Smash Burgers, Comfort Foods Drive 2026 Trends

Smash burgers, global comfort foods and value mark a few overall menu trends coming in 2026. The National Restaurant Association pointed to these trends and more in its 2026 What’s Hot Culinary Forecast, released Nov. 19. The report reflects insights from hundreds of culinary professionals surveyed in October.

Because menu dictates equipment choices, here’s a look at the 2026 Top 10 overall trends, courtesy of the association:

1. Local sourcing
2. Comfort foods
3. Value menus and options
4. Smash burgers
5. Clear menu labeling, icons and cues
6. Allergen-friendly menus
7. Global comfort foods
8. “Cleaner” recipes with fewer additives and dyes
9. Proteins as add-ons
10. Compostable and reusable packaging

“Comfort and value are the twin pillars shaping America’s menus right now,” says Chad Moutray, chief economist for the association, in the release. “Consumers are seeking meals that deliver joy and familiarity without breaking the bank, and operators are meeting that ask with creative takes on comfort classics and sourcing local ingredients that make healthy choices easy.”

Moutray will share more details about the future of foodservice in a presentation at FER’s Multiunit Foodservice Equipment Symposium, taking place in Clearwater Beach, Fla., this February. Operators can register by clicking here. Additionally, to download the association’s 2026 What’s Hot Culinary Forecast, click here.