GITNUXREPORT 2026

Restaurants Bar Industry Statistics

The global restaurant and bar industry saw strong growth and shifting consumer trends in 2023.

Rajesh Patel

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

62% of restaurants raised prices due to labor costs in 2023.

Statistic 2

Supply chain disruptions affected 78% of operators 2023.

Statistic 3

Inflation drove 15% food cost increase 2023.

Statistic 4

35% of independent restaurants reported losses 2023.

Statistic 5

Energy costs up 20% for bars 2023.

Statistic 6

Cyberattacks hit 12% of restaurants 2023.

Statistic 7

Regulatory compliance costs $50,000 avg per restaurant 2023.

Statistic 8

48% cite labor shortages as top challenge 2023.

Statistic 9

Food waste averages 4-10% of purchases 2023.

Statistic 10

Insurance premiums rose 18% for hospitality 2023.

Statistic 11

22% of bars faced licensing issues 2023.

Statistic 12

Traffic accidents from DUIs down 5% due to bar policies 2023.

Statistic 13

Health code violations in 15% of inspections 2023.

Statistic 14

Rising rents forced 10% closures 2023.

Statistic 15

Credit card fees 3.5% of sales avg 2023.

Statistic 16

Weather events impacted 8% of seasonal revenue 2023.

Statistic 17

Menu price sensitivity caused 20% sales drop for some 2023.

Statistic 18

Utility costs 8% of operating expenses 2023.

Statistic 19

Theft and shrinkage 2% of inventory 2023.

Statistic 20

Pandemic recovery debt $100 billion industry-wide 2023.

Statistic 21

30% operators delay expansions due to economy 2023.

Statistic 22

Customer complaints up 12% on wait times 2023.

Statistic 23

Equipment breakdowns cost $5,000 avg per incident 2023.

Statistic 24

Franchise fees 6% of revenue for chains 2023.

Statistic 25

65% of U.S. adults dined out at least once per week in 2023.

Statistic 26

42% of consumers prefer quick-service restaurants for lunch in 2023.

Statistic 27

Delivery orders accounted for 15% of restaurant sales in U.S. 2023.

Statistic 28

78% of millennials visit bars monthly in 2023.

Statistic 29

Plant-based menu items ordered by 30% of diners in 2023.

Statistic 30

Average check size in U.S. full-service restaurants $25 in 2023.

Statistic 31

55% of consumers use mobile apps for restaurant orders 2023.

Statistic 32

Craft beer preferences rose to 62% among bar patrons 2023.

Statistic 33

37% of diners seek sustainable sourcing info in 2023.

Statistic 34

Weekend brunch visits up 20% post-pandemic in 2023.

Statistic 35

49% of Gen Z prefers bars with non-alcoholic options 2023.

Statistic 36

Loyalty program participation 68% among frequent diners 2023.

Statistic 37

Outdoor dining preferred by 72% in summer 2023.

Statistic 38

Alcohol-free drinks sales up 25% in bars 2023.

Statistic 39

61% of consumers check online reviews before dining 2023.

Statistic 40

Family dining out frequency 2.3 times per month 2023.

Statistic 41

Health-conscious orders 40% of fast-casual sales 2023.

Statistic 42

Late-night bar visits 35% higher on Fridays 2023.

Statistic 43

52% prefer contactless payments in restaurants 2023.

Statistic 44

Vegetarian options influence 45% of menu choices 2023.

Statistic 45

Happy hour attendance 58% weekly among adults 2023.

Statistic 46

Social media influences 67% of restaurant visits 2023.

Statistic 47

Average bar visit spend $35 per person 2023.

Statistic 48

70% of diners value speed of service in QSR 2023.

Statistic 49

Experiential dining sought by 48% of consumers 2023.

Statistic 50

41% avoid restaurants without diverse menus 2023.

Statistic 51

Coffee to-go 55% of morning purchases 2023.

Statistic 52

U.S. restaurant industry employs 15.9 million people in 2023.

Statistic 53

Bars and taverns employ 600,000 workers in U.S. 2023.

Statistic 54

Average restaurant employee wage $18.50/hour in 2023.

Statistic 55

10.5 million restaurant jobs added since 2010.

Statistic 56

Turnover rate in restaurants 73% annually 2023.

Statistic 57

Front-of-house staff 55% of total employment 2023.

Statistic 58

Kitchen staff shortages affect 82% of operators 2023.

