What foods will be hot in 2026? Healthy and spicy top list

Today’s foodies are looking for escape—and the chance to step out of their everyday lives and into something or somewhere more comforting. There’s a sense of nostalgia that’s inspiring innovation to meld the past with the present. 

According to the National Restaurant Association’s 2026 What’s Hot Culinary Forecast, restaurant operators are ramping up their efforts to meet those needs and offer their guests comforting, flavorful foods that are appealing in their global complexity, but healthful and accessible at the same time.

What’s old is new again

Social media, for example, is turning the smashed burger – once a nostalgic staple – into a tempting item that appeals to younger generations. The challenge, however, is to make one of America’s ultimate comfort foods seem new and globally popular, too. To achieve that goal, chefs are cooking up interesting twists, such as smashed burger tacos.

“Menu innovation is an important driver of sales, especially during these uncertain times when people are looking to food and drink to make them feel good and give them comfort,” says Dr. Chad Moutray, Association Senior Vice President of Research & Knowledge and Chief Economist.

The Top 5 dishes also highlight a deep-seated desire to experience the world through various types of cuisines. Consumers want to be transported with every bite, whether it’s a Caribbean curry bowl or a protein-packed miso dish that teleports them to the streets of Tokyo. Restaurant menus are eager to bring that global interest home via exclusive interpretations of a variety of dishes. They include:

1. Smashed burgers: The ground beef is cooked on a hot griddle or in a cast-iron skillet, creating a burger with a crispy, caramelized crust and juicy middle.
2. Elevated instant noodles: This restaurant version of instant noodles, such as ramen, features complex flavors in a high-quality, customized, and affordable way. 
3. Caribbean curry bowls: This fusion dish features a distinct flavor profile that consists of different aromatic spices, like turmeric, allspice, and thyme, with a bit of peppery heat.
4. Smoothie bowls: Colorful, customizable, and healthy, these delicious and nutritious, veggie- and fruit-based bowls fit various dietary needs and are easy to eat on-the-go.
5. Miso-glazed proteins: Typically made with a fermented paste of soybeans, koji, salt, and sometimes grains, these dishes are steeped in complex flavors and healthfulness, and bring depth to a variety of fish, meats, and plant-based proteins

Thanks to these elevated recipes, access to the world of food is at everyone’s fingertips at all types of restaurants—whether they’re fine dining, casual, or quickservice locations.

Download your copy of the 2026 What’s Hot Culinary Forecast!