According to a new report from Yum Brands, the parent company of Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill, solo dining orders have surged since 2021. This trend indicates a significant shift in consumer behavior, where eating alone is increasingly viewed as an act of self-care rather than a sign of loneliness.
The Statistics
The data reveals a sharp move away from group meals toward individual treats. Solo orders now comprise 47% of all fast-food trips, up from just 31% in 2021. The trend is also evident in full-service dining, where reservations for one jumped 22% in the third quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year.
Interestingly, this desire for a dining experience appears to be recession-proof. Despite rising food prices and economic fears, nearly 70% of solo diners decline to use discounts. Research suggests that roughly a quarter of these diners are simply looking to satisfy a specific craving, often for a snack or a drink.
Menu Innovations
Restaurants are adapting to this "party of one" culture by redesigning foods that were traditionally meant for sharing. Items like pizza and wings are now being sized for individuals, with personal-size pizzas testing particularly well among Gen Z and millennials in 2025.
The Reality and Future Outlook
While the rise of solo dining is notable, Toast data offers a reality check: single diners still made up less than 1% of total booked reservations in the third quarter, indicating that group meals—which are often linked to happiness—remain the dominant choice for planned outings.
However, Yum Brands predicts that dining trends in 2026 will lean heavily into personalization and "choice therapy," even for groups. Concepts like build-your-own-tacos and extensive sauce options will allow consumers to exercise control over their meals.
"In an unpredictable world, consumers are looking for small moments of control," Ken Muench, chief marketing officer of Yum Brands, told Axios. "Food has become one of the easiest places to get that back."