Popmenu Releases Top Restaurant Trends to Watch in 2026

Economic pressure continues to impact consumer dining habits and restaurant operations

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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As prolonged inflation and economic uncertainty strain household budgets, 68% of U.S. consumers say they are cutting back on restaurant dining this year, with the average weekly spend dropping to $90 from $115 in June 2025. To stay competitive, 97% of restaurant operators are sharpening their focus on the guest experience, implementing new dining options, incentives, and AI technologies.

Why it matters

The restaurant industry is facing significant challenges due to the ongoing economic pressures, with consumers cutting back on dining out and operators having to adapt their business models to stay afloat. This report provides valuable insights into the key trends and strategies that restaurants are employing to navigate these turbulent times and appeal to cost-conscious consumers.

The details

Facing higher food and labor costs, 71% of restaurant operators plan to raise menu prices this year, up from 57% last year. To help balance this out, 35% of operators expect to add more affordable options to their menus. Nearly one-third (31%) are considering variable pricing based on demand, time of day, day of week, and seasonality. Operators are also focused on enhancing their menus with more limited-time offerings, healthy dishes, low-alcohol drinks and mocktails, homemade dishes, and comfort food.

  • In February 2026, consumers' average weekly spend on restaurants dropped to about $90—$25 less than in June 2025.
  • Popmenu conducted its nationwide survey of 328 U.S. restaurant owners and operators from January 8 to January 31, 2026.
  • Popmenu also conducted a nationwide survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers, ages 21 and older, from February 4 to February 5, 2026.

The players

Popmenu Inc.

A leader in restaurant technology, on a mission to make profitable growth easy for all restaurants.

Brendan Sweeney

CEO and Co-founder of Popmenu.

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What they’re saying

“Economic pressure is not letting up for restaurants who see costs continue to increase and consumer confidence plummet.”

— Brendan Sweeney, CEO and Co-founder of Popmenu

What’s next

Popmenu plans to release additional research and insights on the evolving restaurant industry trends throughout the year.

The takeaway

The restaurant industry is facing significant challenges due to the ongoing economic pressures, but operators are actively seeking ways to gain an edge at every step of the guest journey by implementing new menu options, dining experiences, digital marketing, and AI-enabled technologies to appeal to cost-conscious consumers.