Every year food truck owners look at their menus and try to determine what changes need to be made to continue their success. For others their menu may not be as popular as it was the previous year so they have to reexamine what did well and what needs to be corrected. The National Restaurant Association surveyed members of the American Culinary Federation, on which food, cuisines, beverages and culinary themes will be the 2018 food trends that show up on food-service menus.
Top 2018 Food Trends
While many of you already incorporate these concepts into your food truck, for those that don’t and are looking to spice things up and increase your popularity, take a look at these finds from the NRA.
Top 10 – 2018 Food Trends
- New cuts of meat
- House-made condiments
- Ethnic inspired breakfast items
- Sustainable seafood
- Healthful kids’ meals
- Vegetable carb substitutes
- Authentic ethnic cuisine
- Ethnic condiments/spices
- Peruvian cuisine
- Housemade/artisan pickles
In addition to these food trends, we have noticed food trucks adding beverage options to their menus. For those of you interested in what you might be able to add, here are the top 2018 trends for non-alcoholic beverages.
Top 10 – 2018 Non-alcoholic Beverage Trends
- House-made/artisan soft drinks
- Cold-brew coffee
- Gourmet lemonade
- Locally/house roasted coffee
- Specialty iced tea
- Specialty teas
- Mocktails
- Kombucha
- Coconut water
- Flavored/enhanced water
RELATED: Limit Menu Offerings In Your Food Truck Menu Design
The Bottom Line
The type of food consumers eat, the flavors they crave and how they think of food is evolving, and it touches all aspects of your food truck business. Use these types of lists to keep up on the trends that could either allow your food truck to sink or swim, in the competitive mobile food industry.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on these lists? Did any of these ratings surprise you? Do you think these 2018 food trends relate to your local food truck market?
