Hispanic consumers are going out to eat more often these days, shows Technomic research, and they were already heavy foodservice users to begin with. Operators trying to win this demographic’s dining dollars may want to know what items Hispanics are increasingly interested in ordering off the menu. (Hint: Mexican food cravings show no signs of slowing.)
Here are six menu items that more Hispanic diners say they want to order from restaurants today than in 2015, according to Technomic’s new 2017 Hispanic Foodservice Consumer Trend Report.
One of the more mainstream applications of the 2017 ethnic breakfast trend prediction has a big stamp of approval from Hispanics, and that’s breakfast tacos and burritos. Hispanic diners show increasing interest in these portable breakfast foods at restaurants, with two-fifths saying they would order the items at least occasionally (once every 90 days) if offered.
A sweeter breakfast item is also trending among the Hispanic population—waffles. Two-fifths of Hispanic diners say they crave waffles from restaurants, up from a quarter of respondents who said the same two years ago. Waffle sandwiches and chicken and waffles have made a splash on restaurant menus in recent years, which may correlate to the uptick in waffle cravings.
Hispanic consumers are pretty big fans of tacos, not only at the breakfast table but at the lunch and dinner table as well. Nearly half of all Hispanic diners say they are likely to order taco entrees at restaurants, up from less than two-fifths of diners in 2015.
More Hispanic consumers today (30%) than two years ago (23%) say they want to order sushi from restaurants. In the past couple of years, raw fish dishes such as poke have become more prevalent, which may be contributing to the increased interest in sushi.
A third of Hispanic consumers are interested in ordering diet soda from restaurants, up from 28% in 2015. Spanish language-dominant Hispanic consumers show a greater preference than their counterparts (English language-dominant and bilingual diners) for beverages marketed as better-for-you options, such as diet soda and fruit juice.
Three in 10 Hispanic consumers say they would be likely to order Tex-Mex at a restaurant at least occasionally, up from two in 10 Hispanic diners who said the same in 2015. Of all Tex-Mex cuisine, some of the most eminent dishes are enchiladas, nachos and fajitas.
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The fast-food chain’s same-store sales easily outdistanced competitors, thanks to operations improvements and marketing. But the company believes it has plenty left in the tank.
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