. After years of pandemic-related restrictions consumers can finally go and dine out in restaurants again. However, this higher spending is not entirely voluntary. An increase in food and drink costs has caused restaurant-goers to spend more per visit. Unsurprisingly, U.S.
. Households earning over 200 thousand U.S. dollars annually spent over eight times as much on eating out than those on less than 15 thousand U.S. dollars. Regardless of income, what kind of restaurants are the most popular choices for dining out? In 2022, the
were casual dining, fast food, and fast casual.
How often do U.S. consumers eat out?
It is not just income that influences how often U.S. consumers go out to eat. The age and gender of diners are also important factors. A 2022 survey revealed that the
generations most likely to eat out once a week or more were Gen X and Baby Boomers. Meanwhile, a similar survey found that
men ate out at restaurants more frequently than women. When looking at the overall consumer
frequency of eating out at a restaurant in the U.S., the highest share of respondents, 29 percent, ate out once a week or more. Comparatively, five percent of respondents said they ate out once every six months. The
leading reason consumers like going out to eat in the U.S. is for the atmosphere, with over 60 percent of respondents stating that this was the case.
What do diners like in the U.S.?
From the type of menu they use, to the clothing choices of other diners, U.S. consumers have many opinions on how their dining experience should go. A 2023 survey revealed that
most consumers in the U.S. preferred paper menus over other alternatives such as QR codes, with 71 percent stating that this was the case. However, not all restaurant patrons are lucky enough to receive this service. In that year, the share of U.S. adults that
used a QR code to view a menu at a restaurant in the past 12 months was 45 percent. Speaking of menus, over 30 percent of
U.S. diners tried new menu items often, while just under seven percent said they never tried new items on the menu. Meanwhile, an opinion shared by an overwhelming number of consumers in the U.S. was that
barefoot customers should not be allowed in restaurants, with 75 percent saying so. So, what are the key takeaways for U.S. restaurant owners? Ditch the QR codes and keep the shoes.
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