TREND BITES:
Indian 2.0
Why Indian Flavor is Everywhere Right Now
It's time to take a closer look at Indian cuisine's place on US foodservice menus. Just a couple years ago, there were a few popular Indian dishes piquing consumer interest. Today, operators are using well-known Indian ingredients all over their menus to add must-have global flair. Market research company Tastewise believes Indian cuisine is "rewriting the American menu in 2026." They shared that consumers are no longer viewing Indian food as an adventurous experiment but as "a cuisine they trust and return to."
What does that mean for your menu? Read on to explore why consumers are so drawn to Indian cuisine, discover how to integrate Indian ingredients and flavors into your meals, and make sure you're delivering the dining experience they're looking for.The Fundamentals of Indian-Inspired Cuisine
Before exploring new ways to use Indian cuisine in foodservice, we first need a foundation of what consumers' perception of the cuisine has been for the past few decades. Both Tastewise and CNBC discuss how Indian food had previously been a late-night takeout option in urban areas, with CNBC quoting Indian restauranteur, Chef Khanna as saying the Indian food landscape has shifted from "cheap food and curry houses" to "sophisticated sit-down establishments."
While Indian cuisine was in its "late-night takeout" phase, consumers typically stuck to butter chicken and tikka masala. Because those staple dishes became so synonymous with Indian cuisine, they've helped global flavor-seeking Americans easily transition into tasting what else the cuisine has to offer.
We published our first "Indian" Trend Bite in 2023, which covered the core spices in Indian cuisine, along with Indian street food and the basics of chaat masala. Now that foodservice has a solid knowledge of the spices and key dishes in Indian cuisine, we can add India's ingredients and flavors to just about anything.Urban Late-Night Favorites Become Foodservice Ubiquity
Indian food became so rapidly accepted by American consumers because it hits all the right notes of comfort, bold flavor, and global excitement. Its spices and earthy ingredients create a robust flavor that warms an eater's whole body, delivering comfort with an exotic, worldly feel.
India's food uses very approachable staples like rice, naan, and chicken in it's main entrees, which are familiar, filling foods to American eaters. Consumers are ready for their favorite parts of Indian cuisine—like the comfort aspect, the spice bends, and the excitement of street food—to be available everywhere. Astute operators are taking that knowledge and applying it to everyday dishes like pizzas, subs, pasta, and even salads.Easy Indian-Inspired Recipes to Try:
What's Next for Indian Flavors in Foodservice
The Indian Restaurant Association of America (IRAA) pulled together a list of rising trends they saw in Indian restaurants in 2025. Some are common across foodservice, like sustainability and experiential dining, but two stood out: "Fusion But With More Thought" and "Hyper-Regional Flavors Are Taking Over."
The IRAA thinks Butter Chicken Pizza (for which we have a recipe!) is an obvious choice for menus and that consumers are even ready for more adventurous fusion meals like "coconut curry risotto or tandoori jackfruit tacos." They also point out that chefs have stopped serving "North Indian" or "South Indian" food and instead are specifically featuring the cuisine of Indian states or tribes. Spotlight on Kerala Cuisine
The regional Indian cuisine that's suddenly gaining the most interest is Kerala, which Datassential named a "2026 Cuisine to Know." Kerala is India's southwesternmost state, with lush mountains, agriculture plantations, and miles of palm-lined beaches along the Arabian Sea. The food there utilizes the local crops, and, unlike other regions of India, Keralan cooks usually use local coconut milk instead of dairy (which appeals to dairy-free consumers).
American operators that have been adapting Kerala cuisine early are seeing success pairing it with foods familiar to their guests, like fried chicken. Our chefs made a Kerala Chicken Biryani recipe that uses our unbreaded chicken wings and Kerala's sweet additions of cashews and raisins.Fully Cooked Chicken for Easy Indian-Inspired Meals:
Put Indian Flavors to Work on Your Menu
As consumers grow more confident with Indian flavors, you have opportunities to meet demand by weaving Indian spices, sauces, and regional influences into the dishes you already serve. Start with familiar formats, build from there, and position your menu to deliver the bold, comforting flavors guests are craving.
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