Statistic 59

Average full-service restaurant has 45 employees 2023.

Statistic 60

65% of bars use part-time staff 2023.

Statistic 61

Training costs average $2,000 per new hire 2023.

Statistic 62

Servers earn $15.50/hour including tips 2023.

Statistic 63

Bartenders median wage $14.00/hour 2023.

Statistic 64

40% of operators report labor cost increases 2023.

Statistic 65

Multi-unit operators employ 70% of workforce 2023.

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Female employees 52% in restaurants 2023.

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Hispanic workers 22% of industry employment 2023.

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Weekend staffing 20% higher than weekdays 2023.

Statistic 69

Automation reduces staff needs by 10% in QSR 2023.

Statistic 70

Benefits offered to 45% of hourly workers 2023.

Statistic 71

Overtime hours average 5 per week per employee 2023.

Statistic 72

Chefs and head cooks 400,000 employed 2023.

Statistic 73

Hosts/hostesses 250,000 jobs 2023.

Statistic 74

Dishwashers 500,000 employed 2023.

Statistic 75

Managers 1.2 million in industry 2023.

Statistic 76

Labor costs 30% of total expenses 2023.

Statistic 77

Shift scheduling software used by 60% 2023.

Statistic 78

Average restaurant operates 12 hours/day 2023.

Statistic 79

Food costs average 28% of sales 2023.

Statistic 80

25% of restaurants closed temporarily due to staffing 2023.

Statistic 81

U.S. restaurant sales projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2028.

Statistic 82

Bar industry CAGR 6.8% to 2030 globally.

Statistic 83

Delivery market to grow 12% annually to $500 billion by 2027.

Statistic 84

AI menu optimization adoption 40% by 2025.

Statistic 85

Ghost kitchens to represent 20% of sales by 2027.

Statistic 86

Sustainable packaging 80% standard by 2030.

Statistic 87

Contactless tech in 90% of restaurants by 2025.

Statistic 88

Plant-based sales to double to $20 billion by 2027.

Statistic 89

Robotics in kitchens 25% adoption by 2028.

Statistic 90

Global restaurant market $4.2 trillion by 2027.

Statistic 91

Non-alcoholic beverages 30% of bar sales by 2030.

Statistic 92

VR dining experiences in 10% of upscale by 2028.

Statistic 93

Labor force to stabilize with 5% growth to 2028.

Statistic 94

Off-premise sales 25% of total by 2027.

Statistic 95

Craft spirits market $25 billion by 2028.

Statistic 96

Personalization via apps 70% consumer expectation 2027.

Statistic 97

Energy-efficient tech saves 15% costs by 2025.

Statistic 98

Multi-concept venues 35% growth by 2030.

Statistic 99

Blockchain for supply chain 50% by 2028.

Statistic 100

Experiential bars 40% market share growth 2027.

Statistic 101

U.S. sales CAGR 4.5% to $1.6 trillion 2030.

Statistic 102

Voice ordering 20% of transactions by 2027.

Statistic 103

Zero-waste kitchens 60% by 2030.

Statistic 104

AR menus in 30% of casual dining 2028.

Statistic 105

Franchise growth 7% annually to 2028.

Statistic 106

Health tech integrations 50% by 2027.

Statistic 107

In 2023, the U.S. restaurant industry generated total sales of $1.1 trillion, marking a 5.4% increase from 2022.

Statistic 108

Global bar and restaurant market size reached $3.5 trillion in 2023, projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% through 2030.

Statistic 109

Full-service restaurants in the U.S. accounted for 45% of industry sales in 2023, totaling $495 billion.

Statistic 110

Quick-service restaurants generated $428 billion in sales in 2023, representing 39% of total U.S. restaurant revenue.

Statistic 111

Bar and tavern segment sales in the U.S. hit $42 billion in 2023, up 8% year-over-year.

Statistic 112

Independent restaurants contributed 52% of U.S. restaurant sales in 2023, amounting to $572 billion.

Statistic 113

Alcohol sales in U.S. restaurants and bars reached $37 billion on-premise in 2023.

Statistic 114

Fine dining segment revenue grew 12% to $120 billion globally in 2023.

Statistic 115

U.S. limited-service eating places industry revenue was $413.2 billion in 2023.

Statistic 116

Casual dining chains saw $250 billion in U.S. sales for 2023.

