Asian cuisine is leading cultural and culinary shifts. For example, black sesame, a staple in Asian cuisine, was named as a “standout flavor” in Yelp’s 2026 Food & Drink Trends Forecast. Approximately 34 percent of new menu items launched in 2024 featured Asian-inspired flavor profiles or cross-regional blends such as Korean-Mexican tacos or Thai-Indian bowls. Consumer expectations in a couple interesting ways, explained Kitty Lu, Director of Public Affairs at Asian food delivery platform HungryPanda. “Traditionally, Chinese food has been about being affordable, fast, and accessible. But now, we’re seeing a shift, especially with dining in, towards a more high-end, exclusive experience. People are expecting that elevated feel, even from something that used to be considered ‘everyday’ food.” Authenticity is becoming super important even on the delivery front, Lu said, adding that there’s a dual trend: more premium experiences for dining in, and more authentic, region-specific flavors for delivery. “Consumers are really paying attention to where the food comes from. They used to just know hot pot as a general dish, primarily of Sichuan style, but now more people are interested in specific regional flavors. There is hot pot from Chongqing, rice noodles from Kunming in Yunnan, to name a few, so the flavors are becoming more precise and more localized. It’s not just about Chinese food in general anymore; it’s about city-level specificity.” The HungryPanda team identified four key trends shaping consumer choices: food as identity; hyper-regional cuisines; customization; and sensory maximalism. “Together, these trends reflect a shift toward…
