Plant-based is becoming the new norm at restaurants across the country. A Gallup Poll in 2018 found that 5% of Americans were vegetarian. That number is likely much higher today. Many more Americans who aren't necessarily vegetarian have adopted primarily plant-based diets.
There's no question that the plant-based food trend is here to stay, and restaurants are taking notice.
Plant-Based is One of the Latest Food Trends in Restaurants
As more Americans adopt a plant-based diet, more restaurants and popular food chains are adding plant-based menu items.
In 2022 alone, several fast-food chains have introduced new vegetarian items, including:
- Chipotle's vegan chorizo (for a limited time)
- Kentucky Fried Chicken's plant-based fried chicken
- The McDonald's McPlant meatless burger
White Castle, Burger King, Red Robin, Dave & Buster's, Cheesecake Factory, Pizza Hut, Carl's Jr., Panda Express, and Subway all have meatless options on their menus.
Restaurants and fast-food chains are stepping up to serve the growing number of vegetarians and vegans in the U.S., but it's not just the plant-based eaters who are turning to meatless options.
A 2021 Piplsay survey found that 72% of those who tried meatless options at fast-food chains were meat-eaters.
If you need more proof that plant-based options are on-trend, look no further than the plant-based foods market. Experts expect the plant-based food market to reach $162 billion by 2030, accounting for 7.7% of the global food market.
Other research has found that the number of vegan meat options on restaurant menus has increased 1,320% since the start of the pandemic.
Innovation in Plant-Based Restaurant Food Trends
As restaurants and fast food chains race to offer more plant-based options, others are looking to innovate.
Redefine Meat, an Israeli firm, is producing plant-based meats using a 3D printer. According to the firm, 3D printers allow them to better replicate the texture, smell, and flavor of the meat.
The firm's R&D team studied real cuts of meat and created an AI that observed the meat's texture to recreate it. To complete the experience, the firm uses plant-based colors to give the meat a realistic appearance, smell, and flavor.
More plant-based food innovations are inevitable, but some factors may disrupt the market, like lab-grown meat. Also known as cultured meat, lab-grown meat is grown in a lab from animal cells. In a biological sense, the meat is real, but there's less concern about contamination and no need to slaughter animals to produce it.
Undoubtedly, there will be innovations in both plant-based types of meat and in the way we produce real meat. Environment-conscious customers will turn to restaurants offering these options. Restaurants should stay on top of new developments in alternative meats to ensure they are always offering customers the best options.
Impact of Plant-Based Food in Restaurants
For many, the adoption of a plant-based diet is about more than just being healthy or protesting big age. It's about the planet. Concerns about climate change and the environmental impact of eating meat have many people across the globe moving to a mostly or fully plant-based diet.
And their efforts are working. Reports show that plant-based menu options saved more than 600,000 animals in 2021, including:
- 405,000 chickens
- 212,000 pigs
- 92,000 cows
Plant-based diets can help reduce:
- Water consumption
- Greenhouse gasses
- Land use
For restaurants, it's especially important to reduce their environmental impact. After all, food production and service accounts for nearly a third of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Incorporating more plant-based foods can help restaurants do their part to reduce their impact on the planet.
Today's consumers prefer environmentally-friendly businesses and products. For restaurants wanting to stay ahead of the competition and gain an advantage, plant-based foods are a great option. It's good for the environment, and it's good for consumers.
What's Next? Plant-Based Food Ideas for Restaurants
Restaurants considering adding more plant-based menu items have many options. Many exciting additions are coming to the world of plant-based protein to give you more flexibility in your vegetarian and vegan food options.
For example, Unlimeat, one of the top plant-based food brands in South Korea, is coming to the U.S. The meat alternative is made from oats, grains, and nuts. It's designed to taste and look like thinly sliced beef.
Unlimeat's creator, Zikooin, says the company uses ingredients that would normally be tossed in the trash because of cosmetic imperfections. They use "protein compression technology" to give their product a meaty texture. Its manufacturing process has been approved by the FDA.
New options for plant-based seafood, vegan desserts, and other meat alternatives are set to hit the market this year or in the next few years. But restaurants will need to go beyond simply adding plant-based burgers or sausage to their menus. To delight customers, restaurants will need to think outside of the box.
Some unique plant-based dishes popping up in restaurants include:
- Nachos N from Miami-based GLAM, which features cashew queso, black garlic crema, avocado mousse, pickled black beans, scallions, red onion, radish, jalapeno, and cilantro.
- Black bean and vegetable fajitas at Chilis, which features a black bean burger patty alongside roasted fresh vegetables, queso fresco, salsa and chili-lime sauce.
- Cauliflower steak at Twin Creeks Steakhouse, which is served on a bed of farro, pine nuts, Swiss chard, and apricots.
- Beet chorizo at Oxomoco. The New York-based Mexican restaurant creates its own chorizo substitute using beets.
- Jackfruit Taco at GLAM, which is topped with tofu cream, tomatillo salsa, avocado, cilantro, and red cabbage.
- Fruit Pizzettes with figs at LA's Botanica restaurant. The dish features slices of fig and passion fruit on rosemary crusts and is drizzled with honey.
Finding ways to incorporate plant-based foods in new and unusual ways will surprise and delight customers. With so many options for plant-based protein and seasonal produce, it's easier than ever for restaurants to add vegetarian and vegan items to their menus.
Final Thoughts
Plant-based foods are becoming increasingly popular among consumers, and restaurants need to continue catering to customers who prefer meatless meals. Fortunately, restaurants have many new options to allow for more creative, flavorful, and interesting plant-based dishes.