Eating Trends: Restaurant Use in The US

This Eating Trends report provides a topline data overview of continuity and changes in U.S. adult (age 18+) use of restaurants, with a focus on fast-food (limited-service) and full-service (sit-down table service) chain restaurants.

The purchasing, demographic, and psychographic data presented draws on the MRI-Simmons national consumer survey series, primarily referencing the Spring 2019 survey release, but also providing historical perspective through selected data back through Spring 2009.

Covered in the report are the following topics:

Data pertaining to select top 100+ fast-food and full-service restaurant chains, including Starbucks, McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, Chick-Fil-A, Subway, Applebee's, Pizza Hut, Olive Garden, IHOP, and Popeyes, among others
Analysis of consumer use of fast-food and full-service restaurants
Spending and expenditure by U.S. adults at restaurants
Frequency eating food from restaurants
Demographic analysis of consumers more likely than average to be patrons of specific restaurants and to purchase specific types of food
Eating tendencies alone and with others
Use of restaurant coupons
Use of restaurant or coffeehouse gift cards
Restaurant mealtime trends - breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks
Breakout of fast-food restaurants by type of food or beverage - beef, barbecue, burgers, chicken, coffee, Tex-Mex, pizza, pasta, subs, ice cream, frozen yoghurt, smoothies, seafood, and more

1. Introduction: Scope and Methodology

2. Overview

2.1 Restaurant Usage Rates

Table Percent of Adults Who Eat at Restaurants: Fast-Food vs. Full-Service, 2009-2019

2.2 Restaurant Spending

Table Percent of Adults Using Restaurants in Last 30 Days, 2014-2019
Table Spending Levels at Fast-Food Restaurants in Last 30 Days, 2014-2019 (percent of adults)
Table Spending Levels at Full-Service Restaurants in Last 30 Days, 2014-2019 (percent of adults)

2.3 Restaurant Use For Breakfast

Table Percent of Adults Who Use Restaurants for Breakfast: Fast-Food vs. Full-Service, 2009-2019

2.4 Restaurant Use For Lunch

Table Percent of Adults Using Restaurants for Lunch, 2009-2019

2.5 Restaurant Use For Dinner

Table Percent of Adults Using Restaurants for Dinner, 2009-2019

2.6 Restaurant Use For Between-Meal Snacks

Table Percent of Adults Using Restaurants for Snacks, 2009-2019

2.7 Restaurant Use Patterns: Frequency And With Whom

Table Number of Times Restaurants Used Per Month: Fast-Food vs. Full-Service, 2014-2019 (percent of adults)
Table Using Restaurants: Alone vs. With Others, 2009-2019 (percent of adults)
Table Using Fast-Food Restaurants: Alone vs. With Others, 2009-2019 (percent of adults)
Table Using Full-Service Restaurants: Alone vs. With Others, 2009-2019 (percent of adults)

2.8 Use Of Restaurant Coupons

Table Household Use of Restaurant Coupons, 2009-2019 (percent)

2.9 Use Of Restaurant Gift Cards

Table Use of Restaurant/Coffee Shop Gift Cards in Last 12 Months, 2011-2019

2.10 Usage Trends For Leading Restaurant Chains

Table Top Fast-Food or Full-Service Chain Restaurants, 2019 (in thousands of adults)
Table Top Gainers in Consumer Base Among Fast-Food or Full-Service Chain Restaurants, 2009 vs. 2019 (in thousands of adults)

3. Fast-Food Restaurants

Fast Food Consumer Trends
Table Fast-Food Restaurant Customer Base: By Type of Food, 2019 (in thousands and percent of adults)
Table Customer Base for Leading Beef/Burger/BBQ Restaurant Chains, 2019 (in thousands and percent of adults)
Table Customer Base for Leading Fast-Food Chicken Chain Restaurants, 2019 (in thousands and percent of adults)
Table Customer Base for Leading Fast-Food Coffee/Bakery Restaurant Chains, 2019 (in thousands and percent of adults)
Table Customer Base for Leading International Fast-Food (Mexican, Tex-Mex, or Asian) Restaurant Chains, 2019 (in thousands and percent of adults)
Table Customer Base for Leading Fast-Food Pizza/Pasta Restaurant Chains, 2019 (in thousands and percent of adults)
Table Customer Base for Leading Fast-Food Sub/Sandwich Restaurant Chains, 2019 (in thousands and percent of adults)
Table Customer Basse for Leading Fast-Food Seafood Restaurant Chains, 2019 (in thousands and percent of adults)
Table Customer Base for Leading Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt, Smoothie, and Juice Restaurant Chains, 2019 (in thousands and percent of adults)

4. Full-Service Restaurants

Consumer Trends and Full-Service Restaurants
Table Customer Base for Leading Full-Service Restaurant Chains, 2019 (in thousands and percent of adults)
Table Top 10 Full-Service Restaurant Chains: Numbers of Visits in Last 30 Days, 2019 (percent of adults)

Companies Mentioned

Applebee’s
Burger King
Chick-Fil-A
IHOP
McDonald's
Olive Garden
Pizza Hut
Popeyes
Starbucks
Subway
Taco Bell

Table of Contents

Companies Mentioned

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