CHICAGO, DECEMBER 12, 2023 – Today, Grubhub launches its annual retrospective, the 2023 Delivered report, which analyzes millions of orders from diners across the U.S. to uncover the biggest food and beverage trends of the year.
While last year’s biggest trend was diners seeking comfort wrapped in a warm burrito, in 2023 “doing it for the vibes” was a way of life as diners found joy in stepping out of their comfort zones and breaking conventions, such as embracing pineapple on pizza and ordering salads with a side of fries.
Let’s Unwrap the Top Vibes that Brought Joy to Diners in 2023
IT’S GIVING FIRE: SCOVILLE SCALES WENT OFF THE CHARTS
In 2023, over 53 MILLION items were ordered with added spice. Classic favorites like Sriracha were added over 91,000 times, and buffalo chicken wings came in first as the most ordered wing flavor followed by lemon pepper, BBQ, Teriyaki and Garlic Parmesan.
Top 5 Spicy Dishes Ordered in 2023
- Spicy potato soft tacos
- Spicy chicken sandwich
- Spicy tuna roll
- Hot and sour soup
- Drunken noodles
Fun chicken wing fact: Flats remain on top, being ordered 10 times more than drums.
IT’S GIVING FIZZ: WORK BREAKS HIT DIFFERENT WITH A DIET SODA
The #dietcokebreak trended with over 43 million views on TikTok, and people rushed to Grubhub to get their fix with in-office orders of Diet Coke increasing by 17% in 2023.
Top 5 Sodas Ordered in 2023:
- Diet Coke
- Coke
- Sprite
- Dr. Pepper
- Ginger Ale
IT’S GIVING MIDNIGHT OIL: CAFFEINE CRAVINGS WENT AFTER HOURS
People were winding up, not winding down this year with over 10 MILLION coffee beverages ordered after 5 p.m.
Top 5 Coffee Beverages Ordered in 2023:
- Iced Coffee
- Caramel Frappe
- Mocha Frappe
- Cappuccino
- Hot Coffee
IT’S GIVING MOO: REAL MILK CAME BACK WITH REAL DRIP
This year, cows had a comeback as dairy in coffee beverages had a 20% increase and whole milk took the lead among the top 3 dairy orders followed by 2% milk, and chocolate milk.
IT’S GIVING CARBS: FRENCH FRIES BROUGHT BALANCE TO SALADS
Over 600,000 customers ordered their salad paired with french fries in 2023. While prior years were all about wellness, in 2023 we didn’t just settle for salads alone, but embraced our favorite part of the meal: the french fry – making it the top ordered side dish of 2023.
Top 5 French Fry Styles Ordered in 2023:
- Classic cut
- Waffle fries
- Cheese fries
- Sweet potato fries
- Curly fries
IT’S GIVING ALOHA: PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA GOES MAINSTREAM
In the spirit of ‘doing it for the vibes’, people didn’t hold back especially when it came to their pizza. In 2023, Hawaiian Pizza lovers ordered pineapple with pride. This topping on pizza rose 33% since last year – yum?
Top 5 Pizza Orders in 2023:
- Cheese Pizza
- Margherita Pizza
- Pepperoni Pizza
- Buffalo Chicken Pizza
- Hawaiian Pizza
IT’S GIVING TANGY: FROM FOOD TO FASHION, PICKLES WERE ON EVERYTHING
Pickles had the largest increase since last year with an 89% increase, totaling over 6.9 MILLION pickles ordered in 2023. People embraced their love of pickles – from food to fashion (if you own the viral pickle sweatshirt, we see you) – and put the salty, briny indulgences on everything.
Ready to get some joy delivered?
Amazon Prime members can get a year of Grubhub+ for free (valued at $120/year). Enjoy unlimited $0 delivery fees on eligible orders and access to other exclusive offers year-round. Use code DECEMBER30 for 30% off three Grubhub delivery orders of $15+ (up to $15 off) now through 12/23 when you sign up for Grubhub+ through Amazon Prime.
Curious about your own 2023 Delivered report? Today, Grubhub is also sending diners their customized recap report that unwraps their individual ordering journey throughout the year.
Follow @Grubhub on X, Instagram, and TikTok.
For more information on Grubhub, visit https://about.grubhub.com/.
About Grubhub
Grubhub is part of JustEatTakeaway.com, and is a leading U.S. food ordering and delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms, and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 365,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.
