Top Restaurant Menu Trends for 2016
National Restaurant Association survey shows local sourcing and environmental sustainability remain hot trends
The National Restaurant Association (NRA) annually explores the top menu trends for the coming year. For this year's What's Hot culinary forecast, the NRA surveyed nearly 1,600 professional chefs — members of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) — to find which foods, beverages and culinary themes will be hot on restaurant menus in 2016.
Top 20 food trends for 2016
1. Locally sourced meats and seafood
2. Chef-driven fast-casual concepts
3. Locally grown produce
4. Hyper-local sourcing
5. Natural ingredients/minimally processed food
6. Environmental sustainability
7. Healthful kids' meals
8. New cuts of meat
9. Sustainable seafood
10. House-made/artisan ice cream
11. Ethnic condiments/spices
12. Authentic ethnic cuisine
13. Farm/estate branded items
14. Artisan butchery
15. Ancient grains
16. Ethnic-inspired breakfast items
17. Fresh/house-made sausage
18. House-made/artisan pickles
19. Food waste reduction/management
20. Street food/food trucks
