TouchBistro 2025 Canadian Diner Trends Report Shows Plateau in Dining Demand, Cost-Sensitivity at the Forefront

Toronto (April 1, 2025) – All-in-one POS and restaurant management system, TouchBistro, released its annual 2025 Canadian Diner Trends Report, surveying 1,000 diners across the country. In contrast to their American counterparts, who have increased how frequently they dine out and order takeout and delivery, Canadian diners are taking a far more cautious approach when faced with rising costs. 

Taking a closer look at the 2025 Diner Trends Report, Canadians are being increasingly intentional with where they put their dollars – whether that is prioritising cost or hype from a MICHELIN Star or social media.

Key data points:

• Canadians who dine out daily has decreased by 50 per cent since the previous year, but fast food is seeing a notable uptick with 25 per cent saying they choose fast food most often when dining out, which is up from 17 per cent in 2023.
• 88 per cent of diners at least occasionally rely on a restaurant’s popularity on social media before deciding whether or not to eat there.
• Almost two-thirds (65 per cent) of Boomers say service charges deter them from going to restaurants, which is higher than the 56 per cent average among all surveyed diners.
• Canadian diners are 21 per cent more likely to visit a restaurant if it has a MICHELIN Star.

“The 2025 Diner Trends Report shows that economic conditions have a clear impact on dining habits, and Canadians are being responsible spenders,” said Samir Zabaneh,  Chairman and CEO of TouchBistro. “As a result, Canadian diners are being strategic in where they spend their hard earned dollars. People are looking to maximize value, from reviewing menu prices before deciding on where they’ll dine to leaning into loyalty programs. Restaurant operators should be attentive to what matters most to diners in order to draw new and returning customers.”

Tipping Culture

With rising costs of goods, it is no surprise that the average check size has also gone up. The average meal out costs Canadians $63, which is a $7 increase from the year prior. Despite heftier price tags, over 1-in-5 (21 per cent) of diners say they are tipping more than before when dining out. Still, the majority (67 per cent) of Canadian diners are tipping the same amount – which is 15 per cent on average, with Boomers tipping the most generously at 16 per cent.

While dining out is more expensive than ever before, the average spend for ordering takeout or delivery, $38 in 2024, actually dipped by $1 from the year before. The average tip for takeout and delivery is 12 per cent.

For both dining in and takeout and delivery, Gen Z are the most price-sensitive, paying on average $40 when dining in and $27 for takeout and delivery, whereas Gen X are the biggest spenders, paying on average $68 when dining in and $42 for takeout and delivery. However, that is not to say Gen Z is the stingiest generation. In fact, they are also the biggest tippers – tipping 16 per cent when dining in and 14 per cent for take out and delivery.

Planning Ahead

When every dollar counts, Canadian diners love to plan ahead to ensure they are maximizing their dining experience. 97 per cent of diners consider menu prices and value for money before deciding on where to eat, and nearly six in 10 (58 per cent) said menu prices/value for money is the  most important factor when deciding which restaurant to visit.

As part of Canadian diners’ process in choosing where to dine in, a whopping 88 per cent of diners will always or occasionally check out the restaurant on social media before deciding whether or not to eat there. Surprisingly, Facebook still has the biggest influence on which restaurants diners decide to visit , with 21 per cent using Facebook, compared to 13 per cent for Instagram and 4 per cent for TikTok. When looking at generational differences, Instagram is the top choice for Gen Z (32 per cent), while Facebook is top of the list for Millennials (25 per cent), Gen X (21 per cent) and Boomers (20 per cent).

Additional ways Canadian diners are planning ahead this year:

• Almost half (49 per cent) of diners make reservations at least occasionally, versus 41 per cent who said the same last year
• Over 1-in-3 (35 per cent) have used Google Reviews over the past three months to help decide where to dine
• 40 per cent of diners utilise restaurant loyalty programs, up five per cent from last year

Demographic Differences

Despite having less spending power, younger diners are a key demographic in driving restaurant sales. 32 per cent of 18 to 34 year old diners say they dine out once a week or more frequently, 8 per cent higher than the average. In contrast, 15 per cent of Boomers dine out once a week or more often.

There is also a generational divide when it comes to takeout and delivery. While average frequency has stayed fairly steady, Boomers’ off-premise ordering habits have slowed down while Gen Z and Millennials are picking up the slack. 39 per cent of them say they order in at least once a week, compared to just 11 per cent of Boomers. 

Younger Canadians also are leading the charge on solo dining. 1-in-4 (25 per cent) of 18 to 34 year old diners say they typically go out to a restaurant solo, compared to 18 per cent who said the same the year prior. 

Looking Ahead

“What we see from the Canadian Diner Trends Report is that Canadians will dine and order takeout and delivery – as long as it feels like they are getting their money’s worth,” added Zabaneh. “There continue to be opportunities for restaurants to offer more value to diners through optimizing the customer experience with takeout and delivery, reservations and their online presence.”

Here are five ways restaurant operators can bring in new and returning customers in 2025:

1. Avoid Price Hikes: Particularly compared to their American counterparts, Canadians are being cautious in where they spend their dining dollars in 2025. Instead of major price hikes, offer budget-friendly options and be transparent when it comes to service charges. If you have to raise prices, do so by no more than 11 per cent.
2. Maximize Sales with Off-Premise Dining: Takeout and delivery are here to stay, with consumers enjoying both the lower cost and being able to eat in the comfort of their own home. Restaurants who are looking to launch or expand their off-premise capabilities should remember to keep phone lines open for takeout orders, as this is Canadians’s preferred way to place to-go orders.
3. Embrace Reservations: Canadians are becoming more selective about where they eat and are therefore making reservations more often. Make booking reservations easy for diners by offering online and phone reservations for diners, and equip staff with a reservations management platform to streamline admin.
4. Show Your Social Media Some Love: Social media is a critical marketing tool and plays a key part in how diners decide where to spend their money. Keep your business’ social media platforms up to date, especially on Facebook, and partner with micro-influencers to create user-generated content that drives organic discovery.
5. Keep the Heart in Hospitality While there are many benefits to using technology in your dining room, Canadians prefer the personal touch of interacting with restaurant staff. By utilising technology to streamline processes behind the scenes, staff will have more time to focus on customer experience while tech handles other valuable aspects of the dining experience, such as speedy service and shorter wait times. 

For more information, the 2025 Canadian Diner Trends Report can be downloaded for free HERE.

To learn more about TouchBistro, go to www.touchbistro.com. 

Methodology

TouchBistro partnered with research firm The Harris Poll to survey 1,000 diners in Canada, which includes an oversample for Toronto and Vancouver. Our research was conducted from October 15 to October 25, 2024. Survey results are accurate +/- 3% for the general population of Canadian diners.

About TouchBistro

TouchBistro is an all-in-one POS and restaurant management system that makes running a restaurant easier by providing essential front of house, back of house, and guest engagement solutions on one powerful platform. TouchBistro helps restaurateurs streamline and simplify their operations, increase sales, and deliver a great guest experience. For additional information, visit TouchBistro.com.

Media Contact: Joyce Li | [email protected] | 416-414-4797