The dining industry in 2025 is steady overall, but shifting consumer habits are reshaping how, when, and where people eat out. From fine dining and coffee growth to fast casual expansions and the continued pull of suburban markets, here’s a snapshot of what’s happening this year.

Between January and May 2025, dining traffic was down just 0.5% year-over-year. Western states like Utah, Idaho, and Nevada saw modest gains, while much of the Midwest and South posted declines, with Washington, D.C. seeing the sharpest drop at -3.6%.

Fine dining and coffee chains led growth, with visits up 1.3% and 2.6%, though both categories saw fewer visits per location, showing that expansion—not fuller venues—drove the gains. Casual dining slipped 1.5% overall but stabilized at existing locations, while fast casual edged up slightly and QSR dipped.

Affluent consumers are fueling resilient categories. Fine dining’s median household income is now nearly $98K, above pre-pandemic levels, reflecting strong demand for premium experiences. Fast casual and coffee, meanwhile, broadened their reach but saw slightly lower median incomes.

Suburban dining is shifting, too. Fine dining has gained more suburban guests since 2019, suggesting destination-worthy meals closer to home, while coffee chains lost some commuter-driven visits. QSR, casual dining, and fast casual remain steady in their everyday appeal.

Consumer behavior follows clear patterns: coffee dominates mornings, fast casual leads at lunch, casual dining takes afternoons, fine dining owns dinner, and QSR captures late-night cravings. Weekdays belong to limited-service dining, while weekends favor full-service. Visit times are shorter overall, except in fine dining, where diners are lingering longer, treating meals as experiences rather than quick bites.

Key Takeaways

Traffic is steady overall.

Fine dining and coffee are growing, largely from expansion.

Higher-income diners are driving resilient categories.

Remote work continues to shape suburban dining.

Each segment owns its time of day.

Convenience rules, but fine dining thrives on experience.

The picture is clear: restaurants aren’t just about food, but about how consumers want to spend their time.

🔗 https://go.placer.ai/library/out-of-home-dining-in-2025-performance-consumer-trends

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