Business Planning

98 Restaurant Industry Statistics You Should Know in 2025

The Rezku Team

May 29, 2025

The U.S. restaurant industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace.

With major shifts in consumer behavior, technology integration, and labor trends, understanding the latest restaurant industry data is more crucial than ever.

This guide explores current trends, growth statistics, revenue benchmarks, and fun facts about restaurants that shed light on where the industry is headed—and what that means for restaurant financing and your business.

Check Out These Restaurant Industry Statistics & Trends for 2025

From labor shortages to digital transformation, 2025 is proving to be a landmark year for the food service sector. The following statistics are drawn from the National Restaurant Association’s State of the Restaurant Industry 2025 report, offering authoritative insights into the state of the industry, consumer behavior, technology adoption, and more.

Consumer Behavior & Preferences

• 49% of restaurants intend to invest in contactless ordering and payment options in 2025.

• 75% of delivery customers say tech-enabled ordering and payment are important when choosing a restaurant.
• 65% of baby boomers say tech-enabled ordering and payment are important for delivery orders.
• 80% of adults say being part of a loyalty program influences where they choose to dine.
• 51% of consumers say ordering takeout is an essential part of their lifestyle.
• 61% of restaurant operators offer loyalty programs.

• 82% of consumers say BOGO (buy-one-get-one) offers would influence their choice of a full-service restaurant.
• 47% of limited-service diners say experience matters more than price.

• 66% of consumers want more takeout options in their area.
• 61% of delivery customers say loyalty program membership influences their restaurant choice.
• 54% of quick-service customers say loyalty programs influence their dining choices.
• 41% of full-service customers say loyalty program membership affects their restaurant choice.
• 83% of millennials would take advantage of ordering larger portion sizes at the regular price.
• 85% of Gen X consumers say value combo meals influence their limited-service dining choices.
• 44% of consumers say having kid-friendly menu options is important at limited-service restaurants.
• 61% of Gen Z adults say ease of ordering is a top priority at limited-service restaurants.
• 53% of consumers say food presentation affects their perception of quality at full-service restaurants.
• 25% of restaurant operators say they are reducing portion sizes to manage costs.
• 75% of limited-service customers would order larger portion sizes if they were the same price.
• 66% of consumers would opt for meal bundles that include an entrée, side, and drink.
• 44% of consumers say they’re more likely to choose a restaurant that offers flexible portion sizes.
• 26% of restaurant operators say more customers are ordering smaller meals to save money.

• 46% of restaurants plan to update or enhance their loyalty programs in 2025.

Demographics & Segments

• 71% of Gen Z adults say they would participate in a house account program.
• 80% of millennials would use an all-you-can-drink offer at a limited-service restaurant.
• 21% of Gen X consumers say menu variety is a top concern at full-service restaurants.

Economic Impact

• 92% of all restaurants listed the broader economy as a significant challenge in 2024.

• 95% of restaurants reported inflation as a significant business challenge in 2024.
• 48% of restaurant operators expect more intense competition in 2025 compared to 2024.

Experience & Customer Expectations

• 73% of consumers list cleanliness as one of their top three priorities when visiting a full-service restaurant.
• 50% of consumers say food quality is one of their top three priorities when dining at full-service restaurants.
• 25% of baby boomers say a quiet atmosphere is a top experience factor at full-service restaurants.
• 18% of millennials consider a unique or trendy ambiance a top factor in full-service dining.

• 89% of full-service restaurant customers want value options that don’t sacrifice quality.

Financials & Revenue

• 53% of restaurant operators were still carrying debt accumulated since the start of the pandemic.
• 95% of restaurants cite food costs as a significant challenge in 2024.
• 41% of restaurant operators expect their sales to be higher in 2025 than in 2024.
• 81% of restaurants cited credit card processing fees as a major challenge.

• 59% of restaurant operators say higher operating costs will have the greatest impact on their 2025 business strategy.
• 31% of restaurant operators plan to increase menu prices to offset rising costs.
• 22% of restaurant operators are substituting ingredients to control food costs.
• 18% of restaurant operators plan to reduce operating hours in 2025 to cut costs.
• 43% of restaurant operators say the cost of food is the biggest area impacting profitability.

Labor & Employment

• 96% of full-service restaurants cited labor costs as a major challenge in 2024.
• 17% of full-service restaurants report labor costs as the top challenge for 2025.
• 38% of Gen Z adults say staff friendliness is a top experience factor in full-service dining.
• 30% of restaurant operators say labor is the most impactful cost category for their profitability.

Marketing & Promotions

• 47% of operators plan to add new discounts, deals, or value promotions in 2025.
• 82% of full-service diners say they would use discounts for dining on less busy days of the week.
• 81% of consumers would take advantage of time-based discounts at full-service restaurants.
• 78% of consumers are likely to use discounted add-ons like dessert or drinks at full-service restaurants.
• 62% of adults say they would likely join a meal subscription program for discounted meals.
• 86% of full-service diners say they would respond to real-time promotional offers.

• 78% of millennials say they would use discounted add-ons like desserts or drinks.
• 93% of consumers would take advantage of full-service restaurant offers if they included BOGO deals.

