luxe Value Menu.

Beverage

Starbucks picks strawberries to flavor its newest beverages

By Patricia Cobe on Feb. 03, 2026

Matcha also gets more play, as the coffee giant expands the selection with permanent additions, featuring more berries and banana.

Consumer Trends

How Technomic's 2026 trend predictions are panning out

By Patricia Cobe and Bret Thorn on Feb. 03, 2026

Menu Talk: A month into the new year, Lizzy Freier, senior director of menu research & insights at Technomic, revisits the team’s top trends.

Food

Hearts take shape on menus

By Patricia Cobe on Feb. 02, 2026

Taste Tracker: Outback, 7 Brew, Logan’s, Dunkin’, Whataburger, Nothing Bundt Cakes, P.F. Chang’s, Portillo’s, Polly’s Pies, Baskin-Robbins, Lou Malnati’s and more headline restaurant menu news and trends.

Food

Restaurants jump on the protein trend by putting plant sources front and center

By Patricia Cobe on Jan. 29, 2026

Two menus show how protein grams can add up without eating a big steak or three-egg omelet. And they have the numbers to prove it.

Beverage

Operators make the most of Dry January to up their zero-proof game

By Patricia Cobe on Jan. 23, 2026

Taking a break from booze may gain traction during the first month of the year, but a good selection of alcohol-free drinks is now table stakes at bars and restaurants year-round.

Food