From a weekly fast-food fix to a monthly fine dining splurge, the numbers paint a clear picture: America’s love affair with eating out is not just back, it’s booming, reshaping our budgets, schedules, and even our social lives in its wake.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, 56% of Americans reported eating out at least once a week
- 78% of U.S. adults dined out or ordered takeout/delivery at least once in the past week in 2022
- Average American eats out 4.4 times per month according to 2023 data
- Total U.S. restaurant spending reached $1.1 trillion in 2023
- Average check per restaurant visit: $22 in 2023
- 36% of food budget spent on dining out in 2022
- Hamburgers are the top fast food choice at 37% of visits
- Chicken overtakes beef as #1 protein at QSRs in 2023
- 26% of restaurant visits for burgers in 2023
- Millennials prefer fast casual at 42% of visits
- Gen Z: 73% order delivery weekly, highest demo
- Households earning $100K+ dine out 2x more than under $50K
- COVID boosted delivery adoption by 150% among seniors
- Restaurant sales surpassed pre-pandemic by 10% in 2023
- Ghost kitchens grew 59% since 2020
Americans eat out frequently with dining habits rising steadily after the pandemic.
Demographics
1Millennials prefer fast casual at 42% of visits
Verified2Gen Z: 73% order delivery weekly, highest demo
Verified3Households earning $100K+ dine out 2x more than under $50K
Verified4Women 25% more likely to choose healthy options when eating out
Directional5Baby Boomers favor full-service 55% vs. QSR 30%
Single source6Urban dwellers eat out 28% more than rural
Verified7African Americans: 62% fast food weekly vs. 50% white
Verified8Parents with young kids: 80% dine out monthly
Verified9Seniors 65+: prefer chains 68%
Directional10High-income: 41% fine dining annually
Single source11Hispanics: Mexican cuisine 28% preference
Verified12College-educated: 15% more delivery use
Verified13Single adults dine out 1.5x more than married
Verified14Southern states: BBQ 12% higher consumption
Directional15Women account for 54% of restaurant decision-makers
Single source16Gen X: highest spend per visit $28 avg
Verified17Low-income: rely on QSR 65%
Verified18LGBTQ+ demo: 20% more vegan options
Verified19Remote workers: lunch out down 22%
Directional20Asians: 35% Asian cuisine preference
Single source21Empty nesters: dinner out up 18%
Verified22Veterans: steakhouse 10% higher visits
Verified23Students: pizza 25% of orders
Verified24Northeast: seafood 15% preference
Directional2525-34 age group: 68% weekly takeout
Single source26Blue-collar workers: QSR 72%
Verified27Pet owners: 12% more casual dining
VerifiedDemographics Interpretation
America's dining habits are a deliciously predictable map of who we are, proving that our appetites are shaped as much by life stage, wallet size, and zip code as by our taste buds.
Frequency
1In 2023, 56% of Americans reported eating out at least once a week
Verified278% of U.S. adults dined out or ordered takeout/delivery at least once in the past week in 2022
Verified3Average American eats out 4.4 times per month according to 2023 data
Verified437% of consumers eat out 2-3 times per week in 2023 survey
Directional5During 2022, full-service restaurant visits averaged 4.1 per capita monthly
Single source665% of millennials dine out weekly, per 2023 NRA report
Verified7Quick-service restaurant visits hit 85 per capita annually in 2023
Verified849% of Americans ate at a restaurant on a typical day in 2021
Verified9Post-pandemic, 62% increased frequency of eating out in 2023
Directional10Average household dines out 18.5 times per month in 2022
Single source1171% of Gen Z eat out or get delivery weekly in 2023
Verified12Limited-service visits rose 7% YoY to 92 visits per capita in 2023
Verified1344% of consumers visit casual dining monthly, per 2023 data
Verified14Americans made 58 billion restaurant visits in 2023
Directional1552% report eating out more than pre-pandemic levels in 2023
Single source16Average dine-out occasions per person: 192 annually in 2022
Verified1760% of adults had fast food weekly in 2023
Verified18Fine dining visits: 1.2 per capita monthly in 2023
Verified1968% of families with kids eat out weekly
Directional20Barbecue restaurant visits up 12% to 5.3 per capita yearly
Single source2155% dine out for lunch 1-2 times weekly
Verified22Delivery orders: 24 per person annually in 2023
Verified2347% visit pizza places weekly
Verified24Average breakfast out: 2.8 times monthly
Directional2561% increased casual dining frequency post-2022
Single source26Sports bar visits: 3.1 per capita yearly
Verified2750% eat Mexican food out monthly
Verified28Coffee shop visits: 112 per capita annually 2023
Verified2963% of Boomers dine out 1-2 times weekly
Directional30Takeout frequency: 3.5 times monthly average
Single sourceFrequency Interpretation
Americans have essentially turned restaurant tables into extensions of their kitchen counters, with statistics revealing a dining-out culture so pervasive that cooking at home now feels like the occasional special event.
