It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through 2026. It seems like only yesterday we were making New Year’s Resolutions! Don’t worry. We won’t ask how it’s going.
But we will take this opportunity to look back at the year so far. What can we say? Summer makes us sentimental. So we got together to chat about the biggest restaurant industry trends, tech, and current events making headlines in 2026.
Our Team of Experts
- Ana Canenguez, Partnership/Vendors
- Ashley Dunn, Senior Marketing Coordinator
- Dan Durkin, Consultant – Events/Staffing
- Hilary Young, Director of Marketing
10 of the Biggest Restaurant Industry Trends in 2026
From inflation and immigration to skyrocketing fees and the rise of AI, here are the biggest restaurant industry trends of the year so far.
1. AI Is Everywhere
We recently reported to you from this year’s National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago. As we mentioned then, everywhere we looked, we saw vendors boasting about their new AI-based capabilities.
As Ana points out, “Every vendor is talking about it, but the real impact is showing up in forecasting, scheduling, inventory, and labor planning. Operators are finally getting tools that help replace a lot of the old ‘gut instinct’ planning around staffing and demand.”
These tools are already making a positive difference in the way restaurants operate, especially in their ability to make more accurate forecasts and plan for both labor and inventory needs with greater precision.
“Margins are only getting tighter and our industry has long relied on the manager’s ‘sixth sense’ to predict labor and inventory requirements for future demand,” Dan observes. ”These new tools are giving them a lot more insight into how to control our two biggest costs, which can really help improve margins without sacrificing quality or efficiency.”
2. The Inflation Situation
Rising costs are top of mind for every kind of business right now, but the problem is especially acute for restaurants. As Dan explains, “The continuing saga of inflation continues to dog both restaurants and their customers. These conditions are driving the cost of goods up, while at the same time shrinking the consumer budget for discretionary spending on things like going out to eat.”
Hilary agrees, noting, “There’s a solid cocktail of current events that are negatively impacting the restaurant industry right now, including the rising cost of food prices, GLP-1 usage, and immigration policies.”
“Higher gas prices aren’t helping either.” Ana adds. “Overall traffic is softer and everyone’s leaning harder into value.”
“All of it has been chipping away at already-slim profit margins for restaurants,” Hilary notes.
3. Value Is Top-of-Mind for Customers
“Value is winning right now,” Ana observes. This is one of the biggest restaurant industry trends that we’re seeing this year. And we’re seeing it in every segment of the industry, from small independent restaurants to national chains.
For instance, Hilary points out, “Sweetgreen is lowering their prices and unveiling new menu items, Chipotle has reduced portion sizes and added protein cups to their menus. Starbucks revamped their loyalty program.”
“Chili’s led the way on this,” Dan explains, “but other national chains are following their lead and going after the value-driven customers. In 2026, full service and casual dining are going head to head on pricing with quick service restaurants.”
These moves are emblematic of trends across the industry. As Ana tells us, “Guests want deals, bundles, and perceived affordability more than anything else right now. So operators are focusing way more on tightening operations than expanding. Simpler menus, tighter labor models, and anything that protects margin is the name of the game.”
4. Immigration Policies Are Affecting the Restaurant Workforce
“Let's be real,” Ashley tells us, “immigration was a huge issue this year.”
Immigration and Customer Enforcement (ICE) activities have surged in American communities. These activities have targeted individuals that ICE suspects are illegal immigrants and the result has been a dramatic increase in the number detentions and deportations.
The restaurant industry has been profoundly affected by ICE activities. ICE enforcement actions have displaced many immigrant restaurant workers. Many others have been afraid to show up for work due to the risk of detainment.
As Ashley points out, “immigrants are the absolute heartbeat of the restaurant industry. Kitchens are feeling the labor shortages in more ways than one.”
Interestingly, many American consumers have responded by doubling down on their support of immigrant-owned restaurants. Ashley observes, “Many people have celebrated more diverse foods. We've seen the rise of Mexican and Asian cuisine in restaurants, which is helping immigrant restaurant owners to keep their doors open.”
5. AI Is Driving Diner Discovery
AI technology isn’t just changing the way restaurants do business. It’s also changing the way consumers behave. One of the biggest restaurant technology trends in 2026 is a change in the way customers find restaurants.
As Dan notes, “For many years, the leading avenue for customers to figure out where they would eat their next meal was Google. A lot of people spent a lot of time figuring out how to rank higher in local SEO [search engine optimization].”
But AI is fundamentally changing the way people find information online. Try asking your Google search engine for the best place to get pasta near you. Chances are that you’ll see Google’s Gemini chatbot recommendations first. Your customers are also using AI-powered assistants like Siri and Alexa for their information.
