Food trends move fast. A dish that seemed unusual a decade ago might now be everywhere, from fast-food chains to fine dining. Many of these trends started as niche experiments but exploded thanks to social media, changing diets, and adventurous eaters. Here are 15 foods and drinks that have become menu staples in the last ten years.
Plant-Based Burgers That Bleed
If you ordered a veggie burger ten years ago, you’d likely get a mushy black bean patty that was barely held together. Now, restaurants serve plant-based burgers that (almost) look, taste, and even “bleed” like real beef. Thanks to companies like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, these patties sizzle on the grill, have a juicy texture, and even contain heme, a molecule that makes meat taste meaty.
Oat Milk Everything
Back in 2014, non-dairy milk usually meant two things: soy or almond. But then oat milk came into existence, and it took over, especially in coffee shops. It has a rich and creamy texture and froths better than almond milk, making it a favorite for lattes. It’s also eco-friendly—oat farming uses less water than almonds. Now, you’ll find oat milk in ice cream, yogurt, and even some canned coffee drinks.
Hot Honey on Pizza and Chicken
A little sweet, a little spicy—hot honey changes the flavor of almost every dish. Ten years ago, people stuck to classic toppings like ranch or BBQ sauce. Now, restaurants drizzle spicy honey over crispy fried chicken, cheesy pizza, and even cocktails. The heat comes from chili-infused honey, creating a perfect balance of flavors. The trend took off when chefs realized how well it complemented rich, salty foods.
Birria Tacos
These juicy, full-of-flavor tacos have been around in Mexico for years, but they only became viral in the last decade. Birria tacos are dipped in consommé—a rich, spicy broth—before eating. The meat is slow-cooked for hours until fall-apart tender, and the tortillas are crisped up with some of the same savory broth. The first time someone dunks a taco into that deep red consommé, it’s love at first bite.
Korean Corn Dogs
Korean corn dogs are the most popular ones you might have on TikTok or Instagram. These are filled with mozzarella sticks, then coated in crunchy ramen noodles (Korean noodles), and dusted with sugar for that sweet and savory contrast. Some vendors also offer them half-cheese and half-hot dogs. You can pair them with a drizzle of ketchup, mayo, or a spicy sauce to get a street food masterpiece.
Spiked Seltzers on Tap
Hard seltzers weren’t even a thing ten years ago—back then, if you wanted a flavored drink, you were probably stuck with those super sweet coolers like Smirnoff Ice. But then White Claw and Truly showed up and changed the game. Now bars are even serving spiked seltzer on tap so if you want something lighter than beer but still crisp and refreshing, you’re all set.
Butter Boards
Move over, charcuterie. In the past few years, butter boards—where softened butter is spread across a wooden board and topped with flaky salt, herbs, and honey—have taken over. The idea is simple: scoop it up with warm bread and enjoy. Just like the others, social media helped this trend explode, with people adding everything from edible flowers to chili oil. Some restaurants even serve variations with flavored butter, like truffle or cinnamon sugar.
Cauliflower Everything
Cauliflower was just a side dish a decade ago. Now, it’s in everything—pizza crust, gnocchi, rice, even buffalo “wings.” The reason? It’s a great low-carb, gluten-free substitute for flour and grains. People who are health-conscious love to have it, and even those who aren’t on a diet appreciate how versatile it is. Some restaurants offer whole roasted cauliflower as a main course, and it’s mostly served with a rich sauce.
Flamin’ Hot Menu Items
Cheetos have been around forever, but only recently have they made their way onto restaurant menus (in the past, you had to buy them from grocery stores). You’ll find them crushed over your regular mac and cheese, sprinkled on sushi rolls, and even blended into burger buns for extra crunch. How they taste depends totally on you. If you like Cheetos, you’ll love how they upgrade all normal dishes. Even big chains like Taco Bell and Burger King have hopped on the trend.
Boba in More Than Just Tea
Bubble tea has been a favorite for years, but now those chewy tapioca pearls are showing up in unexpected places. Iced coffee, matcha lattes, and even fruit smoothies now come with boba. Some places serve “bursting boba,” little juice-filled spheres that pop in your mouth. The visual appeal and fun texture make boba drinks perfect for Instagram, which helped drive the trend worldwide.
Sushi Burritos
It’s sushi, but super-sized and zero mess. Sushi burritos take all the good stuff—fresh fish, creamy avocado, crunchy veggies—and wrap it up in seaweed and rice for an easy, handheld meal. You don’t need any chopsticks to have it—just grab it and go. Some places even swap rice for lettuce wraps if you’re going for a lighter option.
Chopped Salad Chains
Salads used to be an afterthought, but now they’re the main event. Chains like Sweetgreen and Chopt made chopped salads a decent item on the menu as they offer endless customization and bold dressings. Every item is finely chopped in the salad, so your bite will have that perfect mix of flavors. No more boring forkfuls of plain lettuce—these salads come loaded with roasted veggies, nuts, cheese, and protein.
Purple Everything (Ube & Butterfly Pea Flower)
You might have seen famous food influencers posting about bright purple foods on TikTok and Instagram. This color is due to two ingredients. Ube (sweet purple yam from the Philippines) brings a rich and vanilla-like flavor to foods like ice cream and drinks like lattes. Then there’s the butterfly pea flower—a deep blue flower that magically turns purple when you add lemon juice.
Vegan Fried Chicken
A decade ago, if you wanted fried chicken, you had to eat, well… chicken. Now, plant-based versions are available, which are equally crispy, juicy, and very addictive. Some are made from seitan, others from mushrooms, and a few even use soy protein to mimic that texture. Even KFC jumped on this trend to prove that vegan fried chicken is not just a niche thing—it’s here to stay.
Loaded Fries
Fries used to be a simple side, maybe with some ketchup or cheese if you were feeling fancy. Now they’ve basically become a full meal. Menus are loaded with fries topped with everything from braised short ribs and kimchi to truffle oil and spicy mayo. Carne asada fries, buffalo chicken fries, and even birria fries (yes, with that rich, dunkable broth) are everywhere.
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