Spending
1Total U.S. restaurant spending reached $1.1 trillion in 2023
Verified2Average check per restaurant visit: $22 in 2023
Verified336% of food budget spent on dining out in 2022
Verified4Fast food spending per capita: $1,376 annually 2023
Directional5Delivery fees average $4.50 per order in 2023
Single source6Casual dining spend up 8% to $299 billion in 2023
Verified728% of consumers spend over $50 per dine-out in 2023
Verified8Alcohol sales at restaurants: $42 billion in 2023
Verified9Per capita restaurant spend: $3,476 yearly 2023
Directional10Quick-service spend: $404 billion in 2023
Single source11Tip average: 19.2% on dine-in bills 2023
Verified1245% use credit cards for 75%+ of restaurant spends
Verified13Off-premise sales: $426 billion in 2023
Verified14Fine dining average check: $85 per person 2023
Directional1532% report higher spending on takeout post-pandemic
Single source16Household food-away-from-home spend: $4,079 avg 2022
Verified17Pizza segment sales: $46.8 billion 2023
Verified1851% splurge more on dining out in 2023
Verified19Bar/nightclub spend: $38 billion 2023
Directional20Lunch spend average: $14.50 per check 2023
Single source2167% of high-income spend $100+ weekly on food away
Verified22Dessert upsell adds $2.30 avg to check
Verified23Mexican food sales: $62 billion 2023
Verified2440% cut back on dining due to inflation 2023
Directional25Buffet spend down 15% to $5.2B 2023
Single source26Coffee/tea shop sales: $48 billion 2023
Verified27Average family of 4 spends $12,500 yearly on eating out
Verified28Steakhouse check avg: $62 2023
Verified2955% use loyalty apps to save on dining
Directional30Asian segment sales: $35B 2023
Single source31Fast casual spend: $32.9B 2023
VerifiedSpending Interpretation
We are collectively nourishing a trillion-dollar habit, where the average check seems modest until you realize we're ordering our financial future off the menu with a side of guilt, a generous tip, and a loyalty app chaser.
Trends
1COVID boosted delivery adoption by 150% among seniors
Verified2Restaurant sales surpassed pre-pandemic by 10% in 2023
Verified3Ghost kitchens grew 59% since 2020
Verified4Plant-based menu items up 59% in 5 years
Directional5Off-premise share now 65% of sales 2023
Single source6Labor shortages led to 25% menu simplification
Verified7Sustainability influences 55% purchase decisions 2023
Verified8AI ordering tech adopted by 40% chains
Verified9Inflation caused 18% price hikes 2022-2023
Directional10Experiential dining up 22% post-2022
Single source11Virtual brands in 30% QSR portfolios
Verified12Contactless payments 78% of transactions 2023
Verified13Health-focused menus grew 12% YoY
Verified14Social media drives 34% discovery
Directional15Alcohol-to-food ratio down to 22% from 28%
Single source16Drive-thru sales 25% of total QSR
Verified17Fusion cuisine menus up 40%
Verified18Loyalty programs boost repeat visits 20%
Verified19Vegan options in 50% casual chains
Directional20Peak dining shifted to 6-8pm by 15 mins
Single source21Curbside pickup 12% of orders 2023
Verified22Global flavors in 28% new menu items
VerifiedTrends Interpretation
The restaurant industry has emerged from the pandemic like a phoenix with a simplified menu, demanding we order via app for a contactless, plant-based fusion dish eaten in our cars at 6:15, all while feeling sustainably virtuous about it.
Types
1Hamburgers are the top fast food choice at 37% of visits
Verified2Chicken overtakes beef as #1 protein at QSRs in 2023
Verified326% of restaurant visits for burgers in 2023
Verified4Pizza accounts for 14% of all foodservice occasions
Directional5Mexican cuisine: 15% of limited-service sales 2023
Single source6Asian food visits up 9% to 12% market share
Verified7Sandwiches/burritos: 22% of QSR menu share
Verified8Italian restaurants: 10% of full-service visits
Verified9Seafood preferred by 8% for dine-out
Directional10Barbecue: 4% of total restaurant sales 2023
Single source11Vegetarian options ordered in 12% of meals 2023
Verified12Breakfast sandwiches top morning choice at 28%
Verified13Chicken wings: 7% of appetizer orders
Verified14Salads: 11% of entrees in casual dining
Directional15Tacos/burritos: 18% of Mexican visits
Single source16Steak: 6% of protein choices 2023
Verified17Sushi rolls popular in 22% of Asian visits
Verified18French fries accompany 45% of QSR meals
Verified19Pasta dishes: 9% in Italian segment
Directional20Plant-based burgers: 3% of burger sales 2023
Single source21Smoothies: 5% of beverage orders
Verified22Cheesecake Factory leads cheesecake orders at 1.2M weekly
Verified23Chicken tenders: top kid's menu item 35%
Verified24Poke bowls up 150% since 2018
Directional25Gyros in 4% of Mediterranean visits
Single source26Waffles top breakfast at 15%
Verified27Nachos: 12% of snack orders
VerifiedTypes Interpretation
America's eating-out habits reveal a nation that still craves its classic hamburger, but is increasingly adventurous, flexing its taste buds across global cuisines while keeping French fries as a non-negotiable sidekick.
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