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The Ultimate Guide to Burgers in American Foodservice Right Now

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The Ultimate Guide to Burgers in American Foodservice Right Now
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The Ultimate Guide to Burgers in American Foodservice Right Now

Over 2 million burger dishes exist on US menus at 346K restaurants. In this article, we explore the top burger dishes in US restaurants right now, based on delivery and on-premise menus and consumer conversations on social media.

5 min

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Today's Top 5 Trending Burgers in Foodservice

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Unlike other well-established foodservice categories, the classic "rulers" of the burger category actually continue to grow significantly over time in consumer interest. This indicates that consumer cravings for the classics remains strong. However, there are variations on the theme that are attracting increased interest as well, marking an opportunity for foodservice innovation: read on for a look at those dishes later on.

The following burger concepts are the top established varieties that are also growing in consumer interest.

Cheeseburger (+31% YoY)

The irresistible combination of a juicy beef patty topped with melted cheddar cheese and sandwiched between a soft, toasted bun, cheeseburgers are increasing in consumer interest in the foodservice space +31% YoY. They are also one of the most common delivery options; 24% of all restaurants that offer delivery offer cheeseburgers on their delivery menus.

Burger (+26% YoY)

A timeless American classic: the hamburger category is simple yet satisfying, and is increasing +26% YoY in consumer interest in restaurants. 55% of American restaurants offer burgers on the menu, with a surprising 30% of Italian restaurants offering the same. 37.5% of restaurants on delivery apps offer burgers as part of their delivery menus, making it one of the most ubiquitous delivery offerings nationwide.

Bacon Burgers (+19% YoY)

A bacon burger takes the classic hamburger to new heights by adding crispy bacon to a juicy beef patty, creating a flavorful combination that's hard to resist. Consumer interest in bacon burgers at restaurants is up +19% YoY. It ranks in the top 3 delivery options within the burger category, with 26% of delivery menus listing bacon burgers.

Sliders (+16% YoY)

Sliders offer a miniaturized twist on the classic hamburger, featuring small, flavorful patties tucked into soft buns, with various iterations for pairings, condiments, and even meat base making it a versatile dish. Despite consumer interest in sliders in the restaurant context growing +16% YoY, only 5% of delivery menus offer sliders — indicating an opportunity for restaurants to fill in the delivery gap and attract more business.

Turkey Burgers (+16% YoY)

Turkey burgers are a lean and flavorful choice, featuring a juicy patty made from ground turkey, seasoned to perfection, and served on a bun, providing a delicious and healthier option for burger lovers. Consumers respond to this healthier option positively, with +16% growth in consumer interest in the restaurant context. However, like sliders, the delivery space is slow to respond to this interest with only 5.4% of delivery menus offering turkey burgers.

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The above reflect the best-selling burger dishes on foodservice menus in the US

Today’s Top 5 Most Popular Burger Dishes in US Foodservice

With so much talk about burgers, it’s worthwhile knowing what varieties of these juicy favorites are attracting consumer attention. The following options reflect the current trends in the burger space, meaning the burger dishes that are growing the fastest in consumer interest. Note that this list captures trends in both foodservice and home cooking, a useful metric to understand consumer tastes in addition to consumer behavior.

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What About Delivery Platforms and Cuisines?

According to our data, 37% of delivery menus include burger dishes. Grubhub and DoorDash go head-to-head as the platforms including restaurants offering the most popular burger concepts; Grubhub has the highest penetration of turkey burgers and cheeseburgers, while DoorDash rules for sliders and bacon burgers.

What's the Deal with Plant-based Burgers?

Only 3% of restaurants that already sell burgers generally also sell Beyond Burgers, while that number drops to 1% for Impossible burgers. However, of the restaurants that sell either, upwards of 97% are offered on delivery. These restaurants have made the decision to make their plant-based burger alternatives available on all channels to tap into consumer need. It remains to be seen what will happen in this category moving forward; interest in plant-based burgers in restaurants is down 33% YoY.

What is The Average Price of Burgers in the US?

The average price of burger dishes in the US varies depending on the cuisine of the restaurant and the specific dish. On average, burger dishes cost around $10, with some higher-end dishes, like those at French restaurants on average, costing upwards of $17.

Finally, what condiments can we expect to see on burgers?

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Mayo, aioli, jam, ranch, and mustard are the most established condiments in consumer discussions of burgers. However, several exciting newcomers are making waves with high growth rates in consumer interest in the foodservice space:

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By collecting and analyzing the data behind millions of moments of consumption, we provide real-time insights on food and beverage trends and consumer behavior across the landscape of food and beverage innovation. We analyze data from 830K+ restaurants, 10M dishes, 9M consumers, and 71M social media posts to bring the freshest data on the pulse of foodservice, home cooking, and more.

To learn more about the intersection of food data and AI, email us at info @ tastewise.io

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