June 24, 2025 – The world is a flavorful place, isn’t it? Consumers today are more fearless and flavor-curious than ever before with a special appreciation for other cultures and an appetite for authentic cuisine. With 22% of Gen Zers having at least one immigrant parent1, many have grown up in multicultural households with firsthand exposure to global influences. Gen Alpha is believed to be even more diverse than Gen Z, too. But even for those who didn’t grow up in a multicultural household, social media has granted them a front row seat to the cultural magnetism of diverse food experiences. So, how do these global trends translate onto American menus?
With record-setting diversity, devotion to discovery, and love for shared food experiences, global flavors are more than just a fleeting fad. They’re table stakes for a new era of American dining. Here are a few of the global regions you need to know that are winning with consumers and impacting flavor trends.
It’s comforting, cost-effective, accessible, and so dang good. As one of the top global flavor trends, Mexican cuisine checks all of Gen Z’s boxes, which explains its proliferation across restaurant menus and grocery aisles in recent years. In fact, Millennials and Gen Z are the first generations in decades to say they prefer Mexican food over Italian cuisine… that’s a global shift worth double-dipping into.
🧡 82% of Gen Zers love/like Mexican food compared to 80% who love/like American food.2
🌮 48% of all U.S. restaurant menus currently offer Mexican dishes.3
🌯 Burrito Bowls were the #1 most ordered item on Uber Eats in 2024.4
🇲🇽 YouTube searches for “real authentic Mexican food” have increased 850% since March 2025.5
🍋🟩 Jalapeño Ranch, Lime Aioli, and Habanero are all projected to grow more than 30% on Mexican food menus over the next 4 years.6
While Gen Zers may prefer Mexican, Italian has become a nostalgic comfort food to Gen Z and still holds a special place in their hearts and stomachs. So, pass the breadsticks and pour the limoncello. With Gen Z at the table, Italian is here to stay.
🧡 80% of Gen Zers love/like Italian food.2
🇮🇹 37% of Gen Zers say they’ve had Italian food many times.2
🍝 Ginger (+20%), Parmesan Garlic (+19%), and Brown Butter (+16%) are some of the fastest growing pasta sauce flavors from the past 12 months.6
🧀 Cacio e Pepe (+35%) and Parmesan Crusted Chicken (+33%) are some of the fastest growing Italian entrees on restaurant menus from the past 12 months.6
Mediterranean cuisine has become a favorite among Gen Z, celebrated for its health benefits and fresh, versatile flavors from countries like Greece, Lebanon and Spain. This trend has fueled viral diets and the rise of fast-casual chains like CAVA, who are thriving in a competitive environment by offering globally-inspired, customized, and approachable food experiences that cater to Gen Z’s adventurous tastes.
🧡 73% of Gen Zers love/like Mediterranean food.2
😋 27% of Gen Zers say they’ve had Spanish food many times.2
🔎 YouTube searches for “Mediterranean recipes” are up 50% since March 2025.5
🌹 Over the next 4 years, popular Mediterranean flavors like rosewater (29%), zhug (75%), saffron (24%) and harissa (23%) are all anticipated to grow on U.S. restaurant menus.6
As Gen Z’s appetite for Korean pop culture grows, so does the popularity of Korean food, especially on social media. Brands brave enough to appeal to Gen Z’s fearless flavor palates and tap into Korean food trends will win big with these virtual globe trotters.
🧡 45% of Gen Zers love/like Korean food compared to 39% of the general population.2
📈 Korean concepts are anticipated to grow 10% on U.S. restaurant menus through 2029.3
😯 52% of Gen Zers are familiar with Korean Corn Dogs, and 27% have tried them.2
🍗 Korean BBQ is one of the fastest growing BBQ styles increasing 30% on U.S. restaurant menus over the last 4 years.6
While Japanese flavors and concepts are found on nearly half of all U.S. restaurant menus today, it’s still not enough for Gen Z. This generation is responsible for putting the rich, bold flavors of East Asian cuisine on the map and will continue driving their rise through menu adoption cycles.
🧡 63% of Gen Zers love/like Japanese food compared to 58% of the general population.2
👀 69% of TikTok users looking at #JapaneseFood content are ages 18-24.7
🍣 35% of Gen Z consumers want more Japanese food options from deli-prepared foods and bakeries.8
🇯🇵 Asian countries lead the world in sauce consumption per capita. The average volume per person in Japan was 132 LBs compared to 26 LBs per person in the U.S. 9
Grab your flavor passport and take a trip through The NEXT Flavor Report to uncover the countries and cultures inspiring Gen Z’s boldest cravings, and the global flavor trends today’s operators should be tapping into for tomorrow’s menu innovation.
1 – Pew Research Center, What We Know About Gen Z So Far, May 2020
2 – Datassential, Consumer Preferences, June 2025
3 – Datassential, SNAP, June 2025
4 – Uber, The 2024 Uber Eats Cravings Report, November 2024
5 – Google Trends, June 2025
6 – Datassential, MenuTrends, June 2025
7 – TikTok, Creative Center, June 2025
8 – Food Navigator, From ‘crookies’ to sushi: What Gen Z consumers want out of bakery, deli options, September 2024
9 – Vox, America’s spicy, smoky, sweet sauce obsession, explained, September 2024