As a result, Ana explains, “Consumer discovery is changing. For years it was all about Google and local SEO, but now brands are starting to think about how they can show up in AI-driven searches and recommendations. The strategy for this is called AIEO, or AI engine optimization.
“It’s still early, but this issue has been coming up more in 2026,” Ana notes.
6. It’s Tough Out There in the Middle
Another of the big stories this year is the so-called K-shaped economy and its impact on mid-tier restaurants.
As Dan explains, “Higher-end restaurants will continue to appeal to their less price-conscious customers through elevated service and culinary options. Lower-end restaurants are aggressively pursuing the addition of low price value bundles. The segment in the middle hasn’t yet seemed to figure out where to drive their growth from.”
Ana agrees and calls the middle “the hardest spot right now.”
Many of these mid-tier options are in danger of being swallowed up by bigger players. Ana observes, “There’s still a lot of consolidation happening and weaker operators are quietly closing locations or shrinking footprint to stay afloat.”
Subscribe to Our Weekly Back of House Newsletter
Short and sweet summaries for busy restaurant operators. Subscribe to the Back of House newsletter to get updates delivered straight to your inbox.
7. The Restaurant Tech Space Is Going All-in-One
We’re also seeing consolidation in the restaurant tech space. One of the biggest restaurant technology trends in 2026 is a move toward all-in-one management systems. Many of the top POS (point of sale) providers are leading this move by offering a constantly expanding menu of functions, features, and add-ons.
“We’re seeing a big push toward more connected, all-in-one tech stacks instead of a bunch of disconnected tools,” Ana notes.
This may be a welcome push for many restaurants. As Hilary explains, “A lot of operators are getting subscription fatigue from using all these different platforms. Based on what we saw at the NRA show this year, it seems like many tech providers are building toward all-in-one platforms that allow operators to consolidate their various subscriptions to other platforms.”
8. Everybody Is Fed Up With High Credit Card Processing Fees
“Something we hear operators talking about a lot is high credit card processing fees, and how much they’re cutting into profit margins for smaller businesses,” Hilary tells us.
This is not necessarily a new story in 2026, but it is an increasingly pressing issue. One reason is that consumers are starting to notice. Cash-strapped restaurants have had little choice but to pass some of these rising fees along to their customers. But consumers are also feeling the pinch. As a result, Ana tells us, “Consumers are getting pretty vocal about all the extra fees on checks.”
“Customers are getting tired of the add-on charges that a lot of American restaurants are tacking on to bills; kitchen welfare fund, employee wellness funds, sustainability fund, etc.,” Dan adds. “There’s been a lot of pushback on this.”
There is a risk that this pushback could continue to drive down customer traffic in the second half of 2026.
9. Consumer Behaviors Are Transforming Menus
Hilary notes that the rapid rise in the use of GLP-1 medications is changing the way consumers dine. And restaurants are feeling the change in some very tangible ways. GLP-1 weight loss medications can suppress the appetite. As a result, individuals who are prescribed these medications tend to prefer smaller portions, lighter dishes, and healthier options.
One of the big trends we’re seeing in 2026 is a move to accommodate these preferences. Ashley points to “menu changes to accommodate the GLP-1 eaters and a decline in alcohol consumption.”
As a result, Ashley notes, “We’re seeing a lot more restaurants offering small plates, snackable items, and alcohol-free cocktails. We’re also seeing a much bigger emphasis on protein- and fiber-rich dishes in restaurant marketing efforts.”
10. Your Customers Still Want Analog Experiences
While it’s true that AI tools can make life much easier for restaurant workers. Hilary acknowledges, “Consumer opinions about AI are extremely low. And I think there is an understanding that these tools can’t replace human-centered hospitality.”
This is perhaps why we’re seeing what Ashley calls a “rise in the desire for analog experiences, whether it's from physical menus or phone-free dining.”
She observes, “Consumers are becoming more selective about how they spend their money out. They want more bang for their buck right now. This is where we will see restaurants with experiential dining thrive.”
Tackling 2026 With the Right Tech
In a year marked by rising prices and rapidly evolving technology, are you taking full advantage of the powerful new tools at your fingertips? We can’t predict exactly what the rest of 2026 will hold. But with some of the new AI-powered forecasting tools at our disposal, we can come pretty darn close!
Find out how the right set of tools can help you manage the twists and turns of another year. Schedule your free one-on-one consultation with one of our in-house restaurant tech pros and we’ll walk you through exactly what you need.
