The Blubber

According to a new report from the National Restaurant Association, a striking 75% of restaurant visits now involve takeout, highlighting a major shift in how Americans dine. That includes drive-thru and pickup orders — and speed is everything. Nearly 95% of consumers said fast service is “critical” to their experience, and 90% ranked it as their top priority.

The association’s 2025 report, drawn from surveys of both consumers and restaurant operators, outlines several major forces reshaping the industry: the continued rise of off-premise dining, growing expectations for speed and convenience from younger generations, the central importance of value in consumer choices, and deeper integration of technology in the dining experience.

“Convenience has really become ingrained in people’s lifestyles,” said Chad Moutray, the group’s chief economist, in an interview with Food & Wine.

For many Americans, takeout isn’t just an option — it’s a necessity. About 50% of consumers say drive-thru or pickup meals are “essential” to their routines. That number jumps to 67% among Gen Z adults. Meanwhile, 41% of all respondents said they felt the same way about delivery.

Ordering habits also reflect this shift. Overall, 37% of adults report ordering delivery at least once a week, while 47% get takeout weekly. Among Gen Z and Millennials, 60% say they’re ordering to-go more often than they did a year ago.

Restaurants are paying close attention to these trends — especially when it comes to consumer feedback and value. The “value wars” among fast food chains over the past year underscore how much diners are looking for a good deal.

“We’ve seen a renewed emphasis on value,” Moutray noted. “But value doesn’t just mean a lower price — it’s about the entire experience. Limited-time deals like ‘buy one, get one free’ or bundled meals have been effective. What’s really interesting is how value changes depending on the occasion. For some, it’s about savings, for others it’s about quality or convenience.”