Limited-Service Restaurants NAICS 722513

Dec 14, 2025 - Rise in Solo Dining

• More people are opting out of group meals in favor of dining alone, according to Yum! Brands' new food trends report. The report found that solo orders have increased 52% since 2021, to make up nearly half (47%) of all dining occasions at quick service restaurants (QSR), compared to 31% in 2021. Moreover, 68% of solo diners choose not to take advantage of a deal and over half spend $10–$30 or more during a visit, suggesting diners are willing to pay more when dining alone. As a result, foods once meant for social gatherings, like pizza, are being redesigned for solo diners (personal pizzas), reflecting a shift toward food that matches individual identity and mood, per the report. Yum! Brand's research also shows that 24% of solo diners are dining out to satisfy a craving.
• A look ahead to 2026 at November’s Restaurant Finance & Development Conference forecasts the bifurcated restaurant market that emerged in 2025 will persist next year, exacerbated by ongoing economic uncertainty, Restaurant Dive reports. The most recent restaurant earnings season saw a stark divide between consumer segments that are still spending liberally, and those that have pulled back on discretionary expenditures. As consumer spending diverges, brands that deliver clear value or appeal to higher-income diners are outperforming those reliant on more price‑sensitive segments. Restaurants with weak value perception are seeing traffic decline, while chains that balance everyday value with quality are reporting stronger sales and margins. Intense competition around the $10–$12 price point means operators must sharpen pricing strategies and control costs to capture value‑oriented diners, said restaurant executives, adding that brands that stay focused on core operational excellence rather than over‑investing in tech experimentation are better positioned to retain customers.

• International restaurant chains are coming to America, infusing the restaurant sector with fresh tastes, Nation’s Restaurant News reports. While it may seem like an unlikely time to test a US market beset with rising labor and food costs and shrinking consumer spending, foreign chains view the move as a kind of stress test and validation for their brands, according to NRN. The sector is seeing especially strong momentum from Asian brands, Chinese and Korean in particular, importing bold formats that feel fresh in the US but are mature at home. For example, Lotteria, one of the most famous South Korean quick-service chains, brought its shrimp burgers and shaker fries to California for the first time this year. Another newcomer is Canada’s Big Way Hot Pot, which opened its first four US locations in Los Angeles this summer and is planning to add at least 10 more nationally, per NRN.
• Younger consumers are cutting back on spending, with restaurants among the first to feel the impact, two new studies show. According to the semi-annual Taking Stock with Teens survey, teens’ annual spending has declined by 6% year-over-year and is 1% below the average spending levels from the past 10 years. Also, research from investment bank TD Cowen finds that consumers ages 18-34 are under more pressure than the average consumer. The pullback among younger consumers, who make up about 40% of all restaurant guests, has major implications for the industry, especially the fast-casual segment, which relies heavily on younger guests. Restaurants are attempting to “future proof” their positioning by rebranding or launching youth-focused loyalty, digital, or campus initiatives to maintain engagement with younger audiences. Operators may need to rethink marketing, menu pricing/value tiers, loyalty incentives, and targeting to shore up revenue during lean times.