Statistic 117

Bar revenue from craft cocktails increased 15% to $8.5 billion in U.S. in 2023.

Statistic 118

Total U.S. foodservice sales including bars reached $1.4 trillion in 2023.

Statistic 119

European restaurant market valued at €550 billion in 2023.

Statistic 120

U.S. drinkery and bar industry revenue $48.7 billion in 2023.

Statistic 121

Fast-casual segment sales hit $32 billion in U.S. 2023.

Statistic 122

Global nightlife and bar market $1.2 trillion in 2023.

Statistic 123

U.S. restaurant industry off-premise sales $300 billion in 2023.

Statistic 124

Chain restaurants 48% of sales, $528 billion U.S. 2023.

Statistic 125

Beer sales in U.S. bars $22 billion in 2023.

Statistic 126

Wine by the glass sales $12 billion in U.S. restaurants 2023.

Statistic 127

U.S. pizzeria sales $46 billion in 2023.

Statistic 128

Steakhouse revenue $28 billion U.S. 2023.

Statistic 129

Seafood restaurant sales $18 billion U.S. 2023.

Statistic 130

Asian cuisine restaurants $150 billion U.S. sales 2023.

Statistic 131

Mexican restaurants $60 billion sales U.S. 2023.

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U.S. bar food sales $15 billion in 2023.

Statistic 133

Global fast food market $800 billion 2023.

Statistic 134

U.S. coffee shop sales $48 billion 2023.

Statistic 135

Pub revenue U.K. £25 billion 2023.

Statistic 136

U.S. buffet restaurants $10 billion 2023.

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From a staggering $1.1 trillion in U.S. restaurant sales to a global bar market set to surge past $4 trillion, the numbers paint a vivid picture of an industry that's not just recovering, but dynamically redefining how we eat, drink, and connect.

Key Takeaways

  • In 2023, the U.S. restaurant industry generated total sales of $1.1 trillion, marking a 5.4% increase from 2022.
  • Global bar and restaurant market size reached $3.5 trillion in 2023, projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% through 2030.
  • Full-service restaurants in the U.S. accounted for 45% of industry sales in 2023, totaling $495 billion.
  • 65% of U.S. adults dined out at least once per week in 2023.
  • 42% of consumers prefer quick-service restaurants for lunch in 2023.
  • Delivery orders accounted for 15% of restaurant sales in U.S. 2023.
  • U.S. restaurant industry employs 15.9 million people in 2023.
  • Bars and taverns employ 600,000 workers in U.S. 2023.
  • Average restaurant employee wage $18.50/hour in 2023.
  • 62% of restaurants raised prices due to labor costs in 2023.
  • Supply chain disruptions affected 78% of operators 2023.
  • Inflation drove 15% food cost increase 2023.
  • U.S. restaurant sales projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2028.
  • Bar industry CAGR 6.8% to 2030 globally.
  • Delivery market to grow 12% annually to $500 billion by 2027.

The global restaurant and bar industry saw strong growth and shifting consumer trends in 2023.

Challenges and Economic Impact

  • 62% of restaurants raised prices due to labor costs in 2023.
  • Supply chain disruptions affected 78% of operators 2023.
  • Inflation drove 15% food cost increase 2023.
  • 35% of independent restaurants reported losses 2023.
  • Energy costs up 20% for bars 2023.
  • Cyberattacks hit 12% of restaurants 2023.
  • Regulatory compliance costs $50,000 avg per restaurant 2023.
  • 48% cite labor shortages as top challenge 2023.
  • Food waste averages 4-10% of purchases 2023.
  • Insurance premiums rose 18% for hospitality 2023.
  • 22% of bars faced licensing issues 2023.
  • Traffic accidents from DUIs down 5% due to bar policies 2023.
  • Health code violations in 15% of inspections 2023.
  • Rising rents forced 10% closures 2023.
  • Credit card fees 3.5% of sales avg 2023.
  • Weather events impacted 8% of seasonal revenue 2023.
  • Menu price sensitivity caused 20% sales drop for some 2023.
  • Utility costs 8% of operating expenses 2023.
  • Theft and shrinkage 2% of inventory 2023.
  • Pandemic recovery debt $100 billion industry-wide 2023.
  • 30% operators delay expansions due to economy 2023.
  • Customer complaints up 12% on wait times 2023.
  • Equipment breakdowns cost $5,000 avg per incident 2023.
  • Franchise fees 6% of revenue for chains 2023.

