A New Report Reveals Why Takeout Is Now America’s Go-To Dinner Plan

If you’d rather visit the drive-thru and have dinner at home rather than eat out, you’re not alone. 

A whopping 75% of restaurant traffic consists of takeout orders, according to a new report by the National Restaurant Association. And they better hope that food is delivered quickly: Nearly 95% of consumers deem speed as “critical” to the experience, while 90% see it as the top priority, according to the 44-page report. That figure, which includes drive-thru and pickup orders, points to customers’ evolving tastes for takeout and fast food.

The organization’s 2025 report, compiled from surveys of both consumers and restaurateurs, highlights several key trends shaping the dining industry: the growing dominance of off-premise dining, younger generations driving demand for convenience and speed, value playing a central role in consumer decision-making, and increased integration of technology in the restaurant experience.

“For many Americans, they’ve become accustomed to it,” Chad Moutray, chief economist at the National Restaurant Association, tells Food & Wine. “That convenience has become part of the overall lifestyle.” 

The National Restaurant Association’s 2025 report, compiled from the results of surveys from consumers and restaurateurs, explores the biggest trends in dining this year. 

Young diners consider eating out “essential”

Roughly half of all consumers consider takeout or drive-thru meals as “an essential part of their lifestyle,” according to the report. (In comparison, 67% of Gen Z adults identified with this statement.) On the other hand, 41% of all those surveyed expressed the same sentiment about delivery.

That sentiment is also reflected in Americans’ takeout and ordering habits. Overall, 37% of adults say they order delivery, and 47% order takeout at least once a week. However, among Gen Z and Millennials, 60% are ordering to-go more than they did a year ago. 

Restaurants are monitoring guest feedback

It might not come as a surprise that folks are searching for a good deal, especially these days. Last year’s advent of the fast food “value wars” has drawn attention to consumers’ search for the best value. 

“One of the things we’ve seen in this sector in the past year is a focus on value,” Moutray explains. “Restaurants have really stressed that they’re a good value for the money, but value isn’t just about price. Some strategies that have worked are limited-time offers, such as ‘buy one, get one free,’ or some type of value meal. Price is only part of that conversation, but I think the more interesting aspect is that value actually means different things based on the occasion.”

Consumers often view “value” as a multi-faceted consideration, as Moutray explains. For example, you might weigh the quantity of food, quality, experience, and satisfaction after a meal as important factors. Every day, though, many diners are searching for the best bang for their buck, and that means they’re taking advantage of mobile apps and loyalty points. 

Approximately 65% of drive-thru customers and 60% of delivery and takeout customers indicate that membership programs influence their choices. Additionally, about 80% of consumers report using “Buy One, Get One” deals, combos, and other promotions. 

Technology is taking over the experience

Takeout is getting a high-tech twist — and consumers are eager for it. When it comes to artificial intelligence, 50% of Gen Z adults and 52% of Millennials say they’d be open to using an AI-powered assistant. 

“The pandemic accelerated trends that were already in place,” Moutray says. “The big switch there is the increase in technology. Looking back at the past decade, imagine what we can do today that we couldn’t five or 10 years ago.” 

We’ll have to keep an eye on where the industry goes from here.