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Grubhub 2018 order data shows US love for plant-based food, chicken, spice

December 7, 2018

The major U.S. food-ordering and delivery hub, Grubhub, has released its ordering data-based "Year in Food" report derived from the content orders placed by more than 16 million diners on its platform, along with a national survey on consumer tastes and eating habits. The company sent a summary of its findings to media, showing that — perhaps unsurprisingly — plant-based food consumption is on the rise in the U.S., while chicken ruled with the carnivores and spicy food ruled the late nights. 

In the survey, bean burritos topped the list of favorite items ordered, though not a single red meat center-of-plate item finished in the top 10 this year. Cauliflower-containing orders were also big, including everything from cauliflower rice bowls to buffalo cauliflower. The top 10 items growth areas, according to Grubhub ordering data were: 

• Bean burrito (+276 percent).
• Poke (+ 205 percent).
• Chicken slider (+189 percent).
• Baby back pork rib (+165 percent).
• Chicken burrito (+164 percent).
• Chicken sandwich (+160 percent). 
• Cauliflower rice bowl (+155 percent).
• Chicken and waffle slider (+145 percent).
• Parmesan chicken (+139 percent).
• Buffalo cauliflower (+124 percent). 

The company said it also learned that that one-time little darling, avocado toast has faded into food trend history, while the popular poke bowls are losing popularity compared to last year, but still came in at No. 2 on the top orders list. 

In the breakfast category, more healthful items claimed the top two spots, but then the traditional standards filled out  top five items in that category, which included: 

• Peanut butter acai bowl (+350 percent).
• Detox juice (+193 percent).
• Bacon, egg and cheese sandwich (+190 percent).
• Breakfast burrito (+141 percent)
• French toast (+106 percent).

In the late-night category, spicy food ruled the roost, including top items stuffed jalepeno, which saw 169 percent more orders this past year, and spicy miso ramen, which grew 167 percent in popularity this year. 

Favored dessert items this past year included the top choice of brownies, followed by Oreo cookie cupcakes, baklava, salted caramel cookies and cobbler. 

Ordering: Fast casual brands top the list

Fast casual is sizzling hot when it comes to online ordering, with 40 percent  ordering from this  category, followed by 32 percent for QSR and 24 percent for casual. Most orders were to home (80 percent), though 35 percent called order to their workplaces. 

The top reason for ordering food was the age-old "Didn't feel like cooking" which garnered 43 percent of the explanations, followed by 30 percent of orders which were to satisfy a particular craving and 28 for time-saving needs.