Challenges and Economic Impact Interpretation

In 2023, restaurants and bars became a high-stakes economic experiment where the only way to survive a perfect storm of costs, crises, and complaints was to raise prices and hope customers wouldn't flee.

Consumer Behavior and Trends

  • 65% of U.S. adults dined out at least once per week in 2023.
  • 42% of consumers prefer quick-service restaurants for lunch in 2023.
  • Delivery orders accounted for 15% of restaurant sales in U.S. 2023.
  • 78% of millennials visit bars monthly in 2023.
  • Plant-based menu items ordered by 30% of diners in 2023.
  • Average check size in U.S. full-service restaurants $25 in 2023.
  • 55% of consumers use mobile apps for restaurant orders 2023.
  • Craft beer preferences rose to 62% among bar patrons 2023.
  • 37% of diners seek sustainable sourcing info in 2023.
  • Weekend brunch visits up 20% post-pandemic in 2023.
  • 49% of Gen Z prefers bars with non-alcoholic options 2023.
  • Loyalty program participation 68% among frequent diners 2023.
  • Outdoor dining preferred by 72% in summer 2023.
  • Alcohol-free drinks sales up 25% in bars 2023.
  • 61% of consumers check online reviews before dining 2023.
  • Family dining out frequency 2.3 times per month 2023.
  • Health-conscious orders 40% of fast-casual sales 2023.
  • Late-night bar visits 35% higher on Fridays 2023.
  • 52% prefer contactless payments in restaurants 2023.
  • Vegetarian options influence 45% of menu choices 2023.
  • Happy hour attendance 58% weekly among adults 2023.
  • Social media influences 67% of restaurant visits 2023.
  • Average bar visit spend $35 per person 2023.
  • 70% of diners value speed of service in QSR 2023.
  • Experiential dining sought by 48% of consumers 2023.
  • 41% avoid restaurants without diverse menus 2023.
  • Coffee to-go 55% of morning purchases 2023.

Consumer Behavior and Trends Interpretation

Americans are dining out with the strategic precision of a general, demanding speedy, plant-based lunches delivered via app, then later deploying their disposable income at bars for craft beer, all while meticulously checking online reviews to ensure the weekend brunch has enough sustainable, Instagrammable flair to justify the contactless payment.

Employment and Operations

  • U.S. restaurant industry employs 15.9 million people in 2023.
  • Bars and taverns employ 600,000 workers in U.S. 2023.
  • Average restaurant employee wage $18.50/hour in 2023.
  • 10.5 million restaurant jobs added since 2010.
  • Turnover rate in restaurants 73% annually 2023.
  • Front-of-house staff 55% of total employment 2023.
  • Kitchen staff shortages affect 82% of operators 2023.
  • Average full-service restaurant has 45 employees 2023.
  • 65% of bars use part-time staff 2023.
  • Training costs average $2,000 per new hire 2023.
  • Servers earn $15.50/hour including tips 2023.
  • Bartenders median wage $14.00/hour 2023.
  • 40% of operators report labor cost increases 2023.
  • Multi-unit operators employ 70% of workforce 2023.
  • Female employees 52% in restaurants 2023.
  • Hispanic workers 22% of industry employment 2023.
  • Weekend staffing 20% higher than weekdays 2023.
  • Automation reduces staff needs by 10% in QSR 2023.
  • Benefits offered to 45% of hourly workers 2023.
  • Overtime hours average 5 per week per employee 2023.
  • Chefs and head cooks 400,000 employed 2023.
  • Hosts/hostesses 250,000 jobs 2023.
  • Dishwashers 500,000 employed 2023.
  • Managers 1.2 million in industry 2023.
  • Labor costs 30% of total expenses 2023.
  • Shift scheduling software used by 60% 2023.
  • Average restaurant operates 12 hours/day 2023.
  • Food costs average 28% of sales 2023.
  • 25% of restaurants closed temporarily due to staffing 2023.

Employment and Operations Interpretation

The restaurant industry is a paradox of resilient growth and relentless churn, where we celebrate adding 10.5 million jobs since 2010 yet spend $2,000 each to train new hires who, statistically, are likely to leave within a year because of a system strained by an 82% kitchen staff shortage and labor costs chewing through 30% of the budget.

