Unlike the fashion world, where trends and what is in vogue change with each season, you might think that restaurant trends do not change that often, but you would be wrong. Most restaurant owners, especially those with a fine dining restaurant, will tell you that what their customers like to eat can change quickly.

This can often result from a celebrity chef discussing a unique type of cooking in their latest TV programme or a celebrity who is not a chef explaining in a glossy magazine article what their favourite new healthy meal regime is. Other than these, those restaurants that like to stay ahead of their competition will introduce new dishes and styles of cooking or preparing meals which will see their popularity spread like wildfire.

So as we write this in 2023, you might be wondering what the latest trends in restaurants might be, and if you continue reading, you will discover ten of them.

Cooking Over Fire

Hopefully, everyone reading this has enjoyed eating food cooked at a BBQ, and now, there are restaurants where cooking over fire is their speciality. Often done within an open kitchen where diners sit around the cooking area to watch the chef work their magic over the fire, the result is freshly cooked food with those beautiful smoky flavours.

Spanish Dining

Given that many of our early ancestors arrived here on Spanish ships, it is little wonder that Spanish cuisine is at the top of the popularity charts. In particular, tapas restaurants are all the rage, although we must not forget how popular paella dishes have become. Olé!

Japanese Food

Another country’s cuisine that Australians are heading to restaurants in droves to enjoy is that of Japan. Often referred to as ‘Japanophilia’, this love for Japanese restaurant food covers not just sushi, one of the top 5 favourite foods in this country, but other dishes too, including basashi, ramen, and tempura.

Italian Deli Sandwiches

Our third and final tour of the world’s international cuisine takes us to Italy, particularly the growing desire for Italian deli sandwiches. Often served in restaurants as a lunchtime dish, the choices and options for what fillings you can have in your Italian deli sandwich are considerable, so make sure you experiment each time before deciding on your favourite.

Technology

This might not significantly impact what you eat in a restaurant in 2023, but it will undoubtedly influence your experience when there. Restaurant owners are rapidly waking up to the tech solutions available to make their restaurants stand out. Examples include advanced booking and queuing systems, high-tech cooking equipment, and even software to adjust the lighting to enhance the restaurant’s ambience.

Non-Alcoholic Drinks

Non-alcoholic drinks are nothing new in restaurants. However, the types and ranges of non-alcoholic drinks have expanded enormously. This is especially true for so-called ‘mocktails’ with all the same ingredients as authentic cocktails but without the alcoholic element. Non-alcoholic beers are also growing in popularity. Cheers!

Fusion Dining

The fusion here does not mean restaurant kitchens powered by nuclear reactors, but instead, the fusion of two distinct cooking styles or cuisines into one. The restaurants that can achieve this have to be admired because it is not the easiest thing to do; however, when they get it right, you could be eating Japanese/Spanish combinations one evening and on another, have a Vietnamese/French ensemble on your plate.

Catering For Specific Diets

You might occasionally see the small print on menus mentioning allergies, but in 2023, restaurants’ efforts to cater to a whole range of dietary requirements are reaping the rewards. Creating specific meals and alternatives for diabetics, those with gluten intolerance, and specific allergies is a growing trend and one that allows everyone to enjoy a restaurant meal that they can enjoy.

Plant-Based Meals

Before we go any further, we must point we are not simply talking about salads here. Instead, we are referring to plant-based meals that can provide flavours that extend way beyond what most vegetarian meals offer. Their growing popularity means that more and more people can reduce their meat consumption.

Sustainable Dining

The final trend is very much at the forefront of what is happening in the world in 2023. With all eyes on climate change, especially some of the extreme temperatures that are occurring,  the desire for restaurants to be more sustainable is welcomed by diners. Sustainable food sources and reducing energy used when cooking are just two ways this is being achieved.