Comfort foods are perennial favorites among consumers. They often induce nostalgia, making them all the more comforting. When it comes to comfort foods, though, regionality plays a role, and some of the fastest-growing comfort foods on menus are regional items like Detroit-style pizza, which has gone up 11 points in awareness over the past 2 years (Datassential’s Consumer Preferences Platform). More familiar global items have also transitioned into American comfort foods, such as elote (Mexican-style corn, often topped with cotija cheese) and birria tacos. Operators are also getting creative with well-loved comfort foods like mac & cheese by offering plant-based twists on it or allowing customers to build their own as part of a mac & cheese bar (the latter concept is up 56% on menus over the past 12 months).
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