Future Projections and Innovations

  • U.S. restaurant sales projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2028.
  • Bar industry CAGR 6.8% to 2030 globally.
  • Delivery market to grow 12% annually to $500 billion by 2027.
  • AI menu optimization adoption 40% by 2025.
  • Ghost kitchens to represent 20% of sales by 2027.
  • Sustainable packaging 80% standard by 2030.
  • Contactless tech in 90% of restaurants by 2025.
  • Plant-based sales to double to $20 billion by 2027.
  • Robotics in kitchens 25% adoption by 2028.
  • Global restaurant market $4.2 trillion by 2027.
  • Non-alcoholic beverages 30% of bar sales by 2030.
  • VR dining experiences in 10% of upscale by 2028.
  • Labor force to stabilize with 5% growth to 2028.
  • Off-premise sales 25% of total by 2027.
  • Craft spirits market $25 billion by 2028.
  • Personalization via apps 70% consumer expectation 2027.
  • Energy-efficient tech saves 15% costs by 2025.
  • Multi-concept venues 35% growth by 2030.
  • Blockchain for supply chain 50% by 2028.
  • Experiential bars 40% market share growth 2027.
  • U.S. sales CAGR 4.5% to $1.6 trillion 2030.
  • Voice ordering 20% of transactions by 2027.
  • Zero-waste kitchens 60% by 2030.
  • AR menus in 30% of casual dining 2028.
  • Franchise growth 7% annually to 2028.
  • Health tech integrations 50% by 2027.

Future Projections and Innovations Interpretation

While the robots may be chopping vegetables and algorithms are writing menus, the future of food service is shaping up to be a wildly efficient, deeply personalized, and increasingly sober affair where your ghost kitchen burger arrives in sustainable packaging, ordered by voice to avoid contact, all while someone else dines virtually in Paris.

Market Size and Revenue

  • In 2023, the U.S. restaurant industry generated total sales of $1.1 trillion, marking a 5.4% increase from 2022.
  • Global bar and restaurant market size reached $3.5 trillion in 2023, projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% through 2030.
  • Full-service restaurants in the U.S. accounted for 45% of industry sales in 2023, totaling $495 billion.
  • Quick-service restaurants generated $428 billion in sales in 2023, representing 39% of total U.S. restaurant revenue.
  • Bar and tavern segment sales in the U.S. hit $42 billion in 2023, up 8% year-over-year.
  • Independent restaurants contributed 52% of U.S. restaurant sales in 2023, amounting to $572 billion.
  • Alcohol sales in U.S. restaurants and bars reached $37 billion on-premise in 2023.
  • Fine dining segment revenue grew 12% to $120 billion globally in 2023.
  • U.S. limited-service eating places industry revenue was $413.2 billion in 2023.
  • Casual dining chains saw $250 billion in U.S. sales for 2023.
  • Bar revenue from craft cocktails increased 15% to $8.5 billion in U.S. in 2023.
  • Total U.S. foodservice sales including bars reached $1.4 trillion in 2023.
  • European restaurant market valued at €550 billion in 2023.
  • U.S. drinkery and bar industry revenue $48.7 billion in 2023.
  • Fast-casual segment sales hit $32 billion in U.S. 2023.
  • Global nightlife and bar market $1.2 trillion in 2023.
  • U.S. restaurant industry off-premise sales $300 billion in 2023.
  • Chain restaurants 48% of sales, $528 billion U.S. 2023.
  • Beer sales in U.S. bars $22 billion in 2023.
  • Wine by the glass sales $12 billion in U.S. restaurants 2023.
  • U.S. pizzeria sales $46 billion in 2023.
  • Steakhouse revenue $28 billion U.S. 2023.
  • Seafood restaurant sales $18 billion U.S. 2023.
  • Asian cuisine restaurants $150 billion U.S. sales 2023.
  • Mexican restaurants $60 billion sales U.S. 2023.
  • U.S. bar food sales $15 billion in 2023.
  • Global fast food market $800 billion 2023.
  • U.S. coffee shop sales $48 billion 2023.
  • Pub revenue U.K. £25 billion 2023.
  • U.S. buffet restaurants $10 billion 2023.

Market Size and Revenue Interpretation

While the global market thirsts for a $3.5 trillion cocktail, America's $1.1 trillion restaurant industry proves it's still the main course, with independent spots serving over half the pie and bars toasting an 8% surge by ensuring the drinks—and the $15 billion in bar snacks—never run dry.

Sources & References