From new dishes to internet faves, here are Yelp’s top 10 food trends for next year.
In 2022, many of us dined on croffles, sipped espresso martinis and negronis (sbagliato-style and other variations), and brunched on macadamia pancakes. Ready to taste something new this coming year? Today, Yelp reveals the 10 food trends we expect to be big in 2023.
To help you navigate next year’s food trends, Yelp tapped its team of Data Scientists, Community Managers, and Trend Expert Tara Lewis, to see what’s soon to be popular in everyone’s news feed. We looked at millions of searches for the words, phrases, and businesses that saw significant interest between 2021 and 2022 across restaurant, food and nightlife categories, in order to zero in on what to watch for in the coming year.
So whether you’re on the hunt for your next great meal, looking for the latest food photo ops for your social media page, or simply want to mix up your weekend dining routine, keep scrolling to discover our 2023 food trend predictions. And see all the 2023 food, beauty, and home trends here.
Fun drinks will never go out of style, and micheladas have long been considered a day-drinking staple. This year, the michelagua has emerged as a tasty non-alcoholic alternative to the popular Mexican drink. Using beer-free mixes to complement an agua fresca, the michelagua typically comes in three flavor options: mango, pineapple, and spinach or cucumber with lime. Dressed up with fruit and colorful garnishes, a michelagua is the perfect photo-ready drink. Searches for michelagua were up 62%
Worth the brain freeze: Slushies
Frozen or on the rocks? Whether you’re a fan of frozen margaritas, the classic frosé, or the Starbucks secret menu apple berry freeze slushie, frozen drinks are dominating—both boozy and sans alcohol! There are even spots like The Frost Factory, just outside Cincinnati, completely devoted to custom slushie creations. Yelpers are continuing to hunt down the best slushie drinks popping up across the country. In 2023, we expect restaurants to expand this frozen drink trend, with creative combinations like the frozen negroni at Los Angeles’ Capri Club. Searches for slushie drinks were up 77%.
Fun with food: Experiential dining
Yelpers are eager to go back to restaurants and create memorable dining experiences. Luckily, destination dining options, such as dinner theater, underwater restaurants, or the popular new restaurants at Restoration Hardware, offer views, activities, or entertainment, all while enjoying a meal. Searches were up 263% for underwater restaurants and 109% for dinner theaters.
Brine dining: Pickle-flavored products
Pickles are a big “dill” this year! From drinks to desserts, this classic comfort food is making its way from side dish to entree. In the year ahead, variations of the beloved salty snack, such as pickle martinis and pickle ice cream, will continue to pop up across the country. Searches for pickle-flavored foods were up 55%.
Meat of the moment: Oxtails
With many festivals and food trucks featuring tasty ways to serve oxtail, Yelpers everywhere have been searching for places to get their hands on this meaty dish. Black-owned businesses, like Alta Adams in Los Angeles, and events like Houston’s Oxtail Mashup, have propelled the delicacy to center stage this year. Searches for oxtail were up 45%.
Bubble time: ‘Dirty sodas’
Originating in Utah, dirty sodas are a sweet treat consisting of soda, cream, and flavored sweetener or syrup. Dirty soda-specific shops have quickly begun bubbling up across the country in spots like Oklahoma, Texas (think Austin!), and Arizona, and Yelpers are searching to see how they can get their hands on one! Searches for dirty sodas were up 40%.
Plant-based: Hojicha tea
Tea is always trendy, from bubble tea to Earl Grey, but there’s a new tea trend that’s emerging this year. A lightly roasted form of Japanese green tea, hojicha features a sweet flavor and no bitterness. It’s clear why Yelpers can’t stop searching for a spot where they can try this caffeinated plant, especially as a latte. Searches for hojicha were up 38%.
Dry January: Mocktails
With celebs like Bella Hadid and Blake Lively creating their own mocktail brands, it’s no surprise that the hottest new drinks are booze-free! As non-alcoholic drinks begin to take over, Yelpers have been looking at spots such as boozeless New York City bar Hekate to try some trendy (not tipsy!) faves. Searches for mocktails were up 59%
Outrageous dessert: The Suprême
The viral dessert that sent New York (and the internet) into a craze has been attracting eyes from far and wide! The Suprême, made by Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery in NoHo, is a cream-filled croissant that has customers lining up outside for hours in hopes of getting their hands on one. Searches for The Suprême were up 13%. Until you’re able to try the famous Suprême, you can check out the best pastries near you.
’90s nosh: Fast-food classics
Like ’90s fashion trends making a comeback and movie and TV revivals popping up everywhere, people are more nostalgic for their childhood faves than ever. The fast food industry has been listening and bringing back some old staples, with the return of the McRib, Happy Meals, and Halloween pails. Yelpers have been searching for the nearest spot where they can go to relive some of their childhood fast-food memories. Searches for fast food were up 90%.