Pick up any menu these days, and you’re sure to find global flavors in abundance. Simply put, borders no longer exist when it comes to taste. And as operators look to attract new diners, they’re turning to these worldly inspired cuisines to capitalize on the demand. So, what’s driving this desire for diversity? Here are a few reasons for the continuing trend:

• Younger diners, who were likely introduced to worldly flavors at a younger age, tend to have more adventurous palates.
• With travel curtailed during the pandemic, there is pent-up demand for new and diverse experiences.
• The easier access to a wider range of foods has broadened the tastes of consumers.
• The general population is becoming more diverse¹. The growth of people entering the country has surpassed the number of people born here. And Generation Alpha, or those born after 2010, is the most racially diverse generation in our country’s history. Culinary preferences, therefore, are shifting to mirror this change.

Take Your Menu Someplace New

How can you ramp up the worldly flavors on your menu? These are some trends to help shape and inspire your offerings, allowing you to take advantage of the demand for culinary diversity:

The top five regions projected to influence menus are²:

• Southeast Asian (Vietnamese, Singaporean, Philippine)
• South American (Argentinian, Brazilian, Chilean)
• Caribbean (Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican)
• North African (Moroccan, Algerian, Libyan)
• Western African (Nigerian, Ghanan, Western Saharan)

The top three trends in condiments, sauces, spices, and seasonings are²:

• Gochujang
• Tajin
• Harissa

Generational Preferences³:

• Gen Z is far more likely to prefer foods like ramen, boba, horchata, and mochi
• Millennials are more likely to choose sushi, queso blanco, and Korean BBQ
• Millennials are the first generation to prefer Mexican cuisine over Italian

Content courtesy of Burke Corporation

¹Business Wire 2019

²NRA 2022 What’s Hot Report

³Datassential FoodBytes 2022 Trends