Operations & Strategy

• 29% of restaurant operators plan to open new locations in 2025.
• 11% of restaurant operators say declining traffic will shape their 2025 strategy most.
• 16% of restaurant operators will limit the number of open service days per week in 2025.
• 15% of restaurant operators plan to reduce seating capacity in 2025

Technology & Innovation

• 40% of restaurants plan to invest in smartphone app development in 2025.
• 28% of restaurants expect to implement artificial intelligence (AI) in 2025.
• 22% of restaurant operators are looking to use augmented reality for training or marketing.
• 52% of restaurants plan to upgrade or implement new POS systems in 2025.
• 30% of restaurants are investing in self-order or self-pay tech like kiosks or tablets.
• 70% of operators with loyalty programs said it helped boost customer traffic.
• 87% of consumers say they would use daily specials or limited-time offers at reduced prices at full-service restaurants.
• 61% of restaurant operators said their restaurant had a decline in customer traffic between 2023 and 2024.
• 39% of restaurant operators said their business was not profitable in 2024.

• 83% of restaurants said energy or utility costs were a significant challenge in 2024.
• 50% of restaurants said bringing back repeat customers was a significant challenge.
• 58% of Gen X customers prioritize wait times at limited-service restaurants.
• 45% of restaurant operators say building and maintaining sales volume is their top challenge for 2025.
• 79% of Gen Z adults say the option to get a daily special is important at limited-service restaurants.
• 78% of baby boomers find real-time promotional offers at full-service restaurants appealing.
• 93% of full-service restaurants that take reservations allow booking through third-party websites or apps.
• 14% of operators say supply chain disruptions will most influence their 2025 business strategy.
• 46% of restaurant operators rank labor availability as a top concern for their 2025 strategy.
• 24% of operators expect technology adoption to play a significant role in their 2025 strategy.
• 17% of operators consider changing consumer behavior a main factor in shaping their 2025 plan.
• 67% of consumers say the availability of healthy menu options is important at limited-service restaurants.
• 42% of consumers consider the availability of vegetarian or vegan options when choosing a limited-service restaurant.

• 62% of consumers say time-based deals (e.g., happy hour) increase the likelihood of visiting a restaurant.
• 17% of operators say more consumers are skipping appetizers or drinks to reduce spending.

Other Restaurant Industry Statistics

• 90% of fine dining operators say on-premises business will be more important than off-premises in 2025.
• 60% of quick-service restaurants prioritize on-premises business over off-premises in 2025.

• 95% of restaurant operators say consumers are more value-conscious than before.
• 86% of consumers say they would use value or combo meals at reduced prices at full-service restaurants.
• 70% of consumers would use all-you-can-eat offers at full-service restaurants.
• 56% of adults say they would likely join a house account program with bonus credit.
• 93% of full-service restaurants that take reservations allow customers to book by phone.
• 57% of full-service restaurants accept online reservations via their website.
• 79% of restaurants struggled to attract new customers in 2024.
• 81% of consumers expect their personal finances to improve or stay the same over the next year.
• 32% of consumers rank service speed among their top three priorities at limited-service restaurants.
• 36% of restaurant operators say they will streamline menu offerings in 2025.
• 43% of restaurant operators say consumers are more focused on price in 2025 compared to 2024.
• 12% of restaurant operators report customers sharing meals more frequently in 2025.
• 10% of restaurants say customers are choosing cheaper menu items more often.

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Rezku offers cloud-based POS solutions tailored for restaurants of all sizes, helping you track restaurant sales data, streamline orders, and improve customer loyalty with ease.

Want to see how Rezku can help your restaurant stay ahead in 2025? Looking for the best POS system for restaurants? Book a free demo today and explore the tools trusted by thousands of restaurants nationwide.

FAQs

How many restaurants are there in the world?

There are millions of restaurants globally, though estimates vary. As of 2025, the number is estimated at over 15 million worldwide, with significant growth in Asia-Pacific and North America.

How many restaurants are there in the US?

There are over 1 million restaurant locations in the U.S. in 2025, including independent and chain-operated full-service and limited-service establishments.

What is the average number of employees in a restaurant in the US in 2025?

Most U.S. restaurants employ fewer than 50 people. The average full-service restaurant employs around 25–40 staff members, depending on size and hours of operation.

What percentage of restaurants are successful?

Roughly 60% of new restaurants survive the first year, and about 20% remain in operation after five years. Success rates improve significantly with strong management, location, and financial planning.

What is the biggest problem in the restaurant industry?

The restaurant industry outlook for 2025 and beyond is that labor shortages and rising food and supply costs are the most pressing challenges facing restaurants. Operators are also managing tight margins and increasing competition from delivery-only concepts.

Is the restaurant industry oversaturated?

While competitive, the industry is not oversaturated across all categories. Niche dining, mobile kitchens, and regional cuisines still offer strong market opportunities for innovation.

What is the profit margin for restaurants?

Profit margins for most restaurants average between 3% and 6%, though high-efficiency quick-service restaurants can reach up to 10% with tight cost controls.

How much money does an average restaurant make a day?

Average daily revenue varies by restaurant type and size, but a typical independent full-service restaurant might earn between $1,200 and $3,000 per day in gross sales, with higher earnings on weekends