Expect to see mushrooms, Vietnamese coffee and value meals on restaurant menus next year.
That is according to Yelp, the crowd-sourced review website that recently released its food and drink forecast for 2025.
In addition to new thrills, diners will be looking for cheap thrills, according to the report, as diners and restaurants continue to grapple with inflation.
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It was generated by Yelp researchers studying words and phrases people were using when they searched its website in 2023 and 2024. The report cites a few popular restaurants in Southern California that generated significant web traffic.
Here are some of its findings.
Hawaiian food
When something catches the attention of McDonald’s, it’s likely going mainstream. Chicken katsu has caught the attention of the fast food giant, not in the United States but in Great Britain, where McDonald’s UK is rumored to be coming out with a katsu wrap sometime in 2025, having already tried chicken katsu nuggets in 2020.
Chicken katsu, which is coated with bread crumbs and sliced, is a mainstay of Hawaiian restaurants, along with Spam musubi, a brick of rice topped with luncheon meat and wrapped in edible seaweed, and Hawaiian macaroni salad.
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Yelp has seen a surge in searches for Hawaiian mac salad, up 523%, as well as other Hawaiian menu items, according to its trends report.
The report also mentions Broken Mouth | Lee’s Homestyle in downtown Los Angeles, which was No. 1 on Yelp’s list of Top 100 U.S. Restaurants for 2023 and No. 6 in 2024.
“I try to give everybody as good an experience as I can. I’m representing Hawaii,” founder Timothy Lee told Kelly Clarkson on her talk show while serving her his specialty beef called Meat Jung.
Lee’s approach appears to be working. Broken Mouth is so busy that it only takes online orders and wait times could be as long as 90 minutes, according to its recorded phone message.
Chains include Ono Hawaiian BBQ, which is in the midst of a “Moana 2” tie-in promotion, and L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, which is No. 21 on Yelp’s list of fastest growing brands for 2024. Based in Honolulu, the chain has nearly three dozen locations throughout Southern California and two dozen more in the Bay Area.
Mushrooms
Based on claims that they reduce stress and have other health benefits, mushrooms are attracting attention, and not just from Yelp users. The National Restaurant Association included fungi, which it calls “fun guys” in a news release in its 2025 trends roundup.
Much of the buzz has been generated by mushroom-infused coffees and teas that are available in bags at specialty grocery stores and some coffee shops but rarely served by the cup.
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Tenders Greens has a more traditional use for roasted maitake mushrooms. They are featured in quick service chain’s Longevity Bowl.
“Nowadays the health benefits of mushrooms, the vitamin content and the medicinal properties have really been brought forward,” said executive chef Pete Balistreri in a phone interview. “I can see why they are a trend. I think before we just thought mushrooms taste great, but now I think there’s just so much more information coming out about them for chefs like myself.”
International coffees
Coffee drinkers are looking for new experiences and searching Yelp for such beverages as mojito coffee, which can be found at Philz Coffee, and Vietnamese coconut coffee.
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“That alligns very closely with our menu-building plan for next year,” said Gregory Zamfotis, founder of Gregorys Coffee. The New York-based chain made its California debut this year in the Shops at Mission Viejo Mall and Ontario Mills. “We’re launching what we’re calling a cultural coffee program. Each menu will offer a coffee prepared in a unique style from around the world.”
“There’s so many different ways that people prepare brewed coffee around the world unique to their culture, taste or flavor profiles. We enjoy that as well.”
Food and drink flights
Flights, samples of similar items served in groups of three or more, are satisfying an urge for new experiences in dining, according to Yelp, which is seeing search for egg flights and pasta flights.
Restaurant chains tapping into the trend include California Pizza Kitchen, which is currently offering red and white wine flights and a Mini Butter Cake Flight. It features three small cakes topped with chocolate, spiced apple and cherries, and bacon and maple syrup.
Value meals
Bundle pricing was big news in 2024, and Yelp’s research suggests we’ll see more of it in 2025.
McDonald’s led the way last summer when, amid customer complaints of high prices, it launched its $5 Meal Deal. The bundle combined four items from its value menu at a flat rate, which despite its name often cost $6.
Competitors such as Burger King and Del Taco came up with their own bundles, and it wasn’t just fast food. BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse enjoyed success with its $13 Pizookie Meal Deal, which is still available weekdays. The 3 for Me meal with an appetizer, entree and beverage at Chili’s Grill & Bar and Red Robin’s $10 Gourmet Burger on Tuesdays also connected with diners.
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Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar has a build-your-own lunch combo as well as a subscription program called the Campfire Club. For $5 a month, members get a free item such as an appetizer or dessert worth as much as $15, plus other perks.
“With inflation the way it is, value is super critical,” said founder and chief executive officer Chris Simms said in a September interview. “We’re trying to make sure we’re doing it in a way that’s fun and exciting. If you can do it at home, then why are you going to come here?”
Other trends
Yelp sees a surge of interest in sandwiches, citing Something About Her, a West Hollywood shop opened in May by “Vanderpump Rules” stars Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix.
People are also searching for bakeries that make burnaway cakes, which have become popular for celebrations such as gender reveals. They are topped with a special paper that when burned off reveals a hidden message.
Yelp sees an interest in private dining rooms such as the alcoves Panda Inn built into its recently flagship restaurant in Pasadena during a massive makeover. Space for large parties sometimes includes perks such as dedicated service and special menus, according to Yelp.