Today’s diners aren’t just hungry for good food – they can be particular and depending on their generation, wildly different when it comes to what they expect from restaurants when dining in and ordering takeout and delivery. For instance, while it may not always be obvious, Gen Z dining trends can look completely different from Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers. Nonetheless with tastes shifting and dining habits evolving, restaurant operators face the big question: how do you win over everyone who walks through your restaurant’s door?
To answer this question, our 2025 American Diner Trends Report uncovers what diners really want from restaurants this year. Whether it’s uncovering the dining trends of Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers, this article will cover the biggest shifts and break down what each generation is uniquely seeking, so you turn to higher sales and lifelong customers.
- Top American dining trends in 2025
- Boomers dining trends
- Gen X dining trends
- Millennials dining trends
- Gen Z dining trends
Top Dining Trends in 2025
Our team partnered with research firm The Harris Poll to survey 1,500+ diners across the U.S. to discover the top dining trends. Before we dive into the generational-based dining trends, here’s a taste of our key findings from our full report:
- 44% of diners are ordering takeout/delivery weekly or more often. Even though diners are paying more for their orders, they aren’t willing to give up takeout/delivery.
- 34% of households bringing in less than $50K say they’re dining out less this year. Though dine-in sales have remained steady overall, those with less disposable income have cut back to save money.
- 61% of in-person diners say they have made no change in their tipping habits. While diners express a frustration with the pressure to tip more, the majority have not actually changed their tipping habits.
- 21% of diners typically dine out alone (up from 18% who said the same in 2023). Grabbing a table for one is increasingly common, especially for younger diners.
- 62% of diners say they’re motivated to visit a restaurant with a limited time offering. Many diners say they’ll make a special trip to a restaurant just to try an LTO.
- 50% of Gen Z and Millennial diners would be more likely to visit a restaurant if it had a MICHELIN Star. While it doesn’t matter to every diner, a MICHELIN Star or Bib Gourmand status definitely matters to younger diners.
- 58% of diners are comfortable with technology in restaurants. Diners welcome tech that will make their experience faster and more convenient (though they have mixed feelings about AI).
Generational-based Dining Trends: Baby Boomers to Gen Z Dining Trends
Now that we’ve covered a summary of the top dining trends of 2025 let’s dive into what each generation is uniquely seeking and expecting from restaurants across the country:
Baby Boomers
Born: 1946-1964
Age in 2025: 61-79
Baby Boomers are price sensitive compared to other generations. In fact, 53% of Boomer respondents are deterred by service charges. Operators can retain Boomer diners by having transparent pricing and value-based offerings.
And despite spending less, Boomers are a generous generation as they tip more than the average diner. However, they do expect nothing less than great service as they have a low tolerance for errors, which means operators should focus on exceptional service and order accuracy to keep Boomers coming back for more.
Boomers are also on the edge about technology being the least comfortable generation and are the most skeptical of the use of AI. This shows that operators are better off leaving the technology to drive back of house operational efficiencies and hone in on the human connection in the dining room instead.
Gen X
Born: 1965-1980
Age in 2025: 45-60
Unlike Boomers, Gen X ties with Millennials for being the highest-spending diners ($58 on average per restaurant visit). While Gen X is one among one of the top generations in terms of spending, restaurants should also be aware that they have high expectations with a low tolerance for error. For instance, Gen X is more likely to be deterred by negative reviews, long wait times, service chargers, and poor health ratings.
Before Gen X diners enter your restaurant, they are motivated to make reservations when celebrating special occasions and ensuring table availability. This is important for operators to consider to ensure they offer reliable reservation systems and occasion-based promotions to capture this generation’s business.
So how else can you get this generation to repeatedly come back to your restaurant? Targeted and well-structured loyalty programs. Gen X diners have above-average participation in loyalty programs, as 51% of respondents show a willingness to commit when value is clear.
Millennials
Born: 1981-1996
Age in 2025: 29-44
Much like Gen X, Millennials are the biggest spenders when dining in. Millennials also take the lead in takeout spending ($46 compared to the average of $38 across all generations). This generation are also high-frequency diners with 42% planning to dine out more often and 41% planning to order takeout and delivery more often. Catering to Millennials preferences can help win long-term revenue as this group represents a high-value, growth-oriented customer segment.
So how can restaurants capitalize on these groups of diners? Offering tech-forward features. With a tech-savvy group like Millennials they value streamlined digital experiences to deepen engagement. For example, digital ordering, mobile payments, and loyalty apps. In fact, they have the highest loyalty program participation with 56% part of a loyalty program.
Speaking of digital and technology influences, 57% of Millennials use social media to decide where to eat, and 39% have checked restaurant reviews on social media recently. MICHELIN Stars, limited-time offers (LTOs), and negative online reviews also influence their decisions.
Gen Z
Born: 1997-2012
Age in 2025: 13-28
While Gen Z might not be the biggest spenders, they sure dine out and order in more often than any other generation, with 64% ordering takeout weekly or more. This young generation values frequent and affordable dining experiences showcasing to restaurant operators that offering budget-friendly options without sacrificing the appeal is critical.
Your social media presence can be especially important to attract Gen Z diners because they are the most comfortable with technology in restaurants and social media is their number one source for restaurant reviews. In fact, 48% check reviews on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, and 67% use social media to choose where to eat.
Although members of Gen Z embrace solo dining more often than any other generation (49% weekly or more often), they don’t always go it alone. Another one of the many Gen Z dining trends is that date night is the most common reason Gen Z makes reservations. Restaurants should embrace Gen Z diners who choose to dine solo by offering communal tables and meal deals. And to capture those who choose to dine with another person, having online reservations and menus made for two can attract those looking for a date night spot.
By understanding how diner trends are shifting and how each generation is responding, you can position your restaurant to capture the hearts (and wallets) of diners beyond having absolutely delicious food in 2025! Curious about the latest dining and food trends in Canada? Check out our 2025 Canadian Diner Trends Report here.
Megan is the Content Marketing Specialist at TouchBistro, where she uses her passion for food to write about the restaurant industry. She’s a big “foodie” at heart, and you can always find her enjoying a delicious meal at a restaurant with friends and family, or cooking one up at home. She also loves relaxing with a good book and making progress at the gym.
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