In 2026, elevating familiar favorites along with new spins on emerging trends will be key to foodservice success, according to market research firm Datassential’s 2026 Trends Report.
The company released a list of 10 “new classics,” which are foods, flavors and beverages that are “now cemented as a must-have for many consumers and can be leveraged across segments and retailers.”
“The New Classics of 2026 aren’t about reinvention from scratch—they’re about recontextualization. By applying new formats, textures, mashups and cross-category thinking, operators can transform familiar favorites into buzzworthy menu moments. And particularly in an era when consumers’ wallets may be thin, it’s a good time to ensure that classic flavors are represented, because classic often spells comfort,” the company said.
One flavor that Datassential highlighted is lemon pepper. According to Datassential, 66% of consumers like or love lemon pepper—and the flavor is moving beyond wings. The seasoning is one of “the most adaptable 2026 food and beverage trends,” and the company suggested making lemon pepper fries, popcorn shrimp, roasted vegetables or dusting it on potato chips or bar snacks.
The market research company also named butter chicken as “one of the standout 2026 food trends,” stating that the globally-inspired sauce is predicted to grow by 29% on menus over the next four years. Innovations with the signature flavor could include butter chicken flatbreads or naan pizzas, butter chicken tacos with slaw or fried chicken sandwiches finished with butter chicken sauce.
The Mexican dish birria was also named a “new classic,” with Datassential noting that the “mashup-friendly dish exemplifies the fusion approach defining 2026 food trends.” The dish has predicted growth of 118% on menus over the next four years after growing by 350% in the last four, according to Datassential’s Menu Trends tool. Possible dishes that will be on menus in 2026 include birria pizzas, burgers or quesadilla hybrids; birria ramen or birria grilled cheese; and possible protein swaps like chicken or mushroom birria.
Read more about global foodservice trends in the November 2025 issue of NACS Magazine.
Some prominent trends from the last couple of years are likely to grow and expand in 2026, with Datassential highlighting hot honey and ube as phenomenon’s that will dominate both 2026 food and beverage trends.
McCormick named black currant as its 2026 flavor of the year in its 2026 Flavor Forecast. The company also named attainable opulence, simple to spectacular and sauce from somewhere as trends for the upcoming year.
Meanwhile, T. Hasegawa’s 2026 Food and Beverage Flavor Trends Report named dark sweet cherry as its 2026 Flavor of the Year