Restaurant Planning Predictions and Trends for 2024

As the new year is on the horizon, chefs and restaurant owners start thinking about one thing: What’s next on the food scene? In an industry driven by consumer trends and pushing the food envelope, knowing what foods will be the next big thing is essential. 

Stay on top of upcoming restaurant trends by reading our 2024 predictions below.

What are the Next Big Food Trends for 2024?

2024 has some innovative eats in store for restaurant owners and diners.

New on the Horizon: 4 Emerging Trends to Tap into in 2024

Want to know the top four food and beverage trends for 2024? We've got you covered!

1. Health-Conscious Eats and Drinks: Today’s diners seek wholesome dishes and beverages that deliver big flavors. According to a study coming from the United Kingdom, two out of three consumers consider healthy dine-out choices necessary. 57 percent of diners also prefer food and beverage companies that promote a healthy lifestyle via their offerings.

What’s on the Menu? Whole grains, mood-boosting ingredients, and hearty vegetables will appear on menus in 2024. Expect to see mushroom “coffee,” root vegetable hummus, cacao smoothies, and buckwheat pancakes.

2. Seafood Without the Sea: Plant-based eating is here to stay. Flexitarian lifestyles and concern for our environment have driven consumers to reduce their meat intake and include more plant-derived dishes in their regular dining rotation. Faux fish has made its way onto menus, and diners are eating it up. In fact, the plant-based fish market is expected to reach $1.3 billion by 2031, making it a major upcoming trend for 2024 and years to follow. 

What’s on the Menu? Chickpea “tuna” salad, carrot “lox,” and cauliflower cevicheare just some of the plant-based items that bring the briny flavors of the sea without trolling the ocean. 

3. Spice, Spice, Baby: Bold flavors have taken center stage in recent years. Mexican cuisine is booming, and heat-forward global cuisines are trending. In 2024, expect to see even more complex heat flavor profiles and jaw-dropping combinations that mix salty, sweet, and heat.

What’s on the Menu? Margaritas with chile-salt, Calabrian chile and pumpkin carbonara, and chili-crisp condiments.

4. Creative Chaos: 2024 might very well be the year of boundary-breaking ingredient experimentation. Chaos cooking, which started to take hold in the 2020s, takes fusion cuisine to unexpected new heights. The basic principle is to curate creative cuisine mash-ups that blend anything and everything from comfort food and high-end to Indian and pub food, and Chinese and pizza. The rule is there are no rules.

What’s on the Menu? Caramel chicken wings, kimchi-chili baked potatoes, and elote cocktails.

See why consumer dining trends are changing.

2024 Food Industry Predictions: The Year of the Tomato

If you want to tap into one main ingredient to stay on trend next year, Nation’s Restaurant News predicts that tomatoes might be the next big thing. The beauty of tomatoes is that they work with a variety of flavor profiles and have myriad applications.

Why Are Tomatoes A Top Ingredient?

• It’s no wonder tomatoes are expected to make a prominent appearance on menus in 2024. They are known for health benefits ranging from brain and heart health to antioxidants. 
• Tomatoes make globally-inspired sauces, which can be used for shakshuka, pasta sauce, vindaloo, and more. 
• Tomatoes can be pickled, turned into chutney, preserved as jam, and dried in the oven. This means you can extend the life of this delectable fruit and save on food costs. 
• Due to tomatoes’ sugar content and rich umami flavor, they can make their way into both savory and sweet dishes.

Shop Exceptional Products for Your Future Menu at US Foods CHEF